Discover
Where
We Can Go
Together
Curious souls like ours don’t follow itineraries — we’re drawn to the hidden, the sensual, the places that feel forgotten or not yet found. If, like me, you love travel that’s quirky, elegant, and full of quiet surprise, here’s a year of possibilities: some wild, some remote, some simply little-known.
I’ve structured this calendar as a starting point — a dozen months, each with places we could explore together.
A Year of Quirky Travel Ideas
12 months, 30 destinations to explore together — hidden, distinctive, and a little unexpected
January
Winter dreams far from the crowd
The Baba Eco Lodge on the less-visited island of Koh Phra Thong.Koh Phra Thong, Thailand
While Koh Samui draws the spotlight thanks to The White Lotus, we might slip away instead to the still-quiet island of Koh Phra Thong. Imagine 27 wooden villas scattered along an untouched shoreline, just us and the sound of the sea. Baba Ecolodge offers the kind of isolation where time slows: morning swims, long lunches barefoot, and nights with no artificial light. This could be the starting point of a deeper Thai journey — perhaps a night in a floating lodge on Khao Sok Lake, or a barefoot detour to the beaches of Khao Lak, curated by Experience Travel Group.
The view from Bartolomé Island, a volcanic islet in the Galápagos.Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos feel different now — quieter, more grounded. Instead of a cruise, we could settle on land and take daily boat excursions. One day, we might snorkel with sea lions near Bartolomé Island, another we could hike lava ridges before returning to our small hotel with salty hair and a bottle of wine. For the adventurous, SwimTrek (swimtrek.com) offers a week-long swim holiday: about 4.5km a day through marine sanctuaries, where rays and turtles pass silently just beneath us. Less crowded and more grounded: the ideal time to explore volcanic trails on foot, sleep in minimalist eco-lodges, and swim with sea lions in translucent waters.
February
Snowlight, Palaces & Quiet Museums
March
Living archaeology and literary routes.
PoMo: Trondheim first museum of modern and contemporary art.Trondheim, Norway
If we’re going to follow the trail of great contemporary art, we might as well start where it’s least expected. In the Norwegian city of Trondheim, PoMo Museum just opened in a former art nouveau post office. It’s intimate, bold, and curated from the private collection of Monica and Ole Robert Reitan. More than half the future acquisitions will be by women. We could stay at the Britannia Hotel across the street and wander in and out between snow flurries and gallery rooms filled with Louise Bourgeois and Simone Leigh.
Wortham Manor, a late medieval pile deep in the Devon countryside.Devon, UK
We could take over an entire medieval manor in the Devon countryside — just the two of us. Wortham Manor (landmarktrust.org.uk) is tucked deep into the west of the county and has just been restored with underfloor heating, new radiators, and modern comforts hidden beneath centuries-old oak beams. Think Wolf Hall without the draught. Four-night stays start around £1,950 for the whole house.A medieval manor reborn with heated floors, where you can reenact a Tudor weekend—without the draft.
Porcelain dragons from the Qing dynasty on display at a new museum in Sintra, Portugal © Albuquerque FoundationPalace of Sintra, also known as the "Town Palace".Sintra, Portugal
Sintra has always felt a little enchanted — all mossy walls and rising mist — but now there’s a reason to go beyond the usual palaces. The Albuquerque Foundation (albuquerquefoundation.pt) has opened a new museum of Chinese ceramics and contemporary art inside the family’s restored quinta. We could stay nearby at the Palácio de Seteais (valverdepalacioseteais.com), sip mint tea on the terrace, and lose track of time wandering between Qing dynasty dragons and soft Portuguese light. Ming porcelain, secret gardens, and a new private museum in a noble quinta. A Portuguese fairytale.
