B.C.’s beloved Vancouver Island is among the best destinations in the world to visit for 2025, and with its breathtaking landscapes, expansive wildlife and vast beaches, we aren’t surprised. According to CNN Travel, the 25 global destinations were curated by their staff with Vancouver Island as the only Canadian location making the list.

Why Vancouver Island?

The island spans more than 450 kilometres with the list noting that the area’s major draws include the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the West Coast Trail, both known for their rugged terrains.

“Farther north around the park’s Long Beach Unit, lodges dot the coast between the laidback towns of Ucluelet and Tofino,” says CNN Travel. These spots are particularly beautiful for lush rainforest hiking and world-class surfing.

During the spring and summer Butchart Gardens is the place to be, a 55-acre wonderland. Travellers come from far and wide to stroll the stunning sunken garden and colourful rose garden while The Dining Room at the gardens offers an afternoon tea experience with sweet and savoury drinks and eats.

Where to stay on Vancouver Island

CNN Travel includes a couple of places you can stay if you’re planning on adding Vancouver Island to your travel list this year.

Previously operated as the Tofino Wilderness Resort on Quait Bay, there’s a floating resort that was purchased in 2022 by Ahousaht First Nation and is expected to reopen in June with a “new name and newly appointed guest rooms and public spaces.”

Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa is a special spot located on the island’s east coast. The Resort & Spa is debuting a six-cave experience and will include a different therapy experience in each one.

As for the other destinations that made CNN Travel’s list, here are the other places to make note of this year:

  • Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
  • Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Bolivia
  • Chemnitz, Germany
  • England’s footpaths
  • Eswatani and Mpumalanga province, South Africa
  • Gdańsk, Poland
  • Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
  • Italian trains
  • Kaçkar Mountains, Turkey
  • Kansai, Japan
  • Mendoza, Argentina
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Niue
  • Nuuk, Greenland
  • The Ozarks, USA
  • Rabat, Morocco
  • Romania
  • San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico
  • Sierra Leone
  • Stockholm, Sweden
  • Taupō, New Zealand
  • Vermont’s rail trails

Let the travel planning for 2025 begin!

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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