In the center and southwest of the Pacific Ocean there are about ten thousand islands collectively known as Oceania. Each of them is amazingly beautiful, and nature has blessed them not only with lush greenery, but also with an incredible variety of wildlife.

Russians can freely cross the borders of 7 countries: Vanuatu, Niue, Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Western Samoa, Fiji, the Northern Mariana Islands. And if you think the only way to go there is through tour operators, you are deeply mistaken! Regular flights can easily be found to all of these destinations. Not direct ones, of course, but with connections. And the most convenient way to look for such plane tickets is on Aviasales.ru, where you can compare offers from several airlines and ticket agencies at once and choose the most выгодный option.

When the cold sets in in Russia, summer arrives in Vanuatu instead, and it lasts from November to April. So anyone who decides to celebrate New Year in this country will be in for real heat.

The name Vanuatu translates as "Eternal Land," and some islands of this state truly amaze with their pristine beauty untouched by humans. This also includes the island of Niue (also the country of Niue), which is better suited to extreme tourism and diving than to social развлечения.

But let us return to Vanuatu. Many sea turtles live here, and there are even entire reserves for them. In addition, there are about 60 volcanoes across the islands, 10 of which are active.

Those who have long dreamed of feeling like Robinson should head to Ambrym Island, where there is no electricity and no cars. For lovers of entertainment, Efate Island is a better choice, as all the discos, restaurants, and pubs are concentrated there.

By the way, hotels on these paradise islands can also be booked independently. Just visit Booking.com, where hundreds of thousands of accommodation options are available in every corner of the Earth. Choose whatever suits your taste and budget, and do not overpay tour operators :)

It is best to go to Micronesia for New Year, because that is when the typhoon season ends there (there can be up to 25 a year). Despite the fact that modern civilization has already advanced far ahead, it seems that many islanders here still prefer loincloths to trousers.

In Micronesia, people believe in the existence of good and evil spirits. And for New Year, by the way, they have an amusing tradition - changing their names. Waking up in the morning, they whisper the new name to other family members while beating a drum so that evil spirits do not overhear.

Visitors are treated very warmly here, so you do not need to worry that a spear will suddenly come flying in your direction. Of course, "primitive" tribes do not live throughout the entire country - there are many luxurious hotels, cafes, restaurants, discos, and other entertainment venues here.

The Cook Islands are 15 islands, 3 of which are uninhabited. New Year falls during the rainy season here, so be prepared for it to rain every day, even if only for a short while. The holiday itself is celebrated here noisily and on a grand scale, with dancing and theatrical performances.

The Cook Islands are a true gift for any diver, because water visibility here reaches depths of up to 30 meters. In addition, many caves and canyons are hidden underwater. The coral reefs are mesmerizing in their beauty, and their inhabitants are so colorful that they resemble characters from Disney cartoons.

Turquoise shores and white-sand beaches are an essential hallmark of Fiji. Looking at this beauty, there is no doubt where the "Bounty" commercial was really filmed. Moreover, there is an island here that is actually called that. Heading here for New Year, you can be absolutely sure that a paradise awaits you.

On Western Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, nature is not very different from the islands we described earlier: there is also plenty of sun, a boundless ocean, white sand, picturesque forests, waterfalls, and caves.

Russians can also head to Africa for New Year. Visa-free access is open to 6 countries at once - Morocco, Tunisia, Botswana, the Seychelles, Swaziland, and Namibia.

Morocco is an amazing country that combines modern European and traditional Eastern influences. New Year is always fun here, and warm too. The best way to start discovering Morocco is at the resort of Agadir. It has a special microclimate, which makes it much warmer there than in other cities. Trips around Morocco will be memorable not only for their historical monuments, but also for the special beauty of the landscapes, especially in the desert.

Windsurfing enthusiasts will get real pleasure from riding the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. And fans of historical travel should definitely visit the country's most ancient cities, such as Marrakech, Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca.

When heading to Tunisia for New Year, you can be sure - something awaits you there unlike anything you have ever seen before. This country has an incredibly rich historical heritage. You will get real pleasure from exploring the ruins of ancient Carthage.

Nearby is the "Bardo" museum, which houses sarcophagi, ceramic tableware from the Roman and Punic periods, burial vases, mosaics, and much more.

The endless sands and sand dunes of the famous Sahara Desert are breathtaking. Its picturesque oases seem like true miracles of nature against the backdrop of lifeless dunes. For the full experience, you can book a camel excursion, though you will not be able to take souvenir photos during the ride (to stay on the camel, you will need to hold on tight).

Jeep excursions are also available. This may seem boring to some, but only at first glance, because only by jeep can you reach the places where scenes from "Star Wars" were filmed.

Keep in mind that visa-free entry to Tunisia is possible only if all of the conditions listed below are met:

A true tropical paradise awaits tourists who decide to celebrate New Year in the Seychelles. Incredibly delicious fruits grow here all year round, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. There are 15 varieties of bananas alone! The weather here is always comfortable: neither too hot nor cold. The average winter temperature is +29°C.

In addition to lush vegetation, the Seychelles also have very diverse fauna. On the shore, it is easy to encounter huge tortoises that are 100-150 years old. And in the crowns of relic trees, you can see the black cockatoo and the rare bulbul bird.

Swaziland, Botswana, and Namibia are no less attractive countries, each with its own unique character. Whichever destination you choose, New Year is New Year, even in Africa!

To celebrate New Year joyfully and warmly, it is not at all necessary to fly to the ends of the earth. Sometimes it is worth visiting the "neighbors" too. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Moldova, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia are ready to welcome Russians without obtaining visas in advance.

Lately, independent travelers most often choose Baku - for its unique combination of Old City quarters and the newest, truly futuristic architecture. It is very easy to figure out how to build a walking route so as not to miss anything interesting. Use the interactive city map for this. Mark the places you would like to see, spread them across several days of your trip, and discuss your plans with friends. And then do not forget to download the free Ever.Travel mobile app to sync your personalized Baku guide with it.

Trips to Kiev, Minsk, and Tbilisi are no less popular ;) For these cities, you will also find interactive attraction maps on the Ever.Travel website. If you have never used them before, we recommend checking out the overview, where we explain step by step how to plan a trip on your own.

New Year is a wonderful opportunity to visit Israel. A country in which a great many miracles have taken place throughout its history. Nowhere else in the world can you see such a fantastic mix of historical landmarks and peoples, traditions and cultures, where churches, synagogues, and mosques all reign side by side. In a single trip, you can easily see both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

And, of course, Turkey and Egypt are long-established, well-trodden paths along which millions of Russian tourists have been heading on vacation for many, many years! Still, even in these countries you can find plenty of interesting places - it is enough to choose Istanbul, Cappadocia, Alexandria, or Dahab instead of the traditional resorts. By the way, for Istanbul we have not only excellent guides, but also audio guides!

In preparing this material, we used Flickr photos by: eGuide Travel, Ippei & Janine Naoi, MelbFlickr, peter-moore, McNaddle, samorodovs, ninasawyer, Mikhail Vorobyev; tonkosti.ru.