Far-flung trips are about to get a little less far-fetched. In 2020, several U.S. airlines will introduce new direct routes to some of the world鈥檚 most scenic and celebrated destinations. Many of the flights were designed with one travel category in mind: adventurers.
From the oceanfront听back roads of Maui听to adrenaline-pumping rock climbing in Cape Town, here are seven听easier-to-access destinations in 2020.
New York to Cape Town | United Airlines
United Airlines听made history by launching the first direct flight from the U.S. to Cape Town, South Africa, in December 2019. The route from Newark Liberty International Airport听to Cape Town International (from $800) will continue into 2020 and 2021. It shaves roughly eight hours off the typical flight path听from New York to Johannesburg to Cape Town, making South Africa鈥檚 oldest town just 14 nonstop hours away.
As your Boeing 787-9 makes its descent, Cape Town鈥檚 rugged mountains and vast coastline will give you all sorts of giddy goosebumps. At听, one of the 鈥渘ew seven wonders of the world,鈥 there鈥檚听moderate hiking along the Platteklip Gorge Trail, a strenuous and steep 1.2-mile trek up the India Venster route, or 63 different climbing routes up the 3,500-foot flat-topped mountain.听A cable car makes getting down a breeze. To capitalize on the city鈥檚 waterfront locale, enjoy beginner surfing at Muizenberg Beach or tackle the big, hollow waves at Llandudno Beach.
Los Angeles to Christchurch | American Airlines
Starting in October, 听will make accessing New Zealand鈥檚 South Island easier than ever with a direct flight from Los Angeles听to Christchurch (from $2,000). The ride听will last听roughly 13 hours, and听increased operation will be offered during the height of New Zealand鈥檚 spring and summer.
The country鈥檚 highest mountain, , is a scenic four-hour drive from Christchurch听(a听drive many make via camper van; rental prices听start at $19). Within the peak鈥檚 surrounding听, you can hike to the backcountry via the听6.5-mile out-and-back , tough out the听steep climb to the听听for views of icebergs, and trek in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, who used Mount Cook as his training ground for Mount Everest. The bungee-jumping and whitewater-rafting hub of Queenstown is about 300 miles southwest of Christchurch. Many road-trip through Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, and Wanaka along the way.
Dallas to Auckland | American Airlines
The South Island isn鈥檛 the only part of New Zealand welcoming more fliers in 2020. American Airlines will wing听from Dallas to ,听on the North Island, starting in October. This $2,000 nonstop flight鈥攖he first from Dallas鈥揊ort Worth to New Zealand鈥攚ill also be around 13 hours.
Upon landing, head two hours south to the limestone caves of Waitomo for a blackwater rafting trip through a labyrinth of glowworm-illuminated caves. Drive two more hours south, and you鈥檒l be smack-dab in the middle of real-life Mordor at Tongariro National Park. Here,听the steep but splendid听12-mile Tongariro Crossing leads you through the volcanic terrain of New Zealand鈥檚 oldest national park.
Philadelphia to Casablanca | American Airlines听
American Airlines will open its first route to Africa with a $900 flight from Philadelphia to Casablanca, Morocco, beginning in June. The听nonstop journey will run three times per week through September. That means Morocco鈥檚 top surfing is just a seven-hour flight away.
The capital city and coastal town of Rabat is less than two hours via train ($8)听from Casablanca. There, pro surfer Abdel El Harim organizes lessons and outings through his . El Harim also runs a traditional Moroccan guesthouse, the Surf House, with beds that start at $15 per night. For extreme surfing, drive roughly five hours down the coast to the Berber fishing village of Taghazout, where you can ride powerful waves for up to half a mile on a good听day.
Chicago to Fairbanks | American Airlines
Starting on May 7, midwesterners can make a beeline for the Arctic with American Airlines鈥 daily $680 service from Chicago to , Alaska. The six-hour nonstop flight from O鈥橦are International Airport will run during summer 2020; a similar route will simultaneously open from Dallas鈥揊ort Worth International Airport for $695.
Just 200 miles听from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks gets more than 20 hours of daylight in the peak of summer. This means that kayaking or fishing in听the nearby 听can last well into the night. Denali, a bucket-list adventure haven,听is a mountainous two-hour drive away. Few trails exist in this 9,492-square-mile national park; instead, you have the rare chance to traverse a truly remote wilderness.
Las Vegas to Maui | Hawaiian Airlines
听is making tropical winter getaways easier than ever with its six-hour Las Vegas-to-Maui flight, which launched this month听and听starts at around $400. At the airport, rent a car ($40 daily) and听head off听along the wild and rugged 听to听get acquainted with the island. The iconic route features听60 miles of hairpin turns and clifftop vistas that can take up to a full day to explore.
Don鈥檛 just admire the ocean views,听jump in with a snorkeling or scuba-diving tour along the vast coral reefs off the island鈥檚听coast. Whale sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles greet divers at the popular Molokini Islet, a volcanic crater off southern Maui. Snorkel tours to Molokini cost roughly $100.
Detroit to Tokyo | Delta
This spring, 听will begin shuttling passengers to Tokyo鈥攈osting the听Olympic Games听this summer鈥攚ith a听direct flight from Detroit to Tokyo Haneda. The 13-hour flight, which runs roughly听$1,500, is the best Olympics option for midwestern travelers. Delta is also offering the route from Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Honolulu, and Portland, Oregon.
From Haneda, a 40-minute ride on the Tokyo Monorail ($5) will drop you off in the heart of central Tokyo. Venues such as the Ariake Gymnastics Center, the Ariake Urban Sports Park (home to cycling and skateboarding), the 听(for swimming and triathlon), and the are easily accessible from the Tokyo Metro. To set out on adventures of your own, Japan鈥檚 iconic snowcapped and climbable Mount Fuji is a two-hour drive away.