North Americans have limited choices on where to travel when they must stay close to home. However, those who have at least two weeks for a trip may be willing to fly further and explore some bucket list destinations halfway around the world.

Consider some of these 2-week vacation ideas for trips that allow travelers to see the best of a country without feeling rushed.

10 Greece

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~9.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~15 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: May to September

Island hopping in Greece is on almost every traveler’s bucket list, so why not spend a full two weeks exploring the most beautiful spots in the country?

Fly into Athens and spend 2-3 days exploring the historic capital before hopping on a short flight to Santorini or boarding a ferry to one of the many popular Greek islands.

To avoid feeling rushed with only 10 days in the islands, stick to 2-3 maximum.

Some great pairings for the balance of relaxation and nightlife (along with the distance between the islands) are Mykonos, Paros, and Milos. Alternatively, visit Corfu, Zakynthos, and Kefalonia.

9 Thailand

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~19.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~19 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: November to April

Thailand is a popular country for backpackers, solo travelers, and couples looking for romantic getaways.

With so much to offer, it may seem difficult to pack it all into two weeks, but it’s possible to hit the highlights of Thailand in this short time.

Fly into Bangkok and spend 1-2 days there before taking an overnight train to Chiang Mai. Spend 5-7 days exploring northern Thailand in spots around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai.

Then, head to the islands for the remainder of the trip. To avoid a rush, choose 1-2 islands maximum and ensure they’re on the same side of the coast.

For example, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket are a good pairing, or Koh Tao and Koh Samui.

8 Peru

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~7.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~8.5 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: May to September

Peru is a beautiful South American country with tons of itineraries to choose from. Two weeks isn’t enough time to do everything in Peru, but it is sufficient for getting a taste of 2-3 regions.

Consider spending a week in Cusco, acclimating to the altitude, and hiking the Inca Trail before heading to the Amazon to stay in an eco-lodge. Finish with a food tour in Lima.

7 Italy

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~13.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~8.5 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: May to September

There are many European nations where travelers might get bored after two weeks, but Italy isn’t one of them. This vast country has so many incredible cities to explore and different landscapes that it’s impossible to see everything in two weeks.

However, travelers who want to experience the best of Italy in a whirlwind can start in Milan and work their way south to the Amalfi Coast, stopping in famous cities like Florence and Rome or lesser-known destinations like Bologna.

Renting a car is a great way to reach places like Lake Como or explore Tuscany.

6 Morocco

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~9 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~15.5 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: March to April, September to November

Exploring Morocco in two weeks gives travelers plenty of time to see the country's main attractions, from its bustling Medinas to the Sahara desert.

Fly into Marrakesh or arrive by ferry from Spain in Tangier. Explore the blue city of Chefchouan and spend a night or two in Fes before sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin camp and trekking on camels through the Merzouga desert.

Related: This Is How Much You'll Spend On The Average Trip To Morocco

5 Vietnam

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~20.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~18.5 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: March to April

Vietnam is a long, narrow country that is best explored from North to South or vice versa. Travelers starting in the north in Hanoi should spend 1-2 days here before taking an overnight boat cruise on Ha Long Bay.

Then, rent a motorcycle or take a bus to the culturally rich city of Hoi An before continuing south to Da Lat, Nha Trang, and eventually reaching Ho Chi Minh.

For a slower pace of travel, remain exclusively in the North or South for the entire two weeks.

4 Germany

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~8 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~11 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: May to September

Germany is another large European country with lots of interesting cities and whimsical small towns to explore.

It’s worth dedicating an entire two weeks to Germany, starting in a large city like Berlin or Hamburg before heading south through the countryside of Bavaria to Munich.

3 Japan

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~14 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~11.5 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: March to May, September to November

Japan can easily take months to explore without ever feeling like you’ve seen it all. However, if two weeks is all travelers have, it’s better to see the highlights of Japan than not to visit at all.

For a 2-week trip, stick to the main island of Honshu and focus on Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

Travelers can spend 5 exciting days eating their way through Tokyo before visiting Hakone for 2 days to see Mount Fuji and experience local hot springs. Then, hop on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and spend the next 7 days exploring Osaka, Japan’s 'second city,' and Kyoto, its cultural capital.

2 New Zealand

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~20.5 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~13 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: December to March

New Zealand is one of the furthest countries to visit from North America, so it’s natural to want to spend more time here after such a long flight.

If two weeks is the maximum amount of time travelers have to explore, they can consider sticking to the country’s South Island. This prevents the feeling of being rushed and allows them to rent a campervan in Christchurch or Queenstown and drive around to highlights like Milford Sound and Mount Cook with time to stop for hikes and photos.

Related: Why New Zealand's Milford Track Is Called The "Finest Walk In The World"

1 Tanzania

  • Flight Time From East Coast: ~18 hours
  • Flight Time From West Coast: ~22 hours
  • Best Time To Visit: July to September

Another far-off destination for North Americans, Tanzania is worth spending an entire two weeks exploring. Spend the first week of the trip on an epic adventure, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with a professional guide.

After summiting Africa’s tallest peak, spend the next 3-4 days on safari in Serengeti National Park before relaxing on the island of Zanzibar for a couple of nights to end the trip.