The best stories arise from the road less traveled. As new routes launch, developing nations welcome tourism and closed-off regions emerge.
So what’s hot in 2016? We asked an expert panel of pros who thrive and survive on travel to new frontiers.
Whether it’s staring into the eyes of a wild mountain gorilla in Uganda, snorkeling amidst stingless jellyfish in Palau or drinking yak butter tea with nomads in a ger in the Gobi,we’re spoiled for choice with these 16 emerging destinations for 2016.
1. Mongolia
Sandwiched between Russia and China, the land that birthed Genghis Khan, the Silk Road and the giant sand dunes of the magical Gobi Desert is one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world. Mongolia’s mystique lies in its primal lifestyle.
Nomadic herders move to the beat of the seasons, raising yaks and camels and pitching up in gers across endless green steppe.
What’s new?
The government plans to pave roads connecting all provinces to capital Ulaanbaatar by 2020. The city is a modern paradox. Designer suits brush shoulders with sandal-clad shepherds.
“Although being ‘sent to Outer Mongolia’ has been an oft-echoed parental threat to children, Mongolia is yet to hit mainstream,” says Tom Bodkin, CEO of Secret Compass.
“Travel feels authentic, gritty and real for true isolation.”
When to go: May to September. Naadam, the national festival of “three games of men” – wrestling, horse-racing and archery – takes place in mid-July.
2. Papua New Guinea
A mirage of islands in the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea lies 160 kilometers north of Australia.
Pristine reefs, smoldering volcanoes and steaming tracts of jungle envelop a travel destination that was once mostly banished to legend and lore. Much of the region remains a secret.
“This is an incredible destination for niche tour operators,” says Jonny Bealby, CEO of Wild Frontiers.
“We’re looking at West Papua for novelty. The Spice Islands and Indonesian Papua is undiscovered.”
Travelers visit by ship or stay on land and head out on boats for some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world, as well as to trail blaze through the lush swampy interior and world’s third largest rainforest.
When to go: May to October. It’s worth visiting during one of several annual festivals, when vibrant tribes paint their faces and don elaborate headdresses. Hypnotic performances involve boisterous dances and chanting.
3. The Arctic: Iceland, Greenland and Norway
The Arctic’s extreme and isolated lands are intriguing more visitors than ever. Iceland, Greenland and Norwegian Svalbard offer plenty sensory stimulants, starting with the aurora borealis.
This northern lights celestial spectacular pierces polar nights with intense dancing greens.
Polar bears hunt for blubbery bearded seals atop large floes of ice while blue, bowhead and beluga whales tumble below. Dogsledding, snowmobiling and skiing are legitimate modes of transport.
What’s new?
Inuit culture permeates Greenland. March 2016 will welcome the international Arctic Winter Games to capital Nuuk, along with a song, food and dance festival.
Land visitors to Iceland seeking seclusion should head west, where adventure ice cave “Into the Glacier” is open to the public.
“Sailing Spitsbergen to Greenland following the ice’s edge with an eye peeled to the horizon for wildlife is exhilarating,” says Casey Mead of G Adventures.
“Landings are on foot and in small inflatable boats.”
When to go: May to September.
4. Madagascar
Undeveloped and raw, Madagascar’s got 8,000 species of animals found nowhere else on the planet – that’s 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
A land where dinosaurs once roamed, this prehistoric evolutionary cauldron is a playground for naturalists.
Visitors can hike tropical rainforests and semi-arid desert canyons, winding up on exotic sun-soaked beaches, often alone. In the east, 1,000-year-old Baobab trees, worshipped as ancestors, are backdrops to intense rural sunsets.
What’s new? Recent political stabilization is seeing an invigorating push for ecotourism. Turkish Airlines is about to launch direct flights from Istanbul.
“2016 is a time of positive change,” says Haja Rasambainarivo, co-founder of Asisten Travel.
“Skygazers should visit during the annular solar eclipse on September 1.”
When to go: April to November. Famadihana, a dramatic “turning of the bones” ritual held in honor of passed ancestors, takes place every year between July and October.
5. Iran
Nowhere stirs the imagination quite like Iran.
Go skiing or hit the beach, explore exquisite mosques, markets and madrassas, hear classic Persian poetry and eat spiced cuisine to the scent of water pipes.
Romantic fabled cities Shiraz and Esfahan are interspersed with rural mud villages, across semi-nomadic terrain. Travelers regularly remark on the disparity between Iran’s image and the hospitality of locals.
Nineteen UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as former imperial capital Persepolis fill the ancient land. Lut Desert is now being considered as a new addition to the list. Visitor numbers are growing exponentially, with Iranian officials predicting 20 million tourists by 2025.
What’s new?
The easing of diplomatic relations is resulting in more flight routes, while travel insurance and visas are getting easier to obtain. The landmark reopening of the British Embassy this year is also significant.
