What are the 12 best bucket list destinations for 2026? — featuring Suitcase Monkey

0:00 In the hope of adding to your travel bucket list for the coming year, this is a video of my 12 absolute favorite places on Earth and why one day they might become yours, too. The only caveat I want to add is that unlike the many AI best countries to visit YouTube videos out there, which do cover all of the

0:17 world, but with madeup thoughts and stock footage, this is all humanmade and human experienced. So, there are obviously large parts of the world I haven't yet filmed, and I'll mention those still on my wish list nearer to the end. So in no particular order, let's begin. The temple ruins of Anchor, Cambodia,

0:41 are all that remain of 500 years of the most prosperous and largest city of the pre-industrial era and simply took my breath away. Although mostly known for Ankor Watt, this is in fact just one temple out of 72 and I spent two entire days here exploring 12 of its best. So what does a visit here actually look

1:01 like? Well, you can witness a sunrise over its main attraction, a private tuk tuk taking you from one temple to the next, then forging your own path on foot. It's a sense of self-guided discovery I haven't felt anywhere else. The good news is that CMreap, the place where most people stay to visit Anchor,

1:19 is also a great destination with a bunch of other day trips to make the journey really worth it. I'll be making a full travel vlog about CM Reap and Anchor in a few months time. So, please stick around for that video once it's ready. The best months to visit Cambodia are November to April during its dry season.

1:43 Picking a favorite spot from our two-week tour along the Canadian Rocky Mountains is like choosing your favorite child. But since we don't have any kids, I can say quite easily it's Marine Lake. What often feels like God playing with an early access Photoshop just before the subscription cost, it's hard not to

1:59 feel slightly overwhelmed. What did allow me to confidently add this area to the list though is that 20 minutes up the road, you also have Lake Louise. The Grand Fairmont Hotel also adds some fancy dining and warmth. And then most importantly, my favorite hike during this trip, climbing up to the Lake Agnes

2:19 Tea House. While still a moderate trek, the combination of ice and a gaining altitude of 7,000 ft made the reward of reaching our final destination even more worth it. Not just for the picturesque setting, but the promise of hot tea. Something that's been served here for 120 years. What can I say? I'm English.

2:37 I I like a cup of tea. I should say as usual that all locations stayed and activities shown here are linked via the video description or QR code for a single cheat sheet with everything listed for your convenience. This area is best accessed from midJune to midepptember. And beyond Lake Louise, a

2:55 trip to this part of Canada also offers so many stunning vistas from B in the south to Jasper further north. And you might even be as lucky as we were with some fantastic encounters along the way. Japan is my favorite country to visit and if I had to choose one place to

3:20 represent the country as a whole, it would be Miaima Island near Hiroshima and that's because of its iconic O Tori gate. A rare landmark that exceeded my expectations. It's just so special to experience in person. With this area itself considered holy, the shrine specific position makes it a protector

3:38 over sacred lands. A job is kept for 1,400 years. There's a piece here that glued us to this spot for a couple of hours. The tide rising, the sun setting, your view changing over time. But beyond the Otori Gate, the island's local residence will also keep you happy. There's a cable car or hike up to the

3:57 island's peak of 500 m, and just wandering around its streets is enough to keep you busy for a whole afternoon. If time allows, I'd also advise spending an evening in one of the islands riokans. Once the final ferry departs, only a fraction of visitors remain, which I think would be a very special

4:14 circumstance and one I'd love to try for a repeat visit. Japan is largely a yearround destination with each season offering something different, and I promise it's less expensive than people assume. I've done loads of deep dives on Japan for this channel, so check out any of those for a million ideas on what to

4:32 do. Finland is known as the happiest place on earth. And why wouldn't they be with Father Christmas being a registered voter? But its northern region making up part of the Arctic Circle is sparssely populated. And our two days here in the wilderness of Lapland ticked off so many bucket list items. The grounds of the

4:55 area we were staying was taken straight out of a winter wonderland. But it was our accommodation that solidified this as an experience I won't ever forget. There's something bizarrely special about staying in a glass igloo. Being all snug in bed whilst keeping an eye out for the northern lights above is

5:12 both relaxing and exciting at the same time. And even though we were unlucky that night, it was still a great experience in itself. Lapland is best visited between December and March if you're looking for something similar. And the trip here can also include reindeer rides, breaking ice across the

5:28 Baltic Sea, and of course, meeting the OG, which was admittedly more exciting than it probably should have been for a grown man. The Sahara Desert stretches across 11 different countries in Africa, but it's in Morocco where I want to focus my next highlight. The world's most famous sandy

5:49 landscape is on this list because spending a night here is stunningly unique. Depending on what package or hotel you book, the whole experience is usually accompanied by a bunch of memorable moments. Either a picture perfect camel ride taking you over the beyond or maybe even a 4x4 jeep skimming

6:06 you over the dunes. But it's finding a campsite you can call home that truly makes the distance traveled all the more worth it. Typically taking a page from the glamping book. It's the perfect mix of having just enough home comforts that you feel protected, but you're still in the wilderness long enough that you can

6:23 feel like Tom Hanks charging his phone. But make no mistake, you are very much off the grid here. In the same way that being surrounded by mountains can give you a sense of your small place on Earth, so does a seemingly endless desert. And of course, sunsets here are hard to beat, as are its starry skies.

