Culture Trip's Top Five Destinations for 2024

If something new is what you’re after then the list of options goes on in Morocco. The gateway to North Africa is a thrillingly unique destination, with a remarkably diverse array of both natural landscapes and urban areas. If we have to narrow it down to three, we’ll go for the surreal blue town of Chefchaouen, sitting pretty in the Rif Mountains, the bustling city of Marrakech and the towering Atlas Mountains. From the street performers of Jemaa el-Fnaa to the quaint Berber Villages of the High Atlas and magical Islamic architecture embellished with blue, this nation always has something to offer. Our extensive 11-day tour of the country includes a day trip to Chefchaouen, hiking and a Berber lunch in the Atlas Mountain and two days exploring the foodie delights of Marrakech. That’s not all, either, you’d also get to explore Casablanca, Fes and the Sahara – including a luxury desert camping experience, capped off with a serene sunrise camel ride.

We firmly believe that Scotland rivals any country in Europe when it comes to natural beauty. The landscapes here are rugged and at times brutal – certainly in the winter – but within that brutality lies a majestic beauty. Be that from the soothing sight of a glassy loch, reflecting the image of surrounding hilltops, or the sense of magic tangible within seemingly untouched Highland woodlands. That’s not to mention the striking coastal beauty of the Hebrides, full of epic islands and wild beaches. The best way to bask in the beauty of the Scottish Highlands is without doubt from the comfort of a train carriage, gently carving through the craggy countryside. That’s how you’ll get to experience it on our weeklong Rail Trip, which features multiple locomotive experiences, including the Caledonian sleeper from London to Fort William and the iconic Jacobite steam train, across Glenfinnan Viaduct and all the way west to Mallaig. In the process you’ll stop off on the Isle of Skye and in the Cairngorms, while two pretty cities in the form of Inverness and Edinburgh provide a little bit of urban bliss.

Japan, as a destination, is pretty evergeen. The history is fascinating, the modernity spellbinding and the natural beauty unending. That said, no major tourist destination took longer to open up post-pandemic than the Land of the Rising Sun, and the backlog of interest meant that visiting Japan in 2023 was logistically tricky and very expensive. We expect things to get back to normal a bit next year, so if you’ve been waiting on a big adventure in the Far East – perhaps your dream vacation was taken from you in 2020 – then this might just be the year to do it. Our 12-day Rail Trip utilises the incredible Bullet Train network to cover a vast swathe of the country, starting with Osaka, Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. The trip ends in Tokyo, shortly after excursions to the Japanese Alps, Hakone and Lake Ashi, but nothing tops Kyoto when it comes to quaint, classic Japan. This city might just be the prettiest on Earth, and you’ll get to explore its ancient streets midway through our tour. Wander through the nearby Arashiyama bamboo forest, visit the city’s most iconic sights on a gentle walking tour and experience Kyoto by night with a guided geisha district tour.

The Mekong connects the heartlands of eastern China to the southern reaches of Vietnam, carving through much of Southeast Asia in the process. That makes it one of the most epically beautiful river routes on the planet and, for our money, you’ll struggle to find a more mesmerising stretch than the Laos leg. That’s where you’ll find the remarkable sacred caves of Pak Ou and, nestled within the surrounding jungle, the famous Kuang Si Falls. It’s also where you’ll discover the charming city of Luang Prabang and, a little further off the beaten path, the rural village of Ban Baw, which specialises in the production of rice whisky. You’ll visit all of the above on our Thailand and Laos Rail Trip, which includes an unforgettable river cruise down the Mekong itself.

Egypt has never strayed far from the bucket-list conversation, not for centuries, but there has been a sense of stuffiness associated with the land of the Pharaohs in recent times. Boring and unoriginal, we get it, but travel tends to come round in cycles and we think that Egypt will be re-energised as a destination with the imminent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Situated close by to the Pyramids and the Sphinx, this will only increase the already-insane richness of sightseeing fun found in Giza. You’ll get to visit this holy trinity of Ancient Egypt on our eight-day tour, which goes from Cairo and Giza and down the Nile to Luxor and Aswan, with a luxury river cruise, kayaking experience and multiple other slices of ancient history included.