10 countries that should be on your itinerary
Article 50 has been triggered. So where should you head now your pound has been squeezed but your wanderlust hasn’t? The Guardian newspaper has compiled a list of 10 places where your sterling is strong and adventures abound. From countries firmly on the rebound, like Nepal, whose optimism and vibrancy is inspirational, to emerging destinations in the Balkans – still unusual, full of curiosities, but within easy reach of the UK, to quietly re-emerging tourist hotspots like Iran. It's great news for those paying in dollars too as everything is even better value than before. Take a look at the Guardians Top 10 and transform your 2017
Take a look at the Guardian's Top 10...
1. Nepal
“Pound for pound, Nepal is better value than Europe,” says Catherine Shearer of specialist cycle holiday experts H+I Adventures. The country has had a tricky few years that have featured Maoist insurgencies, royal massacres and a devastating earthquake, but Nepal has come roaring back. Travellers are reporting a sense of optimism and vibrancy that rubs off on visitors. “Democracy is on the rise,” reports Dr Claire Smith of York University’s Asia Research Network. “It is an inspiring moment to visit the country ... and the curries are delicious.” This is a country with a huge amount to offer: its mountain ranges, of course, but also a wealth of wildlife, temples, ancient towns and colourful culture.
2. South Africa
The UK is not the only economy suffering from own goals. South Africa has been riven with fights in parliament, corruption scandals and a slew of well-reported criminal cases, and the currency has not escaped the turmoil either. The rand has been volatile of late, but it has now settled at around ZAR 16 to the pound, making it a good value destination. Cape Town has been a perennial favourite, but interest in less well-known regions such as the Eastern Cape is growing. The coast of this province is a real gem, as are small desert towns such as Graaff-Reinet and Cradock, while the Drakensberg mountains offer world-class trekking in a true African wilderness. The real success stories, however, are the country’s revitalised cities: Johannesburg and Soweto are vibrant fun, while Durban has transformed its spectacular oceanfront from a seedy dive to a great multicultural playground.
3. Albania
Benefiting from being exotic, close to the UK, and outside the EU, Albania is a great option for independent travellers. It has spectacular mountain ranges, some quirky ancient towns and a fine stretch of unspoilt Adriatic coast. It also has a currency that remains good value against sterling. What you get with Albania is somewhere curious and unusual within easy reach, but without hordes of other visitors. Walk through the “Accursed Mountains” (more properly, part of the Dinaric alps) or take to the Via Egnatia, the old Roman road that once connected the Adriatic to the Black Sea. The bridges and cobbled ways have remained unchanged in over 2,000 years.
4. Bulgaria
Under-appreciated and largely unsung, Bulgaria is a magnificent country to spend time in. The spectacular mountains are ideal for self-guided hiking, there are wonderful churches and monasteries to visit, and there is plenty of good wine and food at affordable prices for those of us who earn in pounds. Look out for Plovdiv, a quaint old city with a Roman amphitheatre that makes for a star attraction with budget airline flight connections. Accessible from there are the Rhodope mountains with great hill walks and villages. Varna, on the Black Sea coast, is also interesting.
5. Colombia
There's an amazing variety of landscapes: the Andes, the Amazon rainforest, stunning deserts, the flatlands, several snow-capped mountains you can climb, a coffee region, plenty of colonial towns and vibrant cities. That all comes with a functional peace agreement, a devalued currency, and a dynamic culture. Highlights are the coffee-growing regions, Bogotá, Medellín and a host of gorgeous hill towns. With more species of birds than any other country, Colombia is set to be the ultimate destination for ornithologists. One mountain alone, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, boasts 20 unique species, and is also home to Teyuna, the Lost City, a potential rival for Machu Picchu.
6. Iran
Despite the continued frostiness between the US and Iran, many people are quietly getting on with investigating the idea of visiting one of the Middle East’s most fascinating destinations. With world-class historical sites such as Persepolis and astonishing cities such as Isfahan, plus a unique cuisine, fabulous gardens and a population eager for contact – for the most part – Iran is a tourist hotspot. There is a lot to surprise and astonish here, but the ancient cities are magnificent: Tabriz, Kerman, Mashhad, Yazd and Shiraz are all fascinating.
7. Namibia
The range of environment is spectacular with the rolling forests of the Caprivi, salt pans in Etosha national park, the sculpted deserts and weirdness of the Skeleton Coast. It is also a country where self-drive safaris can really work well. In the extreme south is the Fish River Canyon, a 160km-long, starkly beautiful valley. The canyon hike is one of Africa’s most popular for good reason: five days are normally needed to complete the 88km. For those classic wind-whittled red dunes, try Sossusvlei, where they tower over a salt pan.
8. Malaysia (Watch this space)
For almost a decade, Malaysia’s currency, the ringgit, has been pretty good value for British visitors, and yet arrivals there have been in decline, dropping 6.3% in 2015. This is explained in part by the two massive air disasters that befell Malaysia Airlines flights in 2014. Nevertheless, the country has a lot to offer: jungle hill stations, islands such as Tioman and the Perhentians and some excellent beaches. Over in Malaysian Borneo, the river trips and national parks of Sarawak and Sabah offer great wildlife opportunities, the highlights arguably being Gunung Mulu national park and, of course, the awesome Mount Kinabalu.
9. Kenya
Knocked back by terror attacks, Kenya’s tourist industry has suffered badly in recent years, with coastal resorts particularly badly hit. Nevertheless, things have quietened down and the majority of the country, away from the Somali border, is relatively peaceful. For anyone wanting to see Africa’s wildlife it remains the continent’s No 1 destination, and the safari has been revitalised in recent years by the work of the conservancy movement: community-business partnerships that bring real financial benefits to poor areas while preserving great wildlife and wilderness.
10. Serbia
While Croatia is starting to wonder how to cope with the huge number of visitors – cities such as Dubrovnik and Split are packed in summer – neighbouring Serbia remains the undiscovered gems of the Balkans. For cyclists and walkers, this is a glorious country: friendly villages, interesting history and good food and culture. Expect epic hospitality served with lashings of rakija (fruit brandy). Don’t miss Petrovaradin on the Danube (a great cycling or walking route follows the river), towns such as Niš, and mountainous parks such as Fruška Gora and Kapaonik, the “roof of Serbia”.
Article written by journalist Kevin Rushby - Monday 27 March 2017
