Where to Go

With so many options and 'must sees' on the world map, you may need some ideas of where to go and how to plan your travelling experience. For want of a better name 'the good, bad and the ugly'. This is a run down of some of the highlights and lowlights of the world (in no particular order). It's very subjective so please don't pay too much attention, but it gives a good idea of some places you might not have heard of, but should consider in an itinerary and also some places you might like to avoid. This page is not about name dropping; there are many sights that have been omitted simply because it's believed they are over-hyped and not worthy of the list - click here to go straight to the list, or read on for some thoughts on planning a route...

Planning a route: For a long trip (word on shorter trips later), don't get too much into planning at home - just pick, depending on how much time you have, a few places and regions you want to see. What you often don't realise is that after several months on the road you can lack the passion for 14 plus hour bus trips or the money for internal flights to get to every 'attraction'. Equally many regions aren't as connectable on a budget as a world map might make them look. It's true that the happiest travellers are the most flexible. Hell, if you have the time, why not even try to travel without an ultimate return ticket - or at least make sure dates can be changed with ease. You will soon realise where the tourist trail is (the easiest and most convenient way to see all the sights) and follow it, making modifications where you want. Most itineraries are just that - dots on a map of places people would like to see or things they'd like to do, then joined up by the cheapest most convenient transport options. Maybe your desired route comes from places/regions you'd always wanted to see, are interested in or simply sound romantic/adventurous to you. You'll do a bit of research with guidebooks, the internet and hopeful the list below and add a few more to your list and equally realise which routes are feasible and which are not so, then finally do a bit of tweaking for current events and weather patterns.

It's only natural that many travellers will want to see as much as possible in whatever time they have and plan a meticulous, rigorous schedule to do so. But in such a manner you will get unstuck as totally effective planning is never possible and certainly not when sitting at home. Have a rough idea about where you want to go, what you want to see and how much time you have. From there adlib a little, taking days and their circumstances (festivals, unrest, visas delays, food poisoning, bus fatigue, hearing about somewhere new, etc) as they come - quality not quantity.

That said you can still travel fast and see a lot if you want. One breed of traveller will get pretty bored sitting in the same place for days on end and want to keep moving and see more and more. Most common is to rush around sights and then all of a sudden, when finding the right place, take a good rest and enjoy what's there.

So where to go first? The place you always wanted to go is the obvious answer! Your personal attitude and expectations are going to be the biggest influence on your experience and where you ultimately pick will probably depend on where you call home in the world and your finances. The best first time destinations for those looking for some experience are regions where it is easy to get around and everything is close together, fun and interesting. For non-Europeans that will probably be Western Europe, for Europeans, North-East Asia (Japan/Korea) or New Zealand and Eastern Australia. Those on more limited budgets will pick South East Asia or Central America. All of these regions have loads of potential to get off the beaten track and make side trips away from the crowds. Those wanting to look elsewhere will find regions like Africa or the Middle East not as dangerous, difficult or inaccessible as people seem to think and extremely rewarding for those with a little confidence.

Clearly no matter how much time you have you will not see everything in one trip, no matter what you think and despite many of those you might meet on the road with grand ambitions to 'travel forever' (what they normally mean is get a job in Australia or sit on a beach in Goa/Thailand), it is typical that what you do and where you go will evolve with time. Each trip spurring interest for another region and the confidence building to tackle regions and places that once intimidated you. Remember the potential of places you can see, do, smell, touch is greater than you can possibly imagine... you only have to fire your imagination and have the time, money and confidence to make it happen.

Drawing together several well travelled minds, numerous opinions and experiences in many, many countries... below is some fuel for the fire and hopefully many good ideas:

[Please note, the following lists are not rank order specific - if you are not sure what/where something is - click on the link for the Wikipedia article]

» Some Trip Ideas (or a little focus)

• Rivers: (spend some time in all these areas for a great trip) Nile, Ganges, Indus, Zambezi, Yangtze Kiang, Mekong and Danube.

• Easy Street: (great times, not so much to worry about) Thailand, Philippines, Turkey, Train/Hostel through Europe or Japan, New Zealand, Nepal, Guatemala, South Africa and Greece.

• Culture: (and some damn nice people) Syria, Iran, India, Ghana, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Mali and North Vietnam/Laos and Philippines.

• Religion: (some 'centres' of the world) Rome, Israel, Punjab/Varanasi in India, Labella in the Ethiopian highlands and Buddhist sights in Nepal, India and Tibet.

• Overlanding: (famous and great open jaw trips) Istanbul - Cairo, México City - Panama City, Istanbul - Kathmandu, Cairo/Nairobi - Cape Town, Casablanca/Dakar - Accra, Bangkok - Bali, Santiago - Bogotá/Quito, London - Hong Kong (via trans Mongolian railway) and London - Athens/Istanbul.

• Compact circuits and great intro countries: (great for short trips) Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, The Gambia/Senegal, Jordan/Israel, Thailand/Cambodia, New Zealand, Uganda and Sri Lanka or Goa.

• Life's a Beach: (great destinations, lots of sand) Mozambique, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, South Africa, Turkey/Greece, Kerala/Goa (India), Honduras/Belize, Zanzibar/Lamu (Tanzania/Kenya) and of course Brazil.

• The highlife: (altitude, tough going, heavy breathing but spectacular scenery) Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan, Chile/Bolivia, Nepal/Tibet, Kashmir (India/Pakistan) and Ladakh (India).

» Some rightly popular and recommended independent travel countries

Okay you won't have the place to yourself, but...

» Recommended lesser travelled countries

However, they can seem well travelled...

• Syria or anywhere in the Middle East

• Leave the SE Asian mainland crowds behind and check out the amazing Philippines

• Ethiopia, Uganda & forgotten Kenya including Lamu Island

• Ghana, Benin & off-the-beaten track Brazil or forgotten India/Pakistan/Bangladesh

• Neglected Europe: Romania/Bulgaria/Macedonia

• Mozambique (parts away from South Africa) & Zimbabwe (parts)

Honorary mentions: Lesotho and Israel/Jordan with the present troubles. In South America try French Guyana. If you really want less travelled countries head to West Africa or Central Asia, but they are not particularly pleasant to backpack in. The advice is: don't worry about it - even in the most visited countries you can always find gems if you have the time.

» Best lesser travelled countries and areas, for the more adventurous

Not really that dangerous, but a bad rap with the west or infant tourism keeps many travellers away...

• Myanmar & Indonesia- areas off the tourist trail

• Ukraine and other vast 'out of vogue' areas of Eastern Europe

• Iran

• The Caucasus and North Eastern Turkey

• Mountainous Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan & Northern Pakistan

• Colombia (this can be dangerous, make sure you know where you are going)

Honorary mentions: Libya, most of the Middle East, The Xinjiang mountains (China)

» Ancient wonders of the world

• Africa: Ethiopia and Egyptian Pyramids & Temples

• South America: Cusco, the sacred valley, Machu Picchu, Peru and Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island), Chile

• Central America: Tikal, Guatemala & Teotihuacán,, México

• Asia: Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, Cambodia & Bagan (Pagan), Myanmar

• Roman & Greek: Leptis Magna, Libya & Ba'albeck, Lebanon, not to mention Italy & Greece

• The Middle East: Petra, Jordan & Jerusalem

Honorary mentions: Chichen Itza and many others (México), and Palmyra (Syria), Remembered: Arg e Bam (Iran)

» Wondrous buildings of the world

• Taj Mahal, India

• Aya Sofia and Selimiye Mosque (Edirne), Turkey

• Mosques of Esfahan and Yazd, Iran. Notably the Masjed-e Shāh

• Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

• Most of the old city of Jerusalem

• Colosseum and old city of Rome, Italy

• Rock-hewn: Lalibela's churches, Ethiopia and Petra, Jordan

Honorary mentions: Vatican City, The Forbidden City (China), Palace of Versailles (France), Hampi (India), Grand Palace in Bangkok, Temples of Japan (Nara and Kyoto) and Sagrada Familia (Barcelona). Plus, not really buildings, but extremely impressive - the Eiffel Tower, The Banaue Rice Terraces (Philippines) Baha'i Gardens (Israel), Venice (Italy) and Mount Rushmore (USA).

» Natural wonders of the world

So many, here's just a few outstanding examples...

• Almost any major mountain range or altiplano in the world. For accessibility the Himalayas in Nepal and, more so the Alps. For extra wow and isolation the Karakoram, the Pamir highway or Kyrgyzstan 'the Switzerland of Central Asia'.

• America's amazing national parks inc. Yosemite, Alaska and South West national parks (the Grand Canyon & Bryce Canyon NP the most notable)

• Great Barrier Reef or any big coral reef - Red sea is fantastic so are the waters off Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines

• New Zealand's fiordland, or similar examples in Norway, Iceland or Chile

• Patagonia and the Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

• Bolivian salt flats (Salar de Uyuni) and Altiplano

• Expensive, but amazing: Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, Pamir highway, Iceland and Ngorongoro crater (or any East African safari)

Honorary mentions: Iguau Falls on Brazilian/Argentinean border, Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Park plus Skeleton Coast & the Egyptian White Desert, Ha Long bay, The karst formations near Guilin, Lake Baikal, plus Uluru (Ayres Rock) and Fraser Island (Australia)

» Some great regions (for striking beauty and/or culture)

Some compact areas that have a lot to offer, many with few tourists...

• Karakoram area (Pakistan), Karakol (Kyrgyzstan) and Ladakh (India) - breathtaking mountains, slim crowds

• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Colombia's Coast - amazing mountains meeting perfect beaches and islands if a little dangerous

• North-East Turkey - a hiker's delight

• Guatemala - try Todos Santos Cuchumatán on Nov 1st or Antigua during Semana Santa

• Jordan/Syria/Lebanon/Israel - don't be put off, amazing

• North Laos/Vietnam - difficult and bumpy transport, unique and beautiful region

• Central Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia - a whole world to explore

• Southern Africa - best with your own transport: Deserts to Vic falls to Great White shark dives

Honorary mentions: Chilean lake district and Patagonia (very south) and Yunnan province (Xishuangbanna is over-rated, but mountains around Dali are not) in China

» Great places

Some cities or hang-outs that make you feel amazed and happy to be alive...