“With the British FCO recently relaxing its advice, this great treasure trove has become more accessible, with key areas of interest now deemed safe to travel,” says Jenny Hand of Cox & Kings.
When To Go: March to May and September to November.
6. Taiwan
Originally named “Ilha Formosa,” this beautiful island birthed the global Chinese Buddhism movement, which is headquartered at the high-tech, 100-acre Fo Guang Shan monastery.
Sun Moon Lake is the energy center of the island and showcases the island’s indigenous culture.
Tea and Taiwanese foods are major draws in trendy capital Taipei, a confluence of night markets, designer shops and miniscule alleys studded with lanterns and neon signs.
“Soaring green mountains, thriving cities and food to rival any Asian cuisine… this hot new destination will soon enter everyone’s bucket list,” says James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel.
When to go: Taiwan’s cherry blossom festivals, Lantern Festival and Peace Day take place February to April. September to November is also an ideal time to visit.
7. India’s national parks
India may not instantly spring to mind when you think of wildlife. But in 2016, it will.
What’s new?
A live-animation version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic “Jungle Book,” set to spotlight the country’s wonderful wildlife, hits theaters in April.
Meanwhile, India’s new e-visa scheme is making travel easier and cheaper. The country’s fabled tiger parks offer some of the world’s best opportunities to see the big cats up close.
Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park and Karnataka’s Nagarhole National Park, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, are renowned tiger spotting destinations.
“Kanha [National Park] was the inspiration for Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’,” says Bealby of Wild Frontiers.
“Along with Satpura and Tadoba, the three make an exhilarating ‘Jungle Book’ group tour, a special offering with Wild Frontiers next year.”
When to visit: October to June.
8. Uganda
Meeting eyes with a silverback mountain gorilla across a misty jungle, after an arduous hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, leaves everlasting impressions of arguably the best wildlife safari in the world. But there’s much more to Uganda.
Rich in nature, it’s an outdoor sanctuary of crater lakes, white-sand beaches on lake islands, thundering waterfalls and national parks.
A top highlight is Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary, where rescued and orphaned chimpanzees live out their days on an island in Lake Victoria. Visitors can cross the equator by boat there, slicing through Africa’s largest lake.
What’s new? The Pope’s landmark visit is spurring plans towards Uganda 2040, when it aims to become a middle-income nation. Infrastructure improvements are part of the plan.
“While the crowds are in the Serengeti or Masaai Mara, you’ll find a lush country with fewer tourists in Uganda,” says Thornton of Intrepid Travel.
“Mountain gorillas are the main attraction but the countryside offers many activities.”
9. Georgia
A land of medieval architecture, timeless culture and staggering scenery, Georgia is simply stunning.
Blessed with 750 miles of Southern Caucasus mountains, this canvas invites walkers, horse riders and skiers. Snow-encrusted summits descend into vast valleys, where age-old villages are dotted with ancient churches and watchtowers, between rolling vineyards.
What’s new?
Cheap flights, new routes and improved infrastructure and accommodation confirm Georgia as big news for 2016.
Tbilisi, the capital, is a concoction of old and new, where balcony-studded houses and narrow cobbled alleyways mingle with galleries and cafes.
“This region could benefit from some of the turmoil in the Middle East, offering similar travel highlights, albeit in a different cultural and topological makeup,” says Bealby of Wild Frontiers.
“We have seen a big rise [in visitors] to Georgia and are expecting that to increase in 2016.”
When to visit: February to November. May 26 is Independence Day.
10. United States: North Cascades National Park
Fondly coined “America’s best idea,” the U.S. National Parks network stretches from the remote South Pacific (American Samoa) to Alaska.
The year 2016 will toast the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service, of which 409 parks exist today.
But while Yosemite and Yellowstone pull in millions of visitors annually, others remain largely unexplored.
Among these is North Cascades National Park in Washington State. Accessible yet untouched, it attracted just 24,000 visitors in 2014. Glaciated peaks, lush valleys and virgin forests rival the Alaskan parks yet with easier access.
The park forms part of the North Cascades Range of mountains, glaciers and streams, which harbor black bears, cougars and mountain lions.
“We are excited to use the centennial to invite every American to get to know their national parks and to understand how our 100 years of experience in natural, cultural and historic conservation translate into amazing travel experiences, both far afield and close to home,” says Jonathan B. Jarvis, National Park Service director.
11. Patagonia Corridor
About 1.5 times the size of the UK, Patagonia is all things to all people, whether they want to stick to popular routes or immerse in wilderness. The Chilean side is a maze of inlets, islets and winding waterways, while Argentinian Patagonia dominates vast empty lands and estancias.
Glacier Perrito Moreno is the dramatic 30 kilometer-long glacial centerpiece.
What’s new?
The new Patagonia Park has transformed a once overgrazed cattle ranch in Chile’s Aysen region into a land of glaciated peaks with rebounding wildlife. It hopes to gain National Park status in 2016.
