The Coolest Travel Adventures

Our annual Best of the World list ranks the great travel experiences. Here's our ranked list of the top travel experiences right now.

Gallery hop in São Paulo

São Paulo, Brazil's largest city holds numerous galleries and exhibitions. The crowning jewel is the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), which is expanding to showcase more of its11,000-plus artworks, from pre-Renaissance paintings to contemporary sculptures. Breaking the tradition of the usual model of exhibiting works on walls, MASP hangs some pieces against clear panels, allowing visitors to view the art from all angles.

Ride classic rails in Scotland

Exploring Scotland's wild, scenic Highlands doesn't have to mean roughing it. Departing Edinburgh from April through October, the elegant Royal Scotsman train leads to Highlands adventures such as wild swimming, hiking, and delicacy tasting. After a day spent hiking to waterfalls or playing rounds of golf—a sport tied to the nation, guests can wind down with a massage(按摩) at the onboard.

Dive with sharks in Western Australia

Stretching almost 700 miles along the Indian Ocean, Western Australia's Coral Coast is decorated with natural wonders. But Ningaloo Reef is the star. Here, you can dive with giants: Some 300 to 500 whale sharks, one of the largest groups on Earth, gather along the reef(礁) each year between March and July. Decent agencies secure divers and ensure they give the sharks space, avoid feeding them or using flash photography.

Hike a glacier (冰川) in Chile

Chile has the third largest continental ice extension, after only Antarctica and Greenland. In Laguna San Rafael National Park, visitors can hike to glaciers. Some 17.300 glaciers still cover the whole of Patagonia's ice fields, but rising temperatures are rapidly melting them. Climate scientists say sustainable tourism, such as hikes, supports local communities and inspires travelers to learn more about how to protect glaciers.