Where to Go in 2026: Our Expert Picks

January 29, 2026
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Where to Go in 2026: Our Expert Picks for Travelers Who Care How They Travel

By 2026, travel demand will be fully normalized—but access, quality, and authenticity will not be. The destinations that will matter most are the ones that limit volume, reward intention, and still feel meaningfully wild.

Below are the places we believe will offer the best experiences in 2026—not because they’re new, but because they continue to resist dilution when approached properly.

Uganda in 2026: Africa's Most Complete, Least Compromised Safari Destination

Uganda remains one of the most undervalued safari destinations in the world—and by 2026, that gap between perception and reality will matter even more.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Gorilla trekking will always define Uganda, but Bwindi’s strength lies in regulation. Permit limits, highly trained trackers, and a growing number of low-impact forest lodges preserve intimacy in an experience that could easily be overrun elsewhere.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo is not a “detour”—it’s the point. Vast open savannah, cheetah, lion, and some of the lowest vehicle densities anywhere in Africa. In 2026, as safari congestion increases elsewhere, Kidepo’s remoteness becomes its greatest luxury.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

When routed intentionally, Queen Elizabeth adds water-based wildlife, crater landscapes, and biodiversity without redundancy—an essential contrast between forest and far-north wilderness.

Why Uganda in 2026:

Unmatched biodiversity, improving infrastructure, and still one of the few places where safaris feel unscripted.

Kenya in 2026: Still the Benchmark - But Only in the Right Places

Kenya will remain Africa’s most sophisticated safari ecosystem in 2026—but also one of its most polarized. The difference between exceptional and overcrowded is sharper here than anywhere else.

Masai Mara Conservancies

The national reserve absorbs volume. The surrounding conservancies preserve experience. Limited beds, enforced vehicle caps, and access to walking and night safaris are non-negotiable for serious travelers.

Laikipia Plateau

Laikipia is Kenya’s most versatile region: rhino conservation, private land access, walking safaris, and dramatic terrain. It pairs naturally with the Mara without repeating it.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli’s elephant populations remain extraordinary—but success here depends on restraint: short stays, careful timing, and camps positioned away from day-visitor traffic.

Why Kenya in 2026:

Elite guiding, mature conservation models, and unmatched operational depth—if geography is chosen precisely.

Australia in 2026: A Continental-Scale Nature Experience Done Quietly

Australia rewards travelers who think regionally, not itinerarily. In 2026, it remains one of the best places on earth to experience wilderness without spectacle-driven tourism.

Kangaroo Island

A global case study in ecological recovery. Kangaroo Island now offers some of Australia’s most compelling conservation-led stays, with endemic wildlife and raw coastal landscapes.

Daintree Rainforest

The world’s oldest rainforest paired with serious naturalist guiding. Elevated eco-lodges emphasize immersion over luxury signaling.

Ningaloo Reef

By 2026, Ningaloo’s reputation will continue to grow—but it remains fundamentally low-volume. Responsible whale shark encounters and intact reef systems make it one of the planet’s most meaningful marine experiences.

Why Australia in 2026:

Scale, biodiversity, and space—without crowds, cruises, or mass-market pressure.

Zambia in 2026: The Last Stronghold of Serious Safari

Zambia remains the destination for travelers who care less about polish and more about purity.

South Luangwa National Park

Still the world’s gold standard for walking safaris. Exceptional leopard density, guiding that emphasizes interpretation over sightings, and camps designed for immersion.

Lower Zambezi National Park

Canoe safaris on the Zambezi offer one of Africa’s most visceral wildlife experiences—quiet, unscripted, and deeply moving.

Liuwa Plain National Park

A remote migration, vast skies, and one of Africa’s most compelling conservation success stories—without the infrastructure that invites crowds.

Why Zambia in 2026:

Low tourism density, elite guiding culture, and safari experiences that still feel earned.

Everywhere Else to Watch in 2026

Two Places Quietly Entering Their Prime

These are not add-ons. They’re destinations that demand intention, patience, and the right partners—and that’s exactly why they belong on a 2026 radar.

South America (2026 Watch): Guyana

Guyana is one of the least-visited countries in South America—and one of the most biologically intact on the planet. Over 85% of the country is covered by pristine rainforest, with ecosystems that feel closer to the Congo Basin than to the Andes or Amazon hotspots further west.

In 2026, Guyana stands out for travelers who want true wilderness without crowds, and who value conservation outcomes over comfort signaling.

Key regions include:

  • Kaieteur Falls, one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls, accessed by small aircraft
  • Iwokrama Forest, a globally important conservation corridor supporting jaguar, giant river otter, and harpy eagle
  • The Rupununi Savanna, where rainforest meets grassland and indigenous-led lodges anchor low-impact exploration

Accommodation remains intentionally limited, often community-owned, and focused on naturalist-led experiences rather than traditional luxury. That constraint is the feature, not the bug.

Why Guyana in 2026:

Infrastructure is improving carefully, conservation governance is strong, and tourism remains volume-resistant. For travelers who have “done” Patagonia and the Galápagos, Guyana offers something rarer: silence, scale, and scientific significance.

Europe (2026 Watch): Northern Albania & the Accursed Mountains

Northern Albania is one of Europe’s last true backcountry regions—dramatic, culturally rich, and still largely untouched by mass tourism.

The Albanian Alps (also known as the Accursed Mountains) rival the Dolomites in beauty but feel decades behind in development. Stone villages, shepherd trails, glacial valleys, and family-run guesthouses define the experience.

Highlights include:

  • Multi-day hut-to-hut trekking between Valbona and Theth
  • Remote mountain villages accessible only by foot or 4x4
  • Lake Koman ferry journeys through steep limestone gorges
  • A food culture rooted in hyper-local sourcing and tradition

Luxury here is quiet and contextual: private guides, simple but refined accommodations, and itineraries built around landscape and pace rather than checklists.

Why Northern Albania in 2026:

Improving access without overdevelopment, growing international interest, and a rare chance to experience a European mountain culture before it becomes standardized.

2026's Travel Destinations:

By 2026, the question won’t be where you can go—it will be where still feels worth going. The destinations that matter most are those that resist scale, protect access, and reward travelers who plan carefully and travel deliberately.

Uganda, Kenya, Australia, and Zambia remain anchors because they continue to deliver depth over volume. Places like Guyana and Northern Albania point toward what’s next: travel defined less by novelty and more by integrity.

If you’re thinking about 2026 and want guidance rooted in firsthand knowledge, conservation realities, and long-term perspective—not trends—we’re here to help you get it right.

Travel well. Travel intentionally.

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