As persistent as the challenges of life in 2022 is the hope that understanding and human connection can be found through travel. So, with much of the global population now vaccinated against COVID-19, world travelers are again hitting the road—and the skies. The hospitality industry is reopening and excited to safely welcome them and revitalize local communities. To compile this list of the top spots to visit this year, TIME solicited nominations of places from our international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. The result: 50 far-flung and familiar spots that are charting a path to economic recovery; investing in sustainability; and thriving, growing, and changing. Bon voyage!

Dolni Morava, Czech Republic

ONE-OF-A-KIND VISTAS

After a few years of grounded travel, take it up a notch by walking the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, a new sky-high architectural marvel in the Czech Republic.

Sky Bridge 721, which opened in May after two years of construction, is a new attraction named for the 721 m (nearly half a mile) it spans in the foothills of the Jeseniky Mountains. Hanging more than 95 m above the cloud-shrouded valley and the Mlynsky Stream, it offers panoramic views on a heart-pumping walkway that is less than 4 ft. wide.

No climbing or skiing skills are needed to get your mountain high here. Bragging rights will only require a dose of courage to walk across the bridge.

A 2.5-hour drive (about 124 miles) from Prague, Dolni Morava mountain resort on the Czech Republic–Poland border has already been luring travelers with a love of high-elevation thrills. Along with its ski slopes, it has an alpine roller coaster (purported to be Europe’s second longest), and another “walk in the clouds” attraction, the Sky Walk—a curved wooden walkway and a 100-m-long slide that descends 55 m in a twisting spiral. Sky Bridge 721 has usurped the current Guinness World Record for longest pedestrian suspension bridge, gaining 154 m on the previous record holder, Baglung Parbat Footbridge in Gandaki province, Nepal. —Kathleen Rellihan

Kerala, India

ECOTOURISM HOT SPOT

On the southwest coast of India, Kerala is one of India’s most beautiful states. With spectacular beaches and lush backwaters, temples, and palaces, it’s known as “God’s own country” for good reason.

At the new Amal Tamara in Kerala, wellness is a way of life. This tranquil Ayurvedic retreat in the Alleppey backwaters offers meditation, yogic practices, Ayurvedic treatments, and bespoke meals crafted based on careful assessment by their team of Ayurvedic physicians. Guests at the intimate 19-room property can also learn the tenets and practices of Ayurveda, participate in various healing rituals, and explore the nearby environs.

This year, Kerala is boosting motor-home tourism in India to inspire a new pas de deux of exploration and accommodation. The state’s first caravan park, Karavan Meadows, opened in Vagamon, a scenic hill station. In the wake of the state’s success with houseboat cruising, caravans are expected to follow suit with a similar promise of sustainable tourism. Over 1,000 campers have already begun to traverse the land, a fresh and unique way to experience Kerala’s beaches and verdant plantations. —RIA GUPTA

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

CONSERVATION SAFARI

Zimbabwe is home to a landmark conservation project this year. In late May, the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative and Imvelo Safari Lodges translocated two white rhinos to community lands bordering Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest, empowering the local community to protect a species that was eradicated from the park by poaching by the early 2000s.

The project is the first and only instance in Zimbabwe of rhinos being translocated to community land, which was donated by the local population, who will also care for the animals. Visitors will be able to see the endangered white rhino up close, and meet the local teams protecting the animals.

While in the area, tack on a visit to Victoria Falls, roughly 120 miles from Hwange Main Camp. Eurowings Discover launched one of its first long-haul flights from Frankfurt to Victoria Falls in March (with a brief stopover in Namibia). And after $6 million in renovations, the 16-suite Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel has emerged better than ever, less than 15 miles south of the falls in a private game reserve where you can spot black rhino. —Terry Ward

Queenstown, New Zealand

HIGH-FLYING ADVENTURE

Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu on South Island, Queenstown is both a destination in its own right and a fantastic base to explore the region’s diverse landscapes. With the resumption of flights from Qantas and Air New Zealand, travelers coming to Queenstown can finally check in to a new luxury boutique hotel, the Carlin, with extraordinary views of the lake and city below. High rollers can opt for the Skyhome suite—its seven bedrooms make up the largest penthouse in the southern hemisphere. For groups, Homes & Villas by Marriott launched in June, offering stylish multibedroom apartments and houses.

Kingpin Queenstown, a new entertainment complex with a restaurant and bar, bowling, and escape rooms, will greet tourists returning after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

Three premier hikes of the Great Walks system—including New Zealand’s most famous walk, the Milford Track—are within a couple of hours’ driving distance. The system of trails turns 30 this year, leading hikers through the mountain peaks, valleys, and waterfalls of the Fiordland National Park. And for oenophiles, Invivo (the winemakers behind Sarah Jessica Parker’s sauvignon blanc and rosé) is launching the world’s first winery airline: a two-hour charter service from Auckland to Queenstown later this year, with a visit to South Island’s wine growers included in the fare. —Yulia Denisyuk

València, Spain

DESIGN FORWARD

The ancient port city of València, on Spain’s southeast coast, seamlessly integrates its innovative urban landscape with its natural one. This year, the World Design Organization selected València to be its World Design Capital 2022, which is being celebrated with events, exhibits, and a opened its doors in June with three exhibitions, including “Faraón. Rey de Egipto,” which features ancient Egyptian artifacts on loan from the British Museum.