26 unforgettable experiences to have in 2026
Some years become stories you tell forever. Make 2026 unforgettable with our Black Friday sale—save up to $600 through Nov. 28. Here are 26 experiences worth making room for.
Is Black Friday a good time to book travel? Absolutely—especially if you’re serious about making 2026 your best year yet. Booking now means locking in the lowest prices of the year (up to $600 off select tours), securing your preferred departure dates and giving yourself time to prepare and build anticipation. No matter when you’re hoping to travel in 2026, the best time to book is before this sale ends on November 28.
You know your own timeline better than we do, but what we do know is that the experiences worth having are worth planning for. From hiking Peru’s Inca Trail to glamping in Bhutan’s Himalayas, biking Japan’s island-hopping bridges to following Iceland’s Waterfall Way—here are 26 experiences that separate a good year from an unforgettable one.
1. Hike to the Matterhorn’s basecamp
That perfect pyramid mountain on Toblerone bars? That’s the Matterhorn. On Alps Hiking: Switzerland, Italy & France, you’ll climb to Hörnlihutt at 10,700 feet—the actual basecamp where mountaineers prepare for summit attempts. Standing there with the Matterhorn’s north face looming 4,000 feet above you is completely different from admiring it from the town of Zermatt. You’re at the threshold of something massive, in the exact spot where serious climbers stand before they commit to one of the Alps’ most legendary ascents. And the panoramic views of the mountains around you aren’t so bad either.
2. Trek the final section of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
On Peru Hiking: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu, you don’t just see Machu Picchu—you walk the final 6.3 miles of the Inca Trail on stone pathways the Incas built without wheels or iron tools. When you arrive at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) and Machu Picchu reveals itself below, framed by peaks and often wrapped in mist, that view is yours. You earned it. You didn’t take a bus or train. You walked the route the way the Incas designed it to be walked.
3. Bike through Keukenhof Gardens during tulip season
Keukenhof blooms for only eight weeks each spring—seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths creating what might be the world’s most extravagant flower show. And on Belgium & the Netherlands Biking: Ghent & Gouda, you get a front row seat. After taking your time to wander the gardens, you’ll hop on a bike and cycle through the fields that supply bulbs worldwide, where the landscape transforms into horizontal rainbows—vivid reds, golden yellows, deep purples stretching to windmills on the horizon.
4. Reach Neuschwanstein Castle’s hidden viewpoints
Neuschwanstein inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle, but most visitors only see it from the tour bus stops below. On Germany & Austria Multi-Adventure: Bavaria, Tyrol & Salzburg, you’ll hike 4 miles to less-crowded viewpoints tucked into the forested hills, where Ludwig II’s white limestone palace sits dramatically against alpine peaks. King Ludwig built this castle to fulfill a medieval fantasy, and from these hiking-only vantage points, you understand why millions have been captivated by this fairytale castle.
5. Walk Portugal’s Wine Route in the Douro Valley
The Douro Valley produces port wine on hillsides so steep that all the work—harvest, pruning, crushing—still happens by hand. On Portugal Hiking: Sintra & the Douro Valley, the Rota do Vinho trail takes you down through working vineyards, where you’ll taste port and table wines in the actual cellars where they’re made, not a visitor center. This valley is UNESCO-protected not just because it’s beautiful, but because the landscape represents an unbroken winemaking tradition that’s shaped the region’s entire identity.
6. E-Bike across suspension bridges on the Shimanami Kaido
The Shimanami Kaido connects six islands via suspension bridges soaring hundreds of feet above the Seto Inland Sea—impressive engineering that happens to be Japan’s most celebrated bike route. On Japan Multi-Adventure: The Japanese Alps & Shikoku, you’ll pedal across spans that seem to float above turquoise water. One moment you’re riding through a traditional fishing village, the next you’re suspended above open water with islands spreading in every direction. It’s genuinely spectacular, and truly unforgettable.
7. Stand-up paddleboard on Lake Bled
Lake Bled is Slovenia’s postcard—a glacial lake with a church on a tiny island and a medieval castle on the cliff above. Most visitors photograph it from shore. On Slovenia & Croatia Multi-Adventure: Istria & the Julian Alps, you’ll paddleboard across it, with the Julian Alps reflecting in water so clear you can see 40 feet down. From your board, you’re close enough to the island church to appreciate the details, and you can hop in the water whenever you want. The water stays cool year-round from mountain snowmelt, making it refreshingly crisp even in summer.
8. Cruise down Chania’s coastal hills on an e-bike
Crete’s northern coast is where the White Mountains meet the Mediterranean—rolling hills covered in olive groves that have been cultivated since Minoan times. On Greece Multi-Adventure: Crete & Santorini, you’ll e-bike through this countryside, with fast downhill stretches giving you momentum and electric assist handling the climbs. Wild thyme scents the air, goats graze on terraced fields, and sleepy hamlets appear around corners looking like they haven’t changed in centuries—because they largely haven’t.
