Roundup: the top 20 destinations for 2026
We’ve been tracking where our travellers are heading this year. From seriously sweet St Lucia to honky-tonk US road trips and big-game Tanzania safaris, these are the in-demand destinations for 2026.
20. Japan: Shore thing
Japan has always been one of the world’s most intriguing places. But for 2026, it’s being sea-n from a new angle. Cruising is a winning way to experience the country, pairing neon-lit Tokyo with lesser-known ports and bucket-ticking views of Mount Fuji. All with the comfort of unpacking just once.
Make it your holiday: Our Japan Discovery Cruise & Stay
19. United Arab Emirates: reliable rays
With the UK clocking up more grey days than golden ones, winter sun escapes aren’t going anywhere. The UAE continues to thrive, with Dubai upping the ante each year on headline-making attractions. But it’s Ras Al Khaimah that’s quietly catching attention, drawing sunseekers towards its golden sands and excellent-value hotels.
Make it your holiday: Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah twin-centre
18. Australia: carpe diem
If you’re going all in on a bucket-list adventure, it doesn’t get bigger, or further, than Australia. For 2026, we’re seeing solo adventurers ticking off the classic rock-and-reef route, milestone celebrations dialling up the romance aboard The Ghan and family adventures built around unforgettable wildlife encounters, from whale sharks off the west coast to quokkas on Kangaroo Island.
Make it your holiday: Australia’s Ultimate Wildlife Safari
17. Seychelles: island hopping dreams
Robinson Crusoe-style rest is nothing new, but the appetite is building for extended castaway time. The Seychelles is a natural playground for island hopping, with future stays split between big-on-beauty Mahé, rustic Praslin and sleepy La Digue.
Make it your holiday: Our Mahe, Praslin & La Digue multi-centre
16. Greece: Well connected
Greece has a knack for feeling both familiar and endlessly absorbing. Ancient wonders, iconic villagescapes and seriously good food come as standard. Corfu, Crete and romance-ready Santorini form the backbone of bookings, while more travellers are mixing things up by pairing islands or adding a culture hit in Athens. Zante has just joined our Greek island collection – an Ionian gem dotted with covetable stays.
Make it your holiday: Our Athens and island twin centre
15. Indonesia: thrill & chill
Indonesia hits that sweet spot between switch-off and get-up-and-go. There’s the dreamy moments everyone’s scrolled – pool villas tucked into jungle valleys, yoga among rice paddies, oh-so-pretty floating breakfasts – but there’s adventure to be had too: volcano hikes, surf breaks and world-class diving. Factor in the bang for your buck – where you can eat for as little as $4 in local warungs – and it’s easy to see why Indonesia wins hearts.
Make it your holiday: Our Bali Explorer trip
14. St Lucia: wild romance
Ah, St Lucia. One look at the pin-worthy scenery and it’s obvious why bookings keep climbing. Here, one-of-a-kind resorts land on magazine covers, volcanic peaks and rainforest trails are ready to roam and the interior hides some seriously sweet stays under wraps. When it comes to romance with a wild streak, St Lucia sets the bar high.
Make it your holiday: Live like royalty at Jade Mountain
13. USA: holidays with soul
Road trips and Disney theme-park thrills remain firm favourites for anyone heading across the pond. But for 2026, the focus is moving towards more characterful corners. We’ve introduced a new range of self-drive itineraries through the soulful Deep South, built around blues-filled towns, barbecue stops and river country detours.
Make it your holiday: Our Music Roots road trip
12. Malaysia: anti-Instagram energy
Malaysia sits right in the heart of Southeast Asia yet feels refreshingly low-key. It doesn’t quite command the airtime of its star-power neighbour (Thailand, we’re looking at you), and that's precisely why you should go. Expect cultural mash-up cities, highland tea gardens and feet-up beaches, all in one trip that rewards curiosity without the crowds.
Make it your holiday: Our Essence of Malaysia multi-centre
11. Barbados, but offbeat
Breaking into the top 10, Barbados proves that classics never really date. Beyond the pink-parasol shores, its creative dining scene, surf culture and live-like-a-local feel are tipping it ahead of its Caribbean peers. There’s a subtle shift away from all-inclusive, with rustic inns and family-run boutique hotels on the rise.
