How is your week going? What did you do in the weekend?
I hav been chilling and resting and working on 2026 plans.
I am very excited for the new tours we will be going on for the first time and also for the new destinations that we are working on. More to come soon!
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๐ฉ On this week's email:
The best destinations for 2026: Places that are particularly interesting to visit next year because of a variety of reasons. Start planning!
Best destinations for 2026
I hope 2026 will be a great year of travel for you. I have amazing plans which I will be sharing in a couple of weeks, and our calendar of tours is full.
Some places will be particularly great to explore next year, and this is the right time to start planning, booking holiday or, at least, laying out the year ahead.
Iceland
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Iceland's appeal has only grown every year for the last 10 but, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, 2026 is going to be the last year of a peak solar cycle that makes the Northern Lights brighter than ever. This cycle repeats every 11 years and will end in 2026.
The next time the Northern Lights will be this bright will be in a decade. This does not meant that you won't be seeing them at all after 2026, but that the chance to see them or to see them this active and bright, will be lower.
If you've always wanted to see the magical show dancing above you, put Iceland on your bucket list for 2026. Not only is this a great place to see them, but the country has so much more to offer that it makes for a very well rounded destination.
PS We return to Iceland in October 2026 for the 6th consecutive year. We have seen the lights every year, on every tour but 1 of the 14 we have run. October is a great time to visit cause you can do all the fabulous winter activities without freezing your a** :)
Japan's allure is only growing every year and crowds are starting to not only change the experience but also turn the locals against the masses, and with reason. Japanese culture is well rooted in respect and tourists not showing any for the local culture are angering everyone. The earlier you can visit the better for this reason alone.
But, Japan has historically been one of the most expensive destinations in the world, out of most people's reach. Luckily, the exchange rate and weakness of the Yen is making it a relatively cheaper destination right now.
If you look at the exchange rate graph for the Yen vs any of the international currencies (EUR, USD, CAD, etc.) it is at all time low, as much as 30% cheaper than it was 5 years ago.
This trend will not last forever and when it reverses, you could be looking at a 30% increase in the cost of everything for visitors. Go now, before that happens, and save money.
I am accompanying our first tour to Japan in March 2026 for the Cherry Blossom period, and we will also be returning in the summer (more affordable prices, fewer crowds) and in the Fall (for the changing of the leaves).
Now that the country has fully returned to normalcy after years of pandemic, China is a great destination to consider for 2026.
It is not just the appeal of a country that has almost as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Italy (the country with the most), or something to meet the bucket list of any traveler, but that China has extended visa-free travel for up to 30 days for nationals of more than 47 countries.
This is a great saving in money (a visa used to cost $100) and time (you had to leave your passport at the embassy or processing center for days) but also great peace of mind since you are taking a gamble at being declined a visa.
Crowds have yet to return (but never visit during of the countries major holidays), so you will be one of the few foreign tourists exploring.
Morocco
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At the end of 2025, Morocco is hosting the African Cup of Nations and this is breathing new air into Marrakech and other cities.
Clean up projects, serious infrastructure improvement efforts and construction all around this year are sanitising and reorganising the country's main cities to resolve the issues travelers have historically complained about: dirty streets, traffic jams, poor infrastructure at times, etc.
I was chatting to our local partners yesterday and they told me I would not recognise the city if I visited next year, such is the improvement, and I have been to Morocco 6 times in the last 15 years.
It made me think about what a major event such as the Olympics did to Barcelona in 1992 and how the city has been catapulted to the top-10 most visited in the world as a result, and I understood exactly what he meant.
2026 will be a great year to visit Morocco and we have 2 tours, one in October and one in November, that offer just the perfect itinerary with enough time to enjoy each stop without being rushed, and a holistic view of the most important and beautiful sights this North African country has to offer. Did I mention premium accommodation?
The Machu Pichu-famous destination has also been marred with political instability and crowds making a visit to the famous Inca ancient city a stressful experience.
Three new routes around the main site with various hiking paths are already managing the flow of visitors, although don't expect quietness, and a new airport expected to open near Cusco will make travel easier.