March
Living archaeology and literary routes
Zelenci River at Kranjska Gora, SloveniaJulian Alps, Slovenia
We could call it a ski safari, but it’s more of a quiet drifting between alpine villages. In Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, we’d stay in small mountain inns, switching valleys every couple of days while skiing or skinning between peaks. Vertical Adventures (vertical-adventures.si) arranges the route, guides, and the stories — including a classic descent that begins at Prestreljenik, a natural stone window high in the ridgeline. It’s simple, silent, and far from the lift lines of the Alps. A "ski safari" through quiet villages and forgotten slopes, guided by locals and warmed by rustic charm.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Cobbled lanes, steaming sulphur baths, brutalist balconies and wine bars tucked behind fig trees. We might start in the city and head north to Kazbegi or west into Svaneti, where mountains and monasteries share the same skyline. Original Travel curates bespoke journeys across the country’s lush and layered terrain.A city with deep soul, now better connected with direct flights and brimming with thermal baths, terraces, and poetry.
Old Town of Tbilisi, Georgia
One of the ‘Black Room’ frescoes recently excavated in the ruined city of Pompeii . . .
Pompeii, Italy
There’s a new reason to return: recently uncovered frescoes — including entire banquet halls — now open to the public. We could join one of Andante Travels’ (andantetravels.co.uk) small archaeological tours to access spaces still off-limits to most visitors. Maybe we’d walk the Via dell’Abbondanza, step into the House of Leda, and stand silently before a mythic scene still vibrant after two millennia. Then retreat to a quiet garden hotel in nearby Sorrento, with soft sheets and a view of Vesuvius.
. . . and the walls of the villa where it was uncovered © Parco PompeiApril
Asian Art, Horses & Sleeper Trains
Kyrgyzstan Horseback RidingAt-Bashi, Kyrgyzstan
Far from almost everything, the At-Bashi Valley feels like a pause between centuries. We could ride out on horseback across snow-covered plains, sleep in a yurt beside a frozen lake, and warm our hands over fire-lit dinners. Local outfitters like Kyrgyz Riders (kyrgyzriders.com) or Alexandra Tolstoy (alexandratolstoytravel.com) arrange treks and homestays across the Tien Shan mountains.
A lounge on La Dolce Vita Orient Express © Patrick LocqueneuxLa Dolce Vita Orient Express
The latest chapter in Italy’s long romance with train travel. Launching in spring, the La Dolce Vita Orient Express (orient-express.com) swaps 1920s nostalgia for a 1960s Fellini mood — mirrored ceilings, sculpted banquettes, and espresso machines the size of sideboards. We could take a two-night loop from Rome to Matera and back via Pescocostanzo, with all meals, drinks, and indulgence included.
Arkansas’s Bentonville Water Tower . . . © Shutterstock . . and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtBentonville, Arkansas
Not the place you expect to find world-class art, and yet Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (crystalbridges.org) — funded by a Walmart heir — delivers exactly that. We could walk the forest trails to see James Turrell installations, explore newly added galleries, and stay in the 21c Museum Hotel, where every hallway is a curated experience. Ozark nature outside, bold contemporary art within. A strange and perfect mix.
Naoshima, Japan
We could spend days here without needing to speak much — just move from one museum to the next, barefoot if we like, through the serene geometry of Tadao Ando’s architecture. This spring, the new Naoshima New Museum of Art (benesse-artsite.jp) opens with contemporary Asian works, deepening the island’s contemplative pull. We’d stay at Benesse House, where rooms overlook the sea and art surrounds you, even at breakfast.
A rendered image of the Naoshima New Museum of Art on Naoshima Island © Tadao Ando Architect & AssociatesMay
Islands, Museums & Secret Italy
The lighthouse Punta Imperatore on Ischia © Giuseppe GrecoIschia, Italy
There’s something quietly indulgent about staying in a converted lighthouse (floatel.de) on an island like Ischia. Just cliffs, breeze, and the long, slow sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea. We’d climb the stone steps, linger in the hammam, and listen to waves instead of emails. This could be a reset — mineral pools, sea air, and barely a footprint on the beach.
