4 New Dream Destinations

Published in the Sunday Gujarat Samachar on 17 Aug 2025

From Milestones to New Maps: Discover These Rising Destinations

At Veena World, milestones are more than numbers. They are celebrations of curiosity, courage, and that constant feeling of wandering. With over 350 tour managers and 700+ team members and Sales Partners, it feels like every single day, someone in our circle is reaching a new travel landmark. Visiting their 5th Indian state, 10th country, or even their 50th international destination.

And each time a milestone is crossed, a question follows: “What next?” It’s in these moments that new dreams begin to form. A destination you overheard in a conversation. A photo you saw online. A place that makes you pause and think, “Maybe that could be my next big trip.”

As Abhishek Bachchan’s character famously said in the movie Guru: “Sapne dekhna achi baat hai.” Dreaming is good. And today, I want to help spark a few new dreams.

Because while we all know the classic favourites, Europe, Thailand, Dubai, there’s a world of places rising quietly, inviting Indian travellers to come explore. So in this piece, let me take you to four destinations that are not yet mainstream, but are well on their way. Four new pins for your travel map. Let’s begin.

Cyprus – Where Europe Meets the Middle East

Cyprus isn’t usually the first name that comes up when we think of Europe. And maybe that’s exactly why it should be. This island country, floating in the eastern Mediterranean, is where East and West blur beautifully. You’ll find Greek temples and Byzantine churches, Turkish hammams and Venetian walls, all wrapped up in coastal towns with turquoise water and sun-drenched mountain villages.

But here’s what really stood out to me: Cyprus feels both ancient and alive. You could be walking along the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre in the morning, and enjoying a breezy café lunch in a bustling modern square by afternoon. In Limassol, a city that blends beach resort vibes with cultural depth, you’ll find trendy bars next to Ottoman mosques, and food that mixes halloumi and hummus with souvlaki and baklava.

It’s also a place with deep mythological roots. Legend has it that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was born from the sea foam off the coast of Paphos. And when you stand at Petra tou Romiou:the rock where this myth is said to have unfolded, you’ll understand why that story has lasted millennia.

Cyprus is small, which makes it perfect to explore in a week. But it also feels layered, which means even in a week, it doesn’t feel rushed. And now, with easier connectivity from India via hubs like Dubai and Doha, this island is slowly making its way onto Indian travel itineraries.

Sicily – The Island Where Italy Feels Even More Italian

If Italy were a movie, Sicily would be its dramatic third act. It’s louder, deeper, a bit more rugged, but absolutely unforgettable. For Indian travellers who have already done the Rome–Florence–Venice trio, Sicily is the next chapter waiting to be written. And it’s very different. Think less polished postcard, more raw Mediterranean heart.

You will land in Palermo or Catania and the first thing that hits you is the sense of contrast. Arab domes next to Baroque churches. Ancient Greek temples rising from wild hillsides. Colourful markets that feel like they belong in North Africa, and pasta dishes you have never seen on menus in Rome.

Sicily has seen it all. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, French. Each left their mark, but instead of wiping out what came before, they layered over it. Which is why you get cities like Syracuse, once one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world, and valleys like Agrigento, with rows of Doric temples that rival Athens.

But Sicily isn’t just about ruins and history. There’s Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, puffing away like a sleepy dragon. There are the Aeolian Islands, like Lipari and Stromboli, which feel like the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets. And then there’s the food, spicy, citrusy, full of Arabic and African influences, yet unmistakably Italian.

Malta – Small Island, Giant Stories

It’s not often that a place this small has stories this big. But that’s Malta for you, just a tiny dot in the Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa, yet with a history that stretches back over 7,000 years.

For Indian travellers who love destinations like Greece or Italy but want something a little off the beaten track, Malta offers a familiar climate with completely different layers. Ancient temples older than the pyramids, medieval fortresses that guarded the seas during the Crusades, and a language that’s a mix of Arabic, Italian, and English, all packed into a country smaller than Mumbai.

Walk through the narrow streets of Valletta, the country’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you will feel like you have stepped onto a movie set. That’s because you have. Malta has quietly become a Hollywood favourite, with scenes from Game of Thrones, Troy, and Gladiator filmed right here.

Tunisia – Where the Sahara Meets Star Wars

Not many places can claim both ancient Roman colosseums and Tatooine from Star Wars. But Tunisia isn’t like most places. Tucked along the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, Tunisia is a country of contrasts - beaches and deserts, ruins and souks, tradition and sci-fi legend. And for the Indian traveller ready to explore beyond the familiar, it’s a destination that surprises at every turn.

Let’s start with Star Wars. Remember Luke Skywalker’s desert home on the planet Tatooine? It wasn’t a set built in Hollywood, it was filmed in southern Tunisia. The town of Tataouine, in fact, inspired the planet’s name. And to this day, you can visit the real-life locations where scenes from the original trilogy (and the prequels) were filmed.

But Tunisia isn’t just for film buffs. Head north, and you’ll find the city of Carthage: once the seat of a mighty empire that challenged ancient Rome. Explore El Djem, home to one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, even older than the Colosseum in Rome. Wander through Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO-listed maze of alleys, shops, and mosques that still hums with daily life.

And then there’s the Sahara.

Vast, golden, and cinematic, it stretches across southern Tunisia in sweeping dunes and salt flats. Indian travellers who’ve experienced Rajasthan’s Thar Desert will find something familiar here, but also something deeply different: the colours, the silence, the scale. A night in a desert camp here, under a sky blanketed in stars, is the kind of experience that lingers long after the trip ends.

So there you have it, four places that may not always make the headlines, but quietly call out to the curious, the seasoned, and the dreaming traveller. Maybe it’s time to add a new pin to the map. See you next time...