As we step closer to a new year, the excitement of planning future adventures begins to take shape. Whether you’re dreaming of sun-soaked beaches, breathtaking mountain vistas, or vibrant cityscapes, the world is brimming with incredible destinations waiting to be explored. Together with luxury tour operator Red Savannah, we would like to share some of our top destinations for 2025.
Get ready to ignite your wanderlust and discover the perfect getaway for your next journey!
Destination: Madagascar
Traveling to Madagascar has long been complicated, but the addition of four new Emirates flights a week to Antananarivo have made the world’s fourth largest island more accessible. Madagascar is perfect for those who wish to explore the orchid-draped rainforests, watch the unique wildlife or retreat to the tranquility of the beach. New eco-lodges around the coast have opened, including Masoala, offering an insight into the captivating surroundings and the extensive wildlife, nine tenths of which, cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. In the north of the country, a new luxury safari camp, Namoroka Tsingy Camp, lying in over 135 miles of unspoilt national park and harboring six ecosystems will open to guests in August of 2024.
Destination: Italy
In 2025, Italy will be celebrating its Jubilee Year, or Holy Year in the Catholic Church, and travelers can enjoy countless religious celebrations, cultural events, concerts and exhibitions showcasing the history and art of Rome. The 24th December 2024 will mark the official start of the Jubilee year, themed Pilgrims of Hope, when the Holy Doors of the four Basilicas of Rome are opened. Private visits will be the best way of beating the crowds, and Red Savannah can arrange private access to many of the city’s palazzi and museums such as Palazzo Doria Pamphilj with its exquisite art collection including works by Caravaggio, Titian and Raphael.
2025 is also the 70th anniversary of the publication Patricia’s Highsmith’s novel – The Talented Mr. Ripley – which recounts the exploits of a charming and insidious con artist. The latest screen adaptation – a 2024 Netflix series – has enthralled an entirely new audience, who find themselves captivated by Tom Ripley and the most glamorous of settings. Red Savannah has launched a carefully curated itinerary to follow the footsteps of Ripley
Destination: Thailand
After a long three-year wait, The White Lotus is set to be back on screens in 2025. With filming across Thailand, in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui, it seems that guests of season three will be checking into the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. With 60 standalone villas, each with its own plunge pool and sweeping views out to sea, it is an idyllic setting to unwind after delving into Thai culture. Another hotel basking in the White Lotus limelight is Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas. With a lagoonside spa and Thai cookery classes, there is no shortage of things to do at the hotel. Alternatively, a day of island hopping or big game fishing on a chartered boat can introduce guests to the destination that will be the topic of conversation following the premier.
Destination: Norway
Norway will star, once again, as a striking location for the Mission: Impossible franchise, with Dead Reckoning Part 2 starring Tom Cruise due to be released in May 2025.The famous cliff where Tom Cruise pulled off one of the biggest stunts in cinema history provides a glimpse into the country’s thrilling scenery. Red Savannah’s Europe specialist recommends the rural haven, Amot, nestled in the Norwegian fjords, for experiencing the authenticity and seclusion of Norway, with opportunities to visit local farms and go riding. The cooler temperatures mean that walking, e-biking and salmon fishing are ideal activities to do whilst taking in the vast and dramatic landscapes
Destination: Greece
Island-hopping around the Greek islands has been taken to a new level. Hoper, Greece’s first helicopter airline, has connected Athens to ten islands. The scheduled helicopter service which runs year-round ensures a seamless and speedy travel experience for those who do not wish to endure complicated travel plans by ferry or a scheduled flight
Greece has also seen a swathe of new hotel openings including Odera on Tinos Island and One&Only Kéa Island. Red Savannah’s Greece specialist has introduced a number of day adventures by boat to the company’s repertoire of tailor-made activities to discover pristine waters, private bays, sandy beaches, and intimate coves for 2025.
Destination: Japan
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ended the Second World War, but at a terrible cost of life. Red Savannah’s Japan specialist, Sam Goold, can arrange a very special experience in which clients are able to have a private talk with a hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor). Of course, this is an incredibly delicate subject, and details can be harrowing, but for those interested in the history of the Second World War, it is a unique chance to hear from first-hand witnesses. This activity is included on Mondays and Tuesdays in Red Savannah’s Taste of Japan itinerary, and their specialist can arrange it as an add on to any of their tailor-made Japanese vacations for those interested.
Another new and unique activity in Red Savannah’s Japan itinerary is an evening at an okiya geisha house in Kyoto. Guests can enjoy a private dinner with a geisha, allowing a unique insight into this most hidden of worlds. Geisha have long held a mystique and fascinating allure for those in the west as gaining access to this aspect of Japanese culture is virtually impossible.
Destination: Greenland
The world’s largest island is expected to receive an influx of visitors following the opening of a new international airport in November 2024. Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, will be more accessible to larger commercial aircraft following the opening, with further airport developments expected in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq within the next two years. Nuuk is the gateway to Arctic adventures including whale watching, sailing to reach isolated communities, and meeting Inuit people, all against a backdrop of truly unique land and seascapes. Further afield, Ilulissat gives access to the dramatic western coastline, ‘iceberg safaris’, and remote Inuit culture. Red Savannah’s Greenland specialist arranges custom tours to the island, staying in characterful accommodations such as luxury tipis, contemporary lodges and solar-powered huts.