Fenix building, a former warehouse that will be turned into a museum on the harbourside in Rotterdam
The former Santos coffee warehouse home of the National Museum of Photography in RotterdamRotterdam, Netherlands
This spring, two major museums open their doors in Rotterdam’s docklands, reshaping the city’s art scene. The FENIX Migration Museum (fenix.nl) tells global stories of movement and belonging in a former warehouse. Nearby, Nederlands Fotomuseum (nederlandsfotomuseum.nl) reopens after a full renovation, with a new permanent collection and sharp contemporary programming. Between shows, we’d walk the Maas riverfront and maybe catch the Boijmans Depot, where even the storage is curated. We could stay at Hotel New York (hotelnewyork.com), a former shipping headquarters turned iconic waterfront hotel.
Villa Rotonda, one of the Martin Randall’s tour of Palladian VillasVeneto, Italy
Not far from Vicenza, a handful of private Palladian villas open their doors — discreetly, selectively, and often only to those who ask nicely. We could tour Villa Saraceno, Villa Emo, and lesser-known jewels with the help of Kirker Holidays (kirkerholidays.com), who arrange bespoke access and fluent guides. The kind of visit where even the frescoes whisper, and every perspective leads to a hidden garden.
June
Forgotten places and sovereign North
Greenland
We could fly straight to Nuuk now — no connections through Denmark, no overnight ferries. Greenland is finally a little closer, but still deeply wild. With Air Greenland’s new direct routes and discreet eco-lodges like Ilimanaq Lodge (worldofgreenland.com), we’d sleep in minimalist cabins overlooking ice fjords, dine in Michelin-level restaurants powered by wind and snowmelt, and maybe catch a calving glacier over morning coffee. The Arctic, without filters — and without frostbite.
Chora, the main village of FolegandrosFolegandros, Greece
No yachts, no DJs, no stress. Folegandros is what people imagine Mykonos once was — whitewashed villages, silent beaches, and long dinners under vines. We’d stay at Blue Sand Hotel (bluesand.gr), perched above Agali Beach, and take dusty footpaths to coves where the only noise is cicadas and the splash of your feet. One day, maybe we’d rent a boat. Or maybe we’d do nothing at all.
A blood pheasant, one of the species that can be spotted in Bhutan . . .. . . along with the prickly blue poppy (above) and the rarely seen giant blue poppyBhutan (Botanical Edition)
For a different kind of Himalayan journey, we could follow the routes of early 20th-century plant hunters, hiking through blooming valleys in central Bhutan. Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com) or Inner Asia Expedition (innerasiaexpeditions.com) runs a guided botanical trek through remote villages, orchid-rich forests, and monasteries half-anchored to cliffs. Evenings are for tea and stories. Days are all altitude, aroma, and the quiet company of rhododendrons.
Goodwood House with its 11,000-acre estate in West Sussex © James FennelSussex, UK
At the edge of Goodwood Estate, something quietly radical has taken root. The new Cass Sculpture Foundation brings together large-scale installations and curated woodland walks, where we might stumble upon a Barbara Hepworth under oak branches. It’s art that breathes, and a perfect excuse to stay at The Pig in the South Downs, with garden-to-table dinners and windows that open straight onto sheep-dotted hills.
July
Beautiful trains and lost foundations
One of the rooms inside the Britannic Explorer from high-end rail veterans BelmondBritannic Explorer, UK
Britain’s first proper luxury sleeper in decades, The British Pullman’s Britannic Explorer blends country-house comfort with quiet cinematic flair. Think velvet armchairs, a compact spa, and an onboard mixologist pouring negronis while the train skirts the Welsh hills. Routes vary — Cornwall, Snowdonia, the Highlands — but all of them begin with us stepping aboard and forgetting what time it is. (belmond.com)
The foundation inside a former Edwardian bathhouseTracey Emin Foundation, UK
Margate has always had a raw edge, but Tracey Emin’s foundation adds something personal and powerful to its tidal pull. Housed in a former bathhouse, it’s now an art school, exhibition space, and working studio for emerging artists — all under Emin’s watch. We could walk down from the train station, take in the show, then have oysters by the sea and let the wind tangle our hair.
