Journeys, good or grim, always leave their mark. I can still summon every rattling mile of the nine-hour bus from Palenque to Mérida, a ride punctuated by a biblical bout of food poisoning and the crutch of an Imodium pill. We remember the getting-there as much as the being-there. As children, it might be the road trips to grandparents with The Eagles on loop; later, maybe the Calais ferry to a leaky tent in France or your first gap-year night bus with the air-con locked to arctic hell.
Travel is impossible without journeys. They’re the bulk of our time away, the awkward, essential ways we move through the world. And while history hands us its pantheon of explorers – the map-makers, the sea captains, the men in ruffs who mostly blundered into places already inhabited – we don’t need to worship them to recognise the urge that led people to move. A long journey can stir something, whether you’re Odysseus drifting homeward, or a backpacker taking the LNER service up to Edinburgh.
Which is why, for 2026, we’ve chosen 26 journeys worth making. Not all in one year, unless you’ve got annual leave to burn, but enough to remind you that the best, most mind-expanding travel exists beyond the sun-lounger. It’s the boat to Antarctica, the kayak through the Hebrides, the road trip in Patagonia. It is rewarding, challenging and memorable – the kind of travel that lodges itself deep into your hippocampus.
The 26 best journeys to embark on in 2026
1. Epic Antarctica: Crossing the 7th Continent – AE Expeditions
AE Expeditions Antarctica
Run out of places to go? AE Expeditions’ 34-day journey takes you beyond the Antarctic Circle and deep into the Ross Sea, one of the most pristine regions on Earth, where wildlife still outnumbers people. You’ll follow in the footsteps of polar pioneers, witnessing towering ice shelves, emperor penguin colonies, and the historic huts of Shackleton and Scott, before cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. With expert-led excursions, daily Zodiac adventures, and a chance to cross the international date line, this expedition is as soul-stirring as it is scientifically fascinating. Few places on Earth make you feel smaller, colder, and smugger about dinner-party anecdotes.
34 days from £24,204 per person; aexpeditions.co.uk
2. Atlantic Coastal Quest, Atlantic Canada – Discover the World
Eighteen days, four provinces, two ferries, unlimited mileage and – crucially – no surcharge guarantee: Canada’s Atlantic Coastal Quest reads like the dream itinerary of someone who really enjoys both whales and well-organised paperwork. This one winds through New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island with the sort of itinerary that makes your Fitbit short-circuit: Gros Morne’s fjord hikes, the Cabot Trail’s hairpins, Twillingate’s Iceberg Alley, plus ferries that could double as sightseeing cruises. Between May and September, you’ll swap icebergs for humpbacks, and the package even throws in an all-access pass to historic sites. It’s Canada with maximum scenery and minimum faff.
18 days from £2,668 per person; discover-the-world.com
Atlantic Coastal Quest, Canada
3. Sea Kayaking Inner Hebrides and Argyll – Wilderness Scotland
For those who like their socks wet and their Mars Bars deep-fried, head up to Scotland for this epic journey. Six days, a kayak, and some of Scotland’s quietest coastlines – Wilderness Scotland’s guided Inner Hebrides trip is for anyone looking to escape the city furore. Paddle from Loch Fyne to Gigha, slip under a stone bridge that technically crosses the Atlantic, and turn up the tourist with pictures next to standing stones, castle ruins, and the occasional ghost story. Expert guides handle logistics, transfers, and the facts you didn’t know you needed, leaving you free to admire swirling tides at Corryvreckan and wonder why your biceps are trembling.
Six days from £1,945 per person; wildernessscotland.com
4. Route of Parks: Ultimate Patagonia Road Trip – Pura Aventura
Pura Aventura Patagonia
If a sabbatical – or a dramatic resignation – is calling, this 60-day journey through Patagonia is your answer. Sixty days, two countries, countless glaciers, and a vehicle: Pura Aventura’s Ultimate Patagonia Road Trip is the holiday so Herculean you’ll struggle to recount it. From kayaking fjords and 4x4ing Ruta 40 to horseback riding past guanacos and flamingos, you’ll spend almost two months roving these jaw-slackening landscapes. Highlights include cave paintings, Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier and Cape Horn, plus small lodges, private boats, and expedition cruises.
60 days from £23,950 per person; pura-aventura.com
5. Epic Belize Adventure – Island Expeditions
Belize reef
Looking for a holiday that feels like two journeys stitched into one, with the continuous theme of mosquito repellent? Look no further than this week-long odyssey through Belize, which begins in the Cayo District, where days are spent swimming in jungle rivers, picking through Maya ruins and descending into the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. Then comes the shift: a boat east to Lighthouse Reef, where safari tents open straight onto Half Moon Caye’s sand and the Belize Barrier Reef unfurls a snorkeller’s nirvana. Rainforest wonder plus reefside ease minus crowds? Sign us up.
