TRAVEL SPECIAL..... 7 Must-Go Places of 2017

7 Must-Go Places of 2017





According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, India is the world's fastest growing outbound travel market after China. As against 18.33 million Indians who flew overseas in 2014, 50 million are likely to be zipping abroad in 2020. Fuelling this rising trend is a robust GDP growth, better air connectivity, the expanding footprint of low-cost carriers and a surge in urban middle-class population.

Also contributing to this upswing are peripatetic women and senior citizens.
Senior travellers are likely to be 7.3 million by 2030, up from 1.3 million in 2013, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan and Amadeus.

The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that expenditure on outbound travel in India will touch `1,60,500 crore in 2024, up from `75,000 crore in 2013.

So where can the desis head to in 2017? We look at seven must-go destinations:

Japan

Long enamoured of Japan's robotics, sushi and cities that look like sci-fi sets, Indians are now seeking newer experiences in the country. On top of the list is the magical season of cherry blossom (sakura), Japan's unofficial national flower.From March to April, much of the country is carpeted by trees sprouting these pink flowers under which locals congregate to celebrate nature, picnic and to play music. The dizzying bullet train, Shinkansen, gets you from Tokyo to Kyoto where sakura trees line the serene Kamogawa river banks. The Imperial Palace has 60 sakura blossoms known as shidare, which tend to bloom earlier than in many other spots in the city.

A day trip by train gets you to Nara, the former Japanese capital, where apart from meeting the friendly deer in Nara Park, you can stroll through its 1,700 cherry trees. Better still, hike up Wakakusayama, a grassy mountain behind Nara Park lit up every January for the spectacular Yamayaki festival.Cherry trees are planted all along the hiking trail, offering stunning photo-ops against the city's skyline. And while you are at it, don't miss out on a tea ceremony -the highly choreographed ritual of preparing and serving the matcha tea -enjoyed with traditional sweets. What's not to like?

Egypt

One of the world's oldest civilisations, Egypt offers a rich smorgasbord of cultural, adventure and culinary experiences.Temples, palaces, tombs, obelisks, pyramids and museums pepper this beautiful north African country. In Cairo, nip up to the Giza plateau to view the feted pyramids, the Sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum. The Egyptian Museum in Downtown Cairo astounds with its 1.2 lakh masterpieces, while Amr ibn al-As Mosque, the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue reflect the country's mixed heritage.

Khan al-Khalili, the atmospheric, 500year-old bazaar is great for souvenir-hunting. A dinner on a floating restaurant on the Nile can be the perfect end to a super active day. Better still, book a luxury cruise on the Nile, the world's longest river, from Luxor to Aswan. Alexandria, Egypt's cultural hub along the Mediterranean Sea, is a cosmopolitan city that has hosted waves of immigrants who have now melted into the local community. Don't miss the Roman amphitheatre, Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel, Kom el Shoqafa catacombs, Al-Montaza gardens and the souks. The cities of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada are perfect for swimming, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and hiking.

Peru

Though Machu Picchu is Peru's most rec ognisable landmark, the Nazca Lines, Sacred Valley and the Cathedral of Cusco are increasingly attracting Indians to this South American nation. The Paracas National Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site near Pisco city on the south coast, teems with biodiversity -over 200 species of migratory birds and more than 30 species of marine mammals. The historical centre of Lima, the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa and the Peruvian Amazon offer unique experiences.

Lima is the country's cosmopolitan hub, offering shopping, fine dining, casinos and a pulsating nightlife.

Pachacamac, Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Huallamarca make for exciting short sojourns from Lima. Adventure junkies can paraglide and surf in Costa Verde, while Paracas offers dunes, off-roading, sandboarding and dune buggies. Flying over the ancient geoglyphs of the Nazca Lines, yacht trips and visits to the pisco distilleries are recommended. When in Arequipa, trot down to the Colca valley to buy souvenirs crafted from fine alpaca wool.

Cusco, which was the capital city of the Inca Empire, is where you paraglide over the Sacred Valley, raft in the Vilcanota River, trek along the Inca Trail and enjoy an adrenaline-boosting zipline .