August
Wild Africa and boundless steppes
Namibia
The sky feels closer here — bigger, bluer, and full of quiet tension. Driving ourselves across Namibia means stopping when we feel like it: for dunes that rise like frozen waves, for a herd of oryx, or simply because the light is too beautiful to ignore. We could stay at Kwessi Dunes, where there’s no Wi-Fi, just desert, stars, and maybe a gin and tonic in hand. Natural Selection curates self-drive safaris that are both rugged and deeply refined.
The Trans-Mongolian route …
. . . and the statue of Genghis Khan, just outside Ulaanbaatar © AlamyMongolia (Trans-Mongolian Route)
We could board the train in Ulaanbaatar and wake up each day to landscapes that barely seem real — steppe, forest, sand, silence. Off the train, we’d stay in ger camps under stars, ride horses with herders, and learn what it means to feel very, very small. Golden Eagle Luxury Trains (goldeneagleluxurytrains.com) runs journeys that blend classic rail glamour with raw, unfiltered nature.
September
Quiet beauty and hidden art
Northern Pakistan
The landscapes of the Hunza and Baltistan valleys don’t whisper — they tower and echo. We could spend a week trekking between ancient forts and glacial rivers, passing herders, apricot groves, and peaks that seem to touch the stars. Untamed Borders (untamedborders.com) arranges custom journeys into this high-altitude frontier, with nights in village guesthouses and days filled with air so clean it feels unreal. A true reset, in every sense.
Baobab trees in Madagascar . . . © Getty Images. . . and a ring-tailed lemur in the Anja Community Reserve © Getty ImagesMadagascar
Everything here feels like it evolved on another planet — because it almost did. From the towering baobabs of Avenue des Baobabs to the whispering lemurs of Andasibe, Madagascar offers nature on its own terms. We could follow a private naturalist guide into the misty rainforests or go off-grid on the spiny southern coast, where the beaches are pink and the winds feel ancient. Aardvark Safaris crafts journeys that reveal this island’s deep, impossible strangeness — together, slowly. One of the planet’s most unique ecosystems, Madagascar offers otherworldly landscapes and rare species found nowhere else — from baobab forests to ring-tailed lemurs. A sensory journey through misty rainforests and spiny deserts alike. (newscientist.com)
The interior of the Ayozjon Caravanserai in Bukhara, Uzbekistan © Andrey ArakelyanThe grand entrance portal of the Kalon (or Kalan) Mosque in BukharaBukhara, Uzbekistan
We could arrive with the scent of spices still in the air. This autumn, Bukhara hosts its first-ever Contemporary Art Biennial, threading installations and performances between its turquoise domes and tiled caravanserais. Art breathes differently here — slower, warmer, more entwined with silk and myth. Between shows, we might share a pot of saffron tea in a shaded courtyard, or wander toward the Kalon minaret as the sky shifts to gold.
October
Mediterranean warmth and rituals
Pantelleria or Salina, Italy
October softens everything — the light, the sea, the crowds. We could take a few unhurried days on one of Sicily’s volcanic sisters: Pantelleria, with its dammusi houses, fig trees and mineral baths, or Salina, where malvasia grapes hang heavy on the vine. Principe di Salina offer minimalist comfort and cinematic views. We’d rise late, swim in the still-warm sea, and watch the sun drop behind the islands like a quiet ritual.
Zebras at the North Luangwa National Park . . . © Alamy . . .and white-fronted bee eater birds on a bush overlooking the North Luangwa river © AlamyZambia
No fences, no filters — just walking, quietly, through one of Africa’s most untouched ecosystems. In South Luangwa or the Lower Zambezi, we could track lion prints with an armed guide, or sit by the river while elephants drink across from us.
