Aussie Island recognised in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel’ list

Aussie Island recognised in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel’ list

It’s that time of year again, folks. Time to get the low-down on the hottest places to travel for the year ahead.

That’s right, it’s the Lonely Planet Best in Travel list for 2020! And once again, Australia’s beautiful landscapes have been showcased as a must-see destination.

For the 15th year in a row, the iconic publication has asked everyone from its writers and editors to its authors and online communities to bring its readers a year’s worth of travel inspiration that promises to “to take travellers out of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences.”

This year’s winner on the best countries list has captured the hearts of sustainable travellers and sets an example for the rest of the world when it comes to tackling climate change. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan topped the list for its exclusivity, incredible efforts in becoming carbon neutral, and commitment to becoming the first fully organic nation by 2020. Not to mention its stunning scenery and mesmerising culture.

Tiger’s nest monastery, Bhutan

Next on the list of top countries was England, followed by North Macedonia, Aruba, eSwatini (Swaziland), Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Liberia, Morocco and Uruguay.

In terms of cities, Austria’s Salzburg took out the top spot just in time for its famous Salzburg Festival to turn 100! Dubbed the world’s greatest classical music gathering, the festival features opera, classical music and drama with this year promising to pull out all the stops. Washington DC in the USA was second on the list, followed by Cairo, Egypt, Galway Ireland, Bonn in Germany, Bolivia’s La Paz, Kochi in India, Vancouver, Canada, Dubai of the UAE and Denver, USA.

Live theatre scene on stage, Salzburg Festival

Australia got its chance to shine, with Lord Howe Island ranking 5th in top destinations for its remote, visually stunning, world heritage-listed beauty. First on the list was Central Asian Silk Road, followed by Le Marche in Italy, Japan’s Tōhoku, Maine in the USA, Lord Howe Island, China’s Guizhou Province, Cádiz Province, Spain, Northeast Argentina, Croatia’s Kvarner Gulf and the Brazilian Amazon.

Lord Howe Island

Finally, the best value list was topped by East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia, home to pristine beaches and breathtaking driving scenery. Hungary’s Budapest was also recognised for its value, followed by Madhya Pradesh in India, Buffalo, NY in the USA, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Tunisia, South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Athens in Greece and Zanzibar in Tanzania.

Wae Rebo Village, Flores Indonesia

Go here to see the full list.

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