With our list of 20 unique destinations around the world, CATALYST is here to help you determine where 2022 will take you. From South America to the northernmost inhabited island in Norway, we will guide you to new sites and unforgettable experiences.
1. Vinicunca, Andes Mountains, Peru
Rainbow Mountain, Micheallbrawn, CC BY 4.
Four years ago in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the glacier caps that once covered the Vinicunca mountain melted to uncover the land’s stripes of various colors. Nicknamed “Rainbow Mountain,” its colors were created over time by weathering, environmental conditions and sedimentary deposits. The site is a two-hour drive from Cusco, where visitors can walk the three-mile trek, ride horses and spot free-roaming llamas as they take in the colorful scenery.
2. Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia
Namib-Naukluft National Park, Rüdiger Wenzel, CC BY 3.0
The Namib-Naukluft National Park is a protected area situated along the Atlantic Coast of Namibia. Within the park is the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, where you can find dunes 1,000 feet tall. The Sossusvlei, a salt-clay pan, and Deadvlei are two of the main attractions in the park along with the Naukluft Mountains on the eastern side. Activities include camping, walking trails, hot air ballooning, stargazing and game drives where guests can see the many wildlife that occupies the area.
3. Maasai Mara, Kenya
Masai Mara tribe women, Dylan Walters, CC BY 2.0
Maasai Mara is home to one of the most famous national reserves in the world surrounded by numerous Maasai villages. The rolling grasslands, acacia trees and herds of wild zebras found in Maasai are a vision of Africa most only see in movies. Beyond safari, Kenya offers climbing and trekking, mountain biking, kitesurfing and a coastline of beautiful beaches. To make the most of your experience, volunteer with IVHQ or IVI to assist teachers and students in providing quality education to the local people.
4. Lac Rose (Lake Retba), the “Pink Lake” in Senegal
Lac Rose, Tafsir207, CC BY 4.0
Less than an hour from the capital city of Dakar, Senegal is Lake Retba, otherwise known as Lac Rose, the Pink Lake. The water’s vivid pink color is especially visible during the dry season, November to June. Due to its salt levels, which are comparable to the Dead Sea, few living organisms can survive in the water. For this reason, the lake serves mainly for salt production and you will see locals collecting salt with their hands from the bottom of the lake.
5. Floating River Markets on the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam
Cái Răng floating market, Isderion, CC BY 3.0
Along the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, are a number of renowned floating river markets. Early in the mornings, locals row their boats full of coconuts, vegetables and fresh fish to sell in the market. The Phong Dien, Cái Bé and Cái Răng are a few floating markets where you’ll find floating restaurants, produce stands and occasional tour boats full of travelers admiring the sites.
6. Trekking in Patagonia
Mount Fitz Roy, Todor Bozhinov, CC BY 1.0
In South America, the Patagonia mountain range in Peru is one of the least touched landscapes on Earth. With rugged boulders and soaring rock formations, Patagonia offers some of the most difficult treks that have made it one of the top trekking destinations in the world. However, there is also a range of easier treks like Mirador Las Torres, Paso Los Cuernos, The Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and the iconic Grey Glacier.
7. Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua
Volcano boarding, Garret Ziegler, CC BY 2.0
Volcano boarding is a sport performed on the slopes of a volcano, and one of the most popular places to do it is on the Cerro Negro Volcano in Leon, Nicaragua. Once there, you can book a tour where you’ll be led along the hour-long trek to the base of the volcano. The constant wind and small grain volcanic rock are what make Cerro Negro suitable for boarding. The fastest boarders can ride down at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour.
8. The Blue and Green Grottos on the Islands of Croatia
Blue Grotto, dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
On the east side of Biševo island in Croatia rests the Modra Spilja, the blue grotto. This waterlogged sea cave is illuminated by aquamarine light.Between 11 AM and noon, the sunlight reflects through the water coming from the white floor of the cave, bathing the grotto in blue hues. Similarly, the Zelena špilja, or the green cave, on the island of Vis creates a similar experience in an emerald-green waters that visitors can swim in.
9. Arraial do Cabo, Brazil’s Caribbean
Arraial do Cabo, Leonardo Shinagawa, CC BY 2.0
Due to the turquoise waters, Arraial do Cabo is known as the Caribbean of Brazil. Besides the white sand and bright blue water, Arraial is a renowned diving destination. The clear water offers over 300 feet of visibility that allows you to view turtles, sea horses and colorful fish. In the winter, Arraial is a good place to observe humpback whales, whose migration route passes directly off the shore.
10. Moab, Utah
Arches National Park, Josefito123, CC BY 4.0
Moab, Utah, is the home of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks where you’ll see stunning red-rock formations. The small town is perfectly situated between the two parks and has perfect weather all year long. Hike, bike or climb the treks, white water raft, kayak, paddleboard or jeep in this hub of outdoor adventuring.
