2025 Travel wish list

Looking for travel inspiration for the year ahead? We ask our team of international editors what's on their radar

BHUTAN KHURSHEED MISTRY CONSULTING EDITOR, BUSINESS TRAVELLER INDIA

THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN has long captured my imagination, earning a coveted spot on my travel bucket list for its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, inherent spirituality and commitment to sustainability.

This scintillating Himalayan gem embodies old-world tranquillity and is renowned for its breathtaking mountains, lush valleys and serene monasteries. Not to mention, the country's commitment to Gross National Happiness ensures visitors are able to appreciate its unique way of life.

One of Bhutan's most captivating aspects is its colourful festivals, or tshechus, which showcase the country's rich heritage and spirituality. The Paro Tshechu, celebrated in spring, is particularly alluring with its mesmerising mask dances, traditional music and the grand unveiling of the sacred thangka (silk painting).

Bhutanese cuisine and local flavours also excite me I can't wait to try the national dish, ema datshi - a spicy cheese and chilli dish, alongside other delicious offerings like momos and red rice.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND NICK GOODYER EDITOR, BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC

I'M DRAWN TO REMOTE ISLANDS. What I like about them is they're always slightly quirky and decidedly different from the countries that own them.

Christmas Island (the Indian Ocean one) is chiefly famous for its annual mass migration of crabs, which makes it a hit with David Attenborough and other TV naturalists. It's also a haven for seabirds, and the guano deposits that have built up over millennia have resulted in a lucrative phosphate mining operation. The diving is spectacular, as you'd expect in pollution-free waters, and the beaches are also incredible - if a car is parked on the track, you drive on and find a deserted one. Not that there are many tourists - the island only gets about 3,000 visitors a year.