If you’re busy plotting and planning 2024’s adventures in a bid to ward off January blues, take a look at these seven destinations under our spotlight for the year ahead.

With visas becoming easier to obtain or being abolished completely and more direct flights to far-flung destinations on offer, there’s never been a better time to sate your wanderlust. Whether you’re looking for an adventure, want to escape the city or simply searching for an incredible bite to eat, there are plenty of locations where you can make the most of that hard-earned time off.

Here are seven great places to explore in 2024…

INTO THE WILDERNESS: MONGOLIA

Want to go somewhere that’s off the beaten tourist trail? With the relaxation of visa requirements for 66 countries and a brand-new airport able to accommodate more than three million passengers, it has never been easier to visit this mysterious land of the great Gengis Khan. Immerse yourself in the Mongolian lifestyle by leaving the capital Ulaanbaatar behind and heading to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park which has its own answer to AlUla’s Elephant Rock – Turtle Rock. Aside from the 24-metre rock formation, get the blood pumping with rafting or horse riding around the clear waters and lush green landscape. You don’t even have to leave when the sun goes down as you can enjoy a night in a Ger dwelling while tucking into a dish of huushuur (deep fried meat pie) and buuz (dumplings). 

Visit the big man himself at Genghis Khan Statue Complex where he sits on his horse at 40 metres high captured in pure steel. If you aren’t afraid of heights, you can stand on the horse’s head and peer down on the mighty landscapes below. Or go deeper into the wilderness with a Gobi and Grassland tour that offers the chance to experience Mongolia’s contrasting landscapes of sand and grass and even an opportunity to watch wild horses roam at leisure. Fancy a dance? Visit during the second week of August and check out Mongolia’s Coachella, the Spirit of Gobi which sees more than 70 local and international artists rock the stage for four nights.

Flight time from DXB: 9 hours 40 minutes

CULTURAL FULFILLMENT: SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN

Living life on the open plains might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so let’s get our cultural kicks in with a trip to Samarkand. With 2023 seeing a major increase in direct flights from major destinations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, the ‘Jewel of the Silk Road’ has plenty of options for travellers who enjoy a lesson or two. Head to The Registan (Central Square) where you can see where the Timurid Empire made royal proclamations and public executions. Go at night for the best pictures, when the three madrasahs (Islamic schools) are lit up. 

Next, allow yourself to be dazzled by the vibrant colours of Shah-I-Zinda Complex. A necropolis of blue tombs and mausoleums, it is believed to be the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin, Kusam ibn Abbas’s final resting place. For something a little less reflective, head for the hustle and bustle of Siyob Bazaar where you can sample some local spices, candy, fruits and more while you haggle for the best price. The Non Maxsulatlari pavilion (or stall) is the ideal spot for bread lovers where you can enjoy local and international freshly made breads. You’ll recognise as it is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing structure in the entire market alongside the entrance gate.

Flight time from DXB: 3 hours 35 minutes

CITY ESCAPES: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

If you’re in need of a city break but don’t want to be lost in a metropolis, may we put forward the compact city of Sarajevo? A melting pot of eastern and western cultures, the tight streets of the famous Baščaršija (Old Town Bazaar) serve up a unique variety of sights, sounds and smells. Like any European city, do as the locals do so start your day with a hearty, pastry burek from the minute Dervoz, before getting yourself a strong Bosnian coffee at Caffe Divan. To learn about the city’s history, hop on a walking tour (we recommend Sarajevo Walking Tours with guide Neno) and explore the site of assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Bosnian War museums. Lighten the mood with a beer on the windowsill of the Board Room or a fresh pint at Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery) which poured its first drink in 1864. If you need a little bit of nature, take the cable car up to the top of Trebević mountain where you can take in views of the entire city and stroll around the abandoned bobsleigh track of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Film buffs should coincide their trip with the second week of August when the Sarajevo Film Festival presses play on several indie movies around the city.

