As borders slowly open up and travel becomes a reality, it’s finally a good time to start thinking about future travel plans and get excited about upcoming trips.
Digital travel platform Agoda highlights six events from around the world to give travelers ideas and inspiration for a memorable trip in 2022.
For wanderers not bothered by the cold: Canada’s Winterlude 2022
Bask in the snow and take in beautiful ice sculptures at this magical winter festival in Ottawa, Canada. There are indoor and outdoor activities for people of all ages to enjoy—and most of them are free. Thrill-seekers can take on Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink and a Unesco World Heritage Site. The festival is usually organized during the first three weekends of February each year. This year, the event takes place in the urban Ottawa-Gatineau region until Feb. 21.
For tech enthusiasts: Expo 2020 Dubai
This global event is a showcase of innovations, technologies, arts, and cultures from different organizations and 192 participating nations. The whole site was constructed in the desert with the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. There are countless activities to do and attractions to marvel at, including The Future of Food: Epochal Banquet, a culinary voyage as imagined in the year 2320, inspired by AI, microbiology and space. Don’t miss Kaleidoscope either. It’s an immersive nighttime extravaganza that combines lighting effects and visual arts. It runs until March 31.
For nature lovers: Floriade Expo 2022 in The Netherlands
This decennial international horticulture exhibition is an interesting way to learn more about sustainability. There are over 40 inspiring pavilions where countries showcase their latest green innovations. You can taste and smell the beautiful plants and flowers, with colorful music and art of the participating countries complementing the experience. After the exposition, which runs from April 14 to Oct. 9, the site in Almere will be redeveloped into a green, healthy urban district called Hortus.
For those who want to go back in time: Inti Raymi 2022 in Peru
Be amazed by the grand celebration of Inti, the most powerful sun god of the Inca civilization. The event, in conjunction with the South American winter solstice, involves beautiful costumes, sumptuous feasts, an elaborate reenactment of ancient Inca rituals meant to honor Inti, culminating in a royal procession to an ancient fortress. Travelers will experience indigenous cultures from before Western influences came to South America. It happens in Cusco from June 21 to June 24.
Stay local: MassKara Festival
Move to the rhythm of joyful music and kick it with the locals at the liveliest street party in Bacolod, known as the City of Smiles. One highlight activity is a dancing competition where dancers in colorful costumes and iconic smiling masks perform their impressive dance moves. The masks are a declaration from the locals that they will survive any challenges they face. After dancing, grab a bite and try the city’s famous grilled dish, chicken inasal. The event will last for the whole month of October, with the main activities taking place on the 24th.
For wonder seekers: Official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Egypt
Although currently delayed by the pandemic, this magnificent crown jewel of Egypt, located on the Giza Plateau, is set to be the largest, most modern and most renowned museum complex in the world when completed, at a cost that now exceeds $1 billion. Slated to open in November, the museum will house about 100,000 ancient artifacts—around 20,000 of which have never been publicly displayed before—and the largest collection of Tutankhamun relics. At the entrance, you will be welcomed by a colossal statue of Ramses II.