2026 Travel Bucket List

2026 travel isn’t about rushing through destinations or following the latest travel trends just because everyone else is. For me, this 2026 Travel Bucket List is about travelling with intention — choosing experiences that feel exciting, meaningful and a little bit brave.

Over the years, my travel style has shifted. It’s become less about ticking off countries. less about travelling to destinations just to drink and party, and less about all-inclusive resorts. That type of travel is no longer enough for me.

Although the above may sound great, if you are like me, we want travel experiences that go beyond the obvious, creating freedom, curiosity, adrenaline and stillness.

From solo trips and off-the-radar destinations to extreme day trips, unique stays and skill-based travel, see my 2026 Travel Bucket List.

1. Travel Solo & Join The Movement

Solo travel is now becoming a possibility for everyone. People of all backgrounds and ages, whether single or married, are taking solo adventures, and I think 2026 will be the biggest year of it yet!

You don’t need to go backpacking for a month in Europe or Southeast Asia; you can join the solo travel movement by taking a solo adventure for a long weekend away to recharge, or visiting a country that has been on your list for a long time that no one you know wants to go to.

It’s about taking a trip without compromise, and that’s why joining the solo travel movement is at the top of my 2026 travel bucket list.

2019 was the year I took my first solo trip. I decided to go to Japan, covering Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone. It was the first time I experienced compromise-free travel, and I have never looked back. I got to create my own adventures exploring the world on my own terms and schedule, an enriching experience only a true solo traveller could understand.

There are many myths around solo travel, but the truth is that just because you are solo, it does not mean you are alone. It’s about freedom to move at your own pace and meet like-minded people along the way.

Also, with no constant commitment to another person, you can change plans at the last minute, stay longer in places you love and skip the places you don’t. Over the past 6 years of solo travel, I have come to understand what I truly enjoy without the influence of others and discovered how capable I am through navigating my way around the world.

Whether it’s your first solo trip or your tenth, 2026 feels like the year to fully step into the solo travel movement and trust yourself to lead the way to an adventure without compromise.

5 Solo Female Travel Myths & The Truth

My Top Pick For Solo Travel Destinations

2. Travel Off The Radar

2026 isn’t about following the crowds—it’s about embracing curiosity and letting it lead you somewhere new. That’s why Travelling Off The Radar is on my 2026 Travel Bucket List.

Those of you who’ve been following my blog and socials for a while know that I crave something different. I’m drawn to places that sit outside the typical tourist trail, where adventure comes naturally, and experiences feel unfiltered. The travel I love most is where tourists are few, connections with locals are genuine, and culture is experienced rather than curated. There’s something incredibly special about being in untouched territory—where every moment feels real, unexpected, and deeply memorable.

While popular hotspots like Thailand, Bali and Vietnam continue to boom and attract tourists, there’s something far more exciting about places that remain misunderstood, underexplored, and quietly extraordinary. I can speak firsthand that going off-grid can create next-level adventure and excitement.

Last year, I decided to step off the grid slightly. I took a trip to Central Asia to visit:

Turkmenistan, often referred to as the world’s strangest country.
Uzbekistan, where Silk Road history comes alive
Tajikistan, deep into the mountains and untouched landscapes

Many of the sites I visited were completely empty especially in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. I swam in a 36-degree underground lake with just my guide in sight, walked through the colourful Yangykala Canyon only coming across two other tourists and stood alone on the viewing deck on the impressive Fanskaya Niagara, a 38-metre-high waterfall in Tajikistan. These are experiences you can only dream of when visiting places like the Colosseum in Rome or Phi Phi Island in Thailand.

Countries like Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Socotra are quietly trending, and 2026 feels like the perfect time to visit before the crowds arrive and their raw authenticity begins to fade.

Check Out My Central Asia Tour Review With Advantour

Central Asia With Advantour

3. Travel Where The Hotel Is The Destination

In 2026, why not make your accommodation more than a place to just sleep? Instead, make it an experience. With new hotel designs and crazy adventure stays being developed every year, there is no reason why you can’t turn a hotel stay into a destination.

