Travel by Color: 4 Earthy Escapes Inspired by Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year

April Peter
Apr 4
2 min read

Mocha Mousse. That’s the name Pantone handed the crown to for 2025. It might not scream excitement at first glance—but stay with us. This warm, grounding shade is full of understated beauty and raw elegance, much like the destinations that reflect its essence.

Think sunbaked earth. Faded terracotta walls. The glow of golden hour. These four destinations aren’t just pretty—they feel like Mocha Mousse. They’re immersive, textured, and quietly unforgettable.

Let’s dive in.

Morocco | The Sahara Desert

Color Vibe: Cinnamon, Sandstone, Sunset Gold

Mood Board: Camel trek silhouettes, spice market reds, Berber textiles, fire-lit tents

Golden dunes stretch endlessly in every direction, kissed by the warm light that dances between caramel and copper. The Sahara is a masterclass in earth-toned drama. Ride camels across rolling sandscapes, sip mint tea under woven canopies, and sleep beneath a galaxy of stars in luxury desert camps.

It’s not just a place—it’s a feeling. Warm, bold, mysterious.

If you love Morocco, you might also like:

Oman’s Wahiba Sands, Jordan’s Wadi Rum, or Egypt’s Siwa Oasis.

New Mexico | Santa Fe

Color Vibe: Adobe Rose, Burnt Clay, Sunset Peach

Mood Board: Pueblo-style walls, turquoise jewelry, chili ristras, canyon trails

Santa Fe is soaked in a palette straight out of a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. The architecture alone is a tribute to Mocha Mousse’s spirit—soft, earthy, timeless. Roam the art-filled Canyon Road, savor green chile stew on a sunlit patio, and catch that legendary Southwestern glow as dusk settles over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

There’s a magic here that’s equal parts soulful and stylish.

If you love Santa Fe, you might also like:

Sedona, AZ · Taos, NM · Marfa, TX

Chile | Atacama Desert

Color Vibe: Rust Red, Dusty Taupe, Copper Blush

Mood Board: Moon Valley textures, salt flats, wild flamingos, mineral-rich cliffs

Atacama is where the earth feels almost Martian—surreal, striking, and stripped down to its raw elements. Its color palette is all warm neutrals and metallic undertones. Explore Mars-like valleys, soak in natural hot springs, and watch the stars blaze across the clearest night skies on the planet.

This is Mocha Mousse turned wild and untamed.

If you love the Atacama, you might also like:

Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni or Argentina’s Salta region.

Italy | Matera

Color Vibe: Honey Beige, Ancient Limestone, Shadowed Ochre

Mood Board: Stone stairways, candlelit caves, olive groves, golden hour façades

Matera is carved into cliffs, layered with centuries of stories told in stone. The cave dwellings—some now boutique hotels—glow in soft, sandy hues as the sun shifts across the sky. Sip Aperol spritz on a stone terrace, wander narrow alleyways that feel like time travel, and bask in the kind of old-world charm that makes you whisper wow.

It’s elegant, elemental, and effortlessly cinematic.

If you love Matera, you might also like:

Puglia’s whitewashed towns or the hilltop villages of Provence.