New Zealand

The country's diverse land scape straddles gigantic mountains, grand volcanos, sun-kissed coasts, powdery beaches, deep fiords and bubbling thermal springs. Captured beautifully in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies, New Zealand's top attractions are immersive experiences of nature, adventure and culture. With a third of the country's land protected in parks and reserves, it wilderness attracts millions of visitors.

Adventure tourism was pioneered in New Zealand in 1988 with the world's first commercial bungee jumping experience in Queenstown. You can abseil in the Bay of Islands, raft on the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall in Rotorua, hike on Mt Cook, or explore an active marine volcano on White Island. Plus, there's caving, ex treme skiing, surfing, windsurfing as well as zorbing -a surreal ride in a gigantic plastic ball from the hilltop to a val ley bottom! The Maoris, Europe ans, people of Pacific and Asian origins add to the vi brant patchwork quilt of cultures in the rainbow nation. The Maoris are known for their intricate weaving and carving skills as well as hunting, fishing, gardening and combat. They are now leveraging tourism opportunities to preserve and promote their culture.

Croatia

While Shah Rukh Khan's cinematic outing Fan brought alive Croatia's picturesque locales on the Adriatic coastline, its traditional attractions -Roman ruins, ancient, walled towns and spectacular national parks -have always had a Circe-like lure for globetrotters. Cosseted between the Balkans and Central Europe, Croatia's main allure is its island-speckled coast, crystal-clear waters and white pebble beaches offering snorkelling, diving, kayaking, wind surfing and sailing. Biking and hiking trails crisscross the countryside. Cruise on sapphire-blue waters in the shadow of historical towns, view Napoleonic forts, Roman columns in early Slavic churches, Viennese mansions and socialist realist sculptures.

At Plitvice Lakes National Park, a Un esco heritage site, you will see clouds of butterflies floating above 18 km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around it.

Zambia

This expansive, landlocked country in southern Africa brims with natural wonders. The sheer size and remoteness of Zambia's network of national parks -20 game parks and 36 game reserves -mean close encounters with the Big Five and no safari jeep gridlocks. Walking safaris in South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi National Park are counted among the world's best.

Speckled with lakes and mountains, Zambia's biggest attraction is Victoria Falls, the world's largest curtain of falling water, a spectacular sight on the Zambezi River. Described as “The Smoke that Thun ders“, this is 500 million cubic metres of milky foam crashing down into a deep, deep gorge. When in Livingstone, a town in southwestern Zambia, hop across to the adjoining Mosi oa-Tunya National Park.

The Livingstone Muse um showcases life of the Scottish explor er, David Living stone, after whom the epony mous town is named. Living stone is also a ha ven for river raft ing, bungee jumping into Victoria Falls, abseiling, ca noeing safaris down the Zambezi, tiger fishing and breathtaking sunsets over Lake Kariba, Zambia's undiscovered Riviera.

France

Long enticed by the cosmopolitan charms of Paris and the vertiginous Alps, Indians are now plumping for food trails across France. And why not? French cuisine and wine are now part of the Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Go for a gourmet rally on foot in Reims and en route indulge in mini tastings in cellars of renowned Champagne houses.

A hot-air balloon ride over verdant vineyards? An outing to Perching Bar, a tree-top Champagne bar in the heart of a forest? But of course! Or, go on a truffle hunt. Amble through truffle trees, while a truffle dog sniffs out precious nuggets.

Make a pit stop at Maille in Dijon for mustard tasting sessions and visit Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, which is believed to be the birthplace of Burgundy wines. A fun outing to La Winery will help you discover great wines. Bordeaux is home to La Cite du Vin, the newly opened wine theme park with immersive 3D vineyards and a holographic banquet chamber and some serious wine drinking by expert-led tasting sessions.

While in Lyon, sign up for a cooking class with celebrity chefs like Paul Bocuse. Or, head to his indoor food market Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse to snap up gourmet delights.

Neeta Lal

ETM 19MAR17