THE WORLD AWAITS: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO DISCOVER IN 2026
From celestial spectacles to cultural revelations and pristine wilderness, the next wave of luxury journeys promises more than beauty; it promises transformation.
7 min
After years of disrupted routines and shifting priorities, 2026 is emerging as the year travel truly matters again.
No longer just a break from routine, the most compelling journeys now offer deeper meaning: connection with place, immersion in culture, and renewal in nature. With global travel re-opening and aspirations realigned, travellers are looking for destinations that deliver not just escape, but resonance.
Working with its worldwide network of destination experts, luxury operator Abercrombie & Kent has identified the places set to define the year ahead. These are journeys built for those who want more than pretty vistas: they want experiences that provoke, renew and endure.
KENYA
Kenya remains the blueprint for luxury safari, where wide-open plains, legendary wildlife and rich cultural layers converge in a way few places can match.
In 2026, focus on the horizons of Amboseli National Park, where Mount Kilimanjaro looms and majestic elephant herds drift across golden savannah.
The mid-year arrival of Kitirua Plains Lodge (an A&K Sanctuary) marks a milestone, arriving six decades after A&K’s founder first pioneered luxury safari here. Set across a private 128-acre concession, its 13 organic standalone suites give guests rare access to wilderness in a polished yet deeply atmospheric setting.
Do it the A&K Way: Combine stays at Olonana in the Maasai Mara and Tambarare Camp in Ol Pejeta for a seamless circuit through Kenya’s wildest ecosystems.
Expert Insight: “Legacy safaris are emerging — multigenerational groups blending meaningful conservation work with classic game drives.”
CHOQUEQUIRAO, PERU
While most travellers are drawn to Machu Picchu, 2026 is the year to head beyond the crowds to the remote Incan stronghold of Choquequirao. Often called the “sister city” of Machu Picchu, this scale-and-solitude site currently attracts far fewer visitors than its legendary neighbour.
With a proposed cable car still in planning phases, now is the moment to explore while it remains unscripted and rare.
Do it the A&K Way: On Peru: Trek to Choquequirao, you’ll undertake a five-day trek to the site, then hike the final stretch of the Inca Trail from KM 104 to the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu.
Expert Insight: “We’re seeing increased bookings for ‘archaeological adventure’ — travellers who want to earn their cultural discoveries through physical challenge.”
EGYPT
In Egypt, the next chapter of luxury travel opens alongside archaeology. With the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) slated to open in late 2025, 2026 becomes the moment to experience ancient wonders as they’ve never been displayed.
The museum will house 100,000 artefacts — including 5,340 of Tutankhamun’s treasures together for the first time. A&K’s newest Nile cruiser, the Nile Seray, launches 2026 with 32 suites and a rooftop pool deck, offering an elevated journey where Egyptology meets refined travel.
Do it the A&K Way: Join Egypt & the Nile, exploring tombs on the West Bank with a resident Egyptologist, or book a private dahabiya sailing for an intimate vintage-style cruise.
Expert Insight: “Egypt is drawing sophisticated travellers seeking cultural immersion — the museum’s opening has created a ‘now-or-never’ moment.”
LAPLAND
2026 is shaping up as the ultimate year for the Arctic. With the solar maximum peaking late in the decade, the Northern Lights are forecasted to flash brighter and more frequently than typical.
In Lapland’s minimalist wilderness, luxury lodges and high-design cabins sit alongside age-old traditions: ice therapy, cold-water plunges, sauna culture. It’s the convergence of celestial spectacle and deep rest.
Do it the A&K Way: Choose Finland & Sweden: Adventures in Lapland or Christmas in Lapland — both deliver tree-house stays, Sami cultural encounters and star-studded skies.
Expert Insight: “Wellness meets wilderness — ice-therapy retreats and aurora-chasing are now major luxury travel drivers.”
ICELAND
Few destinations combine wild terrain, prime solitude and astronomical phenomena like Iceland. In August 2026, the island lies directly in the path of a total solar eclipse — an event aligning neatly with the peak Northern Lights season and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Glacier-lagoon meets boutique hotel, lava field meets Michelin dining.
