16 Places I Can't Stop Thinking About to Travel to Right Now
Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan
After visiting Bhutan, which sat at number one on my travel list for years, I found myself in a strange lull. It's like winning a championship—all that buildup, all that emotion, and then it's over. What next?
So I've been thinking long and hard about where to go next. These aren't bucket list boxes to tick or trendy destinations to follow. These are places I genuinely can't let go of in my mind. Here are my top 16, ranked in order of how much they've been occupying my thoughts.
16. Scotland
Yes, I'm from England, and I've technically been to Edinburgh, but that's it. For one summer, I just want to get in a camper van and do the NC 500, seeing as much of the country as I can when the weather is good.
Scotland has dramatic landscapes—the Highlands, the islands, the Outer Hebrides. It's got deep history, loads of castles, small towns, and clan stories. But for me, it's more about the scenery and what it would feel like to live in Scotland for a bit. Three or four months in the summer would be pretty cool.
With only about five million people in the whole country, there's plenty of fresh air and space. You can explore the Isle of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, and even venture to the Shetland or Orkney Islands. And then there are the bothys—little accommodations dotted around the countryside that you can't book, you just find them. The rule is people welcome you in if there's space. Pretty cool.
It's cinematic without being overwhelming, full of nature and history, with stunning views and great beaches. Plus, I've got a few friends up there.
15. Isles of Scilly
Not many people in the UK even know where the Isles of Scilly are. They're a bunch of islands off the southwest coast of Cornwall, and they're the warmest part of the UK with Caribbean-style beaches.
It's very laid back and not heavily visited. There are lots of walks, great weather, silence, and not many people. It's a place to disappear and reset—a quiet island escape close to home.
The best bits? St. Martin's and Tresco have turquoise water and subtropical vibes. There's coastal walking, island hopping by boat, wildlife like seals and seabirds, and quiet coves. It's even known for storm watching in the shoulder season, though I'd be going in summer.
It's gentle, isolated, and idyllic. Get on Google, search for the Isles of Scilly, and see what you think.
14. Ladakh, India
This wouldn't have been an entry yesterday, but last night I was scrolling and saw a reel that I couldn't believe. It's probably recency bias from my recent Bhutan trip, but Ladakh has completely captured my attention.
It's got Himalayan scenery—mountains, high altitude, trekking, tea houses, little towns and villages. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries dominate the culture, offering a calmer, more spiritual side of India where you can mix adventure with chilling out.
I've been to Bhutan, Nepal, and Northeast India, so this fits perfectly with my love affair with the Himalayas and Tibetan Buddhism. Tibet would be on this list too, but Ladakh looks absolutely incredible.
Must-sees include the Hemis, Thiksey, and Diskit monasteries, Leh Palace and Old Town, high mountain passes like Khardung La, and the Markha Valley trek. It's all about villages, prayer flags, silence, and stargazing at altitude.
Taj Mahal in India in 2016
13. Georgia (the Country)
Georgia is just a place I want to go on a road trip. It's where Asia and Europe meet, and they're known for their food, wine, warmth, and sense of humour.
It's underrated and unfiltered—I think you get a traditional travel experience there. I want to explore the food and wine culture, the Caucasus Mountains, and honestly, I don't know much about the country beyond a few Georgian footballers who played in the Premier League.
The Caucasus Mountains offer incredible hiking, there are ancient towns and monasteries, wine regions like Kakheti, and Tbilisi looks like a fascinating city. It's affordable, authentic, and somewhere I can take my time exploring.
12. Philippines
The last country in Southeast Asia that I haven't visited. The islands in the south look absolutely incredible, and Palawan is obviously a must—I don't care if it's really busy tourist-wise, I think that's something you've got to go and see.
There's Siargao with its surf culture and slow rhythm, Bohol with the Chocolate Hills and village life. I want to get an idea of how the locals live. The Philippines has got everything, actually—it ticks a lot of boxes. If you want fast or slow travel, it can do everything.