11. Prince William Sound in Alaska
Prince William Sound, Frank K, CC BY 2.0
An hour’s drive from Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, Prince William Sound is encompassed by ten thousand square miles of protected waterways, islands, fjords and more than 150 glaciers. The towns Cordova, Valdez and Whittier serve as jumping-off points for kayaking, camping and wildlife viewing trips. Full and half-day boat and jet-ski tours are available to view whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals and the faces of tidewater glaciers.
12. Camp in the Agafay Desert, Marrakech, Morocco
Photo courtesy Kostas Fotiadis.
Outside of the Moroccan city, Marrakech, lies the vast and open Agafay Desert. Companies offer overnight and weekend camping experiences where you can ride camels, hike through the Ouirgane Valley, view the Cascades D’ouzoud waterfall and visit traditional Berber villages like the town of Tinghir.
13. Oaxaca, Mexico
Photo by Juan Manuel Aguilar on Unsplash
Discover a quiet and preserved version of Mexico’s indigenous and colonial history in Oaxaca. There you can enjoy the open-air markets, cobblestone roads and a variety of local cuisine. By night, the city’s bars and cafes transform into live performance venues where you can tour Oaxaca’s music scene. For a day trip, roam the ruins of the ancient Zapotec city, Monte Albán, or hike the trails and have a soak at the Hierve el Agua, a thermal mineral pool with endless views of the surrounding mountains.
14. Banaue Rice Terraces, Luzon Island, Philippines
Banaue Rice Terrace fields, Eustaquio Santimano, CC BY 2.0
Carved into the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao, in the Philippines are the Banaue Rice Terrace fields. These two-thousand-year-old rice terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a great weekend destination from the capital city of Manila. The coexistence between the fields and the local people will make you appreciate the views more and more, which can best be seen between April to May and October to November.
15. Ke Bang National Park, Phong Nha, Vietnam
Son Doong cave, Lelong, CC BY 4.0
The Ke Bang National Park in Phong Nha, Vietnam features 500 different caves, including the biggest cave on the planet and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Son Doong. The park offers cave tours, the Doong expedition to Son Doong and the Hang Bar tour of five different caves. Camping, paddleboarding, hiking and trekking are other popular activities that are available to visitors.
16. See the Northern Lights in Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard Northern Lights, Frode Ramone, CC BY 2.0
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole is the island of Svalbard, the only place in the world where the Northern Lights can be seen in the day. From late September to early March, hop on a snowmobile and venture into the desolate landscape’s pristine glaciers and see some of the Arctic wildlife including polar bears, walruses, humpback whales, orcas and narwhals.
17. Raudasandur Beach, in the Westfjords of Iceland
Photo courtsey Freysteinn G. Jonsson.
Most of the beaches in Iceland are black, however, in the remote Westfjords, the sand is red or pink. Rauðasandur Beach gets its color from ground scallop shells, and the sand is known to change from red to yellow and to black. On the south end of the beach you’ll find the Melanes campsite, and six miles west is the Látrabjarg cliff, the largest seabird cliff in Iceland. If you travel from mid-May to late August, you can spot puffins raising their chicks.
18. Aling-Aling Waterfall, Sambangan Village, Bali
Aling Gorge, Dleex07, CC BY 3.0
In Northern Bali, far away from Ubud and Canggu, lies the “secret village” also known as Sambangan Village. Here you can avoid crowds and enjoy the wonderful nature that Bali is known for. When you get to town, you’ll find tour guides that will lead you through hills, rice fields and forests to Aling Aling Waterfall. Once there you’ll be free to slide, cliff jump and swim in the natural pools.
19. Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Sarah Ackerman, CC BY 2.0
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland in Cairns, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. In 2007, Australia launched its Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program, which employs the Indigenous Torres and Aboriginal groups. Indigenous Australians combine their traditional knowledge with conservation training and lead dive groups in the Great Barrier Reef as they share their cultural knowledge passed down from their ancestors.
20. Thailand’s Southern Islands
Photo courtesy of Humphrey Muleba.
Starting at Ko Phi Phi, Thailand, travelers can board a small ship cruise to visit Phi Phi Island, the Racha Islands, Phang Na Bay and disembark in the city of Phuket. Small boat cruises are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cruising that comes with additional benefits. With just 14 passengers, guests can access smaller islands and enjoy lengthy shore visits. Intrepid’s three-day itinerary involves local communities in its activities, including the indigenous minority Moken people and a visit to Baan Talay Nok Village, which was rebuilt after being destroyed by a tsunami in 2004.
Claire Redden
Claire is a freelance journalist from Chicago, where she received her Bachelor’s of Communications from the University of Illinois. While living and studying in Paris, Claire wrote for the magazine, Toute La Culture. As a freelancer she contributes to travel guides for the up and coming brand, Thalby. She plans to take her skills to London, where she’ll pursue her Master’s of Arts and Lifestyle Journalism at the University of Arts, London College of Communication.