Seven days from £2,198 per person; islandexpeditions.com
6. Safaris and Spices of Sri Lanka – Captain’s Choice
Keen to broaden your wildlife horizons beyond city foxes and pigeons? This epic 14-day journey through Sri Lanka begins on safari in Yala, where sightings of sloth bears, parrots and leopards are up for grabs, before rolling north to Minneriya with conservationist Chitral Jayatilake to witness elephants assemble in staggering numbers. Then, a change of gear as you hop aboard the Viceroy Special vintage train that chugs through tea plantations. Nights veer from candlelit dining beside Dambulla’s cave temples to feasts at Ministry of Crab.
14 days from £13,600 per person; captains-choice.com
7. Women-Only Solo Trip: Golden Triangle & Rajasthan, India – Solos
Golden Triangle & Rajasthan, India with Solos
If you’re seeking out a solo travel trip with a lady-only crew, look no further than this package from Solos. The 12-night journey traces India’s Golden Triangle before diving deeper into Rajasthan’s colour-soaked cities. Expect sunrise yoga at the Taj Mahal, a rickshaw ride through Jaipur with a women’s collective, and time with artisans whose block-printing, weaving and pottery have defined the region for centuries. A jeep safari to Bishnoi villages offers a glimpse into rural life, while lunches include Sheroes Hangout, a café run by survivors of acid attacks. With private rooms, female guides and carefully chosen stays, it’s travel that feels safe, social and richly layered – India at its most dazzling, without feeling overwhelming.
13 days from £3,589 per person; solosholidays.com
8. East Coast Island Escape, Queensland Coast – Outback Spirit Tours
Queensland coast cruise
If your idea of Australia is a shrimp on the barbie and a surfboard, this 13-day East Coast Island Escape will gently correct you. It’s all-inclusive (and yes, that means meals, drinks and even national park fees), so all you need to worry about is whether to swim first on K’gari or save yourself for the Whitsundays. Expect a 4WD across sand beaches that look Photoshopped, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, and enough island-hopping to put Sinbad to shame.
13 days from £4,661 per person; outbackspirittours.com
9. Cycling Catalonia’s Coast and Villages – Inntravel
Cycling Catalonia
Put all that jamón to work with this cycling trip from Inntravel, which weaves through Catalonia’s bucolic coast and villages. The Costa Brava offers quiet coves and sandy beaches, while inland the Empordà Plain is a patchwork of medieval farms, sunflowers, vineyards and villages with local cats aplenty. Mostly quiet back roads and farm tracks mean you can linger over seafood lunches, Romanesque churches, or a spontaneous dip in the sea without worrying about traffic.
Seven days from £1,345 per person; inntravel.co.uk
10. Alpe Adria Long-Distance Trail – Walks Worldwide
In the true spirit of overland adventure (and Gertrude Bell-style map obsession), Walks Worldwide’s Alpe Adria tri-country trek packs Italy, Slovenia, and Austria into an eight-day journey through the Alps, lakes, and castle ruins. Starting in Tarvisio, you’ll hike ascents past the Julian Alps, cross the Jepa Pass into Austria, wander the Gail Valley and eventually descend into Italy via Valbruna, finishing at the pilgrimage Sanctuary of Monte Lussari. By the end, you’ll have conquered borders, many local tipples and possibly your own will to live.
Eight days from £1,169 per person; walksworldwide.com
11. Chasing Waterfalls in Norway – 62°Nord
62°NORD
Go against the advice of TLC and do, in fact, chase waterfalls on this once-in-a-lifetime from 62°NORD. Travel from Ålesund to Storfjord and the fairytale Hotel Union Øye, with private fjord cruises, hikes to towering cascades, and helicopter hops (leave proper mountain climbing to the professionals). Snow-melt torrents, jewel-green valleys and sheer cliffs provide the thrill, while top-tier dining keeps civilisation firmly in view. It’s Norway at its raw, elemental best, delivered with a concierge’s polish.