It's a combination of islands, boats, local people, local food, warmth, and unpredictability. There's maybe an edginess in some places, but you get that idyllic island feel mixed with chaotic city life. A lot of island hopping, and I'd love to do some snorkelling if I can get my swimming up to scratch.
I think it's quite hard to travel in the Philippines because you have to fly everywhere, but it's been on my list for ages.
11. Newfoundland, Canada
Newfoundland is way east—the island is as far east as Canada gets, and the capital city is St. John's. It's one of the very few provinces I haven't been to in Canada, and I really want to get a car out and road trip the island.
Apparently, the accent is pretty wild—like a mix between Canadian and Irish, and very strong. It's quite close to home but in that weird middle space, about seven hours from Vancouver. It takes less time to get from there to the UK, I'd imagine.
Rugged coastlines, national parks, the road around the island—you can see icebergs there, go whale watching, and the pub culture and humour would be pretty cool to experience. Gros Morne National Park is high on my list for sure, along with Iceberg Alley.
I want to see the hiking, coastal trails, local music and pubs. I just want to see the village life and culture. Apparently, it's very different to anything else in Canada, so I have to go and check it out.
10. Albania
Albania is rising in Europe as a very affordable destination, and it's starting to open up and get its infrastructure together to welcome tourists. I kind of feel like this is a "get in now" situation while it's still figuring itself out.
Great value, on the Mediterranean coastline, with amazing mountain hiking. It gets labelled as "undiscovered Europe," which I think is a bit unfair, but I do feel like once people catch on, it could blow up. With ever-increasing prices of day-to-day life and trying to afford to go somewhere for a holiday, I think this will be popular in the next couple of years because it's so affordable.
I want to see the Albanian Riviera—Ksamil, Himarë—before it changes. I want to see the Ottoman architecture in Berat. I'd love to do the Theth to Valbona hike—that's going to be a cool mountain hike, maybe quite tough, but it looks insane.
It's got communist relics, bunkers, and it's very unpolished in terms of the hospitality. And of course, the amazing beaches and coastal towns I've seen on social media look absolutely classy. How can it not, just above Greece?
9. Egypt
Do I need to explain why? Of course, the pyramids are a huge pull. I know it's typical and cliché, but I do love Egyptian history and culture, and I want to see the pyramids. I know they continue further into the interior of Africa, but for me, it's an absolute must.
Cairo is crazy, so I want to experience that. If you can get out of Cairo after a few days and actually see the countryside, see more pyramids as you go down the Nile towards Luxor or Aswan, I think it's going to be pretty cool.
It seems to be of great value, but also chaotic. I'm not sure how we would travel there—you can backpack it, and that's really local, you can join a tour group, or do a mix. What I've realised is, as much as I love backpacking on my own, I actually want to know the history behind it all and get the info. So maybe a guide for a couple of days or at least for a portion of the trip.
It's iconic for its history. The Nile boat rides are supposed to be incredible—once-in-a-lifetime landmarks. I'm curious about the city life, the chaotic life, but also the calm on the Nile in those small towns. The pyramids of Giza, Luxor and the Karnak temples, sailing down the Nile especially at sunset, Aswan and Nubian villages, Cairo street life—maybe even dipping into Alexandria.
It would be intense, humbling, unforgettable, but also idyllic at the same time. What a place—it's got it all.
8. Turks and Caicos
I'm just obsessed with island life in general, and Turks and Caicos is the place in the Caribbean that comes to top of mind. It's quite easy to get to from Canada if you get to Toronto.
It's beautiful, idyllic, not many people go. It's a reset for sure, definitely a chill on the beach kind of vibe. Wouldn't be for long, maybe a week, but world-class beaches, luxury escapes, effortless relaxation. I just want to give myself permission to rest really.
We haven't really done this sort of trip probably since the Cook Islands—that's like seven, eight years ago. We haven't been to an idyllic island and just chilled out with a world-class beach for a long while.
Grace Bay Beach is probably the one to go and see. You could do some snorkeling or diving. Very slow mornings, great food, sun, sand, water, sunset swims—the whole lot. Get me there.
