Uncharted
Where We’re Dreaming of Traveling
01 Visit an Indigenous Lodge
British Columbia, Canada The “Serengeti of North America,” as Desolation Sound is known, has an abundance of massive wildlife from grizzly bears to orca whales to bald eagles. Experience the region most authentically at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, a new Indigenous-owned-andoperated luxury eco-resort offering a secluded retreat with guided excursions in one of the largest temperate rainforests on Earth.
02 Ride from the Rockies to the Red Rocks
Colorado and Utah
Explore some of the southwest’s most spectacular landscapes on a luxury glass-domed train on Rocky Mountaineer’s new two-day “Rockies to the Red Rocks” route. You’ll wind through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to Moab’s natural arches, stopping in Glenwood Springs overnight, with enough time to soak in the hot springs.
03 The Great American E-bike Trip
California to Georgia Consider a human-powered road trip with an epic cycling adventure—made more accessible with a boost from an electric assist bike. Discover the beautiful and bizarre, from the Mojave Desert to UFO territory to Cajun country on an e-bike-friendly tour. TDA Global Cycling’s Great American Road Trip can be done in full, or broken down to a 10-day trip to explore one region.
04 Swim with Whale Sharks
Espíritu Santo Island, Mexico
Dubbed “The Aquarium of the World” by Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez is one the best spots in the world to swim with whale sharks and sea lions. Located in Mexico’s least-populated state, Baja California Sur, this island has a natural protected UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of it. There are no hotels, but Todos Santos Eco Adventures offers a solar-powered luxury camp experience on the island, private-chef included.
05 Watch a Total Solar Eclipse
Antarctica
2020 might’ve had some dark spots, but there’s one moment in 2021 when you’ll want to be plunged into complete darkness—during the total solar eclipse in December, which would be an unforgettable time to experience Antarctica. Quark Expeditions, the only team to have led a solar eclipse expedition on the 7th continent, has eclipse voyages with experts on board.
While there are still a lot of unknowns about the coming year, one thing is certain: we need an escape. With a vaccine finally greenlighted, the future of travel is looking up, but what will be the safest trips to take while the world is still in flux? Think wide-open spaces, small-group adventures and responsible tourism. Playing it safe doesn’t mean you can’t get outside your comfort zone and have a novel adventure next year, though. From a polar bear micro-cruise to Svalbard, the northernmost inhabited archipelago, to chasing the shadow of the moon on an eclipse expedition in Antarctica, to closer-to-home adventures in the U.S., such as a train ride through the Red Rocks or an e-bike tour through Cajun Country, here are the epic pandemic-friendly escapes we’re dreaming of right now.
06 Search for Polar Bears
Svalbard Archipelago, Norway
Secret Atlas’ 12-person micro-cruise expedition is the perfect way to safely adventure in 2021, away from crowds and chaos. You couldn’t dream up a more isolated place than the Svalbard Archipelago, only 800 miles from the North Pole, and home to one of the largest population of polar bears on Earth.
07 Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking
Rwanda
Rwanda is ready for 2021 with a recently upgraded UNESCO biosphere reserve, Gishwatimukura National Park, that will be open to chimpanzee and primate trekking for the first time, as well as overnight camping. Catch your breath after you see the mountain gorillas and then hike or bike along the Congo Nile Trail.
08 Soak in the Natural Wonders
Hokkaido, Japan
While the world waits for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, consider Japan’s least-developed island as a refuge from the crowds. Rugged and remote, Hokkaido is teeming with unique natural wonders and adventures including trekking in untouched forests, fat biking on frozen lakes, soaking in onsens, or natural hot springs, and searching for the island’s rare red-crowned crane—the only place in Japan you can find the sacred bird.
09 See Kangaroo Island Bounce Back
Australia
Nearly a year after Australia’s bushfires devastated over 200,000 hectares and killed billions of animals, new life is rising from the ashes. This 96-mile-long island is one of the best places to view Australia’s unique animals in the wild— kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and more. Support the recovery with regenerative tourism, critical in reversing biodiversity loss. Swim with sea lions or sip some Jacob’s Creek local wine and watch the ’roos bounce back.