Some have been travel hotspots since tourism was invented, others offer a sense of discovery.

All are welcoming and fascinating.

Here are the destinations set to shine in 2024, as picked by luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent.

Tanzania

It’s home to Africa’s biggest game reserve, highest mountain and deepest lake, so why wouldn’t Tanzania be on the top of the list?

Hike Kilimanjaro, sail to exotic Zanzibar, birthplace of Freddie Mercury and home to powdery white beaches, and to a classic African safari.

Need more convincing? Travel at the right time (June to October, or December to March) and see the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth, the Serengeti’s Great Migration, when two million wildebeest, gazelle and zebra traverse the land in search of water and food.

Abercrombie & Kent offers a 12-day Great East Africa Migration trip that gets guests up close and personal to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Japan offers an enchanting mix of ancient tradition and ultra-modern. Photo: Abercrombie & Kent

Japan

Safe, cultured, exotic, and conveniently located in the same time zone as east coast Australia (jet lag, what jet lag?), Japan is a destination beloved by many for good reason.

Take tea with a geisha, pay your respects at Hiroshima’s Memorial Peace Park and Museum and hike the flanks of Mount Fuji before soaking the aches away in a traditional hot spring.

Need more convincing? Theme your trip around art and culture and you’ll experience everything from the most ancient and traditional forms to the vibrant and frenetic modern expressions that make Japan the heart of cutting-edge design.

Abercrombie & Kent offers an expansive 12-day Art and Culture of Japan tour that takes in everything from gardens to museums to galleries.

Spain

The food, the architecture, the culture: There’s endless reasons to visit Spain and no reasons not to.

From the medieval Muslim palace The Alhambra to the fortified Roman-era city of Toledo, from the tapas of Barcelona bars to the sherry of Andalucia, from the extraordinary architecture of Gaudi to the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao, there is something delicious, fascinating and absorbing around every corner in Spain.

Need more convincing? Take a new skill home with you by doing a paella workshop in Valencia, home of the famous rice dish.

Abercrombie & Kent has 10-day and 14-day Spanish itineraries that can be customised and tailored to each traveller.

Nayara Hotel spa gardens Costa Rica. Photo: Abercrombie & Kent

Costa Rica

It’s tiny, but this Central American gem punches way above its weight when it comes to wildlife.

From sloths to sea turtles, iguanas to alligators, you’d be hard pressed to leave Costa Rica without an unforgettable animal encounter under your belt.

Need more convincing? Stay in the intimate luxury Tortuga Lodge and in the stunning Tortuguero National Park and spend your days watching sea turtles lay their eggs, howler monkeys searching for figs and river otters cruising for fish.

Abercrombie & Kent’s 10-day Costa Rica Encounter journey includes two nights here.

India

It’s exotic and enormous in equal measure, and tops many people’s bucket lists, whether they’re seeking the spiritual, the culinary or the scenic.

Wildlife safaris to spot Bengal tigers, refreshing hikes in the snow-capped Himalayas and slow boat rides on the Ganges are all on offer in India.

Need more convincing? Stay in the Rambagh Palace, former hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Jaipur and now one of Conde Nast’s Best Hotels in the World.

Expect peacocks wandering 47 acres of landscaped gardens, four-poster beds and impossibly lavish spa treatments.

You’ll stay here on Abercrombie & Kent’s 12-day The Golden Triangle and Beyond, and nine-day Splendours of Rajasthan journeys.

Botswana

Land-locked Botswana is known for its boutique safari experiences, low in numbers, high in luxury and with a focus on sustainability.

Think divine small camps in private reserves within pristine wilderness areas, where elephants, hippos, lions and leopards abound.

Need more convincing? Spend the night in one of just five luxury suites at the Sanctuary Baines’ Camp in the Okavango Delta, each with an elegant four-poster bed designed to be rolled out on to the elevated deck for a night under the stars overlooking the Boro River.

You’ll stay here on Abercrombie & Kent’s nine-day African Waterways trip, which includes the opportunity to meet orphaned elephants.

Peruse the medinas and souks (markets) of Morocco. Photo: Abercrombie & Kent

Morocco

A land of snow-capped mountains, bustling medinas full of colourful spices and the iconic Sahara Desert, vibrant Morocco has been the backdrop for countless movies and reality TV shows for good reason.

Need more convincing? Don’t leave Morocco without doing a cooking class with a local chef skilled in preparing traditional Moroccan cuisine.

They’re known as Dadas, and in Marrakech you’ll join your Dada to choose spices and ingredients before heading into the kitchen to learn why Moroccan cuisine is so beloved the world over.

Abercrombie & Kent has a wide range of Moroccan journeys, ranging from eight to 12 days, which can all incorporate a cooking class.

South Africa

Wine, wildlife, dramatic scenery and one of Africa’s most sophisticated food scenes makes South Africa a regular on the most popular destination list, and a fabulous entry point for further African explorations.

Need more convincing? The four-day luxury train trip on Rovos Rail will take you from Cape Town to Pretoria in Agatha Christie-style.

You’ll enjoy a private suite, lavish fine dining meals and an open-air observation car to take in the landscape.

The trip is included on Abercrombie & Kent’s 17-day Wonders of Southern Africa journey.

Abercrombie & Kent provides exclusive access to experiences in Italy. Photo: Abercrombie & Kent

Italy

There’s a reason poets, artists and novelists have been entranced by Italy for centuries.

The food, the architecture, the coast, the fashion: Any one of these alone is reason to visit.

Need more convincing? Make like Sophia Loren by joining a Vespa food tour of Rome where you’ll sample espresso, pizza and the best of Italian street food.

Abercrombie & Kent has an Italian journey to suit every interest, whether you want to choose from a suggested itinerary, or consult your own journey to craft a completely bespoke experience for you.

Kenya

Beautiful Indian Ocean beaches, more than 40 national parks and the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve are just a few reasons to visit Kenya — the birthplace of the modern African safari.

Need more convincing? At the Ol Pejeta Conservancy your travel dollars will help protect and preserve the precious and endangered animals of this continent.

Stay in the luxury Sanctuary Tambarare in the shadow of Mount Kenya and take a melancholy trip to view the last two northern white rhinos on Earth.

This opportunity is included in Abercrombie & Kent’s 11-day Wildlife and Warriors journey.

Abercrombie & Kent offers luxury small group tours, tailor-made journeys and luxury expedition cruises. Visit abercrombiekent.com.au or call 1800 161 352.