by Suzy Strutner: Most of us are lucky if we can escape our desks long enough to visit one country per year… but it never hurts to have a list of 10 dazzlingly perfect options…

Today, Lonely Planet announced its Top 10 Countries for 2016, employing expert analysis to make travel recommendations for the year ahead (because let’s be real, our travel budgets are pretty much maxed for 2015). The striking lineup includes nations that will be especially prime to visit next year, for reasons historical (Botswana), environmental (the U.S.),athletic (Greenland) and more. Take your pick, study up, and then take a trip: