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The new year is about new opportunities, fresh experiences, and bold beginnings. So, if you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to take that trip, learn something new, or push your limits, why not make 2026 your year of YES?
Travel is one of the most enjoyable, rewarding, and transformative ways to step beyond the everyday – but it’s about far more than simply visiting places you’ve never been. Meaningful travel is immersive. It’s about forming genuine connections with your destination, discovering the world on a deeper level, and embracing the kinds of experiences that shift your perspective…in the best possible way.
To inspire you, we’ve partnered with Intrepid, a travel company that makes it easy to say YES. Known for responsible small-group tours, they’ve been helping people explore the world since 1989. Journeys with Intrepid are about authentic local experiences shared with equally curious travellers, and whether you’re dreaming of trekking along ancient trails or exploring far-flung cultures, there’s a tour to suit you.
Here are five destinations – and experiences – you can’t miss in 2026.
Plus, in Intrepid’s New Year Sale, you can get up to 20% off selected trips (terms & conditions apply).
1. Morocco
If your 2026 goals include embracing new cultures and tasting new flavours, Morocco might just be your perfect match. Intrepid’s 10-day Morocco Highlights tour blends the very best of the country’s history, nature, culture, and cuisine – from Marrakech’s spice-scented souks and fragrant tagines to the vast stillness of the Sahara, Morocco is a true feast for the senses.
Begin in colourful Marrakech, experience the bustle of Casablanca, then journey to two of the country’s most picturesque towns: the 11th-century kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, and Chefchaouen, with its striking blue houses. See ancient history up close at Volubilis’ Roman ruins, then travel out to the sweeping Sahara. Ride camels over golden dunes, sleep under star-filled skies, and sip mint tea with nomadic families.
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Intrepid Morocco Highlights*
£159 off | Morocco | 10 days | Accommodation Included
Get £200 off selected trips over £1500! Use code 751011. Offer ends July 31st. T&Cs apply.
Includes taxes and fees
2. Mongolia
Home to sweeping grasslands, boundless deserts, and age-old traditions, Mongolia is one of the world’s most unique destinations. But despite its breathtaking landscapes and fascinating cultures, few tourists visit. So if you’re yearning for thrilling exploration, why not head to this remote country in 2026? More than a mere trip, Intrepid’s Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure is a journey through some of Earth’s last truly wild places.
This 11-day adventure takes you from the bright lights of Beijing to Mongolia via one of the world’s great rail routes. As you travel, watch the landscape shift from dense taiga forest to desolate plains, and spot wild horses and golden eagles. Spend nights in traditional ger camps (similar to yurts), share lunch with nomadic families, and stand among the golden dunes of the Gobi Desert. It’s a rare chance to experience a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries.
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Intrepid Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure*
£478 off | China & Mongolia | 11 days | Accommodation Included
Get £200 off selected trips over £1500! Use code 751011. Offer ends July 31st. T&Cs apply.
Includes taxes and fees
3. East Africa
For travellers seeking vibrant cities, stunning natural landscapes, unique wildlife encounters, and rich and diverse local cultures, East Africa is unrivalled. On this 10-day East Africa Highlights adventure beginning in Nairobi, Kenya, you’ll travel through the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve, across the vast Serengeti, and into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for thrilling 4WD game drives. Search for the Big Five alongside giraffes, lions, wildebeest, leopards, impalas, and diverse birdlife across these iconic landscapes.
But this journey offers far more than extraordinary wildlife encounters. You’ll experience the majesty of Africa’s largest lake and forge meaningful connections with indigenous communities, spending time alongside Maasai warriors and Hadzabe people who will share their ancient traditions and contemporary way of life through the wisdom of community elders. With overnight stays in the heart of national parks, you’ll also fall asleep to the sounds of the wilderness and wake to breathtaking African sunrises.
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Intrepid East Africa Highlights*
£513 off | Kenya & Tanzania | 10 days | Accommodation Included
Get £200 off selected trips over £1500! Use code 751011. Offer ends July 31st. T&Cs apply.
Includes taxes and fees
4. Croatia and Montenegro
If you’d like 2026 to be the year you get more active, why not head to Croatia and Montenegro for Intrepid’s thrilling hike, bike, and raft adventure? Beginning and ending in medieval Dubrovnik, this one-week tour is a unique chance to reconnect with nature. Snorkel and kayak in the turquoise seas of the Elaphiti Isles, cycle beneath the limestone peaks of Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park, and hike among its glacial lakes.
However, this tour offers just as much adrenaline as it does natural beauty. Rafting along the bright-blue waters of the Tara River Canyon, one of Europe’s deepest gorges, will get your heart pumping, as will a challenging trek up Kotor’s mountain fortress. There’s plenty of time for relaxation, too, whether that’s enjoying fresh seafood and wine in a waterfront restaurant, strolling along Dubrovnik’s ancient city walls, or simply soaking up the Adriatic sun in a picturesque cove.
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£445 off | Croatia & Montenegro | 7 days | Accommodation Included
Get £200 off selected trips over £1500! Use code 751011. Offer ends July 31st. T&Cs apply.
Includes taxes and fees
5. Peru
If you’re drawn to South America, why not make 2026 the year of iconic hikes and rainforest exploration? Intrepid’s 12-day Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure takes you from the rugged Andes to the sultry Amazon, blending adventure, history, and nature into one unforgettable journey. Visit colonial towns, try local cuisine, and spot wildlife as you discover the heart and soul of the Inca Empire. This is Peru at its most magical.
A highlight is trekking through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, the iconic Incan citadel perched high amongst misty, jungle-cloaked peaks. Exploring this legendary site in person is a magical experience – but Peru has so much more to offer. Explore Cusco, South America’s oldest continuously inhabited city, meet Andean communities keeping ancient traditions alive, spot monkeys and parrots in the Amazon, and savour fresh ceviche and zesty pisco sours.
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Intrepid Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure*
£555 off | Peru | 12 days | Accommodation Included
Get £200 off selected trips over £1500! Use code 751011. Offer ends July 31st. T&Cs apply.
Includes taxes and fees
Final thoughts…
As the calendar turns to a fresh new year, there’s no better time to think about what you want to achieve and experience in 2026.
Whether you’re looking to get excited, inspired, or be challenged, Intrepid’s small-group tours offer all kinds of opportunities to step into something extraordinary. From following Incan footsteps in Peru to making unforgettable memories on an African safari, all these adventures provide plenty of once-in-a-lifetime moments.
And with Intrepid, it isn’t just about visiting new countries and having new experiences; it’s about connecting with local communities, meeting like-minded travellers, and experiencing things that can transform your perspective on the world.
So, whichever destination you’re drawn to, why not make 2026 the year you really explore? Say yes to adventure…and let the magic begin.
Plus, in Intrepid’s New Year Sale, you can get up to 20% off selected trips (terms & conditions apply).