9. Earn your tea and scones at Lake Agnes Tea House
Lake Agnes Tea House has served hikers since 1901—a log cabin at 7,005 feet where you can sit on the deck with tea and homemade scones after climbing 2,211 feet to reach it. On Canadian Rockies Hiking: Banff & Lake Louise, this is your reward for a 7-mile hike that gains elevation steadily through forested trails. The tea tastes better because you earned it. The view of Lake Agnes and the mountains beyond feels more meaningful because you’re sitting where hikers have caught their breath for over 100 years.
10. Ascend to a mountain hut in the Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland contains some of Switzerland’s most dramatic peaks—Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau—and this terrain draws hikers from around the world. On Switzerland Hiking: The Bernese Oberland & Engelberg, this 8.3-mile loop from picturesque Mürren takes you up nearly 2,150 feet to Rotstockhütte, a mountain hut at 7,690 feet where you can sit outside with lunch and look across at snow-capped ridges. The trail follows glacial streams and crosses summer pastures where cows graze with bells clanging—quintessential Alps in the best sense.
11. E-mountain bike in Chamonix
Chamonix sits beneath Mont Blanc—western Europe’s tallest peak at 15,777 feet—and mountaineers have been coming here since the golden age of alpinism. On Alps Multi-Adventure: France & Italy, this 19-mile e-mountain bike ride takes you through the terrain that made Chamonix legendary. Smooth paths turn to gravel, forested hollows open to ridgeline views, glacial streams cut through valleys. Each turn reveals why this place became the epicenter of alpine climbing. And the descent back into town is pure exhilaration.
12. Walk into Santiago de Compostela with celebrating pilgrims
On Spain & Portugal Hiking: Camino de Santiago, walking the final stretch into Santiago de Compostela is genuinely moving. We don’t walk the entire Camino—but we can appreciate what pilgrims experience when they arrive in Praza do Obradoiro. You’ll see people who’ve been walking for weeks crying, laughing, embracing strangers who made the same journey. Some carry shells tied to their packs, others lean on walking sticks worn smooth from hundreds of miles. The accomplishment transcends the physical distance. Something shifts when you complete even a portion of a walk that millions have made before you.
13. Visit a conservation-focused elephant sanctuary
Thailand’s elephant tourism history is complicated, but this sanctuary on Thailand Multi-Adventure: Chiang Mai & Phuket prioritizes animal wellbeing entirely. No rides, no tricks, no chains. Asian elephants are endangered (only 50,000 remain in the wild), and here they roam, graze, and bathe as naturally as possible. You observe from a respectful distance while learning about conservation efforts protecting them. It’s what ethical elephant tourism should be—prioritizing the animal, not the photo opportunity.
14. Stay in an 18th-Century Château in Provence
The Château de Mazan once hosted French nobility and belonged to the Marquis de Sade’s family. Now restored as a stunning hotel, it’s where you’ll stay on France Biking: Provence—at the base of Mt. Ventoux, one of cycling’s legendary climbs. The combination works beautifully: historic grandeur (restored gardens, aristocratic dining rooms) meets modern comfort (pool, spa, refined Provençal cuisine). Returning to an 18th-century palace after riding through lavender fields and vineyards all day feels appropriately indulgent.
15. Hike Mount Etna with Volcanologist
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano and one of the world’s most active. On Italy Multi-Adventure: Sicily, certified volcano experts will guide you across moonlike terrain after a cable car ascends to 8,200 feet. The Valle del Bove depression shows the power of past eruptions—a massive caldera carved by collapse and lava flow. Your guide will explain the science as you walk through it: why this rock is this color, how these channels formed, what the monitoring stations track. Your reward at the end? Tasting wines grown in this volcanic soil, which is incredibly fertile.
16. Zipline with views of Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal is Costa Rica’s iconic volcano—a near-perfect cone rising 5,437 feet that has dominated the skyline with eruptions until 2010. On Costa Rica Multi-Adventure: Sámara & Arenal, you’ll zipline through the rainforest canopy with Arenal providing the backdrop. The biodiversity here is staggering (Costa Rica contains 5% of the world’s species in a fraction of its land), and flying platform to platform with La Fortuna waterfall crashing 246 feet below is an experience you won’t soon forget.
17. Follow Iceland’s Waterfall Way
Iceland’s South Coast is waterfall country—Skógafoss alone drops 197 feet with such force that it produces permanent rainbows in the mist. On Iceland Multi-Adventure: Golden Circle & South Coast, you’ll hike 6 miles along part of Waterfall Way, passing Hestavadsfoss, Fosstorfufoss, Steinbogafoss, and several more, each with its own character. The landscape is raw: volcanic rock meeting cascading water meeting moss-covered slopes. This is nature at its most unfiltered.
18. Hike the Cinque Terre coastal trail
The Cinque Terre are five cliffside villages connected by coastal paths—crayon-colored buildings, terraced vineyards, and harbors where fishing boats still work daily. On Italy Hiking: Tuscany & Cinque Terre, you’ll walk from Corniglia (the smallest, highest village) through Volastra to Manarola and Riomaggiore. These towns inspired Disney’s Luca for good reason: they look exactly like the storybook version of Italian coastal life. Except this isn’t storybook—these are real communities where people actually live and work.
