{"id":885575,"date":"2025-12-10T18:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T17:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=885575"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:25:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:25:41","slug":"best-places-to-travel-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/best-places-to-travel-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Best places to travel in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Choosing the best places to travel in 2026 isn\u2019t an easy feat, so we turned to travel expert and The REAL WORD\u2019s Editor Alex Allen to get his picks. Over the past decade or so in the travel industry, Alex has seen a shift in how we explore and feels travelers will continue to seek more the quiet magic of less-visited corners or seasons, whether that\u2019s winter temples in Japan, late-sun Greek islands or the wild hush of Patagonia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We sat down with Alex, who between emerging trends, new openings and on-the-ground discoveries, has curated this 2026 travel with a dozen great destinations for your next vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our Editor Alex has worked in travel for 15 years, and has his finger on the pulse when it comes to trending destinations<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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1. Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When to go in 2026:<\/strong> November or December<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Japan<\/a> will stay firmly on our travel radar in 2026, though the spotlight is shifting. Rather than chasing the classic Tokyo\u2013Kyoto\u2013Osaka triangle, more travellers are heading into the country\u2019s quieter corners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still huge global excitement around Japan, but the real story for 2026 is people exploring deeper,\u201d says Alex. \u201cThe further you go from the big cities, the more Japan opens up in surprising ways. Think snow-dusted shrines, local ryokan dinners and regional traditions that haven\u2019t changed in generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter is one of the best moments to experience that mood. The temples are calm, mountain villages glow with paper lanterns, and steaming onsens are even more rewarding. Trafalgar\u2019s new Japan Winter Adventure itinerary<\/a> taps into this side of the country, pairing big-name sights and destinations with lesser-known treasures like alpine craft towns and local sake breweries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 READ NEXT: <\/em><\/strong>15 Wonderful Winter Travel Experiences You Can Do in 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Thailand\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When to go in 2026:<\/strong> February, March, November or December<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThailand<\/a> hits three moods at once. You\u2019ve got one of Asia\u2019s most compelling capital cities, calm coastlines, stunning islands and dense pockets of jungle to remind you just how biodiverse this Southeast Asian country is,\u201d says Alex. \u201cIt\u2019s a big but well-connected country, making it easy to switch gears and explore the full range.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weave through Bangkok\u2019s sizzling street food stalls. Board a longtail boat and float towards a lush, tropical limestone karsts that rise straight out of the water. Or see mist swirls around Chiang Mai\u2019s temples at dawn as monks start morning prayer. Thailand is packed with contrasts that reward the curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Egypt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When to go in 2026:<\/strong> September to May<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEgypt is having a moment again,\u201d says Alex. \u201cAfter years of restorations and major investment in tourism infrastructure, the country has a renewed momentum after some extraordinary new cultural openings that bring the past to life in ways we haven\u2019t seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest headline is the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum<\/a>, a stunning, architecturally designed space filled with ancient treasures. Set on a plateau with a direct sightline to the pyramids, the museum\u2019s scale is striking with wide marble galleries and soaring glass. The full Tutankhamun collection is finally assembled in one place within, alongside colossal statues and preserved everyday objects that reveal how people actually lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pair GEM with newly opened tombs, revitalised temples and improved access along the Nile. On Trafalgar\u2019s Best of Egypt<\/a> you\u2019ll wake up floating down the famous river. At sunrise the Nile takes on a different magic as you pass artisan villages, date palm groves and temple complexes that have watched thousands of years pass by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wonders of Ancient Egypt<\/p>\n\t\t\t
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