“Despite all of the recent calamity and horrors — both natural and manmade — this really is a magical world that deserves to be explored,” said Jeremy Tarr, editorial director of Fodors.com. “We focused on celebrating and surfacing that wonder as we assembled this year’s lists.”

Fodor’s editors suggested Mongolia to everyone who wishes to “experience the final days of pristine nomadic life and the birth of a booming, modern metropolis”.

“Mongolia is a land of pristine blue skies that stretch for miles, rolling mountains and steppes covered in sweet Mongolian grass, mirrored Khuvsgul Lake, and vast desert landscapes. In the countryside, where locals don their ornate brocade deel and sip airag, a fermented horse milk wine at intimate Naadam celebrations, while racks of fresh khuruud cheese dry atop gers in the arid breeze. As climate change leads to desertification and pushes nomads into the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, these quiet scenes of Mongolian life are quickly vanishing.

“While the capital is undergoing a cultural and culinary revolution, 2018 might be one of the last years where visitors can experience the subtle splendor of the Mongolian landscape and nomadic lifestyle, while also enjoying the raw metropolitan energy of a city being reborn.”

Fodor strongly encouraged travelers to rent a Jeep, or even a motorcycle, and a driver to explore the vast grasslands, the remote temples of Chinggis Khaan’s capital at Kharkhorin, and the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi Desert as it evaluated that much of Mongolia’s soul lies in the countryside. The review also advised purchasing cashmere and yak wool products and purses made from recycled traditional Kazakh tapestries to support nomads.

The best time to visit Mongolia is said to be from late spring to early fall, with July and August being the most popular dates for tourists as the National Naadam Festival is annually held during the summer. The official 2018 National Naadam Festival will take place throughout the country from July 11 to 15 with smaller, regional festivals throughout the year.