• Antigua, Guatemala (Easter week aka Semana Santa, amazing)

• The great cities of Europe (London, Paris, Krakow, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Venice/Rome)

• Jaisalmer and loads of other hangouts in India and Nepal: Simila, Varkala, Goa and Pokhara

• Jerusalem, rather a lot in a small area or New York, a modern wonder of the world

• Butterfly Valley, near Fethiye, Turkey also Cappadocia in Turkey

• Cusco in Peru or San Agustn and Zona Cafetera, in Colombia

• Yangshuo, China & Zanzibar, Tanzania

• Australian big cities especially Sydney and Melbourne

Honorary mentions: Esfahan (Iran), Urumqi's Heavenly Lake (China), Karimabad (Pakistan), Luang Prabang (Laos) and San Francisco

» Terrific places to have a great time

Okay it doesn't come for free. You'll certainly spend more time and money than you wished, but if you are looking for some fun try...

• Greek Islands

• Thailand (especially the islands)

• Turkey

• Brazil

• South Africa

• México

» Top tourist traps, but deservedly so

• Agra (home of India's Taj Mahal)

• Florence, Venice and Rome

• New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Sydney

• Nepal & Thailand's islands and beaches

• Antigua, Guatemala (and the rest)

• Cairo/Luxor, Egypt

• Dogon Country, Mali

• Vic Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia

• Northern Tanzania/Zanzibar Island

Honorary mentions: Krakow (historic Polish city), Edinburgh, Romania's Transylvania with its rolling hills, mountains and medieval towns and castles, Bali and the Gili Islands, Kyoto and Gyeongju

» Nicest people

There are all sorts of people in all sorts of places, but the following countries are well known for the kindness and hospitality of their population.

• Iran

• Pakistan (Northern areas)

• Ghana

• India/Nepal (in the right places/circumstances)

• Syria & Turkey

Honorary mentions: Cuba and Sudan

» Great train journeys

(a few, often long train journeys in some remarkable places)

• Dakar (Senegal) to Bamako (Mali): an out-of-this world 30-36 hours - very hard work, may leave you mentally scarred!

• Trans Siberian/Mongolian: Moscow to (generally) Beijing, passing through some of the worlds most remote places for days on end

• Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to (almost) Lusaka (Zambia): pass through pristine African bush for two days and a night - better value than the raved about Nairobi to Mombassa line. Get off at Mbeya to travel Malawi.

• From Calama (Chile) to Uyuni (Bolivia): a cold at times high-altitude lunar type experience.

Honorary mentions: Any train journey in India or China, Japan's Shinkansen (bullet) trains which with a rail pass are quite affordable, without - ridiculously expensive.

and the ugly?

Budget travellers beware

(aside from Western Europe and North America)

• Japan, Korea & Hong Kong

• Bhutan or Libya and others where 'technically' you need to be on an expensive tour to gain entry

• Israel, Botswana and Brazil

• Moscow & St. Petersburg plus other large cities of fast developing nations where high inflation levels have pushed costs beyond what many budget travellers might expect (for example: Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, etc.)

• Amazing, but shockingly expensive islands: Galapagos Islands, Iceland, much or the Caribbean & French Polynesia

• East African activities (Gorilla viewing, Kilimanjaro climb or any safari)

Honorary mentions: Mexican and Brazilian long distance travel, West African nations using the CFA, Brunei, Australia, Timbuktu - or getting to any famed remote Sahara town, the Caribbean and not taking out medical insurance!

» Current bargains

(things do change rapidly as currencies strengthen/weaken and/or inflation catches up with weak economies)

• Indonesia

• Iran

• Ghana and Zimbabwe

• Iceland, although still expensive by almost any standards the economic melt-down has made it at least on par with the rest of Western Europe.

• As always: India/Pakistan/Nepal/Sri Lanka/Bangladesh

Honorary mentions: as the dollar is still good value, countries with dollar fixed currencies are getting much cheaper, i.e. Ecuador, Panama (plus most of Central America) and of course the US of A

» Ongoing trouble hotspots

» Current holidays & events

(goings on in 2010)

Expect excellent sights and scenes, but also closed banks, packed transport and perhaps that Mary and Joseph feeling if you don't book ahead. Holidays are as follows (note if date falls on a weekend, following working day, may well also be a holiday)::

Obviously we have not been to all these places (but pretty much most, bar one or three) and do not claim to have been; perhaps you might like to send your two cents worth in (many mentions come from reader's comments). Remember this is more a fun list than a serious one.

Please feel free to have your say - click here to add a recommendation to any list, just a quick e-mail and your reasons is all that is needed. Also point out where you think anything is incorrect or over-rated.

Breathe, breathe in the air, don't be afraid to care; leave but don't leave me. Look around and choose your own ground, for long you live and high you fly, and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry. And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

Roger Waters & David Glimour