The ultimate 2016 travel bucket list and where to stay

January: a month full of empty promises of giving up drinking, running a marathon and reading a new book every week. While we’re all for a decent resolution that you can actually stick to, most new year’s resolutions work for the first week and then are tossed away like the remnants of your Christmas decorations. One resolution that we firmly believe every gentleman should follow is to travel more. Yes, it costs money, and yes, you’re using up your holiday days, but why else do you spend almost every day of the year slaving away behind a computer screen? Travel wisely, and we promise you won’t regret it.

With this in mind, here is our 2016 travel bucket list:

Why you should go: First of all, Sweden is home to an entirety of incredible cities; Malmö, Stockholm and Gothenburg are right at your fingertips. If you’d prefer to go to the countryside, you’ll find scenes that remind you on England – in the best way possible.

Where you should stay: Aurora Safari Camp. Having set up camp well within the Arctic circle in Sweden, the Aurora Safari Camp is one of the more unique spots from which to try your luck with the Northern Lights. A collection of traditional Lavvu tents have been constructed amid the snow, kept toasty warm by a central log burner, and are the perfect spot for the adventurous traveller to settle in for a few nights. And if the Northern Lights don’t make an appearance, you’ll be kept busy with a host of Arctic experiences, from dog-sledding, to snowmobiling. For more information on Aurora Safari Camp, visit Original Travel here. ,

Who you should follow: @calleartmark

Why you should go: If, like us, Tokyo has been one place that has been on the top of your bucket list for years now, make this the year you travel there. It still holds an enormous amount of original Japanese charm and you’ll see buildings, gadgets and sites that you only assumed you’d see in the future. With a night sky that’s as lit up with the bustling city lights as it is by the sunshine of the day, Tokyo is beautiful in a completely different and unique way to some of the other places we’ve mentioned on this list.

Where you should stay: The Palace. Located in the heart of vibrant Tokyo, there is no better placed hotel than The Palace. Many of the spacious guestrooms – a luxury in the metropolis – overlook the stunning gardens of the Imperial Palace, and all offer sumptuous Japanese linens, and the latest technology.

Who you should follow: @yuma1983

Why you should go: Africa should be at the top of your travel bucket list, and Botswana should be the first place you visit. With some of the most beautiful wilderness in the world and the most stunning landscape you’ve ever seen, Botswana will never, ever disappoint.

Where you should go: If you think you know what luxury in the desert will look like, think again and then you might come the tiniest bit close to what San Camp is actually like. With classic white tents perched on the shore of a vast salt pan, the views you’ll see are both soothing and serene. The whole camp runs entirely on solar energy, and this is the perfect place to relax, unwind and retreat. For more information, visit The Luxury Safari Company.

Who you should follow: @intotheokavango

Why you should go: Anyone who has been to Scotland can vouch for the beauty that the place offers. Endless scenery to rival something that only the imagination can conjure up is literally on your doorstep, not to mention the fact that the air you breathe has to be the some of the most crisp and fresh there is.

Where you should stay: Fenton Tower, Kingston. Rich in history, originally built in 1560 and subsequently partially destroyed in 1640 by the Duke of Argyll, the Fortalice has been painstakingly and sympathetically rebuilt and renovated to modern comforts by its current owner – and very well done it is, too. For more information on Fenton Tower, visit Oliver’s Travels.

Who you should follow: @visitscotland (Top image L-R: @jasonjturner @distant.north)

Why you should go: Where else can you go where you can swim in the dead sea one day, be riding horseback along some of the most incredible nature on this earth and be in amongst some of the best food and culture markets in the world? Make 2016 the year you visit Jordan, and we promise you won’t forget it.

Where you should stay: Bedouin Camp, Wadi Rum. Make like Lawrence of Arabia and head out to the deserts of Wadi Rum, travelling by camel (or Land Rover, for the more comfortable option), to arrive at a private Bedouin Camp in the heart of the desert. A central fire pit will keep the heat as the sun dips, and guests gather for dinner under clear, star-lit skies. Although facilities are simple, nothing can beat the adventure of a private desert camp experience. For more information, visit Original Travel.

Who you should follow: @visitjordan (Top image L-R: @hazemjweinat @chaiwalla)

Why you should go: While we never believe that you should travel somewhere purely because it’s fashionable, there’s clearly a reason why everyone and their mother is waxing lyrical about Iceland. Until a few years ago, it was definitely a seriously underrated part of the world. But in recent years, and thanks to the plethora of world-famous Instagrammers who photograph it so beautifully, Iceland has firmly taken a seat at the very top of our travel bucket list.

Where you should stay: Deplar Farm. The Eleven Experience group are set to open their third European property in Iceland this April, in the form of Deplar Farm. Situated in a remote valley in Northwest Iceland, surrounded by 3,000ft peaks, Deplar Farm is being transformed from a working sheep farm into the ultimate wilderness retreat. The two signature experiences at the lodge will be heli-skiing, and world-class salmon fishing, though guests travelling in winter might also be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, and those travelling in summer can also enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and sea kayaking. For more information, visit Original Travel.

Who to follow: @chrisburkard

Why you should go: The Philippines is one of those countries that is so beautiful, it almost seems like it belongs purely on a postcard and not actually in real life. Whether you’re after a holiday full of experimentation and exploration, or one that requires you not to leave your beach chair for a week, The Philippines is the place for you.

Where you should stay: Dedon Island. Having furnished luxury hotels worldwide for years, the team at furniture company Dedon crafted their finest showroom to date in the Philippines. Dedon Island Resort is home to just 9 luxurious villas, crafted from timber and nestled between ancient mangroves and the azure waters of the bay. Each includes a private veranda and sliding doors to allow the gentle sea breeze in. Energetic activities on offer include biking, snorkelling, surfing and paddlingboarding, or spend downtime relaxing in one of the many Dedon signature rattan woven nests, hanging from porches and swaying palms throughout the resort. For more information, visit Original Travel.

Who you should follow: @the_philippines

Why you should go: Because it’s Utah. And if that’s not a good enough reason, then just look at the photographs. The place is like something out of a film; with canyons beyond compare and sunlight and heat like you’ve never experienced before. Utah is beauty personified, and if that’s not a good enough reason, we don’t know what is.

Where you should stay: Amangiri. The hotel blends beautifully into its desert surroundings, with every room offering unique views of the area’s dramatic landscape. Guests can either be active and take advantage of the on-property complimentary hikes or try their hand at climbing the four Via Ferratas or relax in the desert spa, where treatments have been designed to reflect elements of Navajo culture and healing traditions. At night you can stargaze from your private sky terrace. What’s not to love? For more information, visit Hill & Dean PR.

Who you should follow: @utahisrad

Why you should go: If the rat race has got too much for you, British Columbia is where you need to head. Home to the most vast, beautiful and inspiring landscape in the world, once you get there you’ll find it hard to comprehend that a place like this actually exists.

Where you should stay: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. What was once a remote mining outpost has been transformed into a luxury eco-retreat amid the temperate rainforest of the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve. The 20 luxury tents are furnished with an eclectic mix of antiques, comfortable king size beds, and en suite bathrooms with both indoor and outdoor showers. The adventurous can spend days kayaking and river rafting, zip-lining through the canopy, exploring the rainforest by mountain bike, and whale and bear watching. And for the ultimate wilderness experience, spend at night at Cloud Camp, set by a mountainous lake at 4500ft, and only accessible by helicopter. For more information, visit Original Travel.

Who you should follow: @alexstrohl

Main image by Mark Rumbelow