Make it your holiday: Go deliciously off the beaten track at Atlantis Historic Inn
10. Canada: slow travel, supersized
Canada is this year’s new addition to our wanderlist – and a telling one. As slower, more intentional travel gathers pace, it reigns as a destination where the journey is the headline act. Think road trips through the Rockies, travelling deep into grizzly bear country and city hopping by train between mountains or heritage-rich cities.
Make it your holiday: Journey through the Clouds with Rocky Mountaineer
9. Vietnam: go with the pho
Vietnam is a holiday where experience comes first. It’s getting gloriously lost in old quarters and markets, slipping through delta channels by sampan and walking imperial grounds shaped by dynasties. With welcoming locals, knockout flavours and a deep-rooted spa culture, it’s little wonder it resonates with those seeking depth and discovery.
Make it your holiday: Our Best of Vietnam trip
8. Antigua: runway to relaxation
More people are gravitating towards holidays where no agenda is the agenda. Antigua fits that brief perfectly. There’s a white-sand beach for every day of the year, warm seas on tap, soft adventures when you want them and plentiful choice of restful resorts. When it comes to switch-off stays, Antigua has it down to a fine art.
Make it your holiday: Go boutique at Cocos Hotel Antigua
7. Kenya: the original safari kingpin
Kenya is the original safari icon for good reason. Consistently rewarding wildlife sightings, strong value and the ease of pairing bush with beach underpin its appeal. Expect conservancy-led safaris, meaningful cultural encounters and Swahili-style coastal stays for post-safari perfection.
Make it your holiday: Pair safari and sands on our Kenya Bush & Beach Itinerary
6. Tanzania: nature in the spotlight
One safari destination in the top 10 is notable. Two is a trend. Tanzania has climbed 11 places since last year, putting it firmly on the radar for 2026. With the pull of wilder, more immersive experiences growing, it more than delivers, from seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration sweep across the Serengeti to descending into the wildlife action of the Ngorongoro Crater. Scale and spectacle don’t come much bigger.
Make it your holiday: Our Tanzania Explorer trip
5. South Africa: the sequel trip
While first timers to SA beeline to Cape Town and Kruger, repeat visitors are branching out to more off-beat regions. One captivating corner that’s drawing big interest is KwaZulu-Natal, where the dramatic peaks of the Drakensberg meet wildlife-rich reserves and deeply rooted Zulu heritage, all close enough to explore in one well-paced trip.
Make it your holiday: Our Kwazulu-Natal Zululand Safari
4. Sri Lanka: made to measure
Interest-led travel is shaping how we plan trips, and Sri Lanka is a natural go-to. Some come for wellness retreats and boutique hotels, others for standout food or safari thrills. Many come for all of it. Travel north to south with your own driver, mix jungle stays with beach time or go all in on luxury. No two trips look the same, which is exactly the point.
Make it your holiday: A taste of Sri Lanka
3. Mauritius: beach with benefits
Mauritius is the ultimate tropical all-rounder. Horizontal days at polished hotel havens come as standard, but there’s plenty to tempt you out of the resort too, from spice-scented markets to Hindu temples and sugarcane-clad hills. It’s a beach holiday at heart, with more depth than you might expect.
Make it your holiday: Go from sky to sea on our Mauritius twin-centre
2. Thailand: variety & value
If you like a holiday that packs in a lot for less, Thailand comes up trumps. High-energy cities, temple towns, jungles and island beaches all roll into one jaw-to-the-floor trip that’s refreshingly light on the wallet. Add world-class food, restorative spa retreats and locals whose smiles live up to the reputation, and it’s clear why Thailand keeps people coming back.
Make it your holiday: Our Thai city lights & ocean nights trip
1. Maldives: power down
The Maldives is our number one yet again and honestly, where else? Those castaway visuals never get old. Beyond the lure of guaranteed Insta-envy, it neatly fits the current travel mood. For many, the search in 2026 is for radical rest; a chance to disconnect from an always-on digital life. It’s the original ‘quietcation’, and it does it better than anyone.
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