In this year's guide to the best places to travel, we're highlighting destinations that offer incredible experiences while using tourism to support local communities, protect the environment and preserve their unique cultural heritage. To compile our list, we consulted various travel rankings and browsed tourist attractions in different countries to identify places that are enthusiastically welcoming visitors – and where your trip can have a positive impact.
Keep reading: your next great adventure awaits.
Number one: Hebrides, Scotland
Why go: A whisky boom, ancient stone circles, white-sand beaches and community warmth
Scattered along Scotland's wild Atlantic coast, the Hebridean islands have long lured travellers with their heart-quickening sacred sites, castaway beaches and tight-knit communities. And this year, many have much more to brag about.
At the northern tip of the Outer Hebrides, Lewis is unveiling a long-awaited visitor centre for the Calanais Standing Stones, the mystical cruciform-shaped stone circle that predates Stonehenge. For the first time, Historic Environment Scotland will also introduce a visitor fee, helping safeguard 5,000 years of Neolithic history.
Far to the south, landing at Barra Airport's unusual tidal beach runway still feels like stepping back in time. The island of chalky bays and medieval Kisimul Castle is gaining its first whisky distillery, putting the tiny village of Borve on the global spirits map. Whisky is already in the DNA of Islay in the Southern Hebrides, and demand for heavily peated single-malt Scotch continues to reshape the island. In whisky terms, it's the last square on the Monopoly board – and 2026 will see the arrival of two new distilleries, taking the island's total to 14.
First up is Laggan Bay Distillery from the brains behind other established Scottish spirit brands, including Rosebank, Glengoyne and Edinburgh Gin. Later in the year, visitors will be able to explore Portintruan Distillery, located outside Port Ellen where French luxury empire LVMH have opened the island's first immersive, whisky-themed hotel, Ardbeg House.
There's a sense that the whole island has been created as a perfect, almost smug, example of heartwarming Scottish hospitality. Tempted to visit? Book ahead for Fèis ìle, Islay's annual whisky festival, in May.
Number two: Komodo Islands, Indonesia
Why go: Prehistoric wildlife, delicate reefs and habitat preservation
Rising from the turquoise Flores Sea, the Komodo Islands remain one of the planet's great wildlife theatres. Within this Unesco World Heritage-listed national park, pink-sand beaches meet savannah hills, coral gardens teem with manta rays and the world's last wild population of Komodo dragons roams freely.
In 2026, Indonesia will mark the park's 45th anniversary with new conservation programmes and visitor-management measures designed to protect both dragons and delicate reefs. Improved access – direct flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to the gateway town of Labuan Bajo – makes it easier than ever to reach, while strict permits and ranger-led treks ensure tourism revenue supports local communities and habitat preservation. Travellers can explore by day-boat, stay in eco-lodges on nearby islands or sail between remote bays on traditional phinisi vessels for a deeper connection to the archipelago.
For those seeking adventure with purpose, Komodo offers a rare balance: close encounters with prehistoric wildlife, thriving marine biodiversity and a national park using tourism to safeguard its extraordinary ecosystem.
Number three: Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Why go: Wildlife-rich waters, desert islands and conservation-led adventure
As the 30th anniversary of Loreto Bay National Park approaches, its conservation story continues to deepen. The park protects more than 200,000 hectares of the Gulf of California – home to blue whales, sea turtles and colonies of California sea lions – and remains one of Mexico's most influential grassroots-lead environmental wins.
Now, the region is expanding its protected areas. Two new national parks – Nopoló and Loreto II – are under careful development, opening up thousands of hectares of desert canyons and mangroves and wildlife corridors for travellers to explore.
But Loreto's appeal reaches beyond its landscapes. Here, conservation is woven into daily life. Former fishermen, now trained naturalist guides, lead kayak trips through desert islets and whale-watching outings that double as citizen-science experiences. Visitors can help identify migrating blue whales, join coastal clean-ups, or take part in annual conservation festivals that fill the plaza with music, food and storytelling. For community connection, local groups and cooperatives host guided desert walks and communal suppers where travellers share just-caught seafood with families and artisans.
With its historic mission, whitewashed streets and the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range rising behind it, Loreto feels both small-town intimate and majestically expansive – a place where visitors can join a hopeful story of ecosystems recovering and communities leading the way.
Number four: Oregon Coast, US
Why go: Fresh ways to explore one of the US's most dramatic coastlines
Stretching nearly 370 miles from the dramatic cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge in the north to the towering redwood forests in the south, the Oregon Coast is a mesmerising mix of brawn and beauty. Wave-pounded shorelines splash against dense evergreen forests, lonely lighthouses poke their heads over the moody fog and migrating whales breach offshore from small-town fishing communities. And thanks to a 1967 landmark bill, Oregon is the only state in the nation whose entire coastline is free and public to everyone.