Flight time from DXB: 5 hours 15 minutes

DESTINATION RELAXATION: BAD ISCHL, AUSTRIA

Time to recharge and spend some time in the slow lane with a visit to the spa town of Bad Ischl. Visitors have been making their way here since the 1800s to experience the saltwater and brine springs with the salt, water and fresh air rejuvenating any weary traveller. But Bad Ischl isn’t all about relaxation. The KasierVilla is well worth a visit, as it’s the former summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph where he signed the declaration of war with Serbia which began World War I. Swap history for nature by taking the Katrin cable car into the mountains and have a stroll along Hainzen trail or take on the Rosskopf path for some of the best views of Upper Austria. And in 2024, the town will be one of the European Capital of Cultures that will see floating installations on Lake Traunsee and a night hot-air balloon and lights show among some of its events during the year-long celebration.

Flight time from DXB: 6 hours 55 minutes

ROAD TRIP: WILD ATLANTIC WAY, IRELAND

It’s time to show off our driving skills as the world’s longest defined coastal route beckons. The Wild Atlantic Way sees drivers and passengers travel 2,500km of coastline road from County Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula in the north to Kinsale, County Cork in the south. Peer over the edge at cliffs Slieve League, Ireland’s second highest sea cliffs; drink a pint in Lowry’s Bar in Clifden; or get stuck in a traffic jam of cows in Ballydonegan; The Wild Atlantic Ways will cater to all those adventure needs. When it comes to food, ignore those fables about Irish food being boring – pitch up in Galway City and squeeze into the tiny but wonderful Michelin-star venue of Aniar and order the tasting menu that consists of the finest (and strangest) delicacies, including nettles, pine, sea urchin and sea buckthorn with carrot – call ahead of your visit though as the menu changes every day. And remember to bring a rain jacket as the west coast of Ireland is one of the wettest areas in Europe. Oh, and if you’re a nervous driver, perhaps let someone else get behind the wheel to tackle the narrow and winding roads.

Flight time from DXB (to Dublin): 8 hours 15 minutes

CITY OF FESTIVALS: TARTU, ESTONIA

A festival championing local and European arts, music, culture, food, and everything in between? Sign us up! Estonian’s second city of Tartu is set to become the centre of Europe in 2024 thanks to its designation as one of the European Capital of Cultures and everyone is invited to the party. Inside its packed schedule are more than 1,000 events across 350 projects so you can expect the likes of a Pagan Folklore Night, an unprecedented simultaneous kissing event in the town hall square, beneath the city’s famous Kissing Students statue, concerts celebrating the harmony of music and nature, with forest bathing and cultural walks guided by Estonian thinkers and artists. Even dogs will have a special day on January 24 with an event celebrating Tartu’s status as a dog-friendly city. And when you’re not immersing yourself in pure culture, enjoy a walk around the Town Hall Square before dropping in for a beer at Gunpowder Cellar of Tartu and some pub cuisine, or get loved up with a romantic walking tour where you will be shown all the most amorous places in the city – oh là là!

Flight time from DXB (via Helsinki): 9 hours 25 minutes

TASTE THE WORLD: XI’AN, CHINA

We finish off our world tour in China’s former capital and home to the world’s largest stationery army, Xi’an. History buffs will have plenty to occupy them with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the famous three pits of The Terracotta Army in the burial complex of the first emperor of China, as well as being the starting point of the Silk Road. But gastronomes are in for a treat thanks to Xi’an’s cuisine, which is distinctive to the rest of China. Grab a seat at Tong Sheng Xiang and tuck into beloved local snack yangrou paomo (flatbread in mutton soup) or queue up at WangKui Lazhi Roujiamo that rustles up a Xi’an meat burger of Halal-style beef with bread fresh from the furnace. And should you visit during the summer, cool down with a bowl of spicy cold noodles, known as Liangpi.

Flight time from DXB: 8 hours 5 minutes