19. Take a coffee break before climbing Els Angels in Catalonia
Girona has become a haven for professional cyclists—George Hincapie lived here, and riders continue flocking to the region for the terrain, climate, and culture. On Spain Biking: Catalonia & Costa Brava, you’ll experience a ritual that’s central to Spanish cycling culture: the pre-ride coffee stop. Before tackling Els Angels (20.6 miles ascending 2,107 feet), you’ll pull into a local café where cyclists gather, swap stories, and fuel up properly. It’s unhurried, social, deeply Spanish—the kind of moment that reminds you cycling here isn’t just about the riding. Then you’ll climb to a church with panoramic views, and finish at Gala Dalí Castle—the medieval residence Salvador Dalí transformed for his wife.
20. Watch pro cyclists cross the Tour de France finish line
Three weeks of racing. 2,000 miles. And it all comes down to one sprint beneath the Arc de Triomphe. On some of our Tour de France Biking tours, you’ll stand on the Champs-Élysées as the world’s best riders complete what many consider sport’s hardest test. The energy is electric and chaotic—team cars everywhere, champagne spraying, national anthems, riders collapsing into their teams’ arms. This isn’t something you watch on TV. You’re in it.
21. Kayak through Norway’s Nærøyfjord
The Nærøyfjord is UNESCO-protected for good reason—glacier-carved cliffs dropping thousands of feet into water that reaches 4,000-foot depths. On Norway Multi-Adventure: Bergen & the Sognefjord Region, paddling by kayak brings you close to cascading waterfalls and past settlements that look frozen in time—historical farms, Viking graveyards, fjord communities accessible only by boat. The silence out here is real, and the scale makes you feel appropriately small in the best way.
22. Hike around Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks) defines what the Dolomites look like—three massive limestone towers with sheer vertical faces rising nearly 12,000 feet. On Italy Hiking: The Dolomites, the hiking loop circles these peaks across scree slopes and through wildflower meadows, with the towers dominating from every angle. At a mountain rifugio, sit outside with views stretching across Italian and Austrian Alps. The geology here is dramatic because the Dolomites formed underwater, then thrust upward—which explains the strange, jagged profiles that climbers obsess over.
23. Stand at Mount Fitz Roy’s base in Patagonia
Mount Fitz Roy’s granite spire is so iconic that the Patagonia brand uses it as their logo—it represents everything wild and remote about this region. On Southern Patagonia Hiking: Chile & Argentina, the 15.5-mile trek to Laguna de los Tres is one of the tour’s most challenging days. You'll wind through boulder-filled valleys and past teal lagoons until you reach Poincenot Base Camp, then climb the steep final 1,300 feet. At the top, Fitz Roy’s north face fills your entire field of vision—2,500 feet of vertical granite and ice.
24. Hike Scout Lookout Trail in Zion National Park
Zion’s sandstone has been forming for 250 million years, creating the red-rock amphitheater that makes it America’s second-most visited park. On U.S. Hiking: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion National Park, Scout Lookout Trail brings you face-to-face with those walls—vertical Navajo sandstone turning orange and red as sun moves across it. Walter’s Wiggles (21 steep switchbacks engineered in the 1920s) bring you to Scout Lookout at 5,790 feet, where you can rest and admire Zion Canyon 1,100 feet below.
25. Cross New Zealand’s Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing consistently ranks among the world’s best day hikes—12.7 miles through volcanic landscapes so otherworldly that Peter Jackson used them as Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. On New Zealand Multi-Adventure: North & South Islands, you’ll climb Devil’s Staircase to South Crater, pass the Red Crater, and reach the Emerald Lakes (surreal turquoise pools in a volcanic basin). The trail shifts through multiple ecosystems in one day: volcanic rock, alpine gardens, native forest. The Māori indigenous people consider these peaks tapu (sacred), which adds genuine weight to already spectacular terrain.
26. Glamp in Bhutan’s Himalayas
Bhutan deliberately limits tourism to preserve culture and environment in this Himalayan kingdom where Gross National Happiness is official policy. On Bhutan Hiking: The Trans Bhutan Trail, The Tigers Nest Camp offers safari-style tents with real beds, modern bathrooms, and private patios overlooking Tiger’s Nest Monastery clinging to a cliffside 3,000 feet above the valley. With spa treatments, refined Bhutanese cuisine, and a well-stocked bar, you’re glamping in style while surrounded by Himalayan peaks and clouds.
We know there are a thousand ways to spend your time and money in 2026. But if you’re reading this, chances are you’re someone who wants more from travel than just checking boxes. These 26 experiences? They’re the ones that actually stick with you—the hikes that leave you awe-struck, the moments that remind you what wonder feels like, the places that shift something inside you.
Our Black Friday sale ends November 28, and we don’t have deals like this often. If any of these experiences resonate with you, now’s the time to act. Not because we’re pushing you, but because the best trips are the ones you give yourself time to look forward to.
Here’s to making 2026 count.
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