There are as many reasons for organizing a trip a year ahead of time as there are for doing one on a whim. Making plans far in advance really helps for excursions where the romance and apparent independence may be part of the draw (like a road trip across the US, especially if you're hoping to visit any national parks along the route).Plan Your Trip In Advance Not only is diligence rewarded, but it is also necessary.
According to Tom Marchant, the owner and co-founder of Black Tomato, "there are a few factors at play—notably, availability, access, and complexity of itinerary and experiences" when considering travel that should be planned a year in advance. Strict tourism caps, group travel, and the complexity of a trip with multiple stops should all be taken into consideration.
Kenya's widest safari
Seeing Kenya's wildlife, whether it be during the Great Migration—as millions of zebras, wildebeests, and other herd animals migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to Kenya's Masai Mara—or simply organizing a group of close friends and family to travel with you, is one of the most sought-after safari experiences.
Travel expert Alice Daunt of Daunt Travel advises witnessing the Great Migration from the Masai Mara, but she issues a warning since "there are barely eight beds at the top camps" and there is a limited amount of time to travel (usually August through September).
Nonetheless, it is always to your advantage to plan ahead. Editor for Condé Nast Traveler Megan Spurrell, who was just in Angama Mara during the off-season in February, adds,
A sail along the Nile in Egypt
Seeking the ancient sites of Egypt is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any history enthusiast. There are a few options for getting there: by land or by Nile river cruise, but we think the most enjoyable journey combines some of both.
Take a ride aboard Viking's Osiris and cruise the Nile, stopping thoughtfully at Esna to explore the red stone temples of the same name.
Aswan to see the High Dam and Temple of Philae; and Qena to see the magnificent temple of Dendera. and essential to locating your itinerary and desired ship.
Go to Japan in the spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom.
Don't assume you can travel to Japan for five days and call it a day trip. Few visitors can resist staying for a few weeks; thus, the trip from Tokyo to Osaka should, at the very least, be included in an itinerary that calls out for customization with the assistance of a travel expert.
If you're thinking of taking a trip in the spring from late March to early April to see the cherry blossoms in bloom, experts are essential. Plan Your Trip In Advance The country's rural areas are the best places to witness this transitory beauty.
See the Oberammergau Passion Play, which happens once every ten years.
You can begin planning this vacation up to ten years in advance, so forget about waiting until the last minute. Held once every ten years since 1680, the Oberammergau Passion Play is an epic recreation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, including his trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
The little, peaceful village of Oberammergau, which is located an hour outside of Munich in the Bavarian highlands, is remarkable for its exquisite architecture.
When the next Passion Play is performed in the summer of 2030 (probably between May and October), church groups from all over the world will be staying in the few hotels and inns dotting the countryside.
In Tuscany, visit the Palio di Siena.
A trip to the Palio di Siena is one that would be practically impossible to pull off on short notice, despite the fact that many of our travel experts overwhelmingly weighed in that just about any trip to Italy—the Amalfi Coast, Sicily.
Lake Como, and so on—is worth planning well in advance as the country's tourism levels rise ever higher.
Three times a year, on July 2 and August 16, this important horse race takes place, featuring bareback jockey rides around Siena's Piazza del Campo.
Celebrate Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro!
There's no introducing Carnival. The colorful festival, which has multiple locations throughout the globe, is an extravagant event that must be seen to be believed.
With Rio's largest Carnaval, you'll have to compete with other tourists for tickets to the Sambodrome parade in February. You'll also have to make reservations for restaurants and the best hotel (the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana will fill up quickly due to its proximity to the beachside parties).
The prize? Plan Your Trip In Advance A week of extravagant costumes, live music, and street samba dance that transforms the city into one big block party.
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A visit to the Okavango Delta in Botswana
While there are countless options for an African safari, visiting Botswana's Okavango Delta is a unique experience.
Floodplains are not only home to white and black rhinoceroses, two endangered species, but they also present a unique opportunity for boat safaris due to the area's dynamic environment, which changes with the level of water.
The ideal months to go are usually May through September; it takes some foresight, of course, to secure a space at the camp of your choice during that time.
A hike to Mount Everest
For good reason, walking to Machu Picchu is a popular way of transportation among tourists. Plan Your Trip In Advance However, due to the increasing popularity of visiting the site, whether by hike or otherwise—with the old Incan ruins experiencing overtourism in recent years—the Peruvian government has imposed daily limitations on the number of visitors.
