National Geographic | 25 breathtaking destinations and experiences for 2023

Arabia Weather - Are you looking for an ideal place for your next adventure? You'll find it on National Geographic's annual list of the best global destinations

Where will I go on my next trip?

A question that haunts every adventurer who is passionate about exploring the natural sights and immersive experiences hidden in our planet. The answer to this question may be included in our annual list of the best destinations and experiences suitable for all ages, and it revolves around five categories: community, nature, culture, family, and adventure.

Community: where conservation efforts benefit everyone

Explore Karpathos Island in Greece, one of the most beautiful Dodecanese islands with captivating nature and rich history, where women's projects lead the way towards sustainable tourism. Spend a long weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes, where you can enjoy the music and culture. Feel the blending of customs and traditions with contemporary perspectives when you visit the indigenous people of Alberta, Canada, or take a journey on the new high-speed train in Laos, as you will transport the Asian country to regions previously unexplored by tourists, and open up prospects for business and economic opportunities for the local people. Head to Ghana to learn about its rich cultural heritage, and mingle with the younger generation to learn about the latest fashion in the capital, Accra.

This little white church perches atop Mount Elias on the Greek island of Karpathos, one of the lesser known islands of the Dodecanese archipelago.

Photo: Cyril Jazbec, National Geographic

Nature: Go wild and enjoy the beauty of nature

Marvel at Botswana's biodiversity and rehabilitation programs for endangered species, along with wildlife eco-corridors and community businesses. Spend some time in the Scottish Highlands where there is a movement to reclaim the wilderness by enabling the environment to recover and thrive with minimal human intervention. Slovenia has long been driving the sustainable tourism movement, here hop on a bike on a food tour to visit farms, vineyards, cheese makers and other local traditional foods. As for the “Big Bend National Park”, in the US state of Texas, you will feel the feelings of the first explorers and you will be amazed by its picturesque nature. The Azores celebrate a host of conservation programs for their natural wonders, here you can check out hot springs and enjoy watching whales and dolphins.

Culture: History and heritage are masters of the scene

Visit the new home of the young pharaoh "Tutankhamun" within the "Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and wander the Way of the Rams in Luxor. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of cinematic creativity by attending the activities of the "Busan International Film Festival", in South Korea, which is the largest of its kind in Asia Walk through history on Italy's Appia Route, Europe's highway in Roman times, and explore culture and history with a taste of rustic food at the International African American Museum in South Carolina. World Heritage, which includes one of the largest concentrations of stone statues in the world at the "Longmen Grottoes" cave in Henan Province, China.

Botswana is home to huge numbers of zebras, as well as a reputation for great biodiversity and rehabilitation programs for endangered species. Photo: Beverly Joubert

Family: Inspirational trips for all ages

Take the train in Switzerland to the Alps, where you will find quiet villages, fine Swiss chocolate and the opportunity to ski in the snow. Help save the sea turtles of Trinidad and Tobago, which is one of the most important nurseries for leatherback turtles in the world. Enjoy the Golden Gate scenery with your loved ones around a campfire at Presido Tunnel Tops, and stroll the Crosstown Urban Trail in California, USA. Enjoy watching the most beautiful wild birds ever in Colombia. Visit the ancient football stadium in Manchester, England, and let the city's artistic spirit inspire you.

Adventure: Feel the adrenaline rush

Make your way through Peru's Chuquiquirao Trail to an uncharted Incan archaeological site. Get excited with a bungee jump in New Zealand, the birthplace of bungee jumping. In Austria, you can hike through the Bergsteigerdorfer network, a series of mountaineering villages as part of a local cultural experience. Finally include the Revillaguedo Islands in Mexico in your travel plans as their waters, included in the "Pristine Seas" project of "National Geographic", have one of the largest concentrations of sharks and rays in the world.

Take the train in Switzerland to the Alps with stunning views of Lake Geneva
Photo: Marcus Gyger, Switzerland Tourism

Ecotourism thrives on Karpathos Island, as this Greek island is famous for its picturesque natural features surrounded by the waters of the Aegean Sea, and it is one of the most beautiful islands of the Dodecanese archipelago.

Photo: Cyril Jazbec, National Geographic

The Khoy cemetery is one of the most prominent archaeological discoveries of the ancient Egyptian civilization. It is impressively preserved, dating back 4,300 years. It was revealed by archaeologist Muhammad Mujahid in the city of the dead in the archaeological area of Saqqara.

Photo: Paolo Verzone, National Geographic