Beirut, LeBanon

St PeterSBurg, ruSSia

Patagonia, ChiLe

Sri Lanka

iSraeL & the PaLeStinian territorieS

The “staycation” is so last year. With a dollar that’s Roger Ramjet-strong, there’s no better time to pack your bags and head for the hills/beach/5th century hill fortress… We quizzed travel experts on the new destination hot spots, so read on – and choose your own adventure. By Hanna Marton

the giLi iSLandS, indoneSia

BuenoS aireS ARGENTINA

MaChu PiCChu PERU

neW York CitY USA

neWCaStLe

CanBerra

WeLLington

White iSLand

kangaroo iSLand

iStria, Croatia

BeLfaSt, northern ireLand

CaPPadoCia, turkeY

LYon, franCe

the PhiLiPPineS

taLLinn, eStonia

great Barrier reef & the WhitSundaY iSLandS

the kingdoM of LeSotho

MadagaSCar

South korea

24coolest places

on earth

2011 travel hot list

116 WoMenSheaLthMag.CoM.au January 2011

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1 The Gili Islands, Indonesia “Mention Indonesia and most Aussies will think of Bali. But travellers ‘in the know’ have the three Gili Islands all to themselves. The palm-fringed beaches are sedate; there’s no cars or motorbikes to spoil the island mood. Party animals should head to Gili Trawangan, snorkellers and divers can explore Gili Meno and Gili Air is perfect for being lazy.”

2 Istria, Croatia “A taste of Tuscany sans crowds and inflated prices. The largest peninsula in the Adriatic is where continental Croatia meets the ocean. Blessed with a year-round mild climate, it’s got plenty of resorts to keep beach bums happy, while inland are rolling vineyards studded with villages, rural B&Bs and farmhouse restaurants. Istria is a foodie heaven.”

3 Cappadocia, Turkey “Cappadocia is rich with history and amazing, eroded rock structures dubbed ‘fairy chimneys’. Take a hot-air balloon for a bird’s-eye view. For culture, catch a whirling dervish ceremony in the 13th-century Sarihan caravanserai [a “caravan inn” in Avanos]. For history, there’s crumbling underground churches that date back to the 8th century. Tourists are starting to catch on, so hurry.”

4 Great Barrier Reef & the Whitsunday Islands “While this reef is undoubtedly well-known to locals, how many can really claim to have gone there? It’s quite accessible (but can be pricey) but snorkelling next to a bale of sea turtles is not something one easily forgets. Don’t be afraid to bypass the trashy port town of Airlie Beach en route to the Whitsunday (expensive) or Hook Islands (cheaper). Please observe responsible snorkelling and diving etiquette and sign up with an operator with good practices.”

5 Patagonia, Chile “Pack your GORE-TEX, sub-zero-degree sleeping bag and head to chilly Patagonia at the southern end of South America. Think glacial peaks, active volcanoes, icy tundra. The Chilean side is Patagonia’s lesser-visited; places such as Tierra del Fuego and the Torres del Paine promise adventure – imagine downing a Pisco Sour (grape-brandy cocktail) shaken with glacier ice with fellow hikers.”

6 St Petersburg, Russia “Bookworms will relish grand St Petersburg and its literary pit stops. Gogol, Dostoevsky and Turgenev lived along Nevsky Prospekt, while Pushkin’s house is a fascinating museum. Books not your bag? Imagine tsars living it up at the Winter Palace, or get spiritual at St Isaac’s Cathedral and the Church of our Saviour on Spilled Blood. Don’t forget to slug back some vodka with your blinis.”

7 The Kingdom of Lesotho “Small in size but big on charm, the Kingdom of Lestho – landlocked by South Africa – is blessed with lush valleys and steep mountain ranges. If you want an active holiday, take a hike to small villages and home-stays where welcoming locals provide genuine hospitality and warmth.” 8 South Korea “Last year almost 100,000 Aussies visited Korea. It’s chockas with scenery, ancient art, ornate architecture and abundant history. Stay in temples, sample fiery Korean specialties and view the Seoul skyline from Mt Namsan.”

9 The Philippines “The new Thailand. More than 7000 islands packed with natural wonders... head to Boracay for a true island getaway. The Philippines is culturally diverse, with more than 170 different dialects, a history of Spanish and American rule and people of Chinese and Malaysian descent.”

10 Madagascar “There’s no other place in the world like Madagascar, with mountains, rainforests and white, sandy beaches. Nature buff? The island protects an incredible number of endangered lemurs, rare plants and birds within its national parks. If pirate history is your thing, head to Foulpointe to see an authentic pirate cemetery.”

11 Israel & the Palestinian Territories “Regardless of faith, this region is fascinating. The nightlife of Tel Aviv, the charming gardens of Haifa, the religious icons of Jerusalem... plus natural beauty, historical sites and great spiritual importance (obviously). My tips: take a cruise on the Sea of Galilee and read a book while floating in the salty Dead Sea.”

Shawn Low, Lonely Planet’s asia-Pacific travel editor

Meg Koffel, Pr Manager for intrepid travel

THE GUIDE GURU THE OPERATOR

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

12 MaChu PiCChu, Peru

this year marks the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of the lost city of the incas. Join inspired adventure’s expedition to Machu Picchu in May and raise funds for cancer research (inspiredadventures. com.au/curecancer).

14 neW York, uS on September

11, 2011, a national memorial will be unveiled at the site of the World trade Centre: six-acres of trees and nine-metre deep waterfalls. “With the strong aussie dollar, a visit to nYC is currently five to 10 per cent cheaper,” says Low.

