Settle into island life with these stunning tropical wonders.
Think palm trees dancing in a warm sea breeze. Azure waters full of bright-coloured coral and marine life. Sandy hair and sun-kissed skin. If your ideal holiday is an escape to an exotic atoll, look no further than these island wonders spotted throughout our oceans.
1. Mauritius
Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead
There’s no denying Mauritius has a certain magic quality to it. In fact, the island itself came into being through some alchemical force; a volcanic eruption 10 million years ago forced mountainous peaks to jut from the Indian Ocean like blades through a billowing blue sheet of silk.
The spectacular underwater waterfall on Mauritius Island is what dreams are made of.
Here, velvety frangipanis sweeten the air and the fronds of palm trees dance in the breeze. The island continues to enchant visitors with its tropical beaches, vibrant melting pot of cultures and hearty Creole cuisine. Moor yourself at one of its blissful resorts, such as The Oberoi on the island’s serene west coast. Or SALT of Palmar on the eastern side, a member of Design Hotels, where designer Camille Walala’s exuberant interiors echo the vibrance of the island.
Salt of Palmar, Mauritius, is an adults-only boutique hotel. (Image: Bookings Through designhotels.com)
2. Fiji
Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall
Scattered like jewels through the South Pacific Ocean, the 330-plus islands of Fiji are a favourite holiday territory for Australians. We love slowing down to the languid rhythm of Fiji time, dipping into staggeringly blue-green waters, soaking up the genuine warm hospitality, the excellent surf and theatrics of a traditional meke (dance and storytelling) ceremony.
Find your own secluded jewel in Fiji.
Anchoring one corner of the Coral Triangle, Fiji also claims the world’s third-longest continuous barrier reef, home to more than 1000 fish species, hundreds of corals and soft sponges, swim-through reefs, canyons and wall dives. It’s an underwater world just as alluring as the surface.
Discover Fiji’s enchanting underwater world.
3. Raj Ampat, Indonesia
Travelling with: Sarah Reid
Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, and few would disagree that those found in the easternmost province of West Papua are among its finest.
For all its beauty above the water, where densely forested islets rise out of the aquamarine sea, the real highlight of Raja Ampat lies below the surface, with its smorgasbord of macro life in particular cementing its status as one of the most vibrant corners of the Coral Triangle. Go on, book that liveaboard.
Spot the likes of Nemo in the watery depths.
4. Réunion Island
Travelling with: Sarah Reid
Among the unexpected joys of visiting Mauritius’s underrated Indian Ocean neighbour is the shock of its dramatic natural beauty, which rarely appears in tourism brochures outside of mainland France (connected by the world’s longest non-stop domestic flight).
On Réunion Island, vast lava fields ooze down steep mountains, waterfalls tumble through lush valleys and an idyllic coral lagoon on the west coast provides excellent snorkelling. And we haven’t even started on the food yet.
Admire the towering volcanic calderas on Reunion Island.
5. The Cook Islands
Travelling with: Angela Saurine
The soft strum of a ukulele being played by a crew member onboard the Polynesian-style double-hulled catamaran Vaka-Titi-ai-Tonga drifts out across the vivid turquoise waters of Aitutaki Lagoon. As I feast on a lunch of barbecue tuna and salad, I repeatedly marvel at the beauty of my surroundings.
The porcelain-white sands of The Cook Islands are breathtaking.
Stepping off the boat at One Foot Island and strolling along the white sand beach lined with coconut palms cements this Cook Islands archipelago as the epitome of tropical paradise.
Step off the boat and set foot in paradise.
6. Socotra, Yemen
Travelling with: Sarah Reid
Some 350 kilometres south of the Arabian Peninsula, Socotra has been fortunate to avoid the conflicts that continue to plague mainland Yemen. And what relief, for this World Heritage site shelters remarkable diversity: more than 700 of the islands’ native species are found nowhere else on Earth.
Diksam or Dixam is a limestone plateau in Socotra, Yemen.
Walk amid its iconic dragon blood trees, climb giant sand dunes and float over teeming reefs fringing the main island of this small archipelago, safely accessed by direct flights from Abu Dhabi.
Off the northwest coast near Qalansiyah lies the saline lagoon of Detwah.
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7. Rapa Nui
Travelling with: Angela Saurine
Staring up at the row of imposing stone figures with their backs to the ocean on Easter Island is one of those moments that stays in your memory forever. There are more than 1000 moai spread throughout the rugged volcanic island known as Rapa Nui, a Chilean territory, that have been standing watch over its inhabitants for millennia in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. While archaeologists have many theories, nobody knows for sure why the moai were made or how they were transported and erected.