Do it the A&K Way: Embark on the Diamond Circle itinerary, leaving the Golden Circle crowds behind for Iceland’s northern wilds — think Lake Myvatn, Ásbyrgi Canyon and boutique lodge nights.
Expert Insight: “Iceland is the ultimate phenomenon-destination: eclipse, aurora and adventure all rolled into one.”
MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
Once overshadowed by India’s blockbuster wildlife parks, Madhya Pradesh is now emerging as the tiger-tourism powerhouse. Home to about 75% of the world’s wild Bengal tigers, the region’s recovery story is profound.
Luxury lodges are multiplying; one example is the newly opened Oberoi Rajgarh Palace near Panna, built to cater to high-end travellers seeking immersive big-cat encounters.
Do it the A&K Way: On Tailormade Tiger Tracking in India, traverse three national parks, meet local tribes and witness wildlife preservation in action.
Expert Insight: “Impact-safaris have moved beyond spotting big cats — travellers now want ecosystem insight and lodging that invests in conservation.”
MONGOLIA
Mongolia stands out as one of the last great wilderness frontiers. For 2026, it brings increasing accessibility — direct flights from Tokyo/Narita now make it reachable in a shorter window.
Here, nomadic culture still thrives: gers under open skies, ancient equestrian traditions, stars by the million. For the curious luxury traveller, it’s as raw as it is refined.
Do it the A&K Way: On Mongolia: Naadam Festival & Gobi Desert Adventure, follow traditional contests of horse racing, wrestling and archery, then retreat into the Gobi’s dunes in style.
Expert Insight: “Mongolia is the frontier of cultural immersion — guests who’ve ‘done’ it all are turning to nomadic experience for real perspective.”
OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Luxury today isn’t just about price — it’s about isolation, responsiveness and rarefied access. The Okavango Delta offers just that: private-concession lodges where you might see more elephants than people. At Baines’ Lodge (an A&K Sanctuary) with only six suites, honeymooners slide into Star Baths and watch water buffalo from private decks.
It’s untouched luxury at its finest.
Do it the A&K Way: Stay at Baines’ Lodge, retrace your path on guided walks and night drives, wake under an African sky in suite-level solitude.
Expert Insight: “The Okavango represents ultra-private luxury — couples seek destinations where fewer people = more privilege.”
OSA PENINSULA, COSTA RICA
Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula remains one of the world’s most biodiverse rainforests — home to nearly 3% of the planet’s species. Accessible only by boat, it’s held a low-profile despite its eco-luxury potential.
In 2026 the trend to remote-luxury means the Osa is ideally placed: wild, wealthy in nature and now serviced by high-end boats and charter options.
Do it the A&K Way: On Cruising & Wildlife in Costa Rica, board a nine-cabin luxury yacht, cruise to Corcovado, dive into jungle hikes by day and spa-soak by evening.
Expert Insight: “The Osa Peninsula captures the ‘last-frontier luxury’ trend — sophisticated comfort deep in the wild.”
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Asia’s luxury travel gaze has long been on Japan, but 2026 puts South Korea firmly in the spotlight. From cutting-edge design and K-culture to the ancient hanoks and royal palaces of Seoul, this is a city where heritage and futurism collude. For luxury travellers wanting food, fashion, wellness and history in one place, it ticks every box.
Do it the A&K Way: With South Korea: Temples & Seoul Food, you’ll balance temple stays with DJ-led nightlife, traditional hanbok portraits with street-style shopping.
Expert Insight: “Seoul is riding K-culture’s global wave — travellers want the city’s genuine face, not just the hype.”
DOLOMITES, ITALY
The 2026 Winter Olympics near Cortina d’Ampezzo may grab headlines this year, but the smart luxury traveller will visit after the crowds depart. The Dolomites’ grand landscapes, alpine chic and recent luxury reopening offer premium mountain stays without the peak-season crush.
Hotel Ancora’s reimagination, the opening of Mandarin Oriental Cortina and Aman Rosa Alpina’s refresh are all part of the rise.