Additionally, they have restricted the number of hikers that can travel the ancient Inca Trail, which might take several days to a week. Make reservations well in advance if you want to visit during the dry season, which runs roughly from April to October.
This will also help you get one of the 400 daily tickets for the famed Huayna Picchu climb, which offers fantastic views over the ruins for the fortunate few.
Mongolia's Naadam Festival
Mongolia is typically high on our list of places to visit, but experts advise booking well in advance because it's a "very undiscovered location" and "domestic flights and lodgings are incredibly limited and continuously in-demand," according to Jessica Wells of Black Tomato.
Summer is the best season, according to Trufflepig's Tyler Dillon, because of the Naadam Festival, which is an old-fashioned Olympic competition including horse racing, archery, and wrestling.
Arranging ahead a year will guarantee that you and your party—Dillon asserts that it's always more enjoyable to travel with friends—will have access to the expansive areas of opulent locations like Genghis Khan Retreat, a top choice for individuals who wish to go horseback riding.
Ghanaian festivals in December
Tastemakers Africa's founder, Cherae Robinson, describes December in Ghana as a "very joyous time of the year." At the end of the year, Tastemakers Africa organizes an annual group trip to Ghana.
Little company owners stake all of their profits on what occurs in December, when everyone who's anybody comes to Accra for the holidays. It's crucial to plan ahead and reserve your hotel early, especially if you're traveling with a group of friends.
Robinson notes that getting the inside scoop on events, such as the Afro-Cherokee festival or pop-up beach clubs, can require time and an experienced expert.
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Travel to Lagos for Detty December and Afro Nation.
Robinson also suggests that you plan your trip to Lagos well in advance, particularly if you want to attend the recently announced Nigerian leg of the international music festival Afro Nation.
With block parties, all-night performances and street festivals taking over the city for a whole month in December, Lagos is a major cultural capital. Plan Your Trip In Advance However, this high profile also attracts a large number of individuals.
Even if there is theoretically space for everyone, reserving a year in advance guarantees that you and your group can secure your lodging.
Rwandan gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a must if you want to see the largest primates—and one of our closest relatives. The basic planning of this trip will take at least several months, from obtaining the necessary permissions for gorilla trekking to making reservations at the best lodges, such as Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge.
However, be prepared for competition: during the dry seasons, which are June to September and mid-December to early February, when hiking conditions are at their peak and the risk of malaria is at its lowest, there is always a lot of demand to visit.
Europe's Christmas markets
Europe often offers some of the finest flight rates; however, just because you can arrange an inexpensive, last-minute trip there doesn't mean you should rely on it for specific occasions.
For instance, in order to take advantage of Europe's wonderful Christmas markets, which line city squares in December with mulled wine and seasonal pastries. Plan Your Trip In Advance You should book your accommodations well in advance in order to secure prime lodging (as well as reservations at festive destination restaurants).
The ideal road tour across America's national parks.
Traveling by car to one or more national parks could appear like a simple last-minute excursion. And although it's true that pandemic-era entrance restrictions to places like Yellowstone and Zion have eased recently, Sam Highley of All Roads North claims that access is still restricted, particularly during the busiest summer months.
Planning ahead is crucial, according to Highley. There aren't many options for lodging, whether you're looking for a lodge or a campsite, and most parks require reservations in order to enter the park or visit popular spots like Cadillac Summit Road in Acadia.
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Island-hopping in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
With over 17,000 islands, choosing where to visit first will be the most difficult aspect of organizing your vacation to Indonesia. According to Daunt, preparing a trip through the isolated archipelago of Raja Ampat, which is off the coast of West Papua and home to some of the world's finest marine species, takes a whole year.
Make the most of your stay in the area by planning a multi-stop schedule. "It's a great destination for snorkelers, divers, and nature enthusiasts," Casewhit continues.
An Antarctic cruise
Due to its short season, which runs from December to January, and its restricted selection of itinerary possibilities, Antarctica cruising requires at least a year's notice for preparation.
This is partly due to the fact that most people prefer not to go over the holidays, which take up half of the season. With over 20 years of experience organizing trips to the area.
Expedition cruise specialist Ashton Palmer of Expedition Trips notes that "people want to make up for lost time" in response to the growing demand.
Take a Norwegian Arctic cruise to see the Northern Lights.
