A Month-by-Month Guide to Travel in 2026

Inspiration

When it comes to travel, knowing when to go can be just as important as knowing where. Weather patterns, seasonal wildlife, cultural calendars, and crowds shape every journey, and great planning can transform good holidays into one-of-a-kind journeys.

With that in mind, this is our month-by-month luxury travel guide to where and when to go in 2026, from familiar places to destinations where you’ve likely never been before. We take you from a nature-led restorative January and sun-soaked island escapes, to luxury African safaris, coolcation summers in the fjords, and a fairytale-like winter finale. Behind each recommendation is the work of our Travel Designers, who draw on years of practical experience and trusted local insight to pair the destination with the month that suits it best in 2026.

Whether you want a restorative start to the year in the home of coffee and sloths or off-peak travel in Europe, this is our calendar of perfectly planned travel for 2026.

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Costa Rica in January

New Year Renewal

With the New Year just getting going, January should set the pace for the year to come. With that in mind, we’ll be heading to Costa Rica. Here, journeys unfold amid astounding biodiversity and the country’s enduring philosophy of Pura Vida or “pure life” (often used as a greeting), representing a shared philosophy of happiness, optimism, and living in the moment, ideal for a positive beginning to 2026. January also falls firmly within Costa Rica’s dry season, making it a superb time to explore rainforest lodges, golden Pacific beaches, and wildlife-rich national parks at their best.

Imagine: hiking adventures across cinematic peaks, pristine sweeps of beach with fantastic surf, and jungle stays amongst coffee and sloths.

where-to-travel-in-2026-costa-rica

Maldives in February

A Barefoot Romance

February brings some of the finest conditions of the year to the Maldives, defined by cloudless skies, gentle trade winds, and glassy, turquoise seas. Falling at the heart of the dry season, this is when those Maldivian atolls are at their most luminous, making it a natural choice for romantic escapes, honeymoons, and shared family getaways. Days are unhurried, shaped by warming sun, cooling swims, and candlelit dinners beneath star-filled skies.

Imagine: ultra-luxe overwater villas with every conceivable comfort, powdery white sands on a private island, snorkelling and diving amongst vibrant coral reefs home to sea turtles and manta rays, and languid catamaran cruises as the sky blushes with a hazy pink sunset.

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Sri Lanka in March

Tea, temples and serenity

As winter fades, March calls for a destination that awakens the senses, and Sri Lanka delivers with its stunning emerald jungles and pristine shores, offering a blend of luxury beach holiday, wildlife adventure and wellness break. Indeed, this is a place of contrast: ancient cities and sacred temples, tea plantations rolling across the highlands, and palm-fringed beaches licked by the Indian Ocean. Even better, March is a sweet spot for Sri Lanka’s dry season along the south and west coasts, offering exemplary conditions for both rural exploration and coastal relaxation.

Imagine: sunrise ascents to sacred peaks, restrained journeys through misty tea country by train, wildlife encounters in lush national parks, and barefoot days in therapeutic Ayurvedic retreats.

where-to-travel-in-2026-sri-lanka

Morocco in April

A sensory springtime exploration

Spring in Morocco is welcomingly mild and an excellent time to experience its incredible desert landscapes. But equally enticing are the rose-tinted warrens of Marrakech, the blue-washed lanes of Chefchaouen and the sublime white beaches of Tamuda Bay along the northern coast. Indeed, April’s agreeable temperatures and fewer tourist numbers allow Morocco’s diverse landscapes to be explored in unexpected comfort, before the intensity of a North African summer arrives.

Imagine: vibrant cuisine in a candlelit riad hidden behind carved wooden doors, fragrant mint tea served on tiled terraces, camel journeys across the iconic Sahara, and hammam rituals infused with orange blossom and rose.

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The American Southwest in May

Cinematic Roadtrips across rugged Landscapes

America’s southwest is unadulterated cinema. Its rugged patchwork of desert landscapes, rust-red mesas and extraordinary national parks creates a fascinating backdrop for a road trip. Utah’s towering rock arches are a highlight, along with Arizona’s Saguaro National Park filled with cactus and New Mexico’s evocative Old West towns punctuated by sagebrush. May is an ideal time to explore, too, when the desert is warm but not scorching, and the roads are quiet enough for unhurried detours peppered with visits to hubs like Santa Fe, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Imagine: wide highway drives through Monument Valley and the hoodoo rocks of Bryce Canyon, stargazing in remote desert lodges, and evenings beside a fire pit as the stars ignite.

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France in June

A Shoulder Season in the Riviera

The sun arrives with spring in the South of France, warming Riviera beaches and quaint Provençal squares laden with the scents of jasmine and lavender and overflowing with vegetables plucked fresh from the farm. Highlights like chic Antibes and Nice’s lovely old town glow with refreshing spring sun. And those captivating azure beachfronts slowly awaken with the click of heels along the Promenade des Anglais, and the splash of water as the first yachts of the warm months arrive. Some of our favourite hotels are in the Riviera, from the timeless Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, to Belle Epoque beauty Anantara Plaza.

Imagine: morning swims in the Mediterranean, farmhouse lunches paired with local rosé, winding drives between hilltop villages and chic seaside towns, and evenings spent on candlelit terraces overlooking vineyards, marinas, and timeworn village squares.

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Norway in July

Coolcationing in the Fjords

Norway is delightful in July, when lengthy daylight hours and mild temperatures combine to make the country’s dramatic landscapes extremely rewarding. A coolcation here rewards travellers with crisp air, glacial blues, and the dramatic fjords, best seen on a hike or a cruise of Lofoten. In the far north, the midnight sun stretches days into a luminous continuum, perfect for unrushed exploration, while Oslo, surrounded, as it is, by mountains and sea, and filled with cafes and cultural sights, remains a delightfully compact city to explore on a long weekend break. Get more of our coolcationing picks here.

