Cassie De Pecol recently became the youngest – and fastest – woman to travel to each of the world’s 196 countries. The 27-year-old also became the ultimate go-to source on unmissable destinations because she can say, with a certain level of authority most of us can’t, which countries truly are the best.
Here is a list of 10 countries everyone should visit, according to the woman who has seen them all:
1. Mongolia
“To be immersed in the remote wilderness and to ride the wild horses.”
2. Bhutan
“To learn the ethics of peaceful living.”
This country is able to maintain its peaceful beauty thanks to the massive tourist tariff that visitors have to pay in order to even enter, not to mention that it must be achieved by a tour agency. At the time, it cost me $250/day just for the visa. I ended up staying several days and I’m glad I did. Never in my life have I encountered such a strangely captivating country. The flight in on Druk Air (the only airline that flies there) was not for the faint of heart as we navigated the mountains to land; it’s considered one of the most dangerous flights on earth. But once I arrived, I was greeted by my tour guide and when we started heading to the hotel where I was sponsored, there were these spiritual phallus’s painted on buildings everywhere, which was fascinating. We planted trees in an area where, in previous years, they broke a Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in an hour, a whopping 49,672!
3. Maldives
“To see some of the bluest water, whitest sand and most stunning sand banks in the world.”
4. Vanuatu
“To experience the process of how Kava is made and to meet some of the kindest people.”
5. Pakistan
“To get a true sense of raw, authentic Asian culture, and for the food.”
6. Oman
“To immerse yourself in the desert and mountains, while learning from locals who live in the mountains, it’s a whole different lifestyle.”
7. Tunisia
“To experience northern African culture with a Middle Eastern feel and an immense amount of archaeological history.”
8. Peru
“For the Amazon rainforest and Aguas Calientes [gateway to Machu Picchu].”
9. Costa Rica
“Monkeys, fresh fruit, good music and volcanoes. Need I say more?”
10. USA
“Fall in New England is something everyone should experience.”
Courtesy: Cassie De Pecol page
