The Pantone colour of the year 2022 has been officially released: Very Peri, that’s its name! Pantone describes it as “a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone that blends the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red.”
This is the very first time in 22 years, Pantone created a brand new colour of the year especially for the occasion, celebrating the way our lives have changed with the pandemic and the way it pushed our creativity to break boundaries. All previous colours were chosen from the existing palette in the Pantone Colour System.
Although Very Peri is a brand new shade in the Pantone collection, it’s not a new shade for Mother Earth. You can see the same shade of periwinkle in the lavender fields of France or in the wisteria trees of Japan.
You might be going through a period of transformation as you start to venture out more than ever compared to the past two years. This fits well with the inspiration behind Very Peri, which exhibits a “spritely, joyous attitude” and encourages creativity and inventiveness. One way to express yourself creatively could be planning a holiday with stops at different periwinkle travel destinations inspired by the Pantone colour of the year.
Whether you’re willing to take a last minute trip or planning a dream holiday bucket list for the future, we’re here to help you find wanderlust-worthy places. We rounded up some travel destinations around the world inspired by the Pantone colour of the year 2022.
If this sounds like the adventure you want to embark on, here are the 10 Very Peri places to visit during your next vacation.
1. Lavender fields, Provence
Take a deep breath in and out – if you’re looking for a treat for all the senses, you’ll find it in Provence. In July and August, the lavender fields in southern France bloom and not only cover the region with a beguiling scent, but also cover the fields in a dense shade of purple.
The plant is not only beautiful to look at, but has been known as a remedy since the Middle Ages. Today it offers itself above all as the perfect souvenir: whether as a nourishing oil, relaxation pillow or for a touch quite à la Provence in your home kitchen!
2. Aurora Borealis, Iceland
Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a must on every bucket list for a reason! Every year, the light spectacle attracts thousands of travellers to the Nordic polar regions around Iceland and Lapland.
You should arm yourself with quite a bit of patience, because only in absolute darkness and cloudless skies this shy natural phenomenon shows itself to its spectators. The sky shines in rich violet, blue and green and draws its fabulous wave patterns on the firmament. The best time to experience the aurora is between September and March.
3. Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Snæfellsnes is the long and narrow peninsula sticking out of Iceland into the North-Atlantic ocean to the west. The name translates to snow-mountain-peninsula, an apt name for a peninsula that’s got a volcano crowned with a glacier on its tip.
Expect fjords, volcanic peaks, breathtaking cliffs, black lava fields and lupine plants at every turn. This is the varied and beautiful landscape of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The purple lupin flowers are visible almost everywhere along roads, near waterfalls and lakes. One of the best places to enjoy the Very Peri ‘colour of the year’ is the church at Ingjaldshóll, in western Iceland, about three hours’ drive from Reykjavík. Plan your trip for the summer months to catch the best glimpse of the bloom.
4. Purple Islands, South Korea
If you want to be a true trendsetter there is a very special place in the world you must visit this year, for a literally all-purple holiday! Located off the southwestern coast of South Korea, on the “Purple Islands” of Banwol and Bakji, not only the lavender and asters are in full bloom, but almost everything else is shining in a brilliant purple.
For the “I purple you” project, the islands have been painted piece by piece since 2015 in different lilac hues. Every inch now shines in rich colour, from roof tiles to purple grains of rice – served on purple plates, of course, making it a unique draw for visitors and one of the most Insta-worthy locations on our list.
5. Wanaka Lake, New Zealand
Seeing the hues of this photo in real life is no easy feat, but if luck is on your side you’ll find the perfect purple-y sunset in Wanaka. This lake is located in Otago District of New Zealand’s South Island and is the fourth largest lake in the country. This area is an outdoor adventure hub on New Zealand’s South Island: here you can experience a huge variety of activities such as speed boating, kayaking, skydiving, hiking, skiing, etc. Or you can simply relax and enjoy the scenery of the lake.
You cannot leave Wanaka without taking a picture of the willow tree that stands out in the north end of the lake against the mountainous horizon. It symbolises hope and endurance and it’s one of the the major and most photograhed attractions for the region.
6. Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is the first city in the United States to get the Capital of Gastronomy designation from UNESCO in 2016. While this is one of the many reasons to visit it, the Southwest city easily made its way onto our list: the essence of the Pantone Colour of the Year 2022 is captured in the Barrio Viejo, the oldest neighbourhood.
Filled with multi-color adobe homes and commercial buildings from the 19th century, the area is scattered with periwinkle walls. Take your camera and have a nice stroll through the city’s Turquoise Trail, – a turquoise-coloured strip on the sidewalk will keep you on your track – a 2.5 miles self guided walking trail where you can explore the Barrio Viejo and other historic Tucson sites, like the St. Augustine Cathedral, the Pima County Courthouse or the Fox Tucson Theatre.
7. Antelope Canyon, Arizona
What about a combo journey into Pantone colour of the year and in the centre of the earth? On the opposite side of Arizona from Tucson is the Antelope Canyon. This canyon is part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, near Page, and it’s an incredibly unique natural wonder that draws tourists from all over the world to this area. It is a slot canyon formed over millions of years by the erosion of water rushing through the sandstone.
Once you find yourself at the bottom of the canyon, take a look around and admire the colours of the earth: you’ll find the Very Peri hues into the shaded sections of the canyon, which stand in stark contrast to the orange, red and yellow coloured rock. If your passion is photography, you’re in the right place: the Antelope is the most-photographed slot canyon in the American southwest! Don’t miss the chance to take incredible pictures of the effects of light beams hitting the swirling sandstone.
8. Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Japan
If Japan is not already on your travel bucket list, we highly recommend adding it to your purple itinerary. And you’ll definitely want to make a pitstop at the Kawachi Wisteria Garden once you’re there. This private garden is located in the wooded hills of central Kitakyushu and it’s famous for its spectacular large numbers of wisteria flowers.
The best time to visit is during wisteria season, which usually picks around late April to early May. The most gorgeous garden features are two, roughly 100 metres long tunnels made of wisteria trees, that are perfect for surrounding yourself with different Very Peri hues, ranging from white to dark purple.
9. Johannesburg, South Africa
Jacaranda is another flower that gives off periwinkle vibes and can be spotted all over the world, from Australia and Southern California to Spain. But among the most beautiful are South Africa’s jacaranda trees, which usually are in full bloom between September and November.
Did you know that Johannesburg is the city with the most Jacaranda trees in South Africa? While Pretoria may be unofficially known as the Jacaranda City with more than 70,000, it is Johannesburg that actually has more periwinkle petals on its streets. But that’s not all: Johannesburg is also the largest man-made urban forest with over 10 million trees!
10. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
When we see pictures of high sand dunes we immediately think of the Sahara Desert, often forgetting that there are many other sandy deserts scattered around the world. Many of these, each with their own characteristics, can be found on the USA territory. At the foot of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains in Colorado, there is one that perfectly fits into our list: it’s the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
At dusk, the sand dunes burst in dazzling kaleidoscope patterns of colours, including periwinkle shades. Fun fact: at Great Sand Dunes National Park the sand not only changes its colour, it also sings. Come and listen to a choir of sand! This natural phenomenon sounds like singing or humming and it’s caused by air pushed through millions of tumbling sand grains when avalanches move down the face of sand dunes.
In which of these places are you going to experience the pantone colour of the year?