Seven days from £8,381 per person; 62.no/en
12. Hut-to-Hut Crossing: France to Italy – Eleven
Eleven experience
Shepherd huts, alpine glaciers, and Italy just over the next ridge – Eleven’s hut-to-hut alpage experience makes you feel like a mountaineer without the migraine-inducing logistics. This three-day journey lures you through century-old shepherd huts, restored and converted to host humans rather than sheep. Expect candlelit (and Génépi-fuelled) dinners and photogenic sunrises. Guides shepherd you past glaciers, ridges, and swoonsome views, while optional e-biking or glacier treks exist for those who want to feel the burn.
Three days from £1,209 per person; elevenexperience.com
13. Belmond Britannic Explorer – Belmond
Belmond Britannic Explorer
Swap the Thameslink commute for something more glamorous: Belmond’s new Britannic Explorer is a vintage-styled overnight sleeper promising proper beds, an observation car and two dining cars rather than a Pret coffee and delayed announcements. Designed by Albion Nord and fronted culinary-wise by Michelin-starred Simon Rogan, the Lake District itinerary includes chauffeured access to the once-private Lingholm Estate before chugging down to Oxfordshire with a gala at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
Four days from £6,300 per person; belmond.com
14. Tanzania: Safari, Serengeti & Maasai Heartlands – Wild Frontiers
This ten-day Tanzania journey goes beyond the usual safari circuit. In the Serengeti, witness the Great Migration as wildebeest and zebras move across the plains, while predators watch from a distance. At Olduvai Camp, spend time with Maasai hosts and learn about their connection to the land. Nights under canvas and days exploring the savannah offer an immersive perspective on one of Africa’s most iconic regions.
10 days from £3,985 per person; wildfrontierstravel.com
15. Foothills of Bhutan – Selective Asia
Selective Asia’s 11-day Foothills of Bhutan journey offers a contemplative exploration of Bhutan’s valleys and monasteries. Starting in Paro, the itinerary progresses through Bumthang’s green fields, the serene Phobjikha Valley, and the warmer Punakha region. Highlights include observing black-necked cranes in Gangtey and approaching the Tiger’s Nest Monastery from above to experience its spiritual ambience away from midday crowds. Accommodations are thoughtfully chosen to reflect Bhutan’s commitment to sustainability.
11 days from £3,690 per person; selectiveasia.com
16. Discover North Morocco & Chefchaouen – Exodus
Exodus’s new trip sidesteps the usual desert scenes and instead heads for Morocco’s greener corners, natural pools and beaches. There’s time spent in Morocco’s famous blue city, Chefchaouen, to wander the shaded medina and meet local artisans before heading to Tangier – the gateway to Africa, where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean meet. You’ll stay in the Rif Mountain Ecolodge for one night after walking in the Talassemtane National Park, surrounded by natural pools, rivers, and waterfalls with fresh mountain water.
Eight days from £1,095 per person; exodus.co.uk
17. Namibia Grand Tour: Wildlife, Dunes & Deserts – Jules Verne
Seventeen nights, one country, and enough space to misplace your entire sense of scale. This bucket-list ticking trip from Jules Verne explores the extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and culture of one of the world’s least densely populated countries: Namibia. Highlights include open game drives in Etosha, home to rhinos, flamingos, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes. Then you’ll explore the breath-snatching landscape of Sossusvlei, with its huge vlei encircled by enormous wind-sculpted star dunes, and visit Namibia’s first Unesco World Heritage site – a veritable gallery of ancient rock art and the largest collection of petroglyphs in Africa. Pack your camera.
18 days from £4,995 per person; vjv.com
18. In Pursuit of Pandas – Mercury Holidays
Sometimes all you need is to travel halfway across the world in pursuit of something cuddly. This panda-focused trip from Mercury Holidays includes two unforgettable encounters with the giant pandas of Chengdu and a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing work to protect them from extinction. You’ll also explore Beijing on a full-day city tour, taking in Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, and marvel at the grandeur of the Great Wall of China.
Nine days from £2,299 per person; mercuryholidays.co.uk
19. Atacama Desert Trek – Cascada Travel
Fancy walking across the driest place on Earth? This seven-day trek through the Atacama Desert is not for the faint of heart: expect four to seven hours of hiking daily, altitudes of up to 4,100m, and guides carrying oxygen. Highlights include moon-like valleys, rainbow-hued mountains, steaming geysers at dawn, and turquoise lagoons that look as pristine as a desktop screen saver. Nights are spent in San Pedro de Atacama’s Hotel Kimal, where the bed feels like your best friend. Bring stamina, water, and a sense of humour – the desert has none to spare.
