Tales from TravelLocal: where we’re going in 2025

As we dive headfirst into a new year, the team at TravelLocal are as excited as ever to plan more epic travel experiences far and wide. From the underrated cultural and natural draws of Pakistan to the snow-dusted scenes of Finland, we share our planned trips for 2025: the top destinations on our personal bucket lists this year. Read on for plenty of travel inspiration, and if any of these plans pique your interest, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our local experts and start dreaming about a vacation of your own…

TravelLocal team trips for 2025: where we’re going this year

Kathryn: Cape Town, South Africa

I’ll be taking a trip to Cape Town, South Africa in February, which is one of the best months to visit the Mother City. I’m looking forward to spending some time under big blue skies while exploring as many of the beaches as possible for cold water swims, surfing lessons, and paddles with penguins at Boulders. I’ll also be sure to indulge in as much of the incredible food and wine available at very affordable prices, including at many beautiful wineries located in Constantia, just 20 minutes from the city center, or the Stellenbosch or Franschhoek wine valleys that are a bit further afield. Cape Town is located around the base of Table Mountain and so it’s also a priority of mine to get in a few hikes. I’ll be traveling with my teen daughter, and so I am sure that some shopping at the V&A Waterfront will also be on the cards!

Jo: Tromso, Norway

We’re off to Tromso in February, motivated by easyJet starting direct flights from Bristol, our hometown – less flying time, more Tromso time. After experiencing temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) during our last trip to Mexico, my younger son has been begging for a cold vacation – which this will definitely be.

It’s my second trip – my husband and I went for New Year’s many years ago, pre-kids. Back then it was little-known and underdeveloped. We had to organize all our activities via the tourist office – and had a fantastic time. It was our first time seeing the northern lights (not on a special excursion, but during a meal of reindeer stew after a dog-sledding adventure).

We’re very excited to be revisiting the city and exploring the Arctic Cathedral, as well as riding the cable car and crossing the Tromso Bridge on foot, none of which we managed to do the first time – we’re partly inspired by Celebrity Race Across the World, which finished at the cable car in 2023. We’ll also be snowmobiling, dog-sledding and taking an electric catamaran trip around the fjords – a very different world from our day-to-day city existence.

Johanna: Albania

When my sister received the news she got an internship opportunity in Albania, my mom and I decided that we wanted to go “pick her up” and explore the country with her. Before long, my godmother decided to join and we quickly came up with a mammoth itinerary with hikes, sightseeing, wine tastings, and lying on a beach. It became clear that we’d need help. I knew I’d find a great tour operator with TravelLocal who would be able to make it all happen or help us narrow it down to fit our timeline and budget. We’re usually meticulous self-planners, but we’re all looking forward to sitting back and letting an expert take over. This will be our first TravelLocal trip and I cannot wait to experience the magic our travelers reference in their reviews.

Abbie: Bologna, Italy

Italy has long been on my travel bucket list, and despite growing up in a country that shares its border, I’ve never in my 30-plus years set foot in the Bel Paese – so, I’m excited to make it one of my top trips for 2025. There’s so much I want to add to my itinerary – the beauty of the Italian Lake District, the unique history and culture of Sardinia – but for this trip I’ve set my sights on Bologna. Alongside the obvious lure of its food (the cured meats, torta di riso, and tortellini filled with pork, Parmesan cheese and nutmeg), I can’t wait to explore every aspect of its artistic and architectural heritage. I plan to join a pasta-making class, tour the world’s oldest (and still operating) university, and photograph many a red-brick building in the glow of sunset.

Natacha: Pakistan

I’m planning to visit Pakistan this summer with my partner, Tino. I’ve always been drawn to off-the-beaten-path destinations, where the people are extra-welcoming and the culture is so rich it feels like stepping into a whole new world. Pakistan has fascinated me for a while as it is home to very strong traditions, has a reputation for the world’s best mangoes and biryani (according to my neighbor who is Pakistani), and has incredible natural wonders like the longest glacier system on Earth, which is unfortunately melting very fast.

People usually have prefabricated ideas about Pakistan, as I did. I had no idea there was so much to do and see there, including the world’s second-highest mountain and the second-largest salt mines. There is no real advertisement for the destination and it is rare to come across someone who has been there, so I am therefore very curious.

Some highlights I’m looking forward to are experiencing the unique border crossing ceremony between India and Pakistan, visiting the vibrant and colorful markets, exploring Lahore’s major film, music and art industry, and hiking in the breathtaking Hunza Valley. It is so diverse! I also love the feeling of being “lost” in a place, and I’m excited for how immersive this trip will be.

Laisa: Finland

My partner and I are going to Finland, where we’ll be spending our first week cross-country skiing whilst carrying our food and water on sledges and staying in off-grid huts. The two weeks after that will certainly be cozy!

