Here at Contiki HQ, it’s fair to say we’re more than a little bit obsessed with exploring this big old world of ours, and we like to think we know what’s hot and what’s, well, not. Want the intel? Here’s where we’re jetting off to in 2017, plus a few tasty expert tips…
First up, we asked what is the number one destination on your 2017 list? And it looks like we’re going to be covering some serious mileage this year…
Malaysia
Greenland
Northern Norway
Peru (x 2)
New Zealand (x 3)
Thailand (x 2)
Iceland (x 5)
Scotland and Ireland
India
Peru
Galapagos
Sardinia
Southeast Asia
Greece
Croatia
Japan
Egypt
Africa
Barcelona
Bali
Western Canada + Washington State + Oregon
Japan
Thailand
Asia
USA
Ireland
Then we asked, what is the number one travel experience on your list for 2017? Can you guess that we’re a pretty adventurous bunch…
Incorporate more zen into my holidays – digital detox, yoga
Climb Machu Picchu
Go hiking in the Alps
Submerse myself in completely different cultures
Drink Beer in Munich during Oktoberfest
Explore the musical scene in Austin
Try to spot the Loch Ness Monster
Eat at a dai pai dong (open air street food stall) in Hong Kong.
Cooking classes
See the Northern Lights (x 2)
Sky Dive
Go Paragliding in Austria
Party in the Thai Islands
Party at Tomorrowland or a European music festival
Snowboard fresh European powder
Take a dip in the Blue Lagoon (x 2)
Tick another continent off of my list
Jump off a boat into the Mediterranean
See the Pyramids of Giza
See a black sand beach
Hike the Annapurna
Learn to surf
Hike a section of the PCT
Walk the Great Wall of China
See an Elephant in the wild
Stay at the tree house in Khao Sok
Visit New York
Go wild swimming in Wales
Then we got sneaky, asking the experts what destination do they anticipate getting popular in 2017? And it looks like Canada, Cuba and Iceland are what’s hot…
Burma
Cuba (x 4)
Valencia
The Philippines
Iceland (x 6)
New Zealand
Asia (x 2)
Canada (x 5)
Portugal
India
Central America
Vietnam
Croatia (x 3)
Japan
The Balkans
Mexico
Colombia
Scandinavia
Latin America
Costa Rica
Norway
We also asked our residents experts which destinations they think are really underrated, i.e. where is awesome that no one really expects it to be. Some of the answers might surprise you…
Puglia, Italy (x 2)
Corsica
Nicaragua
Greenland
Portugal
Saint Maarten
Egypt
Western Canada
Alaska
Mexico City (most people do Cancun or the resorts)
Croatia
Turkey
Laos
Japan
India
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
England – it has the most beautiful countryside
Norway – the most stunning place I’ve ever visited
Egypt – it’s the best place I’ve ever been
Poland
Prague
Vietnam
Southeast Asia
Turkey
Guatemala
Colombia
All the Baltic countries
Chile
Guatemala
India
Austria
Finally, we asked the crew what one thing will they do in 2017 that they’ll remember forever? Is it any surprise that most of the answers were travel related?
Get engaged
Celebrate 10 years living in this crazy city – London
Take a boys trip to Berlin
Climb Machu Picchu
Celebrate my brothers 40th and my 30th with endless amounts of whiskey tucked away in the mountains surrounded by snow.
Visit Iceland to (hopefully) see the Northern Lights
Go on my very first Contiki, then go to Mexico for the first time
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
Go snow tubing for the first time in Big Bear, CA
Be the first person in the world to spot Nessie herself
Travel with my family to Asia – the first time we’re all travelling as adults
Start a side business
Sky Dive
Visit a new country
Travel to a country where English and Spanish are not widely spoken
Move to London
Party with 10 friends in Croatia for a week. The memories with that group will last a lifetime
Experience the northern lights.
Try some crazy new foods in Asia
Visit at least 2 countries (and possible 1 continent!) I’ve never been to
See the pyramids on camel back
Take a dip in the Blue Lagoon
Be in 2 and attend 4 weddings
Take a road trip with the family
Run a half marathon in Berlin
Take a summer sailing trip
Get married
Go bungee jumping
Visit the WTC Memorial in NYC
Figure out how to use my skills and time to help other people
So now we ask you – what are YOU going to do this year that you’ll remember forever? A new year, a new chapter of the book, and endless opportunities await, and we know just how to get the inspiration flowing.