Do it the A&K Way: On Venice & the Dolomites, begin amid Venetian canals, then ride jeeps and hike the Cinque Torri, sip local cheeses and wines in design-led lodges high in the peaks.
Expert Insight: “The Dolomites are the ideal post-Olympic opportunity — dramatic scenery, Italian sophistication and fewer crowds.”
SLOVENIA
Seeking European elegance without the runaway crowds? Slovenia offers alpine lakes, wine valleys, sustainable luxury and next-gen design hotels. From Lake Bled’s fairy-tale charm to Ljubljana’s culinary innovation at Hiša Franko, 2026 is Slovenia’s breakout moment as an insider’s European destination.
Do it the A&K Way: With Tailormade Slovenia, row Lake Bled with an Olympic champion, sip boutique wines in Vipava Valley and stay at design-forward lodges scattered across the hills.
Expert Insight: “Slovenia embodies the ‘anti-overtourism’ movement — intimate luxury, local authenticity and serious style.”
MALLORCA, SPAIN
Once a summer hotspot, Mallorca is morphing into a true year-round luxury destination. With new openings from Four Seasons (2025) and Mandarin Oriental (2026), and the island in the path of a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, the mix of Mediterranean sunshine, mountain charm and astronomical spectacle makes it irresistible.
Do it the A&K Way: On Spain: Madrid, Valencia & Mallorca, explore art-rich Madrid, Valencia’s culinary scene and then unwind in Mallorca’s coastal villa-style resorts as the eclipse draws near.
Expert Insight: “Mallorca has matured into Europe’s ultimate year-round luxury escape — refined infrastructure, elite hospitality and a rare celestial event on the calendar.”
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A new study models a potential $80.6 billion lift in Australian GDP after a decade, as national testing shows a decline in Year 10 digital literacy.
2 min
Australia trails Singapore and Malta in a new Commonwealth index, while national testing shows fewer than four in 10 Year 10 students meet the standard for digital literacy.
Australia has ranked third among 56 Commonwealth countries for youth AI readiness, with researchers estimating that artificial intelligence could lift the level of Australian GDP by $80.6 billion after a decade under their middle scenario.
The Ayre Think Tank released the index at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Australia scored 71 out of 100, behind Singapore on 77.6 and Malta on 75. The United Kingdom followed closely on 70.8, with Canada fifth on 70.2. Only 15 countries reached the study’s benchmark of 53.
What the $80.6 billion figure measures
The researchers applied International Monetary Fund estimates for broad groups of economies to Australia’s 2025 GDP. The resulting scenarios put the potential lift in Australian GDP after 10 years at between $40.9 billion and $120.3 billion, with $80.6 billion representing the midpoint.
The figures describe how much larger the economy could be at the end of the period under each scenario. They represent a change in the level of GDP in year 10.
Digital literacy falls as schools roll out AI tools
Australia scored 8.7 out of 10 for access to technology and 7.5 for digital, data, media and AI capability. Separate national testing found that 37 per cent of Year 10 students met the proficient standard for information and communications technology literacy in 2025, down from 46 per cent in 2022. About one in 10 students reported receiving substantial teaching on AI-related tasks. National assessment results
The report points to two state initiatives aimed at building those skills. Queensland began rolling out an AI education platform in state schools in 2026, while Victoria introduced free specialist training for workers looking to develop AI skills or move into related roles.
The index draws on 1,128 sources and examines the conditions facing people aged 15 to 29, including access to technology, education and pathways into work. Australia had usable data for 76 of the 102 indicators used in the rankings. The researchers found too little comparable evidence to score an eighth area covering critical judgement and people’s ability to exercise control over AI systems.
Professor C. Justin Robinson, campus principal of the University of the West Indies’ Five Islands Campus, said young people should be equipped to question and improve AI tools and supported in building alternatives suited to their needs.
The report calls for affordable access to technology, more practical education and stronger links between training, employment and entrepreneurship. It also urges governments and educators to support AI tools suited to local languages and give young people ways to challenge automated decisions.
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