Planning your next holiday? 25 of the best trips to book right now

The biggest benefit of an organised tour or cruise can be summed up in a single word. Relief. From the moment you check in, you can shake off travel’s practical burdens and relax in the knowledge you won’t have to think about anything for the next week or two.

No figuring out train timetables, no hassles with dodgy taxi drivers, no hauling your suitcase or, after a long day’s sightseeing, heading out exhausted to hunt down an evening meal.

Organised travel is easy, reliable and safe. It’s an enjoyable, shared experience, and can take you to places that may otherwise seem daunting or difficult. Expedition cruises, for instance, may venture to places you could never otherwise see at all.

So get out there in 2025 on a holiday that releases you from practicalities and worries, bar setting your alarm clock for another day in another attractive destination. Cast aside the urge to do it yourself, and pass the organisational hassle on to someone else.

That leaves you with nothing to do but make the most of your time sightseeing, street strolling or enjoying drinks in town squares or beside lagoons. Here are 25 easy does it trip ideas to inspire. What a relief.

Tour the wildest of wild sides

The lowdown Have yet to visit Africa? You’ve got to go, and the southern chunk of it visited on this tour will wow you with highlights such as the scenic Cape Winelands, Garden Route, Kruger National Park, and thundering Victoria Falls. You’ll also get cultural insights in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Don’t miss Chobe National Park in Botswana for its many waterways and Africa’s greatest concentration of elephants. Hippos, giraffes, lions and abundant birds are among its other native creatures.

Make it happen Fifteen days between Cape Town and Victoria Falls, several departures May-September 2025. From $18,045 a person. See scenic.com.au

Simply red, simply unmissable

The lowdown Get immersed in the silence and landscapes of our mighty, rust-red northwest on this new premium small-group journey. Cruise the Ord River and Chamberlain Gorge, sink into the thermal waters of Zebedee Springs, explore the orange-and-black striped Bungle Bungles, and learn about Indigenous history in Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek.

Don’t miss An awe-inspiring walk along Piccaninny Creek and into Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm in Purnululu National Park, perfectly timed for sunset, which sets the striking red landscape afire.

Make it happen 11 days return from Broome, several departures June-August 2025. From $9891 a person. See inspiringjourneys.com

Discover what all the Fes is about

The lowdown This Australian specialist in personalised Moroccan travel experiences has a new luxury tour for a maximum 10 guests. Take in Tangier, blue-painted town Chefchaouen, superb medieval walled city Fes, and ancient Roman mosaics at Volubilis, as well as Morocco’s street life and flavoursome cuisine.

Don’t miss A stroll along the busy waterfront in Casablanca to the enormous Hassan II Mosque, superbly sited on an ocean-girt peninsula. It’s a bedazzlement of Moorish-style design in marble and cedar.

Make it happen Nine days return from Tangier to Casablanca, departs October 15, 2025; private tours available at other times. From $8990 a person. See bypriorarrangement.com

Fall for Japan on a full-colour dream trip

The lowdown Japan in autumn is a magnificent explosion of colour on hillsides, gardens and temple grounds. This journey on luxury Seabourn Quest takes you to lesser-known but wonderful destinations such as Akita for its samurai-era district and hot springs, Tsuruga for its opulent shrine and serene gardens, and Wakayama for Buddhist temples.

Don’t miss A new shore excursion from Kobe that showcases World Heritage-listed Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden, sake-making at Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum, and renowned Kobe beef over lunch.

Make it happen Twelve days between Yokohama and Kobe, departs October 12, 2025. From $14,309 a person in an Ocean View stateroom. See seabourn.com

Make tracks along the soundtrack of America

The lowdown Delve into the Deep South’s musical heritage on this new tour to the destinations – Nashville, Memphis, the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans – that created the soundtrack to our lives. As a bonus, renowned documentary-maker Ken Burns adds his expertise in American history and music.

Don’t miss Sun Studio in Memphis, where Elvis Presley made his first recordings, followed by an after-hours tour of Graceland and dinner at the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, which displays cars that include Elvis’ famous pink Cadillac.

Make it happen Nine days return from Nashville to New Orleans, several departures March-May and September-October 2025. From $9540 a person. See tauck.com.au

Take a trip to the tip of the island continent

The lowdown If you’re active and keen to get into our continent’s magnificent corners then pack your swag for this journey up Cape York and as far as Thursday Island for an encounter with Indigenous culture, rainforest, wetlands, termite mounds, cattle stations, bauxite mines, quirky outback pubs and big muddy rivers.

Don’t miss The chance to boast about reaching Cape York’s tip at the top of mainland Australia. Here the mournful remains of an 1864 European settlement include rusty cannon and tombstones against a cheerful sapphire sea.

