Top 10 Places to Travel in 2026

Discover our most inspiring destinations for 2026, handpicked by Regional Specialists and seasoned Trip Leaders to guarantee off-the-beaten-path delights and cultural immersion. Expect a balance of hidden gems and iconic destinations reinvigorated by new momentum.

Safari in Namibia’s UNESCO-listed Etosha National Park for stunning seclusion, snorkel alongside humpbacks in Tonga’s pristine Ha’apai Islands, or hike in Patagonia’s most wild, remote reaches. Big happenings in travel next year include the 2026 Winter Olympics in the Dolomites and the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. And, when choosing where to travel in 2026, we continue to keep a finger on the pulse of up-and-coming destinations like Bolivian wine country, Tibet’s spiritual capital, and the Five Stans of Central Asia.

Contact our Area Specialists at 1-800-368-2794 or email info@wildernesstravel.com to learn more about our unique adventures or to start planning your trip today.

Corsica

A stunning Mediterranean destination without the overtourism of places like Croatia or many Greek Isles, Corsica is rapidly becoming a hotspot for adventure travel. This French island is home to the famous GR20, an exhilarating long-distance hiking trail, along with plenty of opportunity for kayaking, biking, canyoning, and hiking rugged coastlines surrounded by crystal-clear water.

visit corsica

Etosha National Park

The beauty of Namibia is unparalleled—you’ve never safaried like this. One of the best national parks in Namibia, Etosha comprises a salt pan so vast it’s visible from space, dotted by watering holes that bubble up seasonally. Our journeys in this ethereal, boundless region include a peaceful “green season” safari, a giraffe conservation journey, and a Namibia-Botswana odyssey.

visit etosha national park

Egypt

The Pyramids, the Nile, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor—Egypt’s defining sites still astonish. The newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) brings a remarkable new dimension, housing the most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities ever assembled. We visit the GEM alongside our expert Egyptologist Trip Leaders.

visit egypt

Ha’apai Islands

A hidden gem for snorkeling, the Ha’apai Islands are a pristine, not-to-be-missed part of the Kingdom of Tonga. Their relatively minimal tourism infrastructure makes them feel remote and peaceful, which is why we love to visit for snorkeling journeys. Not only can you expect vibrant tropical fish and astonishingly clear stargazing—you can even swim alongside humpback whales.

visit the ha’apai islands

Central Asia

Discover Silk Road history, bustling bazaars, and impossibly vast landscapes in the “Five Stans”—Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Our journeys bring you to remote corners of this captivating realm, from hiking the green foothills of the Tien Shan to exploring walled desert towns and sipping tea in chaikhanas.

VISIT CENTRAL ASIA

Iberian Peninsula

On August 12, the 2026 solar eclipse’s path of totality cuts through northern Spain, making this year prime time for an Iberian Peninsula visit. While our Spain solar eclipse journey is currently taking a wait list, the breadth of our programs provide plenty of ways to experience this diverse area—from walking El Camino de Santiago to visiting Douro Valley wineries to hiking Basque country.

visit the iberian peninsula

Cortina d’Ampezzo

In February, the 2026 Winter Olympics arrive at Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Pearl of the Dolomites.” The games spotlight this Italian subset of the Alps in winter, with icy peaks and snow-dusted villages. But visit in the summer for a breathtaking alpine hiking experience—meadows bloom with delicate Italian bellflowers and rocky spires rise behind turquoise lakes. You’ll see it all while staying at Cortina d’Ampezzo on our Dolomites hiking trips.

VISIT Cortina d’Ampezzo

Bolivian Wine Country

With big wins at international wine competitions last year and several Bolivian additions to Latin America’s 100 Best Restaurants this year, Bolivia’s food and wine scene is in the spotlight. The country’s Tarija and Cinti Valley regions specialize in high-altitude wines from their 500-year-old vineyards, and we experience it all on our new Peru & Bolivia culinary adventure.

VISIT BOLIVIAN WINE COUNTRY

Northern Patagonia

In the past several years, the non-profit organization Rewilding Chile has helped create brand new Patagonian national parks—most recently Pumalín, Patagonia, and Cerro Castillo, all in northern Chile—conserving the land in perpetuity. Visit this breathtaking world of volcanoes, fjords, and ancient temperate rainforest on our hiking trip to northern Patagonia.

visit northern patagonia

Lhasa, Tibet

Culturally rich Lhasa, capital of Tibet, is a major site of pilgrimage and has a sweeping 1,300-year history. It’s set high in the Himalayas and is home to Potala Palace, once the Dalai Lama’s winter home, and Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. We visit this vibrant, ancient city on our new journey through three Himalayan mountain kingdoms: Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

VISIT LHASA