2026 is the year to stop saying “one day” and start saying “this year”. The kind of year where you chase stars in the desert, sip wine on a mountaintop, or paddle toward a castle in the mist.
We’ve rounded up 7 specific destinations where something unforgettable is waiting for you. These are the kind of places that don’t just welcome you – they stay with you long after you’ve left.
1. Kanazawa, Japan – A slice of tradition without the crowds
Tokyo has the buzz. Kyoto has the temples. But Kanazawa is where you go to feel time slow down. With its perfectly preserved samurai district, world-class gardens and thriving craft scene, it’s where old Japan still hums quietly in the background.
Places to visit include:
- Kanazawa – Wander samurai districts, visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and sample gold leaf ice cream (yes, really).
- Naoshima – Japan’s ‘art island’, where giant pumpkins by Yayoi Kusama sit by the sea, and museums melt into the earth.
- Kiso Valley – Step back in time on the Nakasendō Trail, walking from Magome to Tsumago, two beautifully preserved Edo-period post towns.
Your magical moment: Soaking in an open-air onsen in the snow-covered mountains of Nagano, with only steam and silence for company.
2. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – Where Earth feels like another planet
From the driest desert on Earth to the glacier-fed peaks of Patagonia, Chile isn’t just a destination – it’s an experience in extremes.
Places to visit include:
- Atacama Desert – Stargaze in San Pedro de Atacama, float in salty lagoons, and feel like you’ve landed on Mars.
- Valparaíso – A bohemian coastal city painted head to toe in murals. Expect colour, culture, and some of the best empanadas you’ll ever try.
- Chiloé Island – Full of myths, wooden churches, and local fishing villages. It’s like stepping into a storybook.
- Torres del Paine – Patagonia’s crown jewel. Hike the W Trek, paddle past glaciers, or simply sit and stare – it’s that kind of place.
Your magical moment: Looking up at the Milky Way with zero light pollution, surrounded by silence and sand in the Atacama. It’s otherworldly.
3. Lake Bled, Slovenia – Fairytales, forests, and fresh air
Slovenia might be small, but it packs more wonder into one country than seems fair. From alpine lakes to wine-soaked valleys and a capital where dragons guard bridges, it’s a place that feels both peaceful and alive.
Places to visit include:
- Lake Bled – Row out to the tiny island chapel, ring the wishing bell, and hike to Ojstrica Viewpoint for a panorama you’ll be thinking about long after you’re home.
- Ljubljana – Slovenia’s laid-back, eco-friendly capital. Grab a coffee by the river, cycle past art-covered buildings, and explore its buzzing food scene.
- Triglav National Park – Head into the Julian Alps to hike beside the emerald-blue Soča River, climb mountain passes, or chase waterfalls in lush forest gorges.
- Piran – A picturesque coastal town where Venetian charm meets Slovenian soul. Expect narrow streets, sea breeze, and just-caught calamari by the harbour.
Your magical moment: Watching the sun rise over Lake Bled from the hillside, the mist curling off the water like something out of a dream. And for a moment, it’s just you, the silence, and the mountains.
4. South Africa – Wildlife, wine, and once-in-a-lifetime moments
South Africa is a place that grabs your senses and doesn’t let go. It’s where landscapes shift from mountain to vineyard to savannah in a single day, and where every journey feels like it matters, from the wild bush to the heart of the city.
Places to visit include:
- Kruger National Park – Drive your own safari past giraffes and grazing elephants, or stay in a conservation-focused lodge and listen to lions at night. It’s wild, but within reach.
- Cape Town – A city framed by mountains and ocean. Hike up Table Mountain, wander the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap, and enjoy sundowners at Camps Bay.
- Stellenbosch and Franschhoek – Explore the Cape Winelands by bike or tram, stopping for tastings and long lunches beneath oak trees.
- Panorama Route – Swap the usual Garden Route for this quieter inland drive past waterfalls, canyons and panoramic views that make you pull over just to take it all in.
Your magical moment: Spotting a leopard at dusk in Kruger, engine off, breath held. It slips through the grass like a shadow, and for a few heartbeats, the world stands still.
