[imagesource: Flickr]

Yissus, but have you seen the price of flights lately?

Don’t look, it’s a crying shame.

Lonely Planet has just revealed the best travel spots for the new year so if you do intend to take a flight at some point in 2023, you better get booking now.

The travel guide has listed 30 places to inspire you, each with a carefully crafted itinerary designed to “help you dream, plan and go to the places that will be buzzing in the year ahead”.

The list of itineraries, curated by local experts, is sorted by trip type – eat, journey, connect, learn, or unwind – and intended to help you find your next adventure based on what you’re most keen on.

South Africa is featured under the ‘Eat’ category, which is lekker:

Complementing its internationally known (and loved) vineyards, South Africa’s new generation of chefs is propelling the country’s culinary scene forward making it a destination to visit not just for wine, but food as well.

The itinerary includes a seven-day culinary journey that highlights SA’s coastline, Winelands, and fine dining scene across the board.

All the best places are there, including La Colombe, Chef’s Warehouse, FYN, and more.

Alongside that comprehensive food adventure, the publication also notes the top 15 things to do outside of restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Naturally, spotting the Big Five in our wildlife parks comes in as number one, an experience lauded time and time again as the best possible thing to add to your bucket list.

The wildflowers at Little Namaqualand, the numerous hikes up Table Mountain, the Cape Winelands, the Wild Coast, land-based whale-watching, the Karoo, the Garden Route, the Blue Train, and a little bit of Johannesburg and Durban are featured too.

I am feeling a little less petulant about the fact that November arrived without my booking an affordable flight outside of the country for the holidays. We clearly have a lot to explore and relish right here.

Planning to bounce for the year ahead is still an option, though. Check out Lonely Planet’s Winning Destinations From Best In Travel 2023:

Eat

• Lima, Peru

• Umbria, Italy
• Fukuoka, Japan
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• South Africa

Journey

• Nova Scotia, Canada

• Bhutan
• Parques Nacionales Naturales Colombia
• Istanbul to Sofia Train
• Western Australia
• Zambia

Connect

• Accra, Ghana

• Albania
• Sydney, Australia
• Guyana
• Boise, USA
• Alaska, USA

Learn

• New Mexico, USA

• El Salvador
• Dresden, Germany
• Marseille, France
• Manchester, United Kingdom
• Southern Scotland

Unwind

• Jordan

• Dominica
• Halkidiki, Greece
• Jamaica
• Malta
• Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Go dabble in more of the videos, curated itineraries, and pictures of all these places here.

[source:lonelyplanet]