To explain the latest globe-trotting trends in 2026, we asked trip designers and specialists who create extraordinary experiences. From new kinds of “cool-cations” to the rise of sports tourism, here’s what to know — including the trips advisors want to book and where they’re planning to go next. For the full list of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists, visit our travel specialists homepage.
Training our brains
Wellness travel is being reimagined to target cognitive performance and mental acuity as much as physical recovery. Janel Carnero of Embark Beyond pairs high-adrenaline activities like heli-skiing and remote desert drives with stress-inoculation training to translate expedition stress into psychological resilience. Frances Geoghegan of Healing Holidays emphasizes mental exercise to sharpen focus, sending clients to places such as Ananda in the Himalayas for guided meditation and to medi-spas for longevity-focused neuro-fitness programs. Popular clinics and resorts for these goals include Sha Wellness Clinic Mexico, Lanserhof Tegernsee in Bavaria, and Clinique la Prairie on Lac Léman.
Chasing the chill
Travelers are increasingly leaving northern-hemisphere summer heat behind for winter conditions elsewhere — essentially adding a “bonus” season to the year. Emma Fritz of Extraordinary Journeys notes clients heading below the equator to ski the Andes, while Sarah Farag of Southern Crossings highlights New Zealand’s winter attractions: blue ice caves, heli-hikes on glaciers, and the chance to see the aurora australis in dark-sky reserves. And if a warm beach day is needed, destinations like Fiji and the Great Barrier Reef are close at hand.
Going away for 24 hours or 24 weeks
It’s a tale of two extremes: travelers either have abundant time or very little, and advisers are crafting itineraries at both ends. Laurel Brunvoll of Unforgettable Trips reports demand for grand voyages and world cruises that can last up to six months. At the other extreme, Jonathan Alder of Jonathan’s Travels is booking “micro-vacations” and extreme day trips that require specialist choreography — for example, securing bucket-list New Year’s Eve fireworks and returns home the next day.
Playing—not just watching—sports
With major sporting events in 2026 — the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and widespread Formula 1 racing — sports travel is booming. But travelers want to participate, not just spectate. Jacqui Weidman of SmartFlyer says guests seek on-field meet-and-greets, immersive experiences such as driving a Ferrari on an F1 circuit, and hands-on events. Hotels are responding with athletic programming: MaryDee Snow of MaryDeeTravel notes clients playing alongside pros at events like the Rosewood Little Dix Tennis Cup, mixing competition with leisure.
Clamoring for craft
Culinary immersion has long been a doorway to place; now travelers want the same with craft. Rather than only buying unique souvenirs, many want to learn local skills they can’t fit into busy lives at home: weaving in Peru, pottery in Japan, or bespoke tailoring in Chiang Mai. Kerry Fee of Fee&Co sees clients eager to use travel time to engage creatively, while Marcello Baglioni of Agave Travel Creative builds short courses and workshop retreats with local academies in Sicily to share heritage expertise and help safeguard traditional crafts.
The trips our Top Travel Specialists want to plan for clients this year
Ask me to plan: “A private-charter sail around Svalbard aboard the world’s first solar-sailing polar vessel, run by an all-female crew, with onboard scientists offering daily briefings on Arctic history, climate, and exploration — from polar bears along the shore to whales in remote fjords.” — Virgi Schiffino Kennedy, Lux Voyage
Ask me to plan: “A ‘gas-train-omy’ journey: Eurostar from London to Paris for lunch at a locals-only bistro; a two-hour TGV to Bordeaux for dinner and spa time at Les Sources de Caudalie in the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte; then a morning train to San Sebastián for lunch with a Basque gastronomic society.” — Tom Barber, Original Travel
Ask me to plan: “A jet-setting ‘parties and piety’ itinerary hitting pre-Lenten events worldwide: Carnival balls in Venice, Fasching parades in Germany, Carnival in Rio, then Mardi Gras in New Orleans — a final indulgence before 40 days of lean living.” — Jeanne Polocheck, Well Traveled Texan
Ask me to plan: “A journey through Chile’s diverse landscapes: remote Easter Island for moai and marine life; glaciers in Torres del Paine; the Atacama’s salt flats and starry skies; finishing in Valparaíso for local art and culture.” — April Schmitt, Divine Travel Company
Where our Top Travel Specialists want to go next
“South Korea — a return visit since the 1988 Seoul Olympics to see how K-beauty, K-dramas, and K-pop have reshaped culture and travel, especially for younger visitors.” — Catherine Heald, Remote Lands
“Brazzaville to sail the Congo River on the Princesse Ngalessa, exploring Dzanga-Sangha National Park to see elephants, buffalo, bushpigs, and marshbucks, and helping with bonobo-tracking conservation efforts.” — Cherri Briggs, Explore Inc.
“Big Sur — to revisit the reopened stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, redwood-cloaked Santa Lucia mountains, and the Esalen Institute after years of closures.” — Sam Highley, All Roads North
“The Peloponnese in Greece for a slow summer of early swims, vineyard visits, and ancient sites — a longer, underscheduled trip that lets the wind decide my path, which to me is luxury.” — Mina Agnos, Travelive
For the full list of our Top Travel Specialists, visit cntraveler.com/travel-specialists. This article appeared in the April 2026 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
