Monday, January 23, 2012

12 Holiday Destinations for 2012

From Burma to Muscat, we reveal the 12 destinations to look out for in 2012. They include such stopping places as the cultural honeypot of Northern Portugal, the rail heritage of the Balkans, and the new cultural and luxury attractions of The Falklands and Cambodia. Click through for our edit of the crème de la crème of journeys that will make your 2012 travels your most memorable yet.

1. NORTHERN PORTUGAL – FOR EUROPEAN CULTURE

Northern Portugal is well known for its winning combination of fine wine and rustic cuisine, with numerous port–wine lodges lining the Douro Valley. But next year it's culture, not port, taking the limelight. The northern city of Guimarães, the first capital of Portugal, is the new European Capital of Culture. Its Unesco World Heritage–listed medieval streets, with their well–preserved monuments, ooze history. Combine it with Porto for a twin–center break and see the striking modernist design of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art.

2. BURMA – FOR ASIA AS IT USED TO BE

Following the call by pro–democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the return of tourism, global tour operators are moving back into Burma. Itineraries typically take in Rangoon (Yangon), the former capital of Mandalay and Inle lake, offering a glimpse of lost–in–time Asia and devout Buddhist communities. The luxurious Road to Mandalay river cruiser, operated by Orient–Express, sets sail from the ancient capital Bagan, which is studded with over 2,000 pagodas and best viewed at sunrise from a hot–air balloon.

3. THE FALKLANDS – FOR A HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY

Cruise passengers and wildlife fans have already discovered the 740 islands that make up the Falklands archipelago. Next year, however, marks the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, and a new generation of visitors will be looking for history-rich, seasonal trips (from October to April). To explore the legacy of the 1982 conflict, visit the Falkland Islands Museum and the tribute at Stanley's Liberation Memorial. Local guides share their memories at places familiar to those who remember the conflict, notably Goose Green and Mount Tumbledown.

4. URUGUAY – FOR AN EMERGING DESTINATION

It may not be the first thought for winter sun, but this small South American country is one to watch. The capital, Montevideo, comes alive each spring for the world's longest carnival, a 40-day celebration of Afro-Uruguayan culture. Montevideo is also attracting visitors away from the traditional resort area of Uruguay, the beaches of the Punta del Este. Two new five-star properties, the Pestana Montevideo Hotel and the Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco and Spa, recently opened in the city. But if you are heading for the beach, opt for the new Fasano Las Piedras, a luxury resort with 32 bungalows, a golf course, and a destination spa.

5. CAMBODIA – FOR LUXURY HOTEL OPENINGS

Cambodia has lagged behind Asian neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, but a slew of new hotels is raising its profile. The Plantation, opening in November in Phnom Penh, is a cluster of converted Forties colonial-style buildings set in a tropical garden close to the Royal Palace. Heading north to Siem Reap, visitors to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat will be able to relax in style at the 35-room Shinta Mani from November, and December sees the opening of Cambodia's first private-island resort, Song Saa, on the undiscovered Koh Rong Archipelago.

6. FINLAND – FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

NASA, no less, has tipped this winter as being the best for hunting the Northern Lights in more than half a century. Also known as the aurora borealis, this year's lights season (until March 2012) favors remote Nellim in Finland, where light pollution does not affect visibility. With dates selling out months in advance, Aurora Zone has added six additional trips for winter 2012. Specialist operators offer light–chasing excursions by dog sled, snowmobile, and minibus.

7. THE BALKANS – FOR RAIL HERITAGE

With several destinations in the Balkans recently celebrating 20 years of independence, the region is emerging as a hot destination in its own right. Explore by heritage rail to get closer to the countryside – highlights include tranquil Lake Bled, Slovenia, emerging Montenegro, and the white-stone palaces of Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. For rail fans, one of Europe's most spectacular pieces of railway engineering is the renowned Sargan Eight at Mokra Gora, Serbia, a narrow gauge railway with a series of hairpins, spirals, and a figure-of-eight loop. The train runs twice daily from mid-April to mid-October.

8. TANZANIA – FOR A NEW KIND OF FAMILY TRIP With the 50th anniversary of independence due to be celebrated on December 9, 2011, Tanzania is busy upgrading its infrastructure for visitors, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in the country's largest city, Dar es Salaam. For a grassroots family experience that combines the chance to learn practical skills with a classic African adventure, new photography trips showcase the natural beauty of the landscape.

9. TASMANIA – FOR CULTURE AND NATURE

Tasmania is making all the running down under with the opening earlier this year of the landmark Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Australia's largest private museum, in the state capital, Hobart. Its extension, The Library, added a huge book collection, as well as a gallery space and a research and reading area. Visitors can overnight at the MONA Pavilions, or head for one of the chic new boltholes along the coast. And for a brush with a genuine Tasmanian devil, the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals has a new enclosure of indigenous wildlife.

10. NORTH–WESTERN INDIA – FOR TRANQUILITY

Direct flights to Amritsar have boosted interest in north-western India, and the newly opened Duronto Express train links Amritsar to Chandigarh, where new hotels operated by Taj and Sheraton are due to open in 2012. The situation in Kashmir is more peaceful these days and Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's tranquil home, remains an oasis of spiritual calm.

11. MUSCAT – FOR THE BEST NATURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

For an eye-opening view of the Middle East, visit Muscat. The Omani capital boasts spectacular coasts, rocky mountains, and a newly renovated corniche alongside stunning forts and parks that mix the country’s heritage with a surprisingly nature-rich land amongst neighboring desert oases.

12. ISLA MUJERES – FOR A BEACH RETREAT

Mexico’s southern coast features some of the most tropical beaches known to mankind. Unwind on Isla Mujeres’ tranquil – yet lively – shores, and alternate your days whiling away on a lounge bed by the beach with such activities as snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors should beware, though: the pounds pack on as the Mexican fare is simply irresistible.

written by DAVID ATKINSON and HALEH NIA