Make it happen Seven days return from Cairns, multiple departures May-September 2025. From $4299 a person. See aatkings.com

Launch yourself along Portugal’s golden river

The lowdown The Douro River is the hot cruise destination of the moment, and among an increasing number of ships plying its waters is the new Viking Gyda, all set for a 2025 launch. This itinerary nicely combines the steep, vine-clad landscape and cultural assets of the river with land add-ons to Lisbon, Coimbra, and (in Spain) Salamanca.

Don’t miss Powerful former bishop’s seat and current pilgrimage town Lamego, dotted with fountains, overlooked by gargoyles, and famous for marzipan, almond biscuits and – making a change from port wine – sparkling Raposeira instead.

Make it happen Ten days from Lisbon to Porto, multiple departures March-November 2025. From $8795 a person in a Standard Stateroom. See vikingrivercruises.com.au

Form a plan to embrace the Stans

The lowdown Why not challenge yourself with entirely unfamiliar places in 2025? Adventure travel company World Expeditions takes you through Central Asia’s five “stans” next year, where you’ll encounter vast mountain landscapes and enjoy cultural experiences away from mainstream tourist crowds. Highlights? Ashgabat, Bukhara, Samarkand and Almaty.

Don’t miss Ancient walled city Khiva in Uzbekistan is a superb desert outpost cluttered with palaces, mosques, tombs, craft shops and markets, and has lively cultural programs.

Make it happen 23 days from Ashgabat to Almaty, departs April 21, May 5, May 19 and September 1, 2025. From $8340 a person. See worldexpeditions.com

Bunker down on the ultimate golf cruise

The lowdown Swedish pro golf great Annika Sorenstam hosts this special voyage to six top golfing greens in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland aboard ultra-luxury ship Seven Seas Grandeur.

On board, guests will have the chance to meet Sorenstam and learn more about her life and career, enjoy golf trivia competitions, and perfect their putting on deck.

Don’t miss The pre-cruise land program. You must do this to vie for the trophy at the inaugural Regent Seven Seas Golf Tournament at The Downs Golf Course in southern England, also hosted by Sorenstam.

Make it happen Fourteen nights return from Southampton, departs June 23, 2025. From $22,390 a person. See rssc.com

Feast on Canada’s overlooked east

The lowdown Australian visitors often concentrate on rugged western Canada, but its eastern cities have history and, often, French-Canadian culture. Take in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and magnificent Quebec City on this tour, which also fits in Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands region.

Don’t miss ByWard Market in Ottawa, the best urban market in Canada. You’ll get added insight on a guided tour to learn about its history and key sites, which is followed by a progressive dinner with each course from a different market supplier.

Make it happen 10 days between Toronto and Montreal, multiple departures April-September 2025. From $7695 a person. See aptouring.com.au

Join the skeleton crew in Namibia

The lowdown Wendy Wu Tours, the Australian tour specialist, has spread its wings of late, with few destinations as photogenic and starkly beautiful as Namibia, where giant sand dunes meet wild coastlines, and desert-adapted lions and elephants roam Etosha National Park. Canyons, mountains, the Skeleton Coast and San rock art are other attractions.

Don’t miss Sossusvlei has otherworldly landscapes that include dramatic red dunes, glittering salt pans, and 900-year-old tree skeletons that stick up from white clay like contemporary sculptures.

Make it happen Twelve days return from Windhoek, departs September 21, October 5 and October 26, 2025. From $11,680 a person. See wendywutours.com.au

Make the ultimate salmon run for it

The lowdown Oceania’s ship Riviera sails its first Alaska season in 2025 on varying itineraries. This one takes in historic towns Ketchikan for native culture, Russian-influenced Sitka and capital Juneau, plus the splendid landscapes of the Inside Passage, Hubbard Glacier and Icy Strait Point.

Don’t miss The opportunity to fish for salmon on a shore excursion out of Ketchikan in a state-of-the-art boat. Your catch is cooked up afterwards for lunch. Oceania is known for its cuisine, and several other excursions have foodie themes.

Make it happen Twelve days return from Vancouver to Whittier, departs May 29, 2024. From $7399 a person in a Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom. See oceaniacruises.com

When Greece is not the final word

The lowdown Think you’ve “been there, done that” when it comes to Greece? This jaunt on luxury expedition ship L’Austral takes you to less-famous islands such as Patmos, Symi, Milos and Amorgos. Expect volcanic landscapes, archaeological sites and gorgeous bays of shimmering turquoise. A sunset cruise past Santorini shows its caldera at its most flamboyant.

Don’t miss Delos, which although a tiny island, has a big history thanks to its place in ancient Greek culture and religion. Its ruins are World Heritage listed, with temple columns and stone lions set splendidly in a biscuit-brown landscape against the blue Aegean.

Make it happen Eight days return from Piraeus (Athens), departs June 29, July 2 and July 10, 2025. From $6190 a person. See ponant.com

Deeper down Mexico way

The lowdown Mexico is one of the world’s great destinations, whether you’re soaking up the energy of its megacity capital, plunging into delightful colonial-era old towns, or hitting the beaches of the Riviera Maya. This tour also takes you to archaeological sites such as Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza to wow you with pyramids and other ruins.

