Luxury Escapes’ Top Bucket-List Hotels Destinations for 2025

Already thinking ahead to a 2025 escape? Here's our pick of the year's must-visit destinations, from extravagant palace stays in India to the beaches of South Korea.

With extraordinary experiences and once-in-a-lifetime itineraries just waiting to be discovered, there's never been a better add another tick to your bucket list. From the awe-inspiring alpine landscapes of Canada and Scandinavia to the high-tech wonderlands of Japan and South Korea, there’s a destination for every type of traveller – here's our pick of next year's best.

Travel trend: rail journeys

2025 is set to be all about slow and sure travel by rail. Luxury train travel is having a renaissance, with hotels-on-wheels promising journeys as extravagant as the destination. From the panoramic views of the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada to the decadence of India’s Deccan Odyssey, travelling in style has never been easier.

If you want to travel sustainably but don’t need the bells and whistles, there’s good news: train companies around Europe are connecting cities more than ever, with routes from Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam; Paris to Madrid and Stockholm to Hamburg launching in the last few years.

Japan and South Korea

Japan may have made an appearance in our 2024 list of top bucket-list destinations but there’s a good reason it’s popping up again. With outstanding seasonal travel, incredible foodie experiences and the convenience of the Shinkansen bullet trains, as well as a strong exchange rate against the Australian dollar, it’s proving to be an unbeatable destination for travelling Aussies.

From Osaka’s takoyaki stalls to Kyoto’s preserved geisha neighbourhoods, Japan is a treasure trove of customs, traditions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Spend days on the slopes in between soaks in the onsen in Hokkaido, bow to local deer in Nara, wander through the beautiful Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and marvel at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market – all while merely scratching the surface of this majestic country.

Just a short flight or ferry away from Japan, South Korea’s diversity of experiences makes it a joy to explore, from the golden beaches of Busan to the ancient pagodas of Bulguksa temple in historic Jeonju and high-tech Seoul. Breathtaking mountain landscapes, festivals year-round and a glorious food culture make South Korea the perfect place to begin (or end) your journey.

Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden

Home to some of the world’s most breathtaking natural landscapes, as well as captivating cities – and, of course, the iconic Northern Lights – there’s something to delight around every corner. Ultra-cool Copenhagen is a great place to start, with one of the world’s best dining scenes, awe-inspiring architecture and vibrant vintage shopping. However, Stockholm and Oslo are quickly catching up as the new capitals of Nordic cool, offering lively neighbourhoods, world-class museums and buzzing bars.

Outside the big cities, the great outdoors awaits: embark on a train journey across the Hardangervidda, the largest high mountain plateau in Europe, learn the ropes of dog-sledding through the Lake Inari region across a blanket of snow or cruise the Norwegian Sea along the famous fjord postal route. Sleep in a glass-domed igloo, fish for king crab and soak up sensational waterfalls, verdant valleys and fantastical fjords all while keeping an eye out for the aurora borealis as it lights up the night sky.

Canada

A country of magnificent mountains, buzzing cities, intriguing histories and countless unique experiences, Canada has it all for a sensational escape. But where to start in a country so vast it could accommodate almost all of Europe's landmass?

Francophiles will love the history of Quebec City, North America’s first city to make the UNESCO World Heritage list, but shouldn’t miss Montreal, the second largest city in Canada and the birthplace of poutine, the country’s cheesy national dish. Take in sprawling Toronto from the top of the CN Tower, sitting almost twice as high as the Eiffel Tower, or admire Indigenous art at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

The great outdoors and Canada go hand in hand – head to Jasper National Park to visit the magnificent Athabasca Glacier or continue east to Banff National Park to soak up the beauty of Lake Louise, one of the world’s most photographed lakes, thanks to its crystal-clear water and jawdropping surroundings. Come winter, Whistler calls out to ski bunnies – as the venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics, it boasts over 200 marked runs over 8,000 acres, with two resorts, Roundhouse Lodge and Rendezvous Lodge, connected by one of the world’s highest cable cars, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

Visit in spring or summer for one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys, The Rocky Mountaineer. Journey through Alberta and British Columbia across tumbling rivers, lush greenery and the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains, all admired through the train’s bespoke scenic viewing windows.

India

From the iconic to the intriguing, India has a bounty of new experiences to tick off the bucket list.

Up north, keep an eye out for Shere Khan and friends on safari at Ranthambore National Park, witness the marble majesty of the iconic Taj Mahal and jump between the Pink (Jaipur), Blue (Jodhpur) and White (Udaipur) cities of Rajasthan. Discover the spiritual significance of Varanasi – an ancient Hindu pilgrimage spot – or go behind the scenes at Mumbai’s legendary Bollywood. Want to escape the crowds? Head to the coast to slow down along the beaches of Goa, or wander through tea estates in Munnar, found in the southern state of Kerala.

Delicious food is a guarantee no matter where you travel – try fish curry in Kolkata, idiyappam (steamed rice noodles) in Kerala or khichdi (rice and lentils) in Gujarati, plus countless regional street food options like pani puri and kati rolls.

One significant change over the last decade is the rise in five-star luxury – escape the hustle and bustle at the likes of The Oberoi Grand in Kolkata, Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan and The Leela Palace in New Delhi.

Sri Lanka

Sitting just south of the imposing India, Sri Lanka continues to rise in popularity as an introduction to the traditions, cuisines, landscapes and culture of the Indian sub-continent, without the crowds of its northern neighbour. Small enough to cover in a matter of weeks, how you design your itinerary is completely up to your interests – head south to the beaches of Mirissa and Tangalle, or venture north-east to climb the jaw-dropping Sigiriya Rock Fortress and enter the sacred Golden Cave temple of Dambulla.

Search for Sri Lankan leopards and elephants at Yala National Park, perched on the western coast of the island, or catch a train from Kandy to Ella to trundle through vibrant tea plantations. Engage the senses even further with a visit to the Matale spice gardens, before sampling how the locals transform these flavours into delicious dishes, such as kottu, sambol and lamprais. It's not just street food you’ll want to try; in the larger cities of Galle and Colombo, an elevated dining scene is also taking hold, led by restaurants like Ministry of Crab and The Beach Wadiya.

Best of all, Sri Lanka is just a short flight away from the five-star indulgence of the Maldives – what's a few extra days off?

Looking for more inspiration? Discover the Ultimate Australia Bucket List Escapes.

Feature image: Baker Lake, Canada. Source: Destination Canada / Epic Trails / Eric Hanson