Of course, these hotel stays can be pricey, but you only live once, right? They provide you with an adventure and a stay all in one, creating a unique travel experience that will be a core memory of your trip.

Even if it’s just for one night, these kinds of stays add depth and magic to your trip.

I have stayed in unique accommodations all over the world, but the three I have chosen for your 2026 Travel Bucket List had the biggest impact on my memory when I think of a truly unique stay.

Stays So Unforgettable, They're Destinations In Their Own Right

4. Travel Somewhere In a Day!

Extreme day trips have become a travel trend. Within Europe, travelling between countries can be cheap and quick. For example, you could catch a flight from the UK at 6am and be sitting in Paris a couple of hours later, facing the Eiffel Tower in a cute French cafe, sipping on a coffee with a croissant in hand.

The idea is simple: to get the maximum out of your extreme day trip you need to find a cheap return flight or train deal, ideally departing early in the morning and returning late evening or night. This will ensure you can pack in an epic adventure in one day.

However extreme day trips aren’t for the slow traveller. They’re for those who crave adventure as the pace can be exhausting, but for me, that’s what makes it exhilarating. I thrive on the thrill of squeezing every drop out of a destination.

Benefits Of Extreme Day Trips

Cuts accommodation costs
Explore a new city
No need to book annual leave
Provides a quick change of scenery and culture
Provides a sense of adventure

Although extreme day trips can be done on a budget, they can still be costly depending on the activities you choose to do. The adventure is yours to curate, whether you do it on a budget or in luxury.

Click HERE if you want to see what I got up to in just one day in Lille France.

Extreme Day Trip To Lille, France

Extreme Day Trip Destination Options From The UK

5. Travel To Learn

In 2026, why not travel to learn something new? When I travel, I love to learn a new skill, and I find it to be one of the best ways to immerse and connect with a new culture.

I make a point of taking a cooking class in every country I visit. It’s my way of learning new culinary skills while understanding local traditions, ingredients and stories. Over the years, I’ve also learned calligraphy, and looking ahead, I’d love to travel to Argentina to learn the dance tango.

Whether it’s language learning, cooking, dancing or creative arts, skill-based travel turns a trip into something lasting — something you carry home with you.

6. Travel With Surprise

2026 is also about leaving room for the unexpected.

I know this might sound like I’m contradicting myself after telling you to take that solo trip and create your own adventures with no compromise — but I actually think there’s something just as powerful about letting go of control and stepping into the unknown.

Travelling with surprise adds a sense of excitement that’s hard to replicate. Imagine receiving small clues about where you’re going in the days leading up to your trip… then only finding out your destination at the airport. No overplanning, no endless research — just pure anticipation.

That’s exactly what Journee offers. They match you to a destination based on your personality, travel style and preferences. All you have to do is complete a short 10-minute questionnaire, and they take care of the rest — from flights to accommodation.

I actually did a surprise solo trip with Journee for my birthday, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. Letting someone else decide the destination reminded me why I fell in love with travel in the first place — the thrill, the curiosity, and the joy of not knowing what’s coming next.

Sometimes the best trips are the ones you never would have planned yourself so why not BOOK NOW

Click HERE to see how my surprise solo trip with Journee unfolded.

Is a Mystery Holiday With Journee Worth It?

7. Travel To Switch Off & Reset

In the age of social media, switching off has become just as important as exploring. For me, that often looks like a hiking trip — disconnecting from screens, slowing down and being fully present in the mountains is how I like to switch off.

Hiking allows me to reset, breathe deeper and reconnect with myself. I also love the feeling of reaching that summit and being in that present moment with no cell service.

But if hiking isn’t your thing, switching off can look different to you: Maybe a yoga retreat in India, or a meditation escape or a wellness stay in Indonesia designed for rest and reflection can also be a great choice.

In 2026, travel isn’t just about seeing more — it’s about feeling better.

Final Thoughts

My 2026 travel bucket list isn’t about hitting up all the trending countries. It’s about travelling differently and choosing experiences that challenge you, ground you and remind us why we fell in love with travel in the first place.

If this year is calling you to travel differently, maybe it’s time to listen.

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2026 Travel Bucket List