Get planning for your best travel year yet with Alexandra Carlton’s 12-month guide to where to go and when.

California, US: January

Happy birthday to the happiest place on Earth! In 2023, the Walt Disney Corporation turns 100, and Disneyland is marking the occasion with 100 Years of Wonder, kicking off on January 27. There’ll be a new animated night-time spectacular, Wondrous Journeys, platinum detailing and pixie dust on Sleeping Beauty Castle, and a brand-new ride: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Madarao, Japan: February

The big crowds head to Hokkaido for ski season, but Nagano, just a two-hour bullet train trip from the Japanese capital, has its own cosy charm. Snowball Chalet is a mere 120m away from the ski slopes of Madarao Mountain, as well as excellent restaurants. They also run regular tours to visit the area’s cheeky, pink-faced snow monkeys.

Dubai, UAE: March

With its underwater suites and world’s biggest waterpark, Atlantis, The Palm was instantly declared one of the most jaw-dropping resorts anywhere in the world when it opened in 2008. This month, it’s taking the extravagance to new heights with the arrival of its sister property Atlantis The Royal. Aimed more at adults than families, it will have 17 restaurants – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Nobu among them – luxe lounges and nightclubs, and spacious suites with panoramic views over the Arabian Gulf.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: April

When it comes to florals, Japan’s cherry blossoms tend to hog the limelight. But the Netherlands, the home of the cheerful, multi-coloured tulip, deserves your attention. April and May are when the whole city bursts into bloom with as many as seven million flowers. Base yourself at the glamorous new Pillows Maurits at the Park hotel, which sits on the edge of the flower-filled Oosterpark.

London, UK: May

The English capital is the place to be on May 6, when King Charles III is formally anointed as the monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. What better time to go on a coronation chicken sandwich crawl? Aficionados love those offered at the upmarket afternoon teas at The Bloomsbury Hotel and The Wolseley – but straight from the fridge at Waitrose isn’t too shabby either.

Gippsland, Victoria: June

Hot-spring wellness resorts are generally something you find in Japan or Iceland, but Australia is starting to come to the party. Crisp winter days are the best time to soothe yourself in the geothermal waters of the new Metung Hot Springs resort in Gippsland. Stay on site at one of the safari-style tents that include private bathing barrels – a cool take on the ever-popular outdoor bath.

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Mozambique, Africa: July

Until recently, dugongs were hunted for their meat in Mozambique, but in 2021 conservationists spotted record numbers, suggesting their population is on the way to recovery. July is a great time to visit because even if you don’t meet a dugong, it’s also the season for whale sharks and humpbacks. PADI dive centre Odyssea Dive in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park takes unforgettable underwater expeditions to spot these oceanic beauties.

The Arctic: August

For the first time Hurtigruten is following the path of the great explorers, with a new 25-day Northwest Passage expedition from Nome, Alaska, through the Bering Strait, the Canadian Arctic and Greenland on board the battery-hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen. Departing August 18, passengers will visit Inuit communities and look out for whales, narwhals and polar bears.

Syros, Greece: September

Hot tip: never visit the Greek islands in August, or you’ll be sharing the beach with half the northern hemisphere. Hotter tip: September is the time to go, when the weather is still balmy but most of the crowds have dispersed. To get even more off-the-beaten track, pick an island like Syros, which is popular with locals but less so with tourists. A bowl of fresh mussels and glass of assyrtiko at Allou Yialou restaurant on Kini Beach is all your Greek daydreams come true.

Utah, US: October

Scenic Byway 12 in Utah is the place to be at exactly 10.32am on October 14, when the moon will cross the sun, plunging this part of the world into brief, eerie darkness, with only the famous “ring of fire” marking the sun’s edge around the moon. From there, explore some equally breathtaking terrestrial phenomena, like the amphitheatres and red-rock pinnacles – known as “hoodoos” – of Bryce Canyon.

Gujarat, India: November

2023 marks the first time that every ICC Men’s World Cricket World Cup match will be held in India, and while the venue for the final hasn’t been 100 per cent confirmed yet, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the firm favourite. Between matches, there’s lots to explore in this charming and historic city, from the monuments, mosques and temples of the World Heritage-listed old town to the colourful Manek Chowk markets.

Europe: December

In 2022, the glamorous Art Deco Venice Simplon-Orient-Express began offering snow-sparkling Christmas rail journeys for the first time. It will be happening all over again in 2023, with itineraries that include classic snug-and-cosy European cities like Vienna, which comes to life with frosty Christmas villages; Paris, where you can feast on roast chestnuts and mulled wine at countless Christmas markets; and Venice, which is mostly quiet on the tourist front but glistens with lights and decorations.

This article originally appeared on escape.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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