Besides the main visitor draw, the country's capital of Lima is fast emerging as a foodie destination and Huaraz is the gateway to Cordillera Blanca, an incredible mountain area rivaling the Alps. Lake Titicaca and the Amazon complete the best of the country.
Peru will never be less popular than it is now, so 2026 is as fantastic a time to visit as ever to discover the famous spots as well as other lesser known parts of the country such as Choquequirao, often described as mini Machu Pichu though not for its size.
Reunion
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I visited this remote island last month with some friends after the end of our Madagascar tour. It was almost a coincidence, simply the result of it being the easiest place to get to from Nosy Be Archipelago which is where our Malagasy adventure ended.
Reunion is a French Overseas Territory and this means it is part of Europe, uses the EURO as its currency and is essentially a far-away outpost of France, located in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Mauritius.
This volcanic island of high peaks (the highest even gets snowed in the winter) is a fantastic destination for nature lovers and hiking buddies. There are kilometers of hiking paths, all well-marked with the usual signage you find in Western Europe, and it has good infrastructure and roads, owing to its French ties.
Panoramic viewpoints, dramatic peaks and incredible landscapes make this a fantastic discovery for 2025.
The island didn't have an indigenous population when migrants came from Asia and Africa, and later on France, and it does feel very European.
We stayed at the Radisson Hotel in Saint Denis, the capital, but it would have made more sense to split the time between the city, in the north, and the smaller villages in the south, where the volcano and all the available adventure activities (canyoning, caving, hiking, lava tunnels, etc.) were.
Out hotel room in Mayotte surrounded by friendly lemurs
Pro hint: After Reunion, consider a quick visit to nearby Mayotte, also a French Overseas territory but with a completely different vibe. Stay at Jardin Maore for daily lemur visits and swimming with turtles off the beachy shore. Make this a full trip by joining us in Madagascar where we will return in 2027 - Join the waitlist to be notified when we do (Reunion will equally as good then too!).
There are also a bunch of other smaller and less popular destinations that are worth taking a look at for 2026 and beyond:
Dominica is about to establish a new sperm whale reserve that will protect them and offer the opportunity to swim with these giants or observe them from a boat. The small Caribbean island is also known for hot springs, waterfalls and untouched nature.
Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park will start offering 5-day guided trekking tours in the park that is famous for the monolith sacred to the Anangu people in 2026. Australia's Red Center is a desert landscape that is incredible to see. We spend 2 night there as part of our luxury Australia trip. If you prefer luxury and comfort, check out our itinerary here.
Oulu, the European Capital of Culture for 2026, is an Arctic destinations just south of the Arctic Circle in Finland, and a great place to experience both summer and winter wonderlands in the far north. Food, Sami culture and more await, and you can reach it by train from Helsinki in just under 6h.
Bilbao, to see the total eclipse which will be visible in its totality only in the Basque Region in the north of Spain. Don't forget to visit the futuristic Guggenheim Museum and take a day trip to beautiful San Sebastian.
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Where are you planning to travel to in 2026?
Hit reply and let me know!
Updates from our tours
Many of our 2026 tours are sold but and some have only a few spots left - if you were planning to join us, go reserve your spot!
Galapagos 5 to 12 December 2026 - 1 SPOT LEFT. Detailsโ
Tanzania Value 11 to 21 September 2026 - 1 SPOT LEFT.
Japan 28 March to 7 April 2026 for Sakura / Cherry Blossom season - 2 SPOTS LEFT. Detailsโ
Greece island hopping sailing trip (Last year we run this tour!) - 3 SPOTS LEFT. Detailsโ
Antarctica - 5 SPOTS LEFT, we will take over almost half of the ship, a real Antarctic party! Details.
โ We have also launched new dates for our most popular tours:
NEW! Egypt 4 to 13 or 4 to 16 December 2026 with Siwa extension. With our two other trips full / almost full, we've added a new date. Detailsโ
Photo of the week
Last week's photo
This colorful group photo was taken in Oaxaca last NYE when we had our first tour in this cool and happening city that is the gateway to the Zapotec culture.
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