We c an explore it on a nine-night safari that also takes us in South Luangwa National Park, travelling by 4x4 and light aircraft and offering a series of expert-led walking safaris.(expertafrica.com)
A Himalayan Retreat, India
High above the Kumaon hills, a new kind of silence waits. At Kasar Himalaya or Mary Budden Estate, glass walls meet old stone, and every view faces the snow peaks. We could hike goat paths at dawn, sip local herbal tea at dusk, and fall asleep to woodsmoke and wind. A newly opened lodge in the remote Kumaon Himalayas blends glass, stone, and silence. With panoramic views of Nanda Devi, goat-path hikes, yoga sessions, and warm home-cooked meals. (shaktihimalaya.com)
November
Remote adventures and underwater kingdoms
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This isn’t a cruise, it’s something quieter. We could live for a week aboard a traditional phinisi schooner, waking up each day to the reefs and turquoise inlets of Raja Ampat. Dive with manta rays in Misool, snorkel in secret lagoons, and sleep under stars so bright they don’t feel real. Aqua Expeditions and Silolona Sojourns craft journeys that are as intimate as they are otherworldly — sea air, coral gardens, and no shoes required.(misool.info)
Algerian Sahara
Among the world’s purest deserts, southern Algeria feels untouched, even sacred. With Simoon Travel, we could hike through wind-carved canyons and prehistoric rock art galleries near Djanet, then sleep on dunes the color of burnt honey. No roads. Just silence, a guide, and maybe a fire to gather around when the stars come out.
Camels in the Sahara near Djanet © AlamyBorradill in Scotland ... © Joshua Page
...and the dinning area inside the larger of the two cottages © Joshua Page
Ardnamurchan, Scotland
At the edge of the Scottish mainland, Ardnamurchan is wild in the most poetic sense. Wood-fired cabins face the sea; stags sometimes pass the windows. We could bring books, a bottle of Talisker, and spend the day walking the hills without seeing anyone else. The wildest tip of mainland Britain, with wood-fired cottages, sea otters, and absolute winter seclusion. Ideal for fireside escapes with a view. (borradill.com)
Great Wall Hike, China
Walking the Great Wall in late autumn is a lesson in stillness. At Gubeikou or Jiankou, we could hike empty stretches between crumbling towers and watch the fog roll over golden hills. WildChina (wildchina.com) offers private treks that avoid the crowds and restore the silence. We’d walk until the sun begins to fall, then retreat to a nearby courtyard stay with a warm stove and no rush.
December
End-of-year wonders and warm light
Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
Imagine standing alone before a waterfall four times the height of Niagara — no fences, no queues, just thunder and mist. Kaieteur Falls is reached by a jungle plane hop and a short walk, and most days you’ll have it to yourself. We could stay in Georgetown, then combine it with a trip into the Iwokrama rainforest or along the Essequibo River, guided by locals who know where the jaguars sleep. (wilderness-explorers.com)
A tea plantation near Hatton, Sri Lanka © AlamySri Lanka
It’s time to look at Sri Lanka not as a crisis story, but as a revival. A new wave of design-forward hotels, remote safaris, and rewilding projects is quietly reshaping the island’s future. We could drift between surfy bays near Ahangama, hike tea trails in the Hill Country, or explore the leopards and birds of Yala with one of the island’s new conservation-minded guides. Why House, Wild Coast Tented Lodge, and Santani offer thoughtful, restorative stays — each one a soft landing for a country rediscovering itself.
Wadi Al-Hitan, also known as the Valley of the Whales © AlamyFaiyum, Egypt
A few hours from Cairo, time begins to fold. In Faiyum, we’d sleep in a desert lodge beside Wadi Al-Hitan, where ancient whale fossils lie exposed beneath the sand. Afternoons are for exploring oases, climbing dunes, or drifting down the Nile on a restored dahabiya. Egypt — but stripped of crowds and noise, and softened by sun. Sleep in a new desert lodge near ancient whale fossils, explore pharaonic oases, and cruise the Nile in a restored dahabiya. Egypt, reimagined.