5. Tofino, Canada – Surf towns, storm clouds and total stillness
At the edge of Vancouver Island, Tofino feels like the end of the world – in the best way. It’s a place where rainforest meets wild Pacific coast, where surfers, storm-watchers and slow travellers come to reset and reconnect.
Places to visit include:
- Chesterman Beach – Wide, windswept and wild. Learn to surf, stroll along driftwood-strewn shores, or just watch the waves roll in with a hot drink in hand.
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve – Wander the Rainforest Trail, kayak through calm inlets, or hike the Wild Pacific Trail for ocean views and eagle sightings.
- Tofino Hot Springs Cove – Reachable only by boat or floatplane, this remote geothermal hot spring is surrounded by forest and lapped by sea mist.
- Toquaht Bay and Clayoquot Sound – Explore the coastline on a guided Indigenous-led kayaking or wildlife tour, and spot whales, bears or sea otters along the way.
- Ucluelet – Just south of Tofino, this quiet harbour town offers a more laid-back, local feel – and some of the best fish and chips you’ll ever try!
Your magical moment: Soaking in a rocky, oceanside hot spring while the rain falls gently and grey whales breach in the distance. There’s no signal. No stress. Just you and the elements.
6. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand – Sacred trails and cinematic views
If there’s a place that feels truly epic, it’s Tongariro. Volcanoes, emerald lakes, and a sense of story in the land itself. It’s no wonder this was chosen as Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings. But beyond the cinematic drama lies something even more powerful: a deep connection to Māori culture and the natural world.
Places to visit include:
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing – Often called one of the best one-day hikes in the world. Traverse a volcanic landscape past craters, steam vents and the surreal Emerald Lakes, with every step offering something new.
- Mount Ngauruhoe – Also known as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Towering and dramatic, it’s sacred to the Māori people, so skip the summit and admire it from the trail.
- Whakapapa Village – The perfect base for exploring the national park. Visit the Tongariro Visitor Centre to understand the cultural significance of the area before heading out on foot.
- Taupō – Just an hour away, this lakeside town offers geothermal hot springs, waterfalls, and a perfect post-hike recovery spot.
- Te Wharewaka o Pōneke (Wellington) – If you’re heading south after your trek, take time to connect more deeply with Māori culture through traditional performances and guided storytelling.
Your magical moment: Reaching the ridge above the Emerald Lakes, legs aching, heart racing. Then, looking out across a landscape that feels both ancient and alive. The silence here speaks volumes.
7. Matera, Italy – Caves, culture and candlelit charm
Carved into a limestone ravine in southern Italy, Matera looks like a place time forgot, but it’s never felt more current. Once known for its cave dwellings and poverty, the city has transformed into a hub of heritage, creativity and quiet magic.
Places to visit include:
- Sassi di Matera – Explore the ancient cave dwellings and rock-hewn churches of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many have been lovingly restored into boutique hotels, wine bars and art galleries.
- Piazza San Pietro Caveoso – A striking square carved into the cliffs, perfect for golden hour people-watching with a glass of Aglianico in hand.
- Casa Noha – Start here for a powerful multimedia introduction to the city’s layered history, told through personal stories inside a restored 16th-century home.
- Murgia National Park – Just across the canyon, this wild landscape of trails, caves and panoramic viewpoints offers an unforgettable escape into nature.
- Matera by night – When the sun sets, the entire city seems to glow. Wander narrow stone alleyways lit by flickering lanterns. It’s like walking through a living Nativity scene.
Your magical moment: Sitting on a rooftop terrace at dusk, the sky deepening to indigo as the cave houses slowly light up, one by one, like stars rising from the ground.
Make 2026 the year you travel differently
The world isn’t short on beautiful places, but the ones that stay with you? They offer more than just a view. They stir something deeper. They make you pause, connect, and see things in a way you haven’t before.
Whether it’s hiking through sacred volcanic landscapes in New Zealand, floating in a salt lagoon under the stars in Chile, or rowing toward a tiny chapel in the middle of a Slovenian lake. 2026 is full of places that remind us what it means to feel fully alive.
And while you’re out there making memories, InsureandGo travel insurance is here to make sure the unexpected doesn’t get in the way of the unforgettable.
