Reviews of hotels and restaurants tell only part of the story. Just as important to a memorable trip are the sightseeing, guided tours and other activities that bring a destination to life. These awards celebrate the most unforgettable experiences we had during our travels in 2025, ranging from samba in Brazil to a horseback ride in New Zealand, as well as the best overall itineraries.

Most Memorable Excursion: Private Yacht and Cooking Class, Montenegro

It’s hard to beat a day out on a private yacht, especially somewhere as dramatically scenic as Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. We had a deliciously enviable jaunt aboard a vintage wood-trimmed motor launch, starting with an impromptu detour to a formerly secret submarine pen. From there, we headed to the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, crowning an artificial island. After a stroll around pretty Perast nearby, we stopped at Prčanj for a private cooking class in a monastery. We arrived back at our resort in style, feeling blissfully content.

Read more about our trip around the Bay of Kotor »

Best Wildlife Experience: Snorkeling With Sea Lions, Mexico

Last winter, we spent a week island-hopping in the Sea of Cortez with Uncruise, stopping at remote beaches to hike, kayak, snorkel and sunbathe. Each day revealed stunning, unspoiled landscapes of white sand, azure seas and dramatic cliffs. But the most spectacular experiences were underwater. It’s no wonder Jacques Cousteau dubbed the Sea of Cortez the “Aquarium of the World.” Every time I donned a mask and wet suit, I experienced moments of pure awe. The most extraordinary experience was swimming with puppylike juvenile sea lions. The group of them moved like aquatic Slinkys, arcing, spinning and swirling to get our attention. The charming animals seemed just as delighted and curious about us as we were about them.

Read more about our cruise in Baja »

Best Outdoor Adventure: Horseback Riding in New Zealand

Our trip to New Zealand was filled with unforgettable outdoor experiences, but the one that stood above them all was our horseback-riding adventure at Flockhill, a hotel in the Canterbury region of the South Island. We saddled up with Heather, the property’s formidable horsewoman, who guided us on a gentle ride across the resort’s 36,000 acres. Bitless bridles kept the horses as calm and at ease as we were. I’ll never forget following Heather and her dogs across the high-country plains, surrounded by bleating sheep and mountains dusted with late-season snow.

Read more about our time on the South Island »

Best Road Trip/Driving Tour: Florence and Umbria, Italy

The exquisite landscapes of Italy are always memorable places to get behind the wheel, and our most recent driving tour — pairing a few days in Florence with a journey through the Umbrian countryside — was no exception. We started at an extravagantly beautiful 15th-century palace near Florence’s Duomo, and continued to a stylish retreat in Orvieto, one of Umbria’s most majestic hill towns. From there, it was on to a hideaway in an atmospheric converted monastery. We concluded at a gracious estate just 6 miles from Florence’s airport, rounding out 11 days in some of Italy’s most captivating destinations. Note that renting a car in Italy isn’t for everyone, however. It can be far more relaxing to hire a driver to handle the aggressive locals and sometimes-narrow roads.

Read more about our itinerary through Florence and Umbria »

Best Itinerary: India’s Golden Triangle

Certain routes — Venice-Florence-Rome, Budapest-Vienna-Prague, Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto — have become travel touchstones. The Delhi-Jaipur-Agra triangle counts among them, especially now that major road improvements mean that it’s no longer necessary to fly from one city to the other. This itinerary encompasses a number of India’s most iconic sights, including Old Delhi, the historic Pink City and Amber Fort, and, of course, the Taj Mahal. Opulent hotels offer exceedingly comfortable bases from which to explore. And thanks to our partner in India, the Travel Office can arrange guides to illuminate notable lesser-known attractions. (I won’t soon forget poking around people-free sections of Delhi’s Mehrauli Archaeological Park, for example.)

Read more about this classic India itinerary »

Best Hike: Jegor’s Path, Montenegro

Of the many scenic hikes we did this past year, in Mexico, Switzerland, India and elsewhere, our traipse up Jegor’s Path stands out. It started (as many things do in Montenegro) at a historic monastery. Once we’d walked above an old cemetery, the rugged coast and the picturesque islet of Sveti Stefan came into view. With our guide, we zigzagged up a slope gaudy with wildflowers. The brightly speckled mountainside smelled like an expensive spa. This spectacular route deserved to be thronged with tourists, but we encountered only one other hiker. At the end of our excursion, our guide surprised us with a hilltop picnic, overlooking what felt like the whole of Montenegro.

Read more about our insider tours in Montenegro »

Best Food Tour: Food & History Tour, Amsterdam

While in Amsterdam, I spent a perfect afternoon on a private culinary tour in the charming Jordaan quarter. Guided by a delightful local foodie, I savored regional specialties, from homemade apple pie in a traditional brown café to artisanal cheeses and cured meats paired with Dutch wines (some bottlings showed real promise). At a casual fish market, I sampled impeccably fresh raw herring before ending with classic bitterballen (croquettes) and juniper-infused Genever at an elegant restaurant. The day plied me with an extraordinary variety of Dutch flavors, a wonderful feast that felt as intimate as it was indulgent.

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Best Bicycle Tour: Waiheke Island day trip from Auckland

Dubbed the “Hamptons of New Zealand,” Waiheke Island is a scenic 45-minute ferry ride from Auckland. We covered almost 20 miles riding e-bikes there, stopping at white-sand beaches, winery cellar doors and small cafés. Our lunch at Casita Miro, a Spanish tapas restaurant, was a highlight, as was our wine tasting at the chic Tantalus Estate, which boasts a convenient helipad. With more than 30 wineries dotting this small island, an afternoon there wasn’t enough, but our self-guided bicycle tour was a great introduction to this hidden gem.

Read more about things to do in Auckland »

Best Nightlife: Monday-Night Samba at Pedro do Sal

On our trip to Brazil this year, my traveling companion and I joked that every night in Rio feels like a Saturday. Nowhere in the world have I ever had a more raucous Monday evening than at Pedro do Sal, a square in the city’s Little Africa neighborhood, considered the birthplace of samba. The Travel Office can arrange a guide to take you to the free street party, where locals and visitors dance to live bands and DJs. You can also browse food and drink vendors and stalls selling handmade souvenirs. Since the ground is uneven and the streets are crowded, it’s best to wear closed-toe shoes and travel without a handbag, camera or expensive-looking jewelry.

Read more about our Brazil itinerary »

Best City Tour: Historic Salvador, Brazil

In Salvador, Brazil, our advisor in the Travel Office set us up with her go-to guide in the city, Conor O’Sullivan. We spent a full day with Conor, starting with a wander through historic Pelourinho. There, we stopped at the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador for fascinating stories and got a crash course in Candomblé, a religion brought to Brazil by enslaved West Africans. After lunch in one of the candy-colored buildings of the upper city, our guide took us through the Feira de São Joaquim, an open-air market where stalls burst with kaleidoscopic textiles, religious objects, tropical fruits and ingredients for traditional Bahian cooking. In the afternoon, we museum-hopped, ending our tour just in time for sunset drinks on the roof of our hotel. Even as we sipped our cocktails, I started planning my return to this vibrant city.

Read more about our day in Salvador »