13 BuenoS aireS, argentina

get your groove back. Lonely Planet’s Shawn Low recommends heading to this heady city – home of the tango – for the City dance Championships in May, or the tango festival and World Cup in august.

Head to the Americas in 2011 for some life-enriching events

WH POLL

When you go on holiday in

2011, you’ll be...*

31% going off-the- beaten track

24% doing

nothing

17%Shopping

13%getting

spiritual or pampered

12%trawling

galleries and museums

3%Volunteering

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Patricia Schultz, author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die (Workman, $29.95)

15 Belfast, Northern Ireland “Belfast is now a vibrant, hip city to rival Dublin (and only two hours away). On a riveting Black Cab tour you can see the remnants of “the Troubles” – the conflicts from the ’60s to the ’80s. 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sailing of the Titanic, built in Belfast boatyards: “It was fine when it left here!” the locals will tell you. Tourists are trickling in, so join the craic.”

16 Lyon, France “If Paris is where you love, Lyon is where you eat. In its prosperous heyday, the gastronomic capital of France was a silk and textile centre; the architecture is trés grand. Trawl endless casual and atmospheric bouchons and bistros, open round the clock. Peruse Croix-Rousse, Lyon’s hilltop bohemian quarter, or the Musée des Beaux Arts, one of the best art collections outside of Paris.”

17 Sri Lanka “It might be ‘India’s less popular little sister’, but Sri Lanka boasts attractions such as the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya – a giant 5th century fortress carved from a granite outcrop – and postcard-perfect beaches outside of Galle Fort. The annual Esala Perahera festival – held in July or August – is one of the most colourful in Asia. No wonder 2011 is Visit Sri Lanka Year.”

18 Beirut, Lebanon “The name evokes images of bombs and bullets, but Beirut – on the Mediterranean – is quickly reclaiming its reputation as the Paris of the Middle East. It boasts incredible new hotels, shops and waterside cafes: on the Corniche, graze on traditional mezze. Cosmopolitan Beirutis are known for their gracious Middle Eastern hospitality.”

19 Tallinn, Estonia “Tallinn’s medieval Old Town is protected by UNESCO. Directly on the Baltic and for centuries an important port, Tallinn is more open-minded and Scandinavian than its Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania. But visiting any of the former Eastern Bloc countries today is fascinating, especially Estonia – surprisingly off the tourist radar.”

20 Kangaroo Island “Off the coast of South Australia, it’s an oasis of hidden beaches, great regional food, wildlife (roos, koalas, seals), lighthouses and campgrounds,” says Elisabeth Knowles, editor of Australian Traveller. If you’re after a luxury stay, she recommends the awe-inspiring Southern Ocean Lodge (southernoceanlodge.com.au). 21 Canberra The recent opening of 11 permanent indigenous art galleries at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra makes a cultural pilgrimage to the nation’s capital well worth it. Want more? “Meet artists while they work on an art trip to the Tiwi Islands, 100km north of Darwin (www.tiwiart.com),” says Knowles.

22 Newcastle Lonely Planet nominated this NSW city as one of the world’s top 10 destinations in 2011, calling it “a unique blend of imagination, sophistication and laid-back surf culture”. Darby Street in Cooks Hill is a great place to head for brunch, then get off the beaten track and head to Redhead beach in the city’s south for waves sans the crowds. 23 Wellington Dubbed New Zealand’s “capital of cool”, Wellington has “gained a reputation not only for its fabulous scenery and movie-making capacity, but also its wealth of underground-style coffee houses, fabulous clothing shops and unique buildings,” says Vanessa Forsyth, director of NZ travel specialists Entirely Kiwi.

24 White Island “A live volcanic island, this is a hidden NZ gem that’s well worth a visit,” says Forsyth. “There are daily tours from just off Whakatane. The boat ride over is normally shared with dolphins, and when you arrive, the weird and wonderful sulphur crystals, steam and smoke mean it’s like visiting another planet.” wh

THE WRITER

SO HOT RIGHT NOW

TOP 5 AUSSIE & NZ HOLIDAYS

The newest travel trends

Experts pick the best domestic destinations for 2011

oVerLandWith eco-tourism spiking, we forecast a return to overland travel. (one Sydney to London flight equals 1.79 tonnes in Co2 . ouch.) “People are moving back to ‘slow travel’ – similar to the ‘slow food’ movement,” says Becky Last, Peregrine adventures’ asia destination Manager. the tour operator is introducing overland train journeys in Central asia in 2011: (peregrineadventures.com).

SPirituaLelizabeth gilbert (ok, and Julia roberts) has triggered an explosion in the women-only and spiritual retreat tour market. “i’ve been a strong advocate of these for years – there’s nothing like an extended retreat to clarify who you are and what’s important to you,” says WH stress less expert, dr Suzy green, who suggests the nan tien temple in Wollongong, nSW (nantien.org.au).

gaStronoMiCexpect to see a smorgasbord of foodie tours and festivals in 2011, thanks to the success of reality cooking shows. Some are staple, like Food Safari’s Maeve o’Meara’s tours throughout oz, Vietnam and the greek islands (gourmetsafaris.com.au). others are more “exotic”: in april, hawaii hosts the annual Spam Jam (spamjamhawaii.com), which pays homage to spiced ham in a can. Mmm.

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120 WoMenSheaLthMag.CoM.au January 2011