The Cook Islands feels like the last time we were on truly paradise beaches
7. Colombia
This is going to be a place that I want to get stuck into for the music, the colour, the dancing. It's going to be complex in terms of culture and history, and the different people there.
I want to do some free walking tours, get the vibes in each of the cities like Bogotá, Medellín, or Cartagena. The culture would be absolutely incredible. I want to experience some nightlife as well. And of course, one of the main things for me is the coffee—I want to go to coffee farms, do coffee tours, buy coffee, drink coffee, get obsessed with it.
It feels like a young country coming through now. It's got some problems, don't get me wrong, but the vibe would be incredible. Very positive. I love Latin America—I just want to get in there, do some dancing, listen to some great music, interact with the youth and see how the country is going.
Medellín has great tours, and it's a digital nomad hub. There's Salento and the Cocora Valley, Cartagena Old Town, and the Caribbean coast at the top. You're going to need three or four weeks to see this country, which I'm not averse to doing.
I want to speak to as many local people as possible. I can speak a little bit of Spanish. I'd do some hotels, but they've got some great hostels there as well. Also, I'd test it out as a digital nomad place. In the future, if I can work remotely, that's one of the places I want to check out, chill out, and get to know more about the culture and local day-to-day life.
6. China
China is huge, and this wouldn't be a short trip. China is growing every year for me—I don't see dipping into China for a quick visit. I think I'd want to go for three months. Not sure what the tourist visa situation is like in terms of length, but there's some positivity on that front for Canadians.
I think Mark Carney has done a deal with Xi Jinping on tourism, where they're going to relax the rules and make it easier for residents to see each other's country. I think it's going to be a no-application tourist visa on arrival, maybe like 30 days. No admin, no paperwork. That makes it much easier and probably pushes it more to the top to get there quickly before anything changes.
I want to see the most amazing cities like Beijing and Shanghai. I want to experience the bullet train system and travel around the country that way. I want to see how you book it, how you pay for it. What's the language barrier like? What are the different provinces like in terms of food and culture, and how do they welcome tourists?
It's a huge, huge country. You could spend a year there easily. Obviously, Tibet is kind of on the top of my mind as well. I see a lot of things on TikTok about Westerners going there. It's going to be about systems, scale, speed, cultural depth, the food, the people, and the language. I think it's going to be like one of the old days of traveling where you get culture shock and need to think on your feet.
It's a mix of ancient civilisations and modernisation—megacities, rapid development, and regional diversity. I reckon you go from real new upcoming modernisation to real old school very quickly. The Great Wall of China is in there, I'd like to see the pandas, Xi'an and the terracotta army. There's just so much—I could go on forever.
5. Kenya
I keep reading it's the most accessible place to do a safari from Nairobi—I think it's pretty close, you can do it in and out of the city for a couple of days. Of course, there are other places to go and see and do safaris in Kenya.
The culture there really appeals to me. I want to see what the Great Rift Valley landscapes are like. I want to understand the Maasai tribe and the cultural heritage stuff. Of course, the safaris and wildlife would be at the top of my mind as well.
Kenya has everything—wildlife, culture, coffee, food, beaches, towns, cities. It's the full package. I want to understand the city vibe in Nairobi, experience the markets and daily life, have conversations over tea, learn about the Swahili culture, and, of course, the Maasai Mara through local perspectives.
Very cultural, this trip, but it'll be a mix of everything—wildlife, culture, coffee, food, towns, cities, coasts. The country's got it all. My friend Raj runs a safari company there. He always keeps asking us to go and visit, so I will say yes one day and go visit Raj. He is the most amazing guide—I can't wait to see Kenya with him.
4. Namibia
Deserts. Wildlife. Silence.
I think about driving through total silence in those deserts in a Land Rover, maybe with a tent on top of the car for camping. That sounds absolutely incredible.
The dunes are some of the most photogenic in the world, the Skeleton Coast is hauntingly beautiful, Etosha National Park is supposed to be amazing for wildlife, and it's one of the best places on Earth for stargazing.
I want to experience true vastness and genuine silence. Namibia seems like the place for that.
3. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
I'm cheating by putting these two together, but they always crop up on my social media and through chats with travel friends as places you have to go and visit.
