Top 10 destinations for 2009

Laos has been the hidden pearl of Southeast Asia ever since the country opened its borders for independent tourists in the 1990's. With low key attractions along with some world recognised ones like Luang Prabang and The Plain of Jars, lots of charm and authentic places with ethnic tribe people, golden temples, and way off the beaten track villages, Laos will surprise you the good way.

This amazing country has been announced a hot spot several times before, but for some strange reason, it never caught on. Oman is rich in culture like Yemen and peaceful like the Emirates, without been spoiled by oil money. This nation will treat you with traditional villages, desert forts, oasis and dramatic gorges. This is the Arabic have-it-all destination.

With Maya-ruins richer neighbours to the west and north (Guatemala and Mexico) and diving Mecca numero uno (Honduras) to the south, it's easy to bypass Belize - but you shouldn't. Besides Caribbean beaches, coral reefs and Mayan sites, the main thing is the jungle and the abundant wildlife, some of the best in Central America (and in the world for that matter). A note for the non-Spanish-speaking traveller, the official language is English.

This island nation of the West coast of Africa is new to the tourist scene. Though it's an African country, the place seems more Caribbean with its mixed culture and dark history from the slave trade. The main attractions are the warm weather (contrary to hot on the main land), great volcanoes and diving opportunities. Time will show if they can live up to the expectations and it's definitely a place to go to before mass tourism picks up on it.

Ethiopia is finally stepping out of its dark shadow of famine and war. Dramatic remote landscapes ranging from dry desert, wild savannah to high mountains are what the country is made of. Add a rich culture with deep roots in early Christianity and a visibly long history going all the way back to the beginning of humankind, and you get a truly rewarding destination for the adventurous traveller. It's not an easy country to visit, so count on some strenuous travels.

Imagine dipping into an ice-blue lagoon with body-warm waters after some whale-watching just offshore. Iceland will surely make an impression on you with gushing geysers, icy glaciers and wind swiped rough volcanic landscape. And now is the time to travel to the land of the Vikings. Its economic crises have sent it direct into budget category from its previous luxury league (the country was first on the Big Mac index for ages) - who said that financial crisis is all bad?

Land of the Thunder Dragon, The kingdom from the sky and The land of Gross National Happiness, the country has many nicknames and no doubt that Bhutan is special. This is a picture-perfect Himalayan kingdom run on Buddhist principles and surrounded by snow capped peaks. Contrary to some beliefs, there is no cap on the number of tourist visas they issue, but you have to be on a booked itinerary that average out to 200 USD per day and get a seat on the only courrier in and out of the country, the national airlines Druk Air.

All guide book publishers and travel program producers with respect for themselves have made it to North Korea. So it's hot. Don't think you are going to see the country. No, you are going to see Kim Jong-il's la-la land, which is a fascinating world in self-promoting and good old communist propaganda. More bizarre than anything else. Oh, did we mention that the only way to get in is with a booked tour, normally through Beijing.

You would be an ungrateful bastard if you can't find anything to your liking in Argentina. It has A LOT to offer. Anything from giant waterfalls, one of the greatest vibrant capitals in the world (measured in culture, not inhabitants), ocean wildlife watching (some even come ashore like penguins and sea lions), breathtaking scenery with high mountains and rough pampas. Throw in a bit of wine and the best steaks in the world and you get the idea that it's a nice place.

South Korea is becoming the new Japan in the travel world. A country where things are refreshingly weird and foreign, and where it's pretty darn hard to communicate with the locals (unless of course you speak Korean). Even the chopsticks are weird by being flat and made of metal. It's a country built on an old heritage, which is shaped by the fact it lies between two strong military nations (China and Japan), and this makes it stand out from its neighbours. South Korea is "Lost in translation" with a flavour of kimchi.