2020’s Hottest Destinations According to Luxury Travel Experts

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent has revealed its much-anticipated hot list for the year ahead, pinpointing 2020’s most up-and-coming, exotic, undiscovered and soon-to-be-trending destinations. It’s music to Australians’ ears – a nation known as one of of the most well-travelled in the world – and a group always looking for the next big thing in travel.

“A&K’s network of travel experts is the most extensive in the world with over 55 offices in more than 30 countries and 2,500 staff who live and breathe luxury travel. Collectively, they have singled out these unusual and unique destinations which every discerning adventurer will want to know about,” Regional Managing Director Asia/Australasia, Sujata Raman said.

So, where should you jet off to in 2020? Drumroll, please…

Azerbaijan

With an economy based on oil, Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus may seem an unlikely place to venture to, but this energy-rich nation on the Caspian Sea is full of surprises. Located on the divide between Europe and Asia it has a 5,000-year-old history and a heritage variously influenced by the Russian, Turkish and Persian empires. A stroll through its cosmopolitan capital Baku is a striking contrast of old and new where locals play chess in cobblestone laneways against a backdrop of the city’s famous futuristic flame towers.

Benin

South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania… been there, done that? Might be time for a visit to West Africa. The birthplace of voodoo, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history of glorious kingdoms, slavery and colonialism. Voodoo is still widely practiced throughout the country and travellers can witness colourful voodoo ceremonies where feverish drumming and highly charged dancing by costumed fetish priests provide a bewitching encounter. Fishermen in remote villages still practice age-old techniques and the slave coast is a haunting reminder of a dark past.

Find out about A&K’s 16-day Limited Edition Small Group Journey, West Africa: People, Past & Present here.

Finland

Move over, Iceland, 2020 is all about the land of lakes, mountains and forests that is Finland. Dramatic year-round, this country in Europe’s far north also has a vigorous sauna culture, so luxury travellers and spa enthusiasts will be utterly content. You’ll get to experience that novel experience of witnessing 24 hours of daylight in the summer months, and perhaps less appealing – unfathomably long winter nights. Although, winter is when the Northern Lights are at their most dazzling, so you’d be silly to rule the chilly season out. The vibrant capital Helsinki is a harbourside showcase of modern architecture and design with world beating museums and galleries, architectural masterpieces and an 18th century sea fortress. Ticks all the boxes, really.

Find out about A&K’s 13-day luxury expedition cruise, Cruising the Baltic Sea: Copenhagen to St. Petersburg here.

Eastern Indonesia

Remote, unspoiled and worlds away from the chaos and overtourism of Bali, the crystal-clear waters of Eastern Indonesia harbour some of the world’s finest marine life and underwater treasures. Hordes of volcanic islands spread across the aqua blue waters of the Flores and Banda Seas play host to some of the most spectacular coastal terrain on Earth and soft sandy beaches to match. Explore the Komodo National Park, the Spice Islands and Raja Ampat where world class diving and snorkelling reveals brilliant coral gardens, vibrant tropical fish, sea turtles, reef sharks and manta rays while on land the prehistoric Komodo dragon hunts its prey amidst dry savannah. If you’ve been to Bali more than once, this part of Indonesia deserves your attention. It made Luxury Travel‘s 2019 list of the best new places to visit, and we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Discover A&K’s 12-day private journey, Hidden Indonesia: Bali to Komodo here.

Jordan

Another country to make it to our list of top places to see in 2019, Middle Eastern hospitality doesn’t come much better than what you’ll find in Jordan. Add to that some of the world’s most famous archaeological sites and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the region’s star attractions. In a country with a 4,000-year-old history and biblical references aplenty there’s no shortage of attractions. At the top of the list, with undisputed celebrity status and worthy World Heritage recognition, is Petra but there’s much more once you delve deeper – crusader castles, mineral-laden waters, ancient Roman ruins, dramatic desert landscapes and a vibrant cuisine.

A&K’s 7-day private journey Highlights of Jordan is priced from $ $5,195 per person.

Malta

Yep, we predicted this one too, and for good reason. Heavily influenced by the many civilisations which have contested and ruled its sun-filled archipelago, Malta and Gozo, its sister island, together claim over 6,500 years of history with one of the world’s greatest concentrations of historical sights. Each conquering power has left its mark from Arabic town names to British food, Greek superstitions and Roman Catholicism. A few days here will reveal a lavish architectural legacy, splendid Baroque churches, a flourishing food scene and rich agricultural traditions.

See A&K’s 16-day Limited Edition Small Group Journey to Turkey & Malta here.

Namibia

Another African beauty to top our 2019 must-visit list and one of the least densely populated countries on Earth, Namibia is a vast landscape of shimmering salt pans, red dunes, glittering oceans and haunting coastlines where the sunsets are unforgettable and the d