Imagine: cruising through mirror-still fjords, rafting the rapids at Numedalslågen, hiking along mountain ridges with views over the peaks, and luxuriating in design-forward lodges and coastal cabins.

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Zambia in August

Big Cat Summers

August in Zambia is when the dry season reaches its peak, and wildlife congregates along the banks of the Zambezi and Luangwa rivers. Vegetation thins, allowing for more immersive views, temperatures are hot but comfortable, and, perhaps most importantly, game viewing is exceptional, with predators easily spotted at water sources and on the plains. It’s peak season, so talk to your Travel Designer to book early, but it’s more than worth it for the fabulous walking safari opportunities, with plenty of chances to see big cat predators, elephants and giraffes.

Imagine: safaris led by expert guides, tracking wildlife on foot, tranquil boat journeys along the Zambezi, evenings beneath vast star-filled skies in intimate, well-positioned camps, and visits to the iconic Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island at Victoria Falls.

where-to-travel-in-2026

Italy in September

Luxury trains and cultural icons

August’s heat finally subsides in September, leaving an admittedly still hot but milder experience to be found in Italy. Some of our favourite trips include tours of the cultural icons in Rome, Florence and Venice, coastal explorations of Amalfi, or a luxury tour of Puglia, with ancient Matera, the fairy-tale Trulli houses in Alberobello, and the captivating Baroque architecture in Lecce. For 2026, our 360 Travel Designers recommend the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express itineraries, such as the gourmet train between Rome and Venice, with lunches by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck.

Imagine: vineyard walks during harvest season in Tuscany, long lunches beneath pergolas heavy with grapes, coastal swims along Sicilian shores without high-season crowds, and fashion and art-filled city strolls in Milan, Pisa, or Venice.

where-to-travel-in-2026

Japan in October

Maple Blooms and Bullet Trains

A singularly fascinating culture, ancient tradition set against its striking modernity, has made Japan one of the world’s most universally loved destinations. But such a reputation brings the crowds, which is why we recommend travelling to Japan in October. A brilliant way to travel is by bullet train, beginning with a city-wide escapade in Tokyo, where waves of neon-lit skyscrapers sway to protect them from earthquakes, to the onsen-filled landscapes of Hakone, via Kyoto’s ancient temples and winsome tea rooms.

Imagine: strolling Kyoto’s temple paths, soaking in open-air onsens framed by maple leaves, dining on kaiseki cuisine, and exploring cities like Tokyo and Kanazawa via luxurious suites and traditional stays in Ryokan with Fuji views.

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Australia in November

Sun-soaked outdoor adventures

November marks the end of spring in southern Australia, an ideal time to experience the New South Wales coastline, with coastal walks and relaxed outdoor dining. The rugged peaks of the Blue Mountains close to Sydney make an intriguing pairing with the windswept Great Ocean Road (with a jaunt to Melbourne if you like), while the sandstone monolith Uluru summons with its commanding presence. The Great Barrier Reef is remarkable for snorkelling and diving, with clear visibility and calm seas, while wine regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Kangaroo Island are lush, ideal for winery stays and legendary wildlife encounters.

Imagine: sailing Sydney Harbour, reef explorations in tropical waters, long lunches among the vines, and sweeping coastal drives with beaches almost entirely to yourself.

where-to-travel-in-2026

Lapland in December

An Auroral wonderland

As winter settles across the Northern Hemisphere, there are few places as stunning to experience it as Lapland and the Arctic Circle. Snow cloaks forests and fells, transforming the landscape into pure winter magic, with a side of fairytale excitement when the family meets the local reindeer. Days are short while nights are long and radiant, with winter gifting fantastic conditions for witnessing the neon dance of the Northern Lights as they ripple across the sky. We have some wonderful partners in Lapland, but one of our favourites is Octola, wrapped up in 300 hectares of stunning wilderness reserve.

Imagine: aurora-lit nights viewed from bed, festive celebrations framed by one of the most enchanting winter landscapes on Earth, days sledging through frozen forests and snowmobiling across vast tundra.

where-to-travel-in-2026

Whether you imagine a nature-led start to 2026, some help planning a sun-soaked romantic journey, or a seasonally timed adventure that benefits from expert planning, our Travel Designers take care of every detail. From destination selection and personalised experiences to painstaking logistical planning, we ensure you can travel with absolute ease, so all that’s left is to decide where next.

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This year, it’s not just the destinations that are in demand, it’s the dates, the views, and the handful of hotels that do it best. Think Dubai over Easter. Courchevel for Christmas. Sydney’s harbour fireworks from a front-row suite. And of course, Cap-Ferrat in August (which still has limited availability, don’t worry) Visit the link in our bio for the 7 stays we’d book now, before they’re gone. #luxurytravel #2026travel #fomotravel #culthotels #travelconcierge

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A good price doesn’t always mean a good trip. This is a real Maldives honeymoon booking story from 360 Travel Designer, @byjodie.travel “A couple came to me with a package they’d found online and asked if we could match the rate. I got very close, but then spotted the bigger issue: the island included in the deal had just one restaurant. For a 12-night honeymoon, you need options. So I redesigned the trip around a better-fit resort with more to do and more to enjoy, while keeping everything within the same budget, including a villa with a private pool, excursions and spa treatments. If you’re planning something special, send your Travel Designer what you’ve found. They’ll sense-check it properly. #travelstories #travelhacks #honeymoonplanning #travelgonewrong

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