Don’t miss Oaxaca is arguably Mexico’s most delightful town, graced with a Spanish colonial core, lively with culture and festivals, buzzing with artists, and surrounded by Mixtec and Zapotec ruins

Make it happen Ten days between Mexico City and Cancun, multiple departures year-round. From $5895 a person. See adventureworld.com

Make an impression on France’s cultural north

The lowdown The Loire Valley, Brittany and Normandy are three iconic French regions notable for maritime history, chateaux, and art connections such as Claude Monet’s house and port town Honfleur and Rouen, much painted by Impressionists. This tour also takes in glorious Mont Saint-Michel and the battlefields and beaches of World War II.

Don’t miss St-Malo, an historic trading port in Brittany with wave-battered fortifications and panoramic sea ramparts. Behind the walls, you’ll find an agreeable collection of churches, market squares and restaurants, anchored by a castle and cathedral.

Make it happen Ten days return from Paris, several departures April-September 2025. From $6995 a person. See bunniktours.com.au

Ten more trips worth taking in 2025

Go in search of Shackleton
A 20-day expedition cruise return from Ushuaia in Argentina with Australian company Aurora takes you to the glaciers and mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and wildlife-dense South Georgia. The story of explorer Ernest Shackleton and his ship Endurance is an added thrill. From $26,495 a person, departs March 16 and November 1, 2025. See auroraexpeditions.com.au

Behold the ultimate adventure island
Explore the weird and wonderful landscapes of Iceland with Intrepid. Glaciers, geysers, thermal springs, black-sand beaches, volcanoes and colossal waterfalls are all among the spectacles on this active eight-day tour return from Reykjavik. Akureyri is rich in Norse history. From $5275 a person, multiple departures April-October 2025. See intrepidtravel.com

Experience the crater good
East Africa’s wildlife spectacle is a traveller’s must-see. This luxury 10-day safari from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro takes you to iconic destinations such as Amboseli and Serengeti national parks and Ngorongoro Crater, and gives you the chance to gaze on Mount Kilimanjaro’s snows from your luxury tent. From $11,950 a person, personalised departures year-round. See abercrombiekent.com.au

Days and nights of the iguanas
Lindblad launched two sleek Galapagos ships in 2024 (16-guest National Geographic Delfina and 48-guest National Geographic Gemini). This 10-day itinerary on the former gives you an intimate encounter with wildlife such as iguanas, seals and giant tortoises, with opportunities to explore by Zodiac, kayak and paddleboard. From $14,200 a person, year-round departures from February 2025. See expeditions.com

See Sicily sans the crowds
Looking to beat the crowds and take advantage of lower prices? This popular tour has had dates extended into winter in 2025. Enjoy a snow-capped Mount Etna, the superb architecture of Palermo and Monreale, ancient Greek ruins and much more at a relaxed pace. From $3375 a person, multiple departures April-December 2025. See trafalgar.com

On the up and up in Norway

Sustainable tour company Up Norway specialises in upmarket, curated and unique experiences in Norway. Its new 14-day gastronomic tour from Bergen, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, showcases Norway’s culinary heritage through Michelin-star dining, guided culinary tours, sea foraging and farm visits. From NOK1.02 million ($140,000) for six, flexible departures April-November 2025. See  upnorway.com

Indulge in incredible Indochina
Take 17 days to explore some of South-East Asia’s best monuments and most energetic cities on this land and river journey between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Among highlights are Phnom Penh’s royal palace, Angkor Wat, and the karst landscapes of Halong Bay. From $5695 a person, several departures July 2025 to March 2026. See travelmarvel.com.au

Go to Rio (and BA and Montevideo, too)
Still haven’t been to South America? Then 2025 is the year for you. This 11-day journey from Buenos Aires to Rio brings you to its two top cities and Iguazu Falls, but takes in Montevideo Uruguay’s pleasing capital and UNESCO-listed town Colonia del Sacramento too. From $10,181 a person, departs March 25, October 7 and October 28, 2025. See insightvacations.com

Pitch yourself across the ditch
New Zealand is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth, and this 12-day jaunt return from Christchurch showcases its magnificence while jetboating, biking, dining and visiting destinations such as Queenstown, Milford Sound and Dunedin, rich in Scottish heritage. From $12,850 a person, departs March 10 and 21 and December 3 and 14, 2025. See luxurygold.com

Take in these ports of thrall
This eight-day cruise from Rome on luxury yacht Emerald Sakara slips into delightful small Italian and French ports in Capri, the Amalfi Coast and Sardinia, as well as Bonifacio in Corsica. Among excursions are walking and boating tours, a Pompeii visit, and exploration of villages. From $9680 a person, departs August 2 and September 13, 2025. See  emeraldcruises.com.au