We all have lives that are far too full.

Living at 100 an hour. So many of us do. How many times have we cursed time. The (grossly inadequate!) number of hours in a day. No time.

No time to do everything we should. What we’d like. What it takes.

So today, we say stop! We take a little break and escape…

Where do the French who decide to disconnect go? Take it easy for a few weeks, or even months for the lucky ones.

They’re going far away. Far away. And in the sun.

Top 8 destinations

South America, Oceania, Asia… It looks like French globetrotters are betting on a total change of scenery.

But the big winner is… (drum roll) Australia! Just when we said they were going places!

The winning destinations are: Chile, Peru, Argentina, Australia, Thailand, Bolivia, Cambodia and New Zealand.

So exotic! Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

Why do our globetrotters fly so far?

At a time when we are increasingly feeling the need to get back to nature, these untamed regions are an irresistible call to us. They offer breathtaking scenery and a peacefulness that makes our ears ring with pleasure.

We have a strong need to recharge our batteries, to get away from this world of overconsumption, artificial and so far removed from our primal nature.

Our need to get out of the big cities is powerful. Concrete. Gray. We want to be able to smile at a passer-by on the street, just for the fun of it. Saying hello to the person sitting next to us on the subway. We need peace and quiet. True relationships. Honesty.

These dream destinations are a real confrontation with ourselves, with the way people living on the other side of the world look at themselves and their way of life. People who are not exposed to the infinite temptations of the modern world, who are thought to be indispensable, but who are not. Who are not subject to hyper-connectivity, the source of so much worry and hatred.

What traveler hasn’t dreamed of finding himself in “Uncharted Lands”?

The simplicity and sincerity of these lost tribes on the other side of the world are terribly moving. These men and women don’t calculate. They live in nature, their home, and respect it as it deserves to be respected. They welcome their guests as brothers. They are devoted to each other, helping each other without question. Their spontaneity, their joie de vivre, their ability to enjoy the simple things in life are wonderful.

It’s no doubt for all these reasons that pigeon-holers have made these eight countries their favorite destinations. Perhaps they dream of returning to simpler, more honest lives.

We can never go back. But why not start with the little things? A smile. An outstretched hand. A kind word. A constant awareness to preserve what we have …

And what would you like to start with?

South Africa isn’t included in this top list, but here you’ll find our must-sees for a trip to the country!

To go further