Getting away from the blue-light glare of a computer screen to breathe in fresh air… Making choices that have a positive effect on our worldwide community… Taking time to focus on body, mind, and soul… When we drew up our resolutions for 2022, we found ourselves tying those goals to upcoming trips. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your upcoming travels or motivation to help you stay on track, here are ten trip ideas based around five New Year's resolutions to spark your imagination.
1. Getting outside more
Do you yearn to wander through trackless wilderness, climb windswept mountains, or wander through dense forests to smell the green scent of growing things? If your goal is to unplug this year and enjoy time outside, we can suggest a range of options, including these two experiences.
Japan: forest bathing on Asahidake
Experiencing nature is so important to the Japanese culture that the country has a word for it: shinrin-yoku, literally ‘forest bathing’. Soak in the glories of Japan’s mountain scenery with hikes on the peak of Asahidake, where the air is filled with the spring perfume of blooming flowers and the whisper of alpine breezes through the trees.
- You can include a hike on Asahidake on this trip to see the wildlife and hot springs of Hokkaido.
Canada: heli-hiking in the Rockies
One of the most pristine swathes of wilderness in North America, the Canadian Rockies are as breathtaking as they are remote. This four-day experience starts with a helicopter flight deep into the wild heart of the range, where you’ll stay at a secluded mountainside lodge. From here, you’ll fly out to remote locations each day for hikes tailored to your ability and fitness level, following a guide through sky-scraping spruce trees, turquoise lakes, and snow-streaked mountain slopes.
- You can include this heli-hiking experience on our Jewels of western Canada suggested road trip.
2. Travel for good
If you’ve decided that you want to be more mindful of your health — physically, mentally, or spiritually — a trip can be a great time to refocus your priorities. Here are just a few suggestions for destinations where you can relax your mind, rejuvenate your body, and heal your weary soul.
Thailand: Anurak Community Lodge in Khao Sok National Park
Just the choice of hotel can make your visit a force for good. For example, in Thailand’s Khao Sok, the Anurak Community Lodge directly supports biodiversity, local communities, and regional conservation projects. A stay here might include a jungle-foraged cooking class and dinner, a guided canoe trip down the Sok River, or a cycling safari through the nearby national park. All the while, your presence helps their efforts to rewild certain areas by planting indigenous species, as well helping to provide jobs for nearby residents.
- You might choose to stay at Anurak during the three days at Khao Sok National Park that are included in this Thailand beach & rainforest escape.
Australia: Kangaroo Island
Sea lions, fur seals, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, platypus, goannas, bandicoots, and 253 bird species (many rare or endangered) all make their homes on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia. A visit here will help support the island’s conservation efforts, which are more important than ever after the devastating fire that burned half the island in the early days of 2020.
- You can include a stop at Kangaroo Island on this suggested itinerary through South Australia’s Wine Country and Outback.
3. Embracing life to its fullest
The past few years have highlighted how important it is to make the most of every moment and seize every opportunity for growth and adventure. For travel, that might mean taking the plunge and planning that big trip you’ve always dreamed about. Here are two that have captured our imagination recently.
USA: road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway
Top down, wind in your hair, music blasting on the radio — driving a convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the quintessential American road trip experiences. We suggest driving south from San Francisco and ending in sunny San Diego. Along this route, you’ll pass windswept coastal cliffs, sleepy shoreside towns, unspoiled beaches, and, if you’re lucky, whales breaching in the distant surf.
- This California road trip takes place entirely on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Kenya: seeing the Great Migration on safari
You watch heart-in-mouth as wildebeest in their hundreds scrabble on the banks of the Mara River, clouds of dust rising as they build up the courage to cross the crocodile-infested water. A few take the plunge and the rest follow in a frenzy. Not all of them make it, but later, on a game drive, you still see thousands of them dotting the plains, watched by the hungry eyes of big cats. If you dream of seeing the Great Migration in action, along with a whole host of other wildlife, Kenya’s Masai Mara is the place to be.
- You can include a safari in the Masai Mara on this ultimate safari itinerary.
4. Focusing on your health
If you’ve decided that you want to be more mindful of your health — physically, mentally, or spiritually — a trip can be a great time to refocus your priorities. Here are just a few suggestions for destinations where you can relax your mind, rejuvenate your body, and heal your weary soul.
India: yoga on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi
There are few places more saturated with spirituality than Varanasi, a sacred city that’s featured in the Mahabharata. Each evening, the air grows heavy with incense and the faithful make offerings of flowers to float down the Ganges. A yoga session, held on the shores of the river at sunrise, is a grounding way to start your day of exploration in India’s holiest city.
- You can walk in Gandhi’s footsteps on this spiritually focused itinerary that includes time in Varanasi.
Iceland: soaking away your stress in thermal baths
The steamy, mineral-rich waters of Iceland’s many thermal baths are thought to provide special health benefits. Certainly, hot-water soaks are a relaxing Icelandic tradition, especially when they include the sweeping cliff-top views that you’ll find at Geosea Geothermal Baths near Húsavík. Let the geothermal heat unknot your tension as you admire the icy blue-black waters of Skjálfandi Bay, with the Arctic Circle on the horizon.
- A stop at the Geosea Geothermal Baths is a nice addition to this North Iceland itinerary.
5. Taking your hobby to the next level
Whether you’re brushing up your verb conjugations in another language or improving your mastery in the kitchen, maybe you’ve resolved to learn a new skill in this upcoming year. A trip can be the perfect occasion to showcase those skills as you improve upon them. Here are a few suggestions.
Vietnam: a cooking class in a garden home
A one-time imperial capital, Hue is the heart of Vietnamese culinary heritage and an ideal destination if you want to learn more about traditional Vietnamese cuisine. We’ll arrange a private cooking class at one of the city’s stately garden homes. These near-palatial, single-storey buildings are unique to Hue and traditionally surrounded by gardens where you can pick pineapples, jackfruit, pomelos, and herbs. The fresh ingredients you pick will then form a major part of the meal you’ll make and share with your host.
- Hue is just one stop on this classic Vietnam itinerary, and you can easily include the cooking class on your visit.
Italy: a chance to use your language skills
If you’ve resolved to learn a new language this year, you deserve a trip to Italy to try out your newly minted skills. You might spend time chatting with your waiter at a street-side cafe, reading the Italian-language information labels in museums, or swapping recipes with a chef in a private cooking class. Or you can simply revel in dolce far niente (pleasure in idleness) as you meander through piazza, palazzos, and markets, listening to the locals talk.
- You’ll have plenty of opportunity to use your Italian on this ten-day trip through Italy’s art cities.
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