The Faroe Islands, halfway between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean, beckon wayfaring wanderers. The self-governing nation, which forms part of the Danish Realm, is home to 18 islands and more than 700 islets and skerries, all staking claim to sights as rare as a hot Faroese summer. Head to Vagar Island for the magical Múlafossur Waterfall and Sørvágsvatn lake. Or try the village of Gjógv on Eysturoy Island, named after the 200-metre sea-filled gorge beside it. Whichever way you turn, you’ll find magic awaits.
Múlafossur Waterfall flows off the cliff edge into the North Atlantic Ocean.
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Cathlyn Botor is International Traveller's Digital Content Producer with a degree in Speech Communication from the University of the Philippines. She’s also a Creative Storyteller for The Panoramic Soul, a Filipino travel blog. She had a short stint in digital lifestyle publications like When In Manila and Guide to the Philippines, the largest marketplace for Philippine travel. Cath was also a Senior Associate Copywriter at the US-based digital marketing agency AffinityX and a former Web Content Specialist at ADEC Innovations. Outside work, her friends deem her an island girl who loves chasing sunsets. Cath likes being spontaneous and prefers to wander aimlessly with a relaxed itinerary. If she’s nowhere to be found, she’s probably at the beach, lost in her thoughts. Part of her travel wish list is to set foot on the beaches of Bali and the Greek Islands.
From sophisticated new sleeper trains and opulent hotel openings to the exploration of new frontiers, we’re now finding ourselves in our own gilded era of travel. These 21st-century travel experiences are leading the way.
If we were to turn back the clock 100 years, there was a real romance to travel – the dawning of a glamour-filled jet age, refined rail sojourns and first-class cruising where the voyage itself trounced the destination.
We’re feeling a similar excitement in the air about travel in 2026. Think state-of-the-art cruise liners allowing access to destinations formerly off-limits, resort launches where avant-garde architecture takes centre stage, and a return to the days of luxury locomotives. This reoccurrence of the advances, adventure and elegance of a bygone era has not only come full circle; it’s now superior.
How? Travel has become more mindful, intentional and accessible. This includes environmental initiatives by operators determined to leave less impact on the planet and a shift towards a deeper cultural exchange with the local communities we visit. Whether it’s exploring previously hard-to-reach cities such as Uzbekistan’s Khiva, staying with a family to experience village life in Nepal or discovering new frontiers in Antarctica, our round-up of ‘new golden age’ travel experiences is a snapshot of how we are travelling today, as well as into promising new horizons.
Exploring the emerging city of Khiva
The walled inner city of Khiva, Uzbekistan. (Credit: Getty/Mlenny Khiva)
Uzbekistan’s Silk Road city of Khiva used to be off the radar for many travellers, but 2026 has changed all that. You can thank a new bullet train service connecting Khiva to Bukhara and Samarkand, slashing the trip from the capital of Tashkent from 15 hours to under eight. Add renovations to Urgench International Airport, and interest in this fascinating city is rapidly on the rise.
Check out Khiva’s preserved inner-walled fortress, the first UNESCO site in Uzbekistan, explore ancient minarets and ornate mausoleums, and try traditional fare at Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant. Looking for fancy digs? The Mercure Khiva is due to swing open its doors later in 2026.
Riding the rails on the Eastern & Oriental Express
Onboard the train, rich fabrics are complemented by elm, cherrywood and teak marquetry. (Credit: Ludovic Balay)
The resurgence of train travel reflects how we are travelling today – slower and with a new appreciation for both scenery and cultural exchange. Include a large dollop of old-world glamour, and the three-night Wild Malaysia tour truly delivers. Winding its way deep into the Malay jungle, the journey makes plenty of pit stops for exploration along the way.
Having been resurrected from a 1970s sleeper, the luxury locomotive now comes replete with plush interiors of hand-cut marquetry dressed in oriental silks and embroidery – there’s even a Dior Spa. Watch the world go by from the Observation Car, indulge in fine wining and dining, kick up your heels in the Piano Bar, then snooze it all off in your sumptuous sleeper car.
Embracing Mother Nature in Peru
Befriend local llamas in Peru.
Travelling to Peru is like stepping into a kaleidoscope of contrasting cultures and landscapes. Whether you’re learning about shamanic natural remedies in the pre-Inca Colca Valley, cruising the wilds of the Amazon on a luxury river ship or discovering firsthand why the contemporary capital of Lima is celebrated for its culinary and artistic scenes, there are myriad reasons why this colourful country is topping wish lists.
One such experience is the Ultimate Peru by River and Rail journey (five days) by Abercrombie & Kent, available in 2026. This incredible river cruise allows you to truly connect with the jungle rhythms of the Amazon via skiff and on foot with in-the-know local guides, and includes nights onboard newly launched luxury riverboat Pure Amazon, an A&K Sanctuary.
Spot exotic creatures such as sloths, macaws, piranhas, and pink dolphins on the daily excursions, before juxtaposing these wild encounters with a return to pure pampering on the boat.