My partner is a fabulous man who gifted me the trip for my 40th birthday! We have dreamt of seeing the northern lights for years and we would really love to catch a glimpse of them (more than a glimpse if we are lucky). So, we have decided to take advantage of the remote working part of my job and spend more time there, to do some cool adventures in the evening and have a higher chance of seeing the northern lights. We will be staying is cabins with log fires and enjoying the outdoors, Finnish saunas, food, Sami culture, and much more. We will be near Saariselkä – a town high into Finland’s Article Circle.

I’m super excited about the seven days we’ll be spending off-grid. We have also booked a meditative and silent “walking on snow with woolen socks” experience – which should be fabulous! It will also be my first time ever skiing! Even though I have been to Scandinavia in winter before, I have not been skiing anywhere in the world, so it will be great to try it out.

Sam: Provence, France

I can’t wait for our trip to Provence this year. We usually vacation within the UK (primarily Scotland and Cornwall) which is lovely but sun isn’t always guaranteed so it’s going to be a real treat to not be packing for all weathers! My parents are borrowing a house near a vineyard and my husband, our two little girls and I are going to join them for a week. There’s a lovely old church that I really want to visit, and beyond that I expect we’ll visit the local markets, eat lots of lovely food, play in the pool with the children and drink plenty of Provençal rosé in the sun. Can’t wait!

Leisa: Sri Lanka

Not being a fan of the wet British winters, this year I’ve decided to make the most of the remote working opportunity that being at TravelLocal offers. So, I’m writing this from a beachfront co-working space in southern Sri Lanka, listening to the sound of the ocean waves, wind rustling the palms, as a cheeky troop of monkeys drift by looking for mischief. I’ll spend a few weeks here, with the mornings spent practicing yoga, strolling along the beach, and taking a morning dip. Then after brunch I’ll settle down to work for the rest of the day, before rounding off with supper at a local beachfront bar.

It’s also a great chance to scratch the travel itch and tag some vacationing onto the end of the trip, to explore more of what Sri Lanka has to offer. I plan to travel north by train to Anuradhapura to explore the ancient Sinhalese ruins, then head to Wilpattu, one of the off-the-beaten-track National Parks, to join a safari in the hope of spotting leopards and sloth bears. If time allows, from there I’ll head to Sigiriya to visit Lion Rock and the cave temples of Dambulla, before taking the country’s most scenic train journey from Kandy to Ella, winding through the beautiful tea plantations of the hill country. I plan to break the train journey overnight to join local pilgrims on the night of the full moon, for the climb to the summit of Adam’s Peak for the sunrise.

Then, it’ll be a lazy few days in Ella with maybe a tea factory tour and a cookery class to learn how to make some of the delicious local curries, before heading back to the south coast for a final week of work – and hopefully to see some more wildlife. I’m hoping to join a birdwatching trip to Bundala National Park, which is popular for its flamingos and storks, and to go looking for blue whales, which can sometimes be spotted off the south coast in February and March. Seeing a blue whale would be a dream come true, so please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Hayley: Mallorca, Spain

The Spanish island of Mallorca is easily my favorite island in the Mediterranean, and I’m so excited to be getting married there this June, surrounded by my nearest and dearest who will be joining us. From the elegant charm of Port de Sóller to the laid-back beauty of Puerto de Pollensa, and the vibrant coastal energy of Cala d’Or, the island feels like a second home to us. Cala d’Or is especially meaningful, as it’s where we’ll be exchanging vows, on Cala Petita beach. It’s an island we’ll always hold dear, not just for its stunning landscapes, but for the special memories we’ve made there over the years.

David: Madeira, Portugal

Having heard and seen so many great things about Madeira, the Portuguese archipelago off the African coast, we couldn’t resist visiting any longer. My girlfriend and I will be visiting in March, we are looking forward to the mountains, coastal views, and getting out in nature on numerous hikes.

Isabelle: Morocco

Morocco has been on my wish list for years, and I’m thrilled to finally plan a trip with my family. We love destinations that combine culture, adventure, and relaxation, and Morocco offers so much to explore. Living in the UK, it’s just a short flight away, making it perfect for a family vacation. With only nine days to spare, we’re keen to avoid long transfers and packed schedules, so we’re working with TravelLocal’s local experts to craft the ideal itinerary. Marrakech is a must, and I’m especially excited about introducing my son to the colorful souks, seeing camels in the desert, and trying delicious tagines. We’re hoping to travel during the Easter holidays or May half-term, and can’t wait to create special family memories together.

Make it happen

Have our travel plans inspired you to book one or more trips for 2025? We offer a vast number of destinations across continents, so have a browse and explore our trip ideas; if you’re feeling ready for an adventure, our local experts are more than happy to help tailor-make the trip of a lifetime.