Seven days from £5,888 per person; cascada.travel
20. Coastal California family road-trip – Audley Travel
For a family holiday that knocks Center Parcs not just out of the park but into a neighbouring county, try this tailor-made fly-drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway. Travel at a relaxed pace beginning in San Francisco and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, then head further south to Monterey for a whale-watching cruise and the world-class aquarium. Big Sur delivers hairpin roads, cinematic cliffs and the occasional family hike that may end in laughter or tears depending on how many snacks you pack. Los Angeles follows, offering either theme-park pandemonium or studio tours. End in San Diego with its beaches, zoo and coastal languor that will make you swear never to bother with British seaside towns again.
14 days from £2,350 per person; audleytravel.com
21. The Great Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico – New Scientist Discovery Tours
With numbers dwindling to just 5% compared to a decade ago, the survival of the monarch butterfly is now more urgent than ever. February 2026 offers a rare chance to see the migration first-hand, courtesy of New Scientist Discovery Tours, which promise six days of winged wonder mixed with intellectual heft. Travellers venture into the fir forests of Mexico, guided by Natural Habitat Adventures experts, to witness whole trees clad in fluttering orange wings. Access comes by horseback and hiking, adding a dash of romance (and sore thighs) to the spectacle. Along the way, you’ll also wander mural-lined Angangueo, wallow in an ecolodge spa at Jungapeo and peer at Toluca’s Cosmovitral Botanical Garden.
Six days from £4,065 per person; newscientist.com
22. Undiscovered Indonesia, Sulawesi to Raja Ampat – Naturetrek
Wild Indonesia
Debuting in February 2026, this 17-day voyage swaps infinity pools for something somewhat rarer: sailing aboard the MV Mermaid I with marine biologist Dr Chas Anderson, tracing a route from Sulawesi through Halmahera to the fabled reefs of Raja Ampat. Days bring snorkelling above coral gardens and watching for dolphins, pilot whales or, if luck is on your side, orcas. Ashore, Kofiau offers sightings of the red bird-of-paradise in full regalia. This isn’t a cruise for deckchair idlers, but for those who prefer their journeys salt-creased, wildlife-heavy and framed by some of the richest coral reefs.
17 days from £10,995; naturetrek.co.uk
23. Classic Rwanda – Wilderness
Rwanda volcanoes
This journey combines Wilderness Magashi in Akagera National Park with Wilderness Sabyinyo in the Virunga foothills. At Magashi, you’ll take morning and evening game drives, spotting elephants browsing acacia, hippos wallowing in rivers, and lions moving through the savannah. Boat safaris offer a different perspective, revealing waterbirds and croc sightings. At Volcanoes National Park, you’ll navigate steep trails through dense montane forest to watch mountain gorillas feeding and interacting, led by experienced trackers who ensure minimal disturbance. Evenings at Sabyinyo feature locally sourced meals and discussions about conservation initiatives, creating an immersive, educational experience grounded in the realities of Rwanda’s wildlife and culture.
Four days from £10,020 per person; wildernessdestinations.com
24. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – Durango Trains
All aboard for nine hours of nostalgia on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a steam train that’s been chugging through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains since 1882. The train hugs the Animas River on its way to Silverton, offering views of pine forests, gorges, and the occasional waterfall worth snapping. Silverton itself is a preserved mining town where the Grand Imperial Hotel’s piano (still in use since the early 1900s) provides the soundtrack. The round trip takes around nine hours – pack your crossword.
From £95 per person; durangotrain.com
25. Alouette – Les Bateaux Belmond
Alouette, one of Les Bateaux Belmond’s seven floating villas, is setting sail on her maiden voyage through Bordeaux’s winemaking waterways. Perfect for anyone who prefers the South of France measured in glasses rather than kilometres, she drifts between Agen and Castets-en-Dorthe with stops for wine-inspired wellness and plenty of vineyards. Highlights include Le Temple-sur-Lot, home to Latour-Marliac’s waterlily gardens that inspired Monet, the celebrated Saint-Émilion vineyards, and Château d’Yquem, which produces some of the world’s most famous sweet wines. Santé!
From £35,766 per charter; belmond.com
26. Méribel Night Express – Travelski
Ditch the airport chaos and hop aboard The Travelski Night Express straight to the heart of Les 3 Vallées this winter. The locomotive whisks you from Paris to Moûtiers overnight in comfort, with 660 cosy sleeper berths and a bar-restaurant car. Wake up to snow-capped peaks, take a short transfer to Méribel’s famed slopes, and hit the world’s largest ski area (600km of pistes) before loading up on fondue, raclette and perhaps a glass of Whispering Angel.
From £4,520 per person (including seven nights accommodation); uk.travelski.com