6:41 and even more so indulging in some local music, dancing around an open fire. It all taps into some primeval instinct that's rarely awakened, but man, it feels good when it is. The best time to visit are the spring or autumn months, which avoids the worst of the blistering heat. And a trip to

7:01 Morocco can also include the bustling city of Marrakesh, waterfall climbs, steam baths, and hikes through open valleys. Slovenia, located just northeast of Italy, is such a small country that the places I'm about to go through are all within a 60 to 90 minute drive, but somehow offer so much variety. Its

7:25 northwestern quarter packs in Lake Bled and Lake Boheen, both offering stunning views, one very much being the height of tourism for the country and the other feeling like a hidden oasis. But this region of the country also makes up the southeastern tip to the Alps mountain range. So it also brings countless

7:43 hiking trails, long winding rivers, and impressive gorgees. There's the beautiful Bura Wine region, often referred to as the Tuskanyany of Slovenia, and the adrenaline junky town of Bovette, complete with what's proclaimed to be Europe's largest zipline. And remember, these are all

7:58 within one 75 km hot spot, making this the most jam-packed area in this video. Slovenia is best visited from the warmer months of late spring to early autumn where its countryside is more open and accessible. There are still six more of my favorite destinations to share in this video, but

8:17 when booking a holiday to any of these, the large upfront payment of the flight itself can put pressures on your spending. So, for the times you're unable to commit to such a large cost so far in advance, I wanted to put Pay Later Travel, the sponsor for this video, as a great way to get you where

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9:20 to get a $25 discount off your flight booking and lock in your next holiday. Iceland is one of my favorite European destinations, but its best bits are pretty widely spread out. So, if I had to focus on just one area, it would be its capital, Recuik, as it's the easiest to reach with loads on its doorstep.

9:44 Starting with the city itself, it's one of the most compact capitals in the continent, being able to walk its city center within 15 minutes end to end. The food here was always great quality. Its people some of the friendliest, and overall, it just feels like a country that's figured it all out. But within

10:01 easy access, you also have three different hotring lagoons. The most famous being the Blue Lagoon along with healing mineral waters, face masks, and a drink or two along the way. If this is too touristy for you, then a road trip can take you to much quieter ones, whether they be of the commercial

10:17 variety, or even more natural if you prefer. A full day trip will also take you across its golden circle, known for one of the country's most impressive waterfalls, open wide craters, and a Giza that erupts regularly enough to have you sticking around for just one more go. If you're wanting to visit

10:34 Iceland for walking and enjoying the longest daylight, then I'd recommend the months of June to early September. The country of Laos, sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, hits the sweet spot of being just enough developed for visitors, but still with its own ruggedness and sense of self, all whilst

10:58 costing a lot less than its neighboring countries and with much less crowds. I'll eventually be releasing a full 7 days travel vlog of my time here. But for this list, I wanted to add Vang Viang. What once started as a popular stop for backpackers decades ago, Vangviang still rests peacefully within

11:14 its valley setting. Its most well-known attraction is the world's best natural lazy river, lasting anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on how often you stop at the riverside bars along the way. Yes, it's a health and safety issue waiting to happen, but it has quietened down a lot since its problematic party

11:32 years from 2012. As the area has matured, so has its list of activities to keep you busy, such as numerous gorgeous lagoons for swimming, kayaking if you prefer wearing a life jacket on the river, a healthy amount of really good dining options, and it's also becoming known as something of a hot air

11:49 balloon destination. Best visited in the dry season of November to April, the full travel vlog where I have a lot more to say about Vangvien along with the capital Vienten and the beautiful UNESCO city Luan Prabang will be out in the coming months. So definitely stay tuned for that once it's ready.

