2 . They supposedly swim in remote lakes, hide in dense forests, and walk among snowy mountains. Yet despite being unreal proven by science, cryptids—fantastical beasts that probably don’t exist—have fascinated humans for centuries and gave birth to cryptotourism which boosts the local tourism. North America’s Bigfoot helps generate over $140 million annually for the U.S. economy, according to the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.

In Nepal, cryptotourism reaches back to the 1950s. It centers on the Yeti. Up to six feet tall and similar in appearance to the Bigfoot, this legendary creature is reported to wander on the snowy peaks of the Himalayas and is a prominent figure in the folk tale of Nepal. Its tale is 6,000 years old. But the furry beast was a regional fairytale until British explorer Eric Shipton claimed to have photographed a 13-inch-long human-like footprint in the snow of Nepal’s Menlung Glacier. Explorers all over the world soon flooded into the Himalayas, competing to detect the cryptid.

Over time, the Yeti became a powerful tourism brand in Nepal. This beast’s foot forms the logo of the domestic carrier, Yeti Airlines, while hotels, restaurants, cafés, and tour companies profit off its name.

Some Nepalis are more skeptical. Sushil, a tour guide, says even as a child he viewed Yetis as a sham. Now, when his customers ask about the monster, he tells them it’s widely considered a myth. Sushil says he dislikes cryptotourism, which steals focus from the country’s remarkable architecture and ancient traditions. “I don’t think the Yeti is a valuable tool to promote Nepal tourism,” he says. “We have a lot of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Nepal should focus on its rich natural diversity.”

Academics have also offered scientific explanations for the Yeti and other cryptids, yet these legends persist. “People have always been fascinated by things in nature which confuse us, things which we just don’t understand,” says Panday, a Nepali author. “That’s not going to change any time soon.”

3 . It’s never too early to get thinking about this year’s big trip.But where should you go? Well, National Geographic has revealed its“Best of the World”list for 2023,offering a few pointers as to the travel experiences over the next 12 months or so. This year’s Nat Geo list is split into four categories as follows.

Explore the biodiversity of Botswana.

Witness rewilding in the Scottish Highlands.

Go on a foodie biking tour of Slovenia.

Visit Big Bend National Park in Texas, USA.

Take part in sustainability programs in the Azores.

Head to Egypt to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Watch films and down craft beers in Busan, South Korea.

Visit the International African American Museum in Charleston, USA.

See the Longmen Grottoes’ stone statues in Hunan, China.

Go on an Alpine rail trip in Switzerland.

Help conserve turtle populations in Trinidad and Tobago.

Head to San Francisco, USA, for city-view campfires and urban hiking trails.

Bird-watch in Colombia.

Visit football stadiums in Manchester, UK.

Take a women-led sustainable tour in the Dodecanese Islands in Greece.

Spend a long weekend on the Great Lakes in Milwaukee, USA.

Go on a new high-speed train in Laos.

Explore Black heritage in Ghana.

Okay, so it might not all be up your street — but it’s undeniably a spectacular range of stuff.You can read more on National Geographic’s official page here — and get pumped for a year of life-changing travel experiences.

5 . Fiji is one of the world’s top five honeymoon destinations according to a CNN.com travel poll (民意调查).

Nisa Bula — Welcome to Fiji. This heartfelt greeting is your warm invitation to visit a undiscovered paradise! More than anything else, the Fiji Islands are a unique destination, a South Pacific tropical island paradise of charm and cultural diversity. Its miles of unspoiled beaches, sparkling lakes and shining sunsets offer an experience you’ll never forget.

From giant mountains to tiny atolls (环礁), Fiji’s 300 tropical islands are as richly varied as the diverse friendly people who inhabit them. They equally welcome the couple in search of privacy or the group on the trip of a lifetime.

Year-round warm weather, a stress free environment and world-class facilities with first class service make Fiji as near as possible to paradise — a truly great escape.

TOP FOUR THINGS TO DO IN FIJI:

●Snorkel (潜泳) and dive on large coral reefs

●Visit a traditional Fijian village

●Swim in the warm, crystal clear water

●Sail around the Yasawa Islands

A Few Facts:

Population: A mere 750,000 people inhabit the Fiji Islands — the majority of whom live on the two larger islands. Time Zone: Fiji is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Electricity: 240 volts — most resorts and hotels have 110-volt converters (转换器). Taxes: Currently, the rate of tax is 10%, which is applied to all goods and services supplied. Climate: Now you have found paradise! Fiji enjoys the perfect climate year round. November to April 86℉, May to October 79℉.

7 . Botswana is situated in Southern Africa. There are many top-quality places to enjoy your African trip.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta and is a top spot to visit during your Botswana trip. The whole delta covers an area of 15,000 km². The Okavango River ends in this area flooding the whole region. Besides the regular flooding, rainfall can drastically increase the size of this water body, up to 22,000 km².

The delta also contains the Moremi Game Reserve and it is one of the best places to see wildlife. Animals such as hippopotamuses, crocodiles, buffalo, rhinoceroses, elephants and antelopes can be very easily found in the region. There are over 500 species of birds in this area.

The Chobe National Park

The Chobe National Park is situated in Northwest Botswana. It is the third largest park in Botswana and is famous for its large wildlife population. The Chobe National Park has diverse animal habitats and it is wonderful to watch these beautiful animals right in front of you. The park is also very famous for its elephants and is considered to be the largest area for elephants in Africa. Apart from the huge elephant population, other wild animals such as lions, leopards, wild dogs, antelopes, hippopotamuses, buffalo and crocodiles can also be seen.

The Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is situated in the Kalahari Desert, covering an area of 52,800 km². It is the second largest game reserve in the world. Large areas of trees, bushes and grass are widely spread in this reserve, thus adding to the beauty of the place. The reserve contains a huge concentration of wildlife. Many wild animals including giraffes can be spotted easily there.