New Year, New Adventures: What the World has to Offer

Forget the standard bucket list: Machu Picchu, Mt Everest, Galapagos Islands – these places are over-visited. And besides, why follow the beaten path when you can get off it?

Black Sands in Central America

Lush green forests, amazing surf breaks, and village ruins greet visitors to El Salvador. Compared to the popular Costa Rica, the country’s coastline is a surf-enthusiast’s dream. If you’d rather be under the water than gliding along it, then grab the chance to dive in a live volcano. Lake Ilopango sits 460 meters above sea level, near the capital of San Salvador. Freshwater sponges, along with freshwater fish, lava flows along underwater cliffs and pillow lava deposits are just some of the incredible sites. Thanks to the hot vents in the lake bed the water is a balmy 85F.

Rainbow Mountains in China

Hike the multicolor peaks in Zhangye, Gansu Province, which is also home to hidden caves, rock formation, and temples balanced precariously on cliff faces. The otherworldly colors look just like a painted rainbow and give Peru’s much-visited mountains of the same name a run for their money.

Untouched Paradise in Oceania

Made up of 10 islands, two large and eight smaller ones, there are very few tourists who make it all the way to Samoa. Packed with natural wonders: ocean trenches, epic waterfalls, and stunning beaches, it’s a must do for outdoor enthusiasts. There’s ample hiking too, from World War II heritage trails to a “cloud rainforest” hike and a trek up to the peak of Mount Alava.

Red Crabs in Australia

Technically an external territory of Australia, Christmas Island is dominated by around 50 million red crabs. Head to this remote island to witness the stunning spectacle of their annual migration, plus keep an eye out for manta rays, dolphins, and whale sharks that patrol the 80km of coastline. It’s not an easy place to get to, but the near-deserted beaches and friendly community make it worth the adventure.

Remote Ridges on the Silk Road

Few have Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia, on their bucket lists – but most explorers should. Teeming with mountain ranges so remote and rarely trekked that you’ll feel completely alone in the world. You can stay in a traditional yurt on stunning vast steppes and marvel at the tradition of eagle hunting. With 90% of its land above 1,500 meters, this is the place to be if you like viewing the world from up high.

Camping in Volcano Craters in Africa

Camping on the rim of an extinct volcano crater is pretty up there when it comes to wild adventures. Not only are the sunsets and sunrises jaw-droppingly beautiful at Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, but visitors can spot a huge variety of wildlife: hippo, elephants, buffalo, zebra, leopard, cheetahs – just to name a few. There’s no fencing at the Simba Campsite, so you may have a visitor or two during the night.