After a very difficult few years as travellers, we hope that 2023 will be the time to pick up the calendar and start looking at dates to fit in all the trips we have been dreaming about for so long.
Although we know that like any list, all the options are very subjective and depend a lot on each one of us, we wanted to make a list of what we think are some of the 10 best trips for 2023, with all the practical information to organise them in the most comfortable and safe way, without missing anything important in each country or region you visit.
Bear in mind that these destinations have been chosen from various points of view, but at no time have we assessed the global health situation we are currently experiencing or the current health situation of each of the countries in particular, so choosing them or not for a future trip will depend entirely on the evolution of the pandemic in the coming months.
For the time being, we keep dreaming and crossing our fingers that this year will bring us some of the best trips for 2023.
1. Colombia
Colombia, located in the far north of South America, has everything a traveller dreams of finding in a country. Incredible natural landscapes, archaeological sites, beautiful colonial towns and cities as well as areas and islands perfect for relaxing on idyllic beaches after a long journey.
During a 3 week tour around the country, in which you can combine bus transfers with plane and car hire to get lost in areas such as the Eje Cafetero, you will get to know many of the must-see places in Colombia, including incredible places such as the Cocora Valley, Cartagena de Indias, Guatapé, the Tatacoa Desert or San Agustín, among many others.
We know that one of the concerns of many tourists when travelling to Colombia is the issue of security. In our case, and after more than a month travelling around the country, we can assure you that at no time did we have any setback or feeling of insecurity, although, of course, you should always have common sense and in cities like Bogotá or Medellín, move around the most touristic areas.
The best time to travel to Colombia is between December and March and July to August.
Colombia
2. New Zealand
New Zealand is one of those unique destinations in the world where you can enjoy nature in its wildest state and landscapes of extreme beauty, which we are sure will leave you speechless.
Prepared to the smallest detail to travel on wheels, we can't forget that this is one of the best motorhome trips in the world, although New Zealand is also known for being a quiet and very safe country.
To complete this list of must-see places to visit in New Zealand, we recommend a 3 to 4 week tour of the two islands, starting on the North Island and then crossing by ferry to the South Island.
The best months to travel to New Zealand are between December and February, when it's summer, although if you're looking for cheaper prices we recommend autumn or spring.
Roys Peak
3. Greece
Greece, the cradle of today's Western civilisation, is another of the best trips for 2023. Although there are hundreds of combinations that you can make in the country, we recommend you to divide your trip into two very different, but no less spectacular, stages: Peninsular Greece and the Greek Islands.
The route through the peninsula usually starts in Athens, which has its great jewel in the Parthenon, and then travels through different archaeological sites of Ancient Greece such as Olympia, Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae and the incredible Delphi.
The finishing touch to this itinerary is the Monasteries of Meteora, located in stone giants over 600 metres high, which we are sure will leave you speechless.
Once you've left mainland Greece, you can take a ferry to spend a few relaxing days on some of the best Greek Islands, which form a great mosaic of colours with their turquoise waters and beautiful villages with whitewashed houses.
As well as getting to know all these must-see places in Greece, this trip will allow you to enjoy some of the best food in the world.
The best months to travel to Greece are May, June, September and October, when you can avoid the high temperatures and exorbitant prices of the high season.
Greece, one of the best trips for 2023
4. Japan
Japan is one of those countries that surprise and enchant in equal parts. A perfect combination of future and tradition, and without a doubt one of the best trips for 2023 in which you can do a complete tour of Japan, from Kyoto to Tokyo, in approximately 2-3 weeks, travelling by train.
This trip will take you to some of the country's major tourist attractions such as visiting the impressive temples of Kyoto, Takayama and Shirakawa-go as mountain destinations, the beautiful Miyajima Island, cities like Tokyo or Osaka or the impressive Himeji Castle.
In addition to all these places, Japan has an unbeatable gastronomy, including the best sushi and fresh fish in the world, ramen, sashimi, tempura or Kobe beef, which will take you to enjoy another journey, in this case focused on the palate and the senses.
We could say that any season is a good time to travel to Japan, as it is a country in which each season of the year marks a special moment for the country, although we believe that there are two special moments: spring with the spectacle of the cherry blossoms and autumn, when the colours become the undisputed protagonists of the trip.
Japan
5. Mexico
We could say that Mexico is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and also one of the best trips for 2023, as well as having one of the best cuisines on the planet.
A route through the country could start in its capital, Mexico City, and then travel by bus through some of the most beautiful colonial cities in the country, such as San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Zacatecas or Guadalajara.
This area, and in general the whole country, has a reputation for being dangerous, but after our experience travelling for a month and a half on our own, we have to say that at no time during the days we spent in Mexico did we have any sense of danger, in fact, we always moved around with our cameras and mobile phones in our hands and we felt completely safe. Moreover, from what we talked to several locals and sensed, the insecurity is centred more in the northern area and usually due to drug trafficking, so tourism, in general, is not affected.
After completing the visit to some of the colonial cities, a good option is to take a plane or bus to the Chiapas area to visit the beautiful San Cristóbal de las Casas and, of course, its surroundings.
