The world is waiting for you to explore. Where will you go next? Our editors pick four exciting destinations for the year ahead. Grab your bags and go!
Maldives
Reason to visit: Explore islands on the front lines of climate change
What to know: Maldives is the lowest-lying country on the planet and may disappear in decades due to the rising sea level. So forward-thinking green actions are a matter of survival. The Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve helps protect the Maldives' coral reefs, which support many coral and fish species, as well as sea turtles, whale sharks, and other animals living in the ocean.
Tasmania, Australia
Reason to visit: Go to an island that's wild and beautiful
What to know: Once considered a backwater (闭塞的地方), Tasmania is now one of Australia's fastest-growing tourism destinations. The key to the attraction of Australia's southernmost state is its natural beauty, which owes largely to the lasting green spirit of about half a million residents there.
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Reason to visit: Jump through the Ring of Fire
What to know: Extending into the sea between the Japanese and Aleutian archipelagoes (群岛),Kamchatka is part of the Ring of Fire, the chain of volcanoes. And six separate areas of Kamchatka Peninsula are included in the Volcanoes of Kamchatka UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Guizhou Province,China
Reason to visit: Step into villages almost untouched by time
What to know: The mountainous region's plentiful water and cool climate are draws for Apple, Huawei, and other tech powerhouses. This has improved access to the entire province. In Guizhou's villages, days unfold at a slow pace and people continue farming and textile (纺织品) traditions, which have been practiced since the sixth century. And you can experience this kind of life yourself.
