Hey Reader,

In last week’s newsletter, I shared a list of some of my favorite cultural destinations around the world (you can see it here). As I was creating it, I realized that those destinations all have a lot in common: a variety of landscapes or experiences, culture that feels really alive, incredible food, wonderful crafts, interesting architecture …

And that got me thinking about the countries I haven’t been to yet, which, I think, are pulling me for all the same reasons.

My bucket list is long. And this is just some of the countries—my list of specific destinations, cities, and experiences is even longer. (There are also plenty of places I’d love to go back to, but that’s another email entirely.)

In all of these cases, I’ve arranged trips for clients, which means I know enough to get both excited and envious every time I get to work on these destinations.

So here’s Part 1 of my travel bucket list:

Guatemala

Culture doesn’t follow political borders, and the Mayan heritage that shaped southern Mexico (one of my all-time favorites) extends right into Guatemala—Tikal is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Americas. I’d love to do a road trip combining Chiapas and Guatemala someday. Also, I could be wrong, but the indigenous culture seems even more alive here than in Mexico—and it’s pretty alive in Mexico. Add in the volcanic landscapes, Lake Atitlán, colonial Antigua, and incredible textiles and crafts, and it just offers so much.

Morocco

This one has been on my list forever, and I’m finally going this year. I’ve been to Tangier a few times, but I’ve never done a proper trip through the country, and I cannot wait. It really does offer a little bit of everything: art, design, crafts, and markets in cities like Fez and Marrakesh; active and adventure touring in the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert; and incredible luxury hotels like iconic La Mamounia and gorgeous Dar Ahlam, near Ouarzazate (also soon to be off my bucket list). The mix of Berber, Arab, and French influences makes the culture feel completely singular, and the kasbahs and palm oases look wonderfully exotic. I’m very excited.

Egypt

What kid hasn’t been obsessed with ancient Egyptian culture at some point? This is potentially at the top of my bucket list. The Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened out by the pyramids, and the new-ish National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo now houses the royal mummies—so there’s been some exciting developments in the last several years. It’s also one of the very few places in the world where I’d consider doing a cruise: a Nile cruise with a private Egyptologist guide, stopping at ruins along the way, flying out to Abu Simbel … It’s pure culture and history, and it really lights me up.

Sri Lanka

I’ve worked quite a bit on Sri Lanka for clients, but I’ve never been myself, and it’s time. I’d do the Cultural Triangle to see the temples and ruins, then head into the tea country (I’m dying to stay at Ceylon Tea Trails, a Relais & Châteaux property made up of restored tea planters’ bungalows scattered across several locations—really unusual and beautiful). There’s also game viewing in Yala National Park, and the spice plantations and Geoffrey Bawa architecture of the south, plus beach resorts if you want them. For a relatively small island, the variety is remarkable.

Singapore

I really want to go to Singapore, mostly to eat. The mix of Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, and Indonesian cultures creates one of the most exciting food scenes in the world, and I discovered a few years ago that I really like Malaysian food, so I want to explore the markets and eat my way through the city. There’s also interesting history and colonial architecture alongside super-contemporary landmarks like Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and even the airport. That blend is what makes it so appealing to me.

South Korea

Eating is a big part of the draw, but what really interests me is that mix of traditional and super-contemporary culture: hyper-modern, techy Seoul (where I also want to do K-pop and K-beauty stuff) alongside incredible UNESCO-listed sites like Gyeongju. Busan and Jeju Island look really cool, too.

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I have more bucket list countries to share (Part 2 coming soon!), but in the meantime, I’d love to know what’s on your bucket list and how it got there. Was it a photo? A book? A friend’s trip? Come tell me on Instagram—I want to hear.

P.S. If reading this list got your own bucket list wheels turning, but you’re not sure where to start, that’s exactly what my Destination Discovery Calls are for. I’ve planned trips to all of these countries for clients. You bring the dream, and I’ll help you figure out the rest.