12:14 The country of Jordan has so much to offer, but the ancient city of Petra, one of the new seven wonders of the world, is undoubtedly its highlight. Stretching across 100 square miles, this massive landscape was the capital for the Nabotans 2,000 years ago and is the only thing that comes close to Anker

12:32 Watt. The sheer scale to which they were able to carve a city out of sandstone is mindbending with the Treasury, an elaborate tomb being its most famous centerpiece and a remarkable mixture of nature and craftsmanship. No wonder it became the fictional home to the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last

12:51 Crusade. Best discovered when Petra opens at 6:00 a.m. We booked a hotel just a few minutes away, which allows two different hikes before the sun hits its peak. The first is towards the monastery, which was my personal favorite since it was much less crowded and felt a lot more earned following the

13:08 long but manageable trek. But it was the second hike which admittedly almost gave me a heart attack that allowed for the postcard picture shot and the cherry for the day. A truly special and memorable experience. This is hard to beat. Jordan is best visited during the spring and autumn months and also offers an

13:26 incredibly buoyant Dead Sea, a busy capital city, another unforgettable night in the desert, and a surprisingly impressive collection of Roman ruins. Whilst I definitely age beyond the party life of Couta in Bali, and don't worry, Couta is nowhere near this list. We do though absolutely love the town of Ubud.

13:47 I know it's easy to knock this island for its over tourism in general. But whilst I can appreciate the more authentic places covered in this video, I can also enjoy a town of boutique cafes and restaurants all set amongst a gorgeous backdrop. What once gained traction as a popular spot for yoga, I

14:04 entered with the energy of a downward-facing dog, but instead left half a kilogram heavier. But Uber does still possess a sense of calm and its relative maturity makes it perfect for solo female travelers or couples. So we really settled into a relaxed life during our short stay. And yes, some of

14:22 this is just surface level tourist stuff, but we never found it insincere. The hospitality in Ubud was amongst the best we received in all of Southeast Asia with locals frequently starting friendly chitchat. Surrounded by rice fields, our ebikes gave us easy access to its slightly farther surroundings.

14:39 But even a 30inut morning stroll from the town center gave us one of our favorite breakfasts of the year. The dry season here runs from April to October. I could quite happily live on the island of Madiraa in Portugal. That is if 52% of people hadn't made it much harder for

15:05 me to do so. In general, MadiRaa is great as a European winter escape given its latitude equals that of North Africa, but still only a few hours away by air. Fchal is a unique capital, and driving around the small island makes all of its sights incredibly reachable within one or two hours. The island is

15:24 largely known for its hikes, though, with countless well-maintained paths running all over. But our favorite moment was here at an 18,800 meters peak where catching a sunrise was remarkable. It is a popular spot, but we did find that there's enough room for everyone to find their own space. For hikers who

15:43 don't have a car, there are services that can pick you up at your hotel, drop you off at the start, and then collect you at the end 5 hours later. Or if you want a more relaxed hike, you can stop at the nearby car park as we did and just walk as much of the trail as you like, returning whenever you're ready.

16:00 So, it's pretty accessible either way. May to August will give you the least rainfall, but in general, Madiraa is a great year round destination. Located in the northern mountains of Thailand, Chiang Mai is easily my favorite city in the country and only an hour's flight from Bangkok.

16:17 Unfortunately, I don't have much footage of our time here as I was trying to live life without a lens. But I literally haven't met anyone who's visited Chiang Mai and didn't love it. It's 1 and a half square mile old city is packed with temples, lovely cafes, and our favorite collection of night markets we've ever

16:34 visited in one location. An hour's drive away, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to elephant sanctuaries, which you can either visit as a day trip or even stay overnight, caring for the animals after being rescued. November to January are the best months to visit, and the country obviously offers heaps of

16:52 activity around Bangkok and its famous beaches. But my personal low-key other favorite is Kottowo, a tiny island known for having the highest concentration of diving schools in the world and where I was lucky enough to swim with a whale shark on only my fourth dive. So yeah, that was fun.

17:13 As mentioned at the start, I appreciate there are lots of places I haven't been able to showcase here. And that's partly because some areas are just more conveniently reached to from London or even that I visited those parts of the world in my prefilming years and I'm just favoring to visit new destinations

17:29 now over repeat visits. So, here are some places that are still very much on my future radar. Coming up over the next few months on the channel, we recently had a great trip to Venice and Lake Ko in Italy, as well as the aforementioned Cambodia and Laos, which I actually did those as solo trips. I may actually

17:47 start doing slightly more solo stuff for the channel, as it allows me to separate the more intense suitcase monkey filming from our own personal holidays and keep those more for ourselves. Not completely, just a little more of a balance. But genuinely, thank you so much for continuing to enjoy our videos

18:04 over the years. It really does mean more to me than you know, and I wish you the best for your future travels. I hope we can in some small way continue to give you ideas for where to visit next. So, do please let me know what are your favorite parts of the world? Anywhere I should be adding to my bucket list

18:21 specifically. And with that, as ever, thank you for watching. Suitcase monkey.