Seeking sustainable community experiences in Nepal
Tharu woman and master weaver Parbati Chaudhary in Bhada Village. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)
While Nepal has traditionally attracted visitors to traverse its majestic mountains – Everest and Annapurna in particular – travel experiences in this beautiful Himalayan nation are expanding.
Home stays, where you reside with Nepali families and take an active part in their daily lives, are a growing attraction. It’s a win:win for local youths – who took their country back after bloody protests in 2025 – wanting to stay in Nepal rather than moving abroad for work, as well as foreigners seeking a deeper cultural experience. Nepali women, Indigenous people and marginalised castes are also benefitting from home stays, upping the feel-good factor even further.
Leading the charge is Community Home Stay Network, which links travellers to local-family hosts. Travel off-the-beaten path to homes in areas including Tharu in the south, learn how to cook Nepali style, and take part in traditions such as making moonshine, dancing and weaving straw handicrafts.
Exploring new frontiers in Antarctica
A breathtaking ice window captured at Wilhelmina Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula. (Credit: Renato Granieri)
Gone are the days when a trip to Antarctica meant a perilous voyage through the Drake Passage on a vessel holding the mere essentials. Innovative cruise ships now offer a smooth and sophisticated passage to the White Continent, as well as experiences formerly off-limits.
Abercrombie & Kent’s 19-day Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands: Holiday Voyage captures it all. Spot breaching whales and gracefully gliding albatrosses from the deck, before stepping onto this Narnia-like landscape with daily Zodiac excursions. Observe adorable penguin and fur seal colonies, visit Antarctic communities that were previously too remote, and get so close to colossal icebergs that you’ll feel humbled by their scale.
Silversea‘s Antarctica Fly Cruise voyages will soon include a stay at The Cormorant at 55 South, the southernmost hotel on Earth purpose-built to bring uncompromised comfort to guests travelling to Antarctica.
When it comes to protecting this fragile eco-system, the future is also looking bright: HX Expeditions has partnered with the University of Tasmania to create a world-first educational course allowing cruise guests to dive into Antarctic science and sustainability, while A&K pours funds into conservation efforts and uses energy-efficient hybrid ships – all in trademark luxury, of course.
Indulging in New Zealand’s exceptional dining
The Ayrburn precinct serves up delicate dishes.
By welcoming the Michelin Guide to sample Aotearoa/New Zealand’s finest gastronomy for the first time, our cousins across the ditch have now become serious players on the world culinary scene.
And there’s never been a better time to experience NZ’s greatest gastronomy with the inaugural guide currently going to press. Sample haute cuisine in Queenstown with a side serving of theatrics by culinary director Paul Froggatt at Essence in the new ROKI Collection hotel, and pull up a chair at Amisfield for its delicious degustation experience under new chef Sung Peng, with the world-renowned restaurant slated to reopen in July.
And it’s not just Queenstown holding all the culinary cards. The Michelin inspectors travelled to rate the best epicurean artistry in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington and Ōtautahi/Christchurch against the world’s most renowned restaurateurs (bring loose pants).
Bedding down at design-led hotels and farm stays
A woodfired sauna deepens the meditative state at Azuma Farm Koiwai. (Credit: Azuma Farm Koiwai)
New grand dames on the global hotel stage are receiving a standing ovation for their triumphant 2026 openings.
Return to old-world elegance at the Orient Express Venezia, a reimagined former 15th-century royal residence set in Venice’s Palazzo Dona Giovannellii. It certainly makes for a regal stay, with grand Neo-Gothic windows and restored Baroque splendour blending seamlessly with modern luxury flourishes. Also bringing the fantasy factor is France’s Zannier Île de Bendor on a petite private island off the Provençal coast. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea – and with three luxe, design-led accommodation concepts to choose from – this resort exudes golden-era glamour.
In a breath of fresh air, we’ve also seen an uptick in farm stays. Trade the urban rush for a rambling rural retreat at Sibbjäns, Sweden’s first boutique farm stay, or opt for horseback riding followed by woodfired saunas on the sprawling eight-hectare Azuma Farm Koiwai in Japan.
Cruising the Danube on a festive Eastern Euro adventure
The magical Pécs Christmas Market in Hungary. (Credit: Emily Murphy)
Dreaming of a white Christmas? While floating past snow-dusted, fairytale cities on a river ship in Eastern Europe makes for an amazing voyage, when you add the magic of Christmas the whole experience becomes, well, more magical.
From twinkling trees and tinsel to red-nosed reindeer and wreath decorations, the festivities greet you the moment you step aboard AmaMagna by AmaWaterways. The ship then spirits you away along the Lower Danube for a seven-night Gems of Southeast Europe adventure from Romania to Hungary.
