As members of a community of traveling women, it’s no surprise that the ladies who engage with Wanderful are ambitious when it comes to their adventures. So when I asked our community for their 2016 bucket list destinations, I was prepared for some good responses. But the scope, breadth, and depth of these Wanderful women’s travel goals impressed even me — someone who’s well aware of how much travel is a part of their lives.

Don’t believe me? Check out where they’re headed!

travel bucket list
Map created by Steve Ladavich.

These women know about travel, and they’ve got big dreams for 2016. If it’s an around-the-world tour you’re fantasizing about, here are the top stops to make, so you land at home satisfied. Or, if you’ve just got the time or the passion to see one continent in particular, choose a destination off of its list to create the adventure of a lifetime. And don’t forget to take a peek at what our Wanderful women are doing once they get to their bucket list destinations!

The Top 5 Destinations in Asia

1. Nepal

Language(s): Nepali (official)

Population: 25,371,000

Currency: Nepalese rupee

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

2. Taiwan

Language(s): Taiwanese (including Hakka)

Population: 23,415,126

Currency: New Taiwan dollar

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

3. Laos

Language(s): Lao (official), French

Population: 6,911,544

Currency: Lao kip

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

4. India

Language(s): Hindi

Population: 1,251,695,584

Currency: Indian rupee

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

Laura Elizabeth Higgs is dreaming of trying street food in Mumbai, India. Yum!

travel bucket list
So good it sizzles! Image by Flickr user Marco Zanferrari.

5. China

Language(s): Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official), Yue (Cantonese)

Population: 1,367,485,388

Currency: Renminbi

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The Top Destination in the Middle East

Turkey

Language(s): Turkish (official), Kurdish

Population: 79,414,269

Currency: Turkish lira

travel bucket list
Image by Beth Santos.

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

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Response from Meagan Martz.

The Top 3 Destinations in North America

1. Cuba

Language(s): Spanish (official)

Population: 11,031,433

Currency: Cuban peso

Why it’s on Wanderful members’ 2016 travel bucket lists:

travel bucket list

travel bucket list

2. Alaska

travel bucket list
In Denali National Park. Image by Flickr user Maureen.

Language(s): English (official)

Population: 738,432

Currency: United States dollar

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list
Response from Maria Annala.

3. Hawaii

Language(s): Hawaiian (official), English (official)

Population: 1,431,603

Currency: United States dollar

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The Top Destination in Oceania

New Zealand

Language(s): English (de facto official)

Population: 4,438,393

Currency: New Zealand dollar

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The Top 2 Destinations in Central America

1. Guatemala

Language(s): Spanish (official), Amerindian languages

Population: 14,918,999

Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

2. Panama

Language(s): Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere or Guaymi)

Population: 3,657,024

Currency: New Taiwan dollar

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The Top Destination in South America

Ecuador

Language(s): Spanish (official)

Population: 15,868,396

Currency: United States dollar

 

travel bucket list
Quito, Ecuador. Image by Flickr user John Solaro.

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

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Response from Stephanie Simpson.

The Top 4 Destinations in Europe

1. Croatia

Language(s): Croatian (official)

Population: 4,464,844

Currency: Croatian kuna

Why it’s on Wanderful members’ 2016 travel bucket lists:

travel bucket list

travel bucket list

2. Scotland

Language(s): English, Scots

Population: 5,347,600

Currency: United Kingdom pound sterling

Why it’s on Wanderful members’ 2016 travel bucket lists:

travel bucket list

The impressive Ben Nevis. Image by Flickr user Graeme Law.
The impressive Ben Nevis. Image by Flickr user Graeme Law.

travel bucket list

3. Sweden

Language(s): Swedish (official)

Population: 9,801,616

Currency: Swedish krona

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

Wanderful Founder and CEO Beth Santos wants to be in Stockholm, Sweden for TBEX. Get your blog on, Beth!

4. Montenegro

Language(s): Serbian, Montenegrin (official)

Population: 647,073

Currency: Euro

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The Top 2 Destinations in Africa

1. Morocco

Language(s): Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight [official], Tachelhit, Tarifit)

Population: 33,322,699

Currency: Moroccan dirham

travel bucket list
Image by Flickr user Juan Antonio F. Segal.

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

2. Senegal

Language(s): French (official), Wolof

Population: 13,975,834

Currency: West African CFA franc

Why it’s on a Wanderful member’s 2016 travel bucket list:

travel bucket list

The reasons that Wanderful women travel are varied — leisure, adventure, education, work, exploration. And the places they dream of going are just as diverse. If the whole world is calling you in 2016, and you can’t decide where to spend your time, let these experts be your guides!

Have you chosen a destination (or three) for 2016? Where are you headed? Share in the comments!

Featured image by Flickr user Don DeBold.