Though less visited than California's coast, the white-sand beaches and brooding headlands along this stretch of US-101 are one of the country's bucket-list road trips. But according to Kaitlyn Brajcich from Sustainable Travel International, those without their own wheels and EV owners will find more ways to experience the area in 2026.
"A seasonal shuttle now links Portland with coastal destinations, and a growing EV-charging network makes plug-in road trips more seamless. For those who prefer to pedal, bikes are available in many towns, or you can take on the 370-mile border-to-border [coastal cycling] route," Brajcich said.
Brajcich adds that freshly caught seafood now stays closer to home thanks to a new effort to keep Oregon's catch local, which supports communities that have long relied on these waters. Mobi-Mats laid over the sand and free beach wheelchairs enable more visitors to enjoy the shore, as does a new partnership with Wheel the World that maps inclusive lodging and experiences. And hotel stays booked through Every Stay Gives Back support the environmental nonprofits protecting this rugged, much-loved coast.
Number five: Oulu, Finland
Why go: An Arctic city in full creative bloom for its 2026 Capital of Culture year
Located just below the Arctic Circle, Oulu is stepping into the spotlight in 2026 as one of Europe's Capitals of Culture – a milestone that promises to reshape how travellers see the quieter north of Finland. This accolade just adds to its growing list: the city already hosts the World Air Guitar Championships and is the self-declared winter-cycling capital of the world.
From January, the city and surrounding villages will host a year-long cultural programme that feels more like an evolving festival, with parties, pop-up performances, art installations and exhibitions. One highlight is the Arctic Food Lab, which brings Oulu's Nordic-Arctic flavours to the fore through tastings and special dinners showcasing ingredients shaped by the region's extreme soil and seasons. Another centrepiece is Climate Clock, a seven-piece public art trail created by leading Finnish and international artists in collaboration with scientists. Each installation reflects themes of creativity, climate change and our connection to "nature's time", echoing the city's broader effort to encourage slower, more mindful travel.
Beyond the cultural programme, there are windswept islands to explore, sunset walks beside lighthouses and – of course – the quintessential Finnish sauna culture. In 2026, the region's blend of frontier nature, Arctic heritage and cutting-edge creativity makes this low-key northern hub one of Europe's most intriguing destinations. – Laura Hall
Number six: Guimar?es, Portugal
Why go: The birthplace of Portugal – and Europe's Green Capital for 2026
Just 65km inland from Porto, Guimar?es is astonishingly under the radar for a city considered the 12th-Century birthplace of Portugal and its first capital. Its beautifully preserved medieval core is a tangle of cobbled squares and lanes dotted with grand palaces and terraced restaurants, from Michelin-starred spots to laid-back eateries and craft beer bars. A short drive away, the nearby site of Citania de Briteiros is a dramatic ancient hilltop settlement dating back to 9th Century BC.
But Guimar?es is no museum piece. The city has a youthful, creative energy thanks to being one of Portugal's oldest university towns, with nearly half the population younger than 30. Contemporary culture sits comfortably alongside its medieval streets: futuristic galleries built for its 2012 European Capital of Culture title mingle with museums in ancient cloisters and hipster spots carved out of old factories.
In 2026, Guimar?es celebrates both 25 years of Unesco World Heritage status and its new title as Europe’s Green Capital – recognition of two decades of sustainability work embedded across the city. Wander newly created green city oases and artfully repurposed heritage buildings or stroll along the banks of restored riverbanks, with a fleet of electric buses linking the projects together. It's a forward-thinking, quietly confident city – and one of Europe's most compelling surprises for 2026.
Number seven: The Slocan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Why go: Walk a powerful new trail that honours a defining chapter in Canadian history
Set within a valley of clear lakes and deep forests and framed by the Purcell and Selkirk mountains, the Slocan region has long drawn travellers seeking raw, rugged beauty. In 2026, the Japanese Canadian Legacy Trail – a self-guided route honouring those forcibly uprooted and confined here during World War Two – will add deeper meaning to that landscape.
Between 1942 and 1946, more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians were displaced from coastal communities and sent inland to hastily built internment sites in farmers' fields and abandoned mining towns such as Sandon in the Slocan Valley. Despite the hardships – the loss of homes, livelihoods and community – the internees built schools, gardens, cultural spaces and support networks. Their children and grandchildren would later contribute profoundly to Canada's civic, artistic and academic life.
Accessible by car, bike or foot, the new 60km (37m) trail follows country roads and rail trails, linking museums, memorial gardens, a lakeside internment site and community-led exhibits developed with Japanese Canadian families. Between stops, travellers can pause at farm-to-table cafes, paddle the still waters of Slocan Lake, browse craft studios, take a dip in a hot spring or practise shinrin-yoku in old-growth forest.