Sailing to the Arctic demands just as much foresight as Antarctica cruises, which are already gaining enormous appeal as alternatives. This is especially true if you're hoping to see the Northern Lights.
As there are currently no trips leaving from the Russian Far East, Palmer recommends sailing from Northern Norway to Svalbard.
Spain's Camino de Santiago
Bucket lists are composed of pilgrimages like this ancient one, which consists of a few routes that come together at the northern Spanish town of Santiago de Compostela.
Depending on where you start, the journey—which is now well-liked by both Catholics and non-believers—can take a week or two, with nightly stops in little villages spread throughout northern Spain and Portugal.
The best times to go walking in this region of the world are from April to June and from September to October, according to Trufflepig's Lapostol; therefore, arrangements for this trip must be made at least a year in advance.
Summertime in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands, a remote Danish region sandwiched between Iceland and Norway, is just one of many places that have implemented tourist caps in an effort to counteract overtourism.
Therefore, you'll need to plan your trip far in advance if you want to see the archipelago's vibrant seaside communities, critically endangered puffins, or thunderous waterfalls, according to Marchant of Black Tomato. In addition, it will be simpler to travel during the highly sought-after summer months.
When conditions are hotter and dryer and lengthy days with almost 20 hours of sunshine are ideal for making the most of your stay on the islands.
A trip around the Galápagos Islands
Travelers have the unique chance to view endemic species that influenced Charles Darwin's theory of evolution on the Ecuadorian Galápagos Islands.
Strict regulations on visitor numbers are in place to prevent us from eradicating the 9,000 species that still call the archipelago home.
Although traveling by land is an option, taking an excursion cruise is the most recommended method of getting there. Please be aware that there are restrictions on the number of people who can access the national park, as well as guidelines for the number of ships that can navigate its seas annually, and there are efforts to further reduce the number of visitors.
According to Origin's Sarah Casewit, those who are afraid of heights or dislike cruises can choose to fly over the region in a propeller plane, which will take them straight to Isabela Island.
A coastal cruise in Alaska
Alaska is most frequently visited by cruise ships, so while there are numerous ships and outfitters that can take you there, many other travelers are also wanting to see Alaska in the same way.
The cruises themselves don't typically require reservations made a full year in advance, but according to Linda Allen-Spear of Cruises, According to Linda, the tours—such as small-boat cruises that allow guests to see glaciers up close and personal or on-land excursions through the pristine wilderness of Denali National Park—do sell out much sooner.
She also warns that the nicest cabins go quickly, with "the low midship location being the most stable" for those who are worried about seasickness.
Visiting Patagonia
In essence, visiting Patagonia is like traveling to the ends of the world. Before you reach the alpine lakes and glaciers of Patagonia, you'll need to connect through a South American city, Plan Your Trip In Advance, such as the tango capital of Buenos Aires or metropolitan Santiago, Chile, both of which are probably worth a few days on their own.
On the way to Puerto Natales (also in Chile), visit Torres del Paine National Park, one of the country's most famous landscapes, and spend time with Magellanic penguins at the Otway Sound.
Alternatively, hear the ever-moving cracks of Argentina's Perito Moreno Glacier. Arrange ahead to experience it all, including accommodations at renowned lodges like Explore Patagonia.
FAQ's: Plan Your Trip In Advance
How do I plan a trip for the future?
- Choose your destination.
- Duration of your trip.
- Plan the budget.
- Flight & Accommodation Bookings.
- Research city tours, Activities & restaurants.
- Packing diligently!
How far in advance do you plan your travel?
Consider booking as early as a year in advance for popular destinations or busy travel periods to guarantee availability and better rates. On the other hand, you can definitely get away with making plans as little as three months in advance if you're only heading to the beach for a long weekend.
How do I plan before traveling?
- Decide Where You Want to Go. Maybe you already know where you want to go, or maybe you need inspiration.
- Check the Travel Advice and Advisories.
- Book Your Flight.
- Take Care of Your Health.
- Research Your Destination.
- Pick Your Must-do.
- Plan Your Itinerary.
- Book Your Accommodation.
When to plan a trip?
Planning as far ahead as possible—six to twelve months—will allow you to locate the best deals on travel, accommodation, and activities without having to worry about rushing. Don't stress if your trip is shorter and less planned. For less involved and more affordable vacations, one to three months' notice should be sufficient.