While many travellers view a holiday as a chance to do as little as possible, others like to pack their trips with excursions, days out and experiences.
The UK has plenty of ‘must-see’ attractions, with the benefit of travel requiring a short drive or train journey rather than a long flight.
It comes as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation reported that global travel demand is set to outpace pre-pandemic levels through 2