And if you have more time in this Mexico on your own, you can visit Oaxaca or follow the route by rental car through the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, which include some of the best places to visit in Mexico, as in this more touristy area you will find spectacular ancient Mayan cities, fantastic cenotes and beaches with transparent waters where you can spend the last days of your trip in a relaxed way.
Any time of year is a good time to travel to Mexico, as the country is so vast that there are climatic variations from one area to another. In the southern part of the country, from May to September, it's usually quite hot and humid, while inland, from October-November to February-March, it's usually cooler.
Mexico
6. Iceland
Iceland is a landscape lover's paradise and another top trip of 2023. Driving around the island along Highway 1, stopping at the main tourist attractions, can take between 10 days and two weeks, although if you have less time, don't worry, with a week you can also plan a very complete tour, eliminating some of the more remote areas.
Something to bear in mind is that there is not much hotel infrastructure in Iceland, so it is very important to book in advance and to plan a trip in a motorhome or, if you go in the hottest season, in a tent.
During the days of the trip you will have the opportunity to do incredible trekking routes, walk along glaciers, see black sand beaches, volcanoes, the impressive glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón, waterfalls like Seldjalanfoss, Detifoss or Godafoss, see whales or puffins, be surprised by landscapes from another planet like those of Landmannalaugar or bathe in hot springs, surrounded by the wildest nature. Are you up for it?
The best time to travel to Iceland, if you want to visit the island in its entirety, is during the summer months, although any time is a good time to travel to Iceland, as long as the cold is not an impediment for you.
Iceland
7. Peru
Peru is another of the most visited countries and we are sure that it can be considered as one of the best trips for 2023. If you have about 3 weeks you can do a complete route from Lima to Cuzco and also include an end of the trip where you can relax for a few days in the area of Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, to enjoy the Amazon.
On this route through Peru, as well as being in awe of Machu Picchu, you can't forget to visit places like the Paracas National Reserve, the Ballestas Islands, the Huacachina Oasis, fly over the Nazca Lines, visit Arequipa, travel through the Colca Valley, stand on the roof of the world at Lake Titicaca or lose yourself in the Inca ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
The best time to travel to Peru is between September and November, and March to May, when the weather is pleasant and there is less tourism.
Peru, one of the best trips for 2023
8. South Africa
South Africa is one of the most diverse countries in the world and another of the best trips for 2023 that you can make.
In this amazing country you can enjoy natural landscapes that seem to be from another planet, see big cats like lions and leopards up close in its well-kept national parks and feel the great multicultural atmosphere of its big cities.
To get a complete picture of the country and see all the must-see places in South Africa, we recommend you take a rental car route from Cape Town to Johannesburg, passing through Swaziland, although depending on the time you have, some long stretches like the one from Port Elizabeth to Durban, you can do it by plane.
Although all the tourist spots in the Kruger Park are incredible, we recommend you spend at least 5 days in the park, which is practically essential time to enjoy the safaris with your private car, enjoying a unique experience in the world.
Any time is a good time to travel to South Africa, although in our experience, a good time is our autumn, when there are good conditions to see wildlife in the national parks and the whales come close to the coast.
Kruger National Park in South Africa
9. New York City
New York, known as the city of skyscrapers or the city that never sleeps, should always be among the best trips in 2023 as well as being a good choice for a few fun days out.
Although you'll enjoy the city for as many days as you go, we recommend a minimum of one week, which is enough time to get to know its endless leisure and cultural offer, as well as visiting its main tourist attractions such as Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park, among others.
During our 11-day trip to New York we completed this list of essential places to visit in New York and we liked the experience so much that we returned a few years later to spend almost two months living in a flat near Central Park, where we had the opportunity to get to know the city much more closely.
A tip that we think is very interesting, especially if it is your first time in the city, is to stay near Times Square or in the central area of Manhattan Island, which is where most of the points of interest are concentrated so you don't waste too much time travelling by underground.
Any time of year is the perfect time to visit New York, although in spring or autumn the parks are at their most beautiful and at Christmas, the city becomes magical.
New York City
10. Sri Lanka and Maldives
A trip to Sri Lanka and Maldives is the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation and another top trip for 2023.
Sri Lanka, the so-called Tearof India, offers incredible places and landscapes, as well as the possibility of taking one of the most beautiful train journeys between Ella and Nuwara Eliya. Add to that the historic sites of Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, the Dambulla Caves, Aukana, Polonnaruwa, a leopard safari in Yala, a stroll through endless tea fields in the Highlands or the wild beaches of the south, and Sri Lanka is a destination in capital letters. And if you add to that the friendliness of the people and their smiles, we're sure it's one of the best trips for 2023.
After touring Sri Lanka for a couple of weeks you can catch a plane from Colombo to the nearby paradise of the Maldives, the perfect place to leave your backpack, put on your swimming costume and flip-flops and just worry about enjoying the sun, beach, good food, diving, snorkelling and relaxing in the most incredible paradise you've ever dreamed of.
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka and the Maldives is from October to March, when you can avoid the monsoon.
Sri Lanka, one of the best trips for 2023