Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel media company, has just published their “Best in Travel 2016” book which uses the resources of Lonely Planet to identify the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead. So if you want to plan your next trip to stay ahead of the wave, here are their top ten countries for 2016…here are the top 3!

Third is the good old U S of A. The US National Park Service turns 100 next year and celebrates a centenary of safeguarding the country’s 59 national parks and hundreds of historic landmarks, from Yosemite to Yellowstone.

Second is Japan. For travellers in search of an otherworldly experience, nowhere else on earth exemplifies the ‘modern yet ancient’ cliche like the land of the rising sun. Tokyo’s successful bid to host the Olympics in 2020 has raised the temperature of a feverish city amid a blur of new development – but beyond the suburbs, Japan remains as elegant and enticing as its graceful wooden temples.

Number One on the list this year is…Botswana: Democratic, progressive, enlightened – but above all, invigoratingly wild. The story of Botswana’s journey from poverty to become one of Africa’s most stable, thriving societies is encouraging; the country celebrates 50 years of independence in 2016 and there’s a lot to celebrate, not least the way it has balanced economic growth with protecting its natural riches. I once had my closest shave with a wild bull elephant in Botswana’s Chobe National Park – an unforgettable experience!