Explore Bulgaria’s medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, glide into the dramatic Iron Gates crossing into Serbia; and sip on fine wines at Croatia’s Kast Winery (one variety made famous by Queen Elizabeth II). The highlight? For many it’s wandering the shimmering Christmas markets in Hungary’s Pécs. Peruse stalls selling unique handicrafts, try the traditional treat of kürtőskalács (chimney cake), and warm your cockles with a cup of mulled wine.
Delving into the buzzing city of Beijing
Calm and chaos at Lama Temple in Beijing. (Credit: Natasha Bazika)
Walking the line between its imperial past and a frenetic, futuristic present – Beijing is an exciting city to dive into.
If you want to be centrally located, the palatial Peninsula Beijing is hard to beat. From here, strap in at street level for a stroll among the city’s famed hutongs (ancient alleyways), pausing to taste traditional delicacies such as jianbing (savoury breakfast crepe) and dumpling soup. Then scope out the narrow lanes dotted with siheyuan courtyard homes (there are only 1000 left), and if you love to shop, head to Taikoo Li Sanlitun for a mix of luxury brands and local labels.
And it wouldn’t be a well-rounded trip to this history-rich city without experiencing its highlights reel. Admire golden-topped architecture in the Forbidden City, take a hike on the Great Wall of China and pay a visit to Tiananmen Square for both remembrance and observation on how it operates today.
Embarking on a round-the-world cruise
Sitting pretty in a Queen Anne cabin.
Can’t decide where to go on a cruise? On a round-the-world voyage you can live out all your dreams at sea.
It’s not a new idea – the first world cruise occurred more than a century ago on Cunard’s RMS Laconia in 1922 – but a reimagining. If you don’t have a spare year up your sleeve, you can now join for specific legs of the journey (unlike the 1922 trip), and ships have been modernised with sustainability measures, contemporary designs and a less formal feel.
Queen Anne, also by Cunard, cruised the world in 2026 with guests joining at handpicked ports, including in Central America for the extraordinary experience of crossing the Panama Canal. If you want the full adventure by circumnavigating the globe, Queen Anne will set sail on another world voyage in 2028.
Discovering the joys of small-group travel in Spain
Sample organic wine and olive oil on a tasting tour in Molino El Vínculo in Grazalema with Intrepid Travel. (Credit: Intrepid Travel/Tim Luck)
Small-group touring is a travel trend currently soaring, with many embracing it as an authentic, intimate and insightful way to visit a country – with VIP benefits to boot.
The small-group format, typically capped at five to 15 guests, is now accounting for around 62 per cent of group travel worldwide. And operators such as Intrepid Travel, APT Luxury Travel and Janesco Travel are among the frontrunners in this space, handling all navigation and insider experiences within an intimate group led by expert guides.
Seeking a Spanish sojourn? Small-group journeys to the vibrant southern Andalusia region are now topping bucket lists. Be mesmerised by flamenco dancers from a professional dance school (rather than touristy versions), learn how to make authentic sangria with a private class, skip queues at the Real Alcázar of Seville royal palace, and score a seat at the best Andalusian restaurants, sans waitlist.
Learning from the past in Japan
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum presents a sobering dive into the nuclear event. (Credit: Eleanor Edström)
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to experience a war-time atomic bomb, hopefully the closest any of us will ever get is a visit to Nagasaki.
While on a cruise excursion to the Japanese city aboard the Diamond Princess, you can visit the fascinating hypocentre of the Second World War bomb dropped to widespread annihilation in 1945. While there is no doubt this is heavy material to digest on a tour, it comes with a message of hope – that the horror of a nuclear war should never happen again.
There is also much more to this 11-day Japan Explorer Cherry Blossoms with Princess Cruises voyage. Witness the world’s most active volcano in Kagoshima, join a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto and marvel at Mt Fuji in Shimizu. Also don’t miss the onsen experiences onboard the ship or its many mouth-watering local culinary offerings. Next departure is March 2027.
Supporting a typhoon-ravaged community in Vietnam
Time to kick back at Zannier Bãi San Hô. (Credit: Amber Hunter)
When typhoon Typhoon Kalmaegi ripped through Vietnam’s south-central coast in November 2025, it left a devastating trail of destruction.
And Zannier Bãi San Hô, an expansive 98-hectare beachfront resort, took a direct hit. An incredible five-month clean-up and restoration has now seen the Green Globe-certified retreat reopen, thanks in large part to the local community who rallied to help rebuild it. The support goes both ways; the 180-strong resort staff is made up of 177 locals – their livelihoods dependent on it.
You can help by simply booking a stay here. It’s hardly a punish, when you consider the beauty and luxury of this place; picture private pool villas and powder-white beaches. Take to the sapphire waters for water sports, visit local fishing villages and sweat it out at the onsite fitness centre. Or, if relaxing’s more your jam, simply loll by the pool with a good book.