It's got that Silk Road history—mountains versus mosques, travel that's kind of back in the old days. Apparently, it's very affordable, and the culture is incredible. Kyrgyzstan's landscape looks insane—one of the best places in the world to hike at the moment. You can do some horse riding there as well, mountain trekking, and explore the nomadic culture. Basically overland adventure—you're always outside, and the hospitality will be second to none, I guarantee it.
Samarkand in Uzbekistan is obviously a must, and Bukhara as well. These are the Silk Road cities that I always hear about on the podcast, and I definitely want to check them out. I want to stay in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan—that'd be pretty cool. I'm not into horses, but I can maybe entertain it as part of the actual culture of these countries.
The alpine lakes will be insane to go and see. It's got an old Soviet vibe with the buildings and old school culture. It'd be slow travel—take your time. I don't think things will work like Japan, instant bang bang bang. I think things might go wrong if you're doing it solo, and you need to give it time and adhere to the customs and work the way that they do.
Amazing countries—have to get to Central Asia. It's a must.
2. Norway, Sweden, Finland Road Trip
This is a van life trip in the summer from May to late September, early October. The views would be absolutely insane.
I want to see the Norwegian fjords—they’re so beautiful you wouldn't believe it. I want to see the lakes, the forests, the long drives, the campsites, and sleeping wherever you can. Nowhere to be, no time to travel. You just literally day by day pick a place and drive, a bit like our Canadian road trip.
Of course, you've got the cities—the capital cities would be worth seeing, and obviously the smaller ones. But for me, it's more about hitting the roads up as far as you can go, back around via Sweden and Finland. I'd probably start in Norway, go around the coast, dip into Sweden, do the lakes in Finland, and finish in Helsinki. The dream would then be to carry on to Tallinn, Estonia, and carry on the road trip down there through Europe.
How I would describe this trip: freedom, no time constraints, the most insane views, more views, that Nordic culture I want to get stuck into, camping, the most amazing beaches, and lakes. It's just got everything. The people would be awesome as well.
The one downside of the area is the cost, but somehow I think if you road trip it, you can make it very doable. But I wouldn't care—it has to be summer. We've got to go and do it.
Camping on Prince Edward Island in Canada
1. French Polynesia
And here we are at number one: French Polynesia. It's in the South Pacific.
Why? Because I'm obsessed with clear turquoise water, lazing in there all day, world-class beaches, huts to sleep in, the most idyllic setting, barely any tourists, getting away from it all, speaking to locals, and just enjoying island life.
I know it would be expensive to go there and hard to get to, but it's so high on my list that I just cannot avoid it anymore. It's going to be a bit like Bhutan was five years ago—I knew it'd be expensive, hard to get there, but eventually I'll get there.
This, for me, is number one. Total remoteness, no hardship, easy life, great food, sun, weather, beaches, and just a place to relax, take stock, and enjoy being in one of the most amazing places in the world.
The lagoons I've seen on social media or Google look incredible. I would probably splash out for an overwater bungalow—why not? Hopefully, there are some good deals on that. And if possible, go to some of the outer islands to experience more.
Of course, you want to go to Bora Bora or Moorea, the famous lagoons, and that's going to be the busiest places of the French Polynesian islands. But the outer islands would have just as good beaches, away from the resorts and from the main tourists. And how good would that be?
Yeah, I fancy it. A bit of silence, a bit of lazing in the sun in clear water, a bit like the Cook Islands, I'd imagine. Get me there. I need it big time.
So There You Have It
That's my list of 16 places I can't stop thinking about. You might ask why 16—well, I got to 15 and I couldn't not put Scotland in there, so I made it 16.
I'm sure this list will change as the years go on, but right now in 2026, these are the places calling to me loudest.
Where are you thinking of going next? Let me know—I love hearing people's recommendations. It gives me motivation and wanderlust to look into different places.
Until the next adventure, keep winging it.
This post is based on an episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, your weekly ticket to the world. For more travel stories, tips, and inspiration, check out the full podcast with the links below.
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