The trail offers a reflective, place-based way to understand a dark and pivotal chapter in Canadian history at a moment when questions of belonging feel especially urgent. For valley communities, the new initiative honours the past while sustaining the region's future.
Number eight: Uluru, Australia
Why go: A landmark anniversary – and a new way to walk on ancient, sacred land
October 2025 marked 40 years since the historic Uluru Handback returned this sacred place to its Anangu Traditional Owners – a milestone that continues to reshape how Australia engages with Aboriginal sites. The nation has come a long way since visitors were once encouraged to climb what was then known as Ayers Rock, a practice formally banned in 2019. Today, Anangu are telling their stories on their own terms and travellers can connect with this ancient land in deeper, more meaningful ways.
The biggest moment of the year will be the launch of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk: a five-day, four-night journey linking the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta with the base of the world-famous red rock. The route traces 54km (33.5m) of Anangu-mapped trails through desert oak forest, spinifex plains and red-dune country normally closed to the public. It is also the only way travellers can sleep inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – a rare privilege made possible through a decade of collaboration with Traditional Owners – staying in beautifully crafted eco-camps and a new lodge that's been designed to melt into the desert palette. Already named one of the Great Walks of Australia, it blends sunrise hikes, stargazing decks and Indigenous-led workshops, with a share of revenue returning directly to community partners.
Beyond the trail, travellers can experience two extraordinary nightscapes: Wintjiri Wiru, the Anangu-led drone-and-light storytelling experience above the desert; and Field of Light, marking its 10th anniversary in 2026 as Bruce Munro's now-iconic installation of 50,000 glowing stems.
Number Nine: Samburu, Kenya
Why go: Crowd-free landscapes, rare wildlife and Kenya's newest astro-experiences
Beyond the bustle of Nairobi and the traffic jams of the Masai Mara lies Samburu County, a remote swathe of northern Kenya that has long prioritised its environmental and community-led conservation efforts. In 2026, the often-overlooked region is sharpening its focus on impact-driven adventure with a new astrotourism project, two conservation-driven camp openings – Basecamp Samburu and Soroi Samburu Lodge – and ongoing work on a climate change action plan that prioritises reforestation and renewable energy.
Travellers arriving at the semi-arid landscapes along the Ewaso Nyiro River will find an ever-increasing crop of conservancies and projects showcasing the traditions of the Samburu (Lokop) people. At Soroi Samburu Lodge, which will be fully open by mid-2026, guests can visit local projects and swap stories with Samburu members around the fire.
Wildlife conservation remains central across Samburu's nine conservancies, including the "Samburu Special Five", a collection of rare animals endemic to northern Kenya. Track black and white rhinos with Saruni Basecamp – both populations have grown in the last year – or help care for orphaned elephants at the community-owned Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and learn about conservation at its education-focused visitor centre.
Night-sky enthusiasts can explore the wonders of the cosmos with Samburu Sopa Lodge's Astro tourism project, a first-of-its-kind endeavour that launched in September 2025. Listen to ancient star lore from Indigenous guides, join astrophysicists at Kenya's first astrotourism planetarium and sleep under the equatorial sky on Basecamp Samburu's designated star beds, with constellations visible from both hemispheres.
Number ten: Philadelphia, US
Why go: The US's 250th celebration and a big year for sports
The United States was born in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776. In 2026, the city again takes centre stage as it celebrates the nation's 250th anniversary with a year-long programme of history, sport and art.
A major highlight is 52 Weeks of Firsts, a citywide series marking 250 years of Philadelphia's pioneering spirit. Each Saturday, a different neighbourhood hosts a "First-ival" celebrating a Philly innovation or landmark – from the invention of bifocals to the founding of Mother Bethel AME Church, the oldest parcel of land in continuous African American ownership. Talks, performances and on-site activations bring these milestones to life where they first occurred.
From February to September 2026, The Franklin Institute hosts the Universal Theme Parks exhibition, offering travellers behind-the-scenes insight into the engineering and design of one of the world's most popular theme parks.
Elsewhere, Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation's largest public art organisation, will run more than 50 artist-led workshops as part of Printmaking by the People, where visitors can join free events and help inspire a new mural reflecting what democracy means today. Guided mural tours led by local artists directly fund community art programmes and education initiatives.
Sports fans should also take note: Philadelphia is hosting FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, parts of the NCAA March Madness tournament and the PGA Championship. Add in RockyFest, marking 50 years since Rocky Balboa ran up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, and travellers will find a city brimming with history, creativity and pride.