Meanwhile, new boats and road routes are being introduced to the corridor.
Torres del Paine in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina are Patagonia highlights, offering carved fjords and glistening glaciers.
“The recent addition of beautiful lodges and new sea expeditions is stimulating tourism,” says Jeremy Lindblad, global business development manager of Lindblad Expeditions. “It’s an incredibly expansive place.’
When to go: November to March.
12. Palau
Palau archipelago is a natural beauty of emerald outcrops and light lagoons. Called the “Serengeti of the Sea,” it’s one of the world’s premier dive spots.
What’s new?
A nation the size of New York City, Palau recently “protected” 80% of its ocean by creating a marine reserve larger than California. An ecotourism leader, the country has one of the world’s highest marine biodiversity populations, with 1,300 fish and 700 coral species.
And then there’s mountaintop Jellyfish Lake, nature’s wildlife wonder. Visitors can swim and snorkel amidst hundreds of thousands of venom-free jellyfish, then take to the skies on an open-door light aircraft for views of the 445 Koror Rock Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Where to stay: Palau Pacific Resort recently opened four overwater bungalows, all offering high-tech fittings and steps straight into the sea.
When to go: October to May.
13. South Georgia Island and Antarctica
In the southern Atlantic Ocean, 1,300 miles east of the Argentina resort town of Ushuaia, South Georgia Island is so rich in wildlife it’s a stopover on many Antarctica expeditions.
Colonies of thousands of noisy king penguins sprawl across the tundra of this British Overseas Territory. Three million fur seals bark as Arctic reindeer gather, grazing for hours in a sea of horns.
Birdlife thrives too, as 5 million macaroni penguins, albatross and the songbird South Georgia pipit nest here. Surreal scenes unfold, with tall, jagged Antarctic peaks and hanging glaciers looming over captivating ice-clad waters.
Why now?
With the first Boeing 757 passenger plane having just landed on a blue ice “runway” in November, interest in the region is set to surge.
“South Georgia and Antarctica are beyond comprehension and sure to amaze any traveler seeking a true adventure to the world’s most remote wilderness,” says Mead of G Adventures.
When to go: October to March.
14. Honduras
Despite making headlines for its shocking murder rates, Honduras, in the heart of Central America, has long been a safely enjoyed travel destination.
Its primary allures are the fine white-sand beaches of the Bay Islands, Mayan ruins and colorful colonial cities.
Delve deeper still though and you’ll uncover forested mountains, jungles, coral-clad dive sites and wildlife such as jaguars.
The Western Caribbean Bay Islands Roatan, Utila and Guanaja get the press for waters graced by whale sharks, rays and turtles.
Elsewhere, Pico Bonito National Park is an eco-traveler’s haven in thick jungle, complete with a boutique eco-lodge. Guided by locals, capital Tegucigalpa is a fascinating city with buzzing arts, music and culture. Next year will see Honduras rise as an adventure and activity destination combining wildlife and beach.
“Honduras has everything,” says Thornton of Intrepid Travels.
“It’s certainly emerging as one of the hottest destinations in Central America.”
When to go: October to June
15. Gabon
A forward-thinking beacon of ecotourism, this tiny West African country, which straddles the equator, largely flies under the tourism radar. That’s both good and bad given its location between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The former French colony has escaped the strife afflicting some of West Africa and is betting its future on green travel.
The government has protected swathes of marine reserve off the coast, while national parks make up 10% of Gabon’s land mass.
What’s new?
Gabon will host the 2017 African Nations Cup, which will increase traveler interest and improve infrastructure.
This little-known beauty is filled with remote beaches, dense jungle, gushing rivers and wildlife such as undisturbed western gorillas and forest elephants.
Though travel isn’t easy, rewards are high.
“Go in 2016 to explore wildlife-packed Ivindo National Park, Kangou Falls and Djidji River with our world-first equator-crossing trek and pack-raft expedition,” says Bodkin of Secret Compass.
When to go: May to September.
16. Romania
Central Romania is engulfed in the soaring Carpathian mountain range, filled with green groves and ski and hiking trails for adventure-heads.
What isn’t well known is that Romania catches the Danube Delta at its southern tip, where wetlands prove fertile ground. Head here for hiking, birding and fishing. Or go gallery hopping in Cluj-Napoca, a hotly tipped future art scene.
But of course the nation is best known for bloodsucking myths of Dracula, werewolves and ghosts.
Transylvania’s vast and varied landscapes filled with skyline-piercing castles and churches don’t disappoint.
The most famous, Bran Castle, is linked to Bram Stoker’s fictitious count.
When to go: April-May and August-October.
Anisha Shah is a journalist and photographer, specializing in emerging destinations travel, from Mozambique to Myanmar. After six years as a BBC radio and TV journalist, she is now freelance and has been published across media outlets including CNN, Africa Geographic and Huffington Post. Tweet her @anishahbbc