Top 10 destinations for 2015

Dull, poor, and out-dated were words that previouly described Poland, but times have changed. Today, Poland is a thriving country with the fastest growing economy in the EU. It's soaked in history from its Golden Age in the 16th century, when the country was a European superpower, to the periods of the grim WWII and the gloomy communist years, when Poland was part of the Eastern Bloc. The capital Warsaw is still full of Soviet-era architecture, though modern skyscrapers are fast rising. Socialist apartment blocks and cheap workingclass cafeterias now lie side by side with expensive fashion shops and fancy cafes. Beautiful medieval towns, like Wroclaw, are getting a name for themselves, while Krakow is quickly becoming the new Prague, due to the pretty old town and the vibrant nightlife. If that wasn't enough, Poland is blessed with a diverse nature. There are caves, mountains, forests and rivers, all protected by some of the finest national parks in Europe. And Poland is still cheap – what more reasons do you need to visit?

Comparing the ebbs and flows of empires throughout human history, nothing comes close to equaling the size of the Mongolian empire. The Khans did not build landmarks. They did not settle huge cities. It was a culture of mobility which lives on today. While Mongolia lost its title of superpower some 700 years ago, it remains one of the few places on Earth where you can mingle with a largely nomadic culture. Yurt/Ger stays in the middle of the vast Mongolia steppe are the big draw of the country as you mount your horse to help wrangle sheep. But the country is no one-hit wonder. The Naadam Festival (Mongolian traditional "Olympics") draws an increasingly large international crowd every year. With recent policies relaxing visa regulations, the country is even more easily accessible. Besides, if genealogists are to be believed, something like 1 in 200 males in Europe are direct descendants of the Khans. So a visit to Mongolia is like a visit home.

Central American travellers are finally turning their eyes on Nicaragua, instead of trotting the gringo trail in Costa Rica and Guatemala. It has pretty colonial towns on par with Guatemala's, and more smoking volcanoes than you can poke a stick at. It even got twin volcanoes in the midlle of a lake, how more picture perfect can you get it? For a low key getaway, visit one of its two Caribbean islands, where palm fringed Little Corn Island is the most spectacular one. Otherwise, the wild Caribbean coast lies untouched and is as far off the gringo trail as you can get. For something more accessible and easy to love, explore the Pacific coast with its cool surf beaches and sea turtle nesting sites. So if volcanoes, beaches, and colourful catherals sounds like the right cocktail for you, don't think twice about Nicaragua.

The not-quite Democratic Republic of the Congo – or DRC as it is more commonly known – is an enormous country, as diverse and exciting as they come. While much of it is turbulent and so far off the usual tourist route as to be almost entirely inaccessible, its eastern provinces are easily reached from Rwanda and Uganda, and have plenty to keep adventurous travellers happy. This is the home of both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas, of chimpanzees and forest elephants, of active volcanoes and methane-loaded Lake Kivu. The people are vibrant and friendly, despite the turmoil of the last few years, and few places in the world can rival Virunga – Africa’s oldest national park - for natural diversity and raw beauty. Visiting DRC might not be for everyone, but for those who dare to step off the beaten track this is an adventure not easily forgotten.

Judging by the scarcity of the information you find in travel websites and guidebooks (the Lonely Planet doesn't even have a chapter on the country anymore), you'd think the Comoros would be unsuitable for travel. But if you are willing to free yourself of the weight of such a travel artefact, you'll discover a highly underrated country, with an acceptable tourism infrastructure. And please, do yourself the favour of visiting all three islands and not just Grande Comore, for each has something unique to offer, be it a turtle nesting beach, a volcano, tropical forest, medinas or giant bats. In all of them, however, you'll meet very welcoming people, see the ubiquitous ocean, and smell the aroma of drying cloves on the side of the road. True, it's never entirely idyllic, with litter here and there, but the trash-free beaches you'll encounter will appear even more magical.

It might come as a surprise, but there are still pretty islands in the Caribbean that are untouched by the tourist hordes – and thankfully, gorgeous Dominica is one of them. This little volcanic island is mountainous with an interior of lush rainforest, where waterfalls plunge into chilled pools. There are natural hot springs, along with bubbling mud ponds, and even a boiling lake – the second largest in the world. It's no wonder Dominica has been nicknamed the Nature Island. Here sightseeing feels more like exploration for many of these natural sights can only be reached by hiking along one of the island's many trails. So how has Dominica managed to stay under radar for so long? Well, compared to the other more popular Caribbean destinations, Dominica lacks white sand beaches, but that doesn't mean there aren't any beaches. They's more than a handful of beautiful yellow and black sand beaches to complete your alternative Caribbean holiday.

Birthplace of the Nile River, home of kings, infused with religion, topped off with indigenous cultures, Ethiopia is a one stop shop for tourism. Boasting the most UNESCO world heritage sites in Africa, there is an endless array of things to see and do. Ancient kingdoms left their marks in terms of castles and monuments in spectacular Axum and Gondar. The unequaled rock-hewn churches at Lalibela are a testament to religion in the region. The tribes of the Omo Valley are an explosion of colour and tradition. The pristine nature of the Simien Mountains offer excellent hiking opportunities. All this merely scratches the surface of what's on offer in the country. Throw in some excellent food, cool wildlife experiences (including feeding hyenas), vibrant markets and even pampering spas, Ethiopia really does have something for absolutely everyone.

Once shrouded in mystery (and government restrictions), Myanmar currently has the travel community abuzz. Enough changes have taken place over the last few years to make travel here more accessible – there are comfortable buses, extensive accommodation options and even prepaid smartphone SIM-cards – yet it remains more untouched and authentic than the rest of southeast Asia. There are temples galore at Bagan, photogenic fishermen and floating gardens at Inle Lake and exciting homestay and trekking opportunities around Kalaw and Hsipaw. The cuisine might not be on par with that of Thailand or Vietnam, but is varied due to the ethnic diversity of the country. And in the end it is the people that make Myanmar such a gem: friendly, helpful, honest and colourful. It is still possible to enjoy many of Myanmar’s treasures without the inconvenience of mass tourism, but that won’t last for long – book your tickets and pack your bags, because the time to visit Myanmar is now!

There's "off-the-beaten track" travelling, and then there's “where the heck is that?” travelling. Chances are, unless you have a cartography degree, you would struggle to point Guyana on a world map. Most tourism indices list the South American country as one of the least visited countries on Earth. But with a new promotion initiative labelling itself as the new go-to eco-tourism destination, Guyana is trying to change all that. Reasonably high standard eco-lodges are popping up around the pristine country-side offering up close and personal experiences with nature and the indigenous, Amerindian, populations. Possibly the jewel in the crown is 226 m Kaieteur Falls; either a short flight/half-day trip from the capital, Georgetown, or a multi-day trek through jungle to get to. Guyana is the sort of secret place where you are likely to be the only tourist around, but that secret won't be safe for long.

Yes, it might sound crazy to have Afghanistan on the Top 10 list, but travelling has become feasible in pockets of Afghanistan these days – and even safe to some extent. The most adventurous travellers are already making a small trail through Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, the Wakhan Corridor, and even Kabul. Overland travelling within Afghanistan is still considered highly unsafe, but visiting one single place by entering from one of the northern neighbours and leave the same way is a possiblity. This way you can have a look at the Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif or trek among the nomadic Wakhi people in the far-flung Wakhan Corridor. Futher exploration of the country will unfortunately have to wait until Afghanistan is again a welcoming and safe stop on the overland route between Europe and Asia.