What’s trending in tours for 2026 (in plain English)
If 2025 was about just get me away, 2026 is about traveling smarter: fewer crowds, more meaning, and adventures that feel like a story you’ll tell for years—not a checklist you rush through.
What’s interesting is where that energy is going. Across multiple data-driven lists for 2026, the destinations rising fastest aren’t always the obvious ones. Think island regions and nature gateways, but also under-the-radar cities that make great starting points for multi-day routes.
- Beyond the crowds is the new flex
More travelers are intentionally choosing places that feel fresh—less bottlenecked, less overrun, more local. That doesn’t mean skipping iconic countries; it often means picking a different region or gateway than the usual tourist magnets. You’ll see this theme explicitly in Expedia’s 2026 list (Beyond the Crowds) and Skyscanner’s not-so-obvious trend framing.
What this means for you: multi-day tours are a cheat code here. When you go a little off the beaten path, tours remove the hard parts (transport, timing, permits, local logistics) and let you focus on the experience.
- Islands + easy nature adventures are having a moment
A clear 2026 pattern is destinations that blend outdoor time + recovery time—beaches, coastal hikes, snorkeling, boat days, scenic drives, and food nights. Expedia’s 2026 destinations include islands like Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), and Phu Quoc (Vietnam)—all naturally suited to multi-day itineraries that mix active days and slower days.
- Travelers want transparency before they commit
This is a trend that doesn’t sound exciting, but it’s shaping bookings: travelers want clear total prices, what’s included, and cancellation terms upfront—especially for longer trips. Booking.com’s 2026 travel messaging emphasizes flexibility and how people want to travel their way, and their 2026 data-driven destination content is built off booking behavior.
- Second cities are rising—because they make better multi-day routes
Instead of spending a whole trip in the most famous city, travelers are using smaller hubs as basecamps for regional loops. Skyscanner’s 2026 trending destinations list includes places like Jaipur (India), Zadar (Croatia), Madeira (Portugal), and Olbia (Sardinia gateway)—destinations that naturally connect to multi-day touring.
The most trending destinations for 2026 (and what kind of tour they fit)
Most trending depends on the dataset (bookings vs searches vs member demand), so the most useful answer is: destinations that show up repeatedly across major 2026 lists—or clearly align with the big 2026 themes above.
The Island & Coast winners (adventure + chill)
- Okinawa, Japan: beaches, island-hopping, culture, and easy outdoor days. It’s highlighted on Expedia’s 2026 list and American Express Travel’s 2026 trending destinations.
- Sardinia (Italy) / Olbia (gateway): coastal drives, hidden coves, and swim-hike-eat-repeat energy. Sardinia is on Expedia’s 2026 list; Olbia also appears as a trending destination in Skyscanner’s list.
- Phu Quoc, Vietnam: warm-water island days plus easy add-on routes on the mainland. It’s on Expedia’s 2026 destinations list.
- Madeira, Portugal: dramatic coastal landscapes and trails (a strong soft adventure destination). It appears in Skyscanner’s trending list.
Best tour styles for these: island-hopping, coastal highlights, active-light itineraries, small-group culture + nature blends.
The Nature & Mountain gateways (big scenery, low stress)
- Big Sky, Montana (USA): called out in Expedia’s 2026 list (strong for scenic road-trip style touring and national park pairings depending on itinerary).
- Savoie, France: also on Expedia’s 2026 list, well suited to alpine scenery + charming towns.
- Ucluelet, Canada: on Expedia’s list, a nature-forward coastal base that’s great for multi-day outdoors itineraries.
Best tour styles for these: scenic loops, outdoors-based tours, hiking-light itineraries, winter or shoulder-season escapes.
The Culture-rich second city picks (more story, less crowd)
- Jaipur, India: a standout on Skyscanner’s trending list; great as part of a Golden Triangle-style route or a deeper Rajasthan loop.
- Bilbao, Spain: appears in Booking.com’s 2026 trending destinations and is a strong gateway to Basque Country food/culture routes.
- Zadar, Croatia: on Skyscanner’s trending list; ideal for multi-day coastal hopping that avoids the most crowded nodes.
- Marrakech, Morocco: featured in American Express Travel’s 2026 trending destinations; a classic gateway for multi-day desert + mountain circuits.
Best tour styles for these: cultural circuits, food-focused routes, mixed adventure (markets + mountains + coast), 7–12 day regional highlights.
How to pick your 2026 trip (without overthinking it)
Instead of asking What’s the #1 destination?, ask:
What do I want my days to feel like?
- If you want adventure with recovery, lean islands/coasts (Okinawa, Sardinia/Olbia, Phu Quoc, Madeira).
- If you want big nature, choose a gateway and let the itinerary do the work (Big Sky, Savoie, Ucluelet).
- If you want culture with an edge, go for second-city routes (Jaipur, Bilbao, Zadar, Marrakech).
Then book smarter by focusing on three things early: pace, what’s included, and cancellation terms—those are the usual regret points on multi-day trips.