For seekers of wide-open spaces, adventures and culture, Mongolia has much to offer. The capital is teeming with people and unique attractions. Squeezed between Russia and China, Mongolia seems hard to reach given recent geopolitical events in its two large neighbors. But Mongolia's doors are open, and a tourism campaign has eased visa restrictions through 2025.

Highlights

• Hear the magical sounds of the Tumen-Ekh Ensemble, a traditional music group that performs in Ulaanbaatar nightly in summer.
• Try a traditional dinner of steamed dumplings prepared by a nomad family on the steppes.
• Get up close to the action at a countryside Naadam where local athletes compete for prizes in horse racing, archery and wrestling.
• Saddle up and ride into the mountains on a Mongolian horse, the breed that helped Chinggis Khaan conquer much of Eurasia.

Powdery white sand and cerulean-tinged waters are accurate descriptors for the island with an iron grip on the World's Best Honeymoon Destination designation. But recently, St Lucia tourism officials have consciously shifted attention to the island's cultural heritage, distinctive traditions and creative proclivities, an ideal experience for Carib-ophiles searching for something beyond the typical all-inclusive stay.

Highlights

• The best ice cream in St Lucia can be found at Au Poye Park on the Charles family estate in Fond Gens Libre.
• It's an unofficial tradition to pick up some creole loaves loaded with cheese or luncheon meat from Thomazo Local Bread, a roadside bakery, when driving through Dennery.
• The colorful beachfront oasis of Irie Bar in Gros Islet village, at the northern tip of the island, is a laidback respite offering cold drinks, flavorful food, and pure vibes.

With expanded parklands, a new president and plans for a new equity-minded constitution, change permeates the air across Chile – a country of salt flats, rainforests, volcanoes, glaciers and fjords. Chefs in Santiago are unlocking the potential of endemic ingredients. Vintners are finding more natural ways to make wine. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is imagining a sustainable future, while rewilding efforts in Patagonia are restoring biodiversity.

Highlights

• Hike the five-day W Trek through Torres del Paine, enjoying the epic mountainscapes of Patagonia's preeminent park.
• Taste Chile's signature grape, Carménère, at the opulent wineries of the Colchagua Valley.
• Scramble up volcanoes or across temperate rainforests before bathing in hot springs at Chile's adventure capital, Pucón.
• Get lost in the steep and colorful alleyways of Valparaíso, the plucky port city covered in street art.

Benin may be dwarfed by its neighbor to the east, Nigeria, but this bijou West African country punches above its weight in its charisma, history, and cultural power. Once the site of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey, it is also the spiritual home of voodoo, a fascinating and often misunderstood religion. Beat a path to Benin's palm-fringed beaches and some of the best national parks this side of the continent.

Highlights

• Join the spectacular Ouidah Voodoo Festival on January 10 every year – a ceremonial riot of dancing, colors and fetishes.
• Witness human tenacity in Ganvié village, the ‘Venice of Africa', built out on stilts in Lake Nokoué.
• Roam the savannah with some of West Africa's best wildlife in Parc National de la Pendjari: lions, elephants, cheetahs, and leopards.
• Get to the heart of the powerful Kingdom of Dahomey at Abomey, once home to iconic female warriors.

Reprint from Lonely Planet