2020 was bad news to go out and see the world, but it definitely gave us plenty of opportunities to compile travel bucket lists and even visit some of the destinations in our own backyard.
To streamline those plans, Lonely Planet has published Part Two of its Final Travel List, which outlines the list of “500 unmissable global travel experiences” around the world.
The authors of the globally recognized publication have roamed the planet – indirectly – in search of destinations that could not wait to head to the moment international travel resumes.
With the book voting favorite travel memories, they narrowed down hundreds of votes to 500 experiences and 320 pages of travel.
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Lonely Planet said this year’s list contained “a mixture of new knockout openings, attractions that raised their game, or places most relevant to the way we travel now.”
“For this issue, we gave extra points for destinations and attractions that are sustainably managing tourism,” says Pierce Pickard, vice president of Lonely Planet Publishing.
“We all have a list of places we want to see ourselves: places that friends love, places we read about, and dreamed of.” Chris Zuhair of Lonely Planet added this to our list.
Now, while hundreds of sites are listed – Australia is not missed – one of our most famous natural wonders is ranked third in the world.
Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park was ranked in the top three must-see places in the world, as the publication stated that it was the ultimate travel destination due to the connection that tourists can have between the indigenous culture and the land, as well as the sustainability practices followed in the destination.
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Uluru, which ranked 33rd on the world’s ‘must-visit’ list in 2019, has jumped 30 places on the 2020 list.
Northern Territory Tourism Minister Natasha Felice said there is no secret that Uluru is one of the best places to visit in the world.
“The Territorians know that Uluru is one of the best places in the world, and it’s now official, according to Lonely Planet’s Final Travel List,” she said.
“This is a great appreciation for the Northern Territory, a tribute to the traditional owners, the board of directors of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the tourism operators working tirelessly to share their stories and culture with visitors.
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Zuhair said it was an “exciting” time for Australians to see their backyard, especially Uluru.
He said, “It’s one of my favorite places to visit anywhere in the world … and we are lucky enough to have him in our own backyard.”
“For me, it is the depth of experiences and relationships that the park offers that makes it a valuable and memorable travel experience.
“Whether you are watching in quiet fear as Uluru changes colors during sunset or setting out on the incredibly rewarding Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta, this is one of those very special places that will touch hard any individual lucky enough to visit.”
The top ten featured a strong ‘Back to Nature & Open Space’ theme for 2020.
Petra in Jordan topped the list, followed by the Galapagos Islands, Uluru, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Yellowstone National Park in the United States. The only city on the list that ranked first for the year 2020 is the “City of Roses” in Petra, Jordan, which was abandoned in the desert nearly 800 years ago.
Top 10 Definitive International Travel List:
# 1 Petra, Jordan
– Indiana Jones’ “lost city” in the desert
# 2 Galapagos Islands
– A natural choice for wildlife lovers
# 3 Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia
– Heart of the Australian Red Center
# 4 Okavango Delta, Botswana
A mass migration in the African savannah
# 5 Yellowstone National Park, usa
– Old Believers is the old favorite of the American publisher
# 6 Lake Bled, Slovenia
– Forgotten tale of Europe
# 7 Iguazu Falls, Argentina – Brazil
– The force of nature on the borders of countries
# 8 temples of Angkor, Cambodia
Devotion of loyalty
# 9 Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
A dreamlike mirage in the desert
# 10 Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
– The best rooftop experience on the world
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