Best Places to Visit in 2026: Trending Travel Destinations in India & Abroad

Trending Travel Destinations for 2026

This 2026 travel list is not about ticking countries off a map. It focuses on destinations where days have texture, routines feel different, and travel slows you down rather than rushing you through highlights. Each place on this list stands out for a clear reason—whether shaped by food, geography, history, or everyday local life.

Jorhat, India

Jorhat is our entry point into Assam, and a slower rhythm of travel. Days here revolve around tea estates, riverbanks, and unplanned conversations. You can walk through working tea gardens, learn how leaves are processed, and drink tea where it is grown rather than packaged.

A visit to Majuli Island, one of the world’s largest river islands, adds monasteries, mask-making traditions, and wide open river views. Evenings are best kept simple with local Assamese meals and quiet walks.

Why visit Jorhat ?

Since last year, Jorhat has been drawing attention as travellers look beyond crowded hill stations and toward places where daily life still shapes the travel experience.

Daily life in Jorhat is closely tied to tea, rivers, and seasonal rhythms. Small towns, roadside tea stalls, and local markets offer a glimpse into Assamese routines that feel unhurried and deeply rooted. Unlike fast-paced tourist hubs, Jorhat rewards travellers who prefer observation over itineraries and conversations over checklists.

Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Jaffna offers a side of Sri Lanka that feels deeply regional and shaped by history. It is a place to listen, observe, and enjoy excellent food.

You can explore Hindu temples, cycle through surrounding villages, and take day trips to nearby islands like Delft. Food is a major reason to come here, especially crab curry, dosas, and street snacks unique to the north. Time spent talking to locals adds important context to the region’s post-war identity.

Muscat, Oman

Muscat feels calm, spacious, and rooted in tradition. It balances natural landscapes with a strong sense of cultural continuity.

You can explore the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, walk through Mutrah Souq, and spend evenings by the sea. Day trips into the desert or the mountains offer dramatic scenery without heavy crowds. Beaches here are quiet, clean, and often uncrowded, making rest as much a part of the plan as sightseeing.

Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown earns its place for outdoor days that feel earned rather than staged. Nature dictates the pace here.

You can hike around Lake Wakatipu, take longer treks into nearby national parks, or simply spend days moving between trails, lakes, and small towns. Cold-water swims, early mornings, and tired evenings define the experience more than attractions. It is a destination built around being outside rather than being entertained.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Chiang Rai is chosen over busier Thai cities for its quietness and regional character.

You can visit lesser-known temples, including the White Temple and surrounding local sites, that do not feel rushed. Northern Thai food, especially soups and grilled dishes, is reason enough to linger. Day trips into hill country villages and time spent in small cafés help slow the days into something more intentional.

Varanasi, India

Varanasi is intense, spiritual, and unforgettable. It demands presence.

You can watch sunrise rituals along the Ganges, attend evening aarti ceremonies, and walk the old city lanes where life unfolds without pause. Boat rides at dawn offer perspective, while time spent sitting and observing often becomes the most meaningful activity. This is a place where doing less leads to a deeper experience.

Manila, Philippines

Manila is layered, loud, and full of contrast. It rewards curiosity and patience.

You can explore street food scenes, local markets, and neighbourhoods shaped by colonial and modern history. Museums and old districts like Intramuros offer context, while nearby day trips to beaches or islands create balance. Nights are social, chaotic, and best experienced without a strict plan.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi blends old-world architecture with modern creative energy. It feels lived-in rather than curated.

You can walk through the old town, soak in sulfur baths, and spend evenings in wine bars that showcase Georgia’s ancient winemaking traditions. Day trips into the countryside or nearby mountains add variety, but the city itself is best enjoyed slowly, on foot, with long meals and no fixed schedule.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City thrives on motion. It is energetic without being overwhelming if you lean into its rhythm.

You can explore markets, drink strong coffee in small shops, and eat at sidewalk stalls and family-run restaurants. Motorbike traffic becomes part of the scenery rather than an obstacle. Museums and historical sites add depth, but everyday street life is the real draw.

Port Louis, Mauritius

Port Louis closes the list with a sense of ease. It is urban enough to stay interesting and coastal enough to slow things down.

You can wander central markets, explore waterfront areas, and use the city as a base for beach days and inland hikes. Food reflects the island’s mix of cultures, and afternoons naturally stretch longer here. It feels like a place to pause and reflect on the journey rather than rush onward.

Plan your Travel with TravelBudie

Select your favourite place from our travel list, and TravelBudie will create an itinerary for you. In 2026, explore vibrant cultures, try thrilling adventures, and create experiences you’ll remember for years. Our itineraries are designed to immerse you in each destination.