Vacations To Plan A Year In Advance

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While you typically might be all for spontaneous, last-minute trips, some of the best vacations require you to begin planning at least twelve months out.

When considering travel to book a year in advance, a few factors are at play: availability, access, and complexity of itinerary and experiences. I'm talking about destinations with strict tourism caps, events that happen just once a year, the fabulous multi-stop journeys, or even family vacations that require elaborate coordination to pull off. 

Whether you are precisely timing your trip to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, you want to be one of the limited trekkers on the Inca Trail, or you are finally planning to see all of Egypt's ancient sites, here are eight vacations that you need to plan at least a year in advance. 

The Great Migration in Kenya

Witnessing the Great Migration is one of the most sought-after safari experiences is Millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other herd animals migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. There is a narrow window of travel from July through August, not to mention that the best camps for viewing have only eight to 12 beds. I suggest booking even a couple of years in advance for these reasons. 

Nile River Cruise Through Egypt

A journey to Egypt's ancient sites is certainly a trip of a lifetime for history buffs. There are a couple of ways to do it: by land or river cruise. The best trip includes both. Visit Cairo, where you'll tour the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids at Giza. Then hop on a river cruise ship that sails along the Nile to explore ancient wonders, such as the Temple of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Nile River Cruises have spiked so much in popularity that local operators struggle to keep up with demand making planning ahead crucial to getting your preferred itinerary. 

 

Northern Lights in Iceland

Iceland draws travelers for many reasons: the thermal Blue Lagoon, black sand beaches, and the effortlessly hip capital of Reykjavík. With crowds of travelers, the government is currently rethinking its approach to tourism. So it's no wonder that planning a vacation to see the Northern Lights requires thinking ahead. The window to catch this site is during the winter, between September to April.

Trek to Machu Picchu

Arriving at Machu Picchu on foot is on many travelers' lists for a reason. But because visiting this site is so popular, the ancient Incan ruins began suffering from over-tourism. The Peruvian government placed caps on how many people can visit daily. They also capped trekker capacity on the historic Inca Trail. Plan in advance to visit during the dry season, from April to October, which will also help you secure one of only 400 daily tickets to climb the iconic peak of Huayna Picchu, which offers great views over the ruins for a lucky few. 

Christmas Markets in Europe

When you're looking for festive Old World holiday charm, you can't beat Central Europe. Cities and villages decorate and light up their medieval town squares until they look like something out of a fairytale. Stalls sell unique handmade gifts, delicious regional specialties to eat, and mulled wine to drink. Most Christmas Markets start in late November and run only through late December. To experience Europe's fantastic Christmas Markets, you will need to plan a full calendar year beforehand in order to snag conveniently located hotels or a stateroom on an intimate river cruise ship. 

Antarctica Expedition Cruise

A year is needed to plan an Antarctica expedition as the demand is high for only limited number of departures during peak season. Planning your vacation at least a year in advance assures you the opportunity to confirm the departure date and stateroom of your choice. Also, choosing the right ship doesn't just mean getting the most luxurious amenities, like ocean-view saunas and top-deck heated pools for views of penguin atop glaciers. If you are worried about the rough waters of the Drake Passage, you will also want to prioritize getting a stateroom on a state-of-the-art ship designed for smoother sailing. 

Galápagos Islands Cruise

Off the coast of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands, offer the rare opportunity to see endemic species. However, visitor numbers are strictly regulated to ensure we don't trample the species that still call the archipelago home out of existence. The best way to visit is on an expedition cruise. In addition to rules on how many ships can sail the waters each year, there are caps on visitors entering the national park itself. So planning in advance is needed to experience this amazing destination.

Safari in the Amazon

The untamed wildlife and mind-boggling biodiversity of the Amazon could take a lifetime to explore. Which areas do you most want to visit—entering through Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, or Colombia? And do you want to use a lodge deep in the jungle as your home base, sail on a boutique river cruise that will follow the winding Amazon River through the rainforest, or do a bit of both? And there's also no shortage of activities, from night safaris to canoeing alongside pink dolphins. With so many options and logistics, planning in advance is vital for these remote areas.

 

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