Top 5 destinations to explore in 2019

Posted 30 November, 2018 Lauren Ferrone

The phrase ‘the world is your oyster’ couldn’t be truer as we bid farewell to 2018. That’s why RAA’s travel experts have put together the top 5 destinations to visit in 2019. Where do you see yourself in the New Year?

 

Scandinavia

From relaxing in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon to visiting the famous Danish theme park Legoland in Billund – which is home to about 340 billion pieces of Lego – there’s something for every traveller in Scandinavia. After something low-key? A unique experience that isn’t your typical tourist attraction is driving the Oresund Bridge in Sweden. Imagine this: one minute you’re cruising almost 200 feet above the water, the next you’re following the road down, more than 30 feet below the surface.

 

If you plan to go in summer, know that Scandinavia shines bright – literally. At this time of year, it’s not unusual for the sun to still be out at midnight. For travellers, longer days mean more time for sightseeing, but if you’re in need of some shut-eye, the sky’s warm glow can be challenging. Best to remember to pack your eye mask – just keep it off when you’re in Norway, as it’s one of the best places to witness the Northern Lights.

  Tip from RAA Marion shop travel expert, Nikki Bouveng: Don’t miss Norway in a Nutshell, a 2–4 night journey through Norway’s UNESCO protected fjord and mountain regions. The tour includes a cruise with train and bus journeys.

 

It’s like a rollercoaster ride you don’t have to pay for and, best of all, in less than 15 minutes you’ll find yourself in Denmark (or vice versa depending on the direction you’re coming from). Talk about squeezing in as much of Scandinavia in your itinerary as possible.  

 

Egypt

Stunning as this country’s iconic sights are, there’s more to Egypt than pyramids, the Nile and mummies. To witness something a little different to the abundant caramel-coloured deserts, take a trip to Farafra’s White Desert, an oasis of odd-shaped chalk mountains which look like a winter wonderland.

 

While you’re in the country, forget sending Facebook messages and ordinary postcards back home. Instead, write a letter to your loved ones on paper made from papyrus. Why? The Egyptians believe they invented paper out of pulp derived from the papyrus tree, which still grows along the Nile. For a demonstration on how the first Egyptians believe paper was made, you don’t need to head far from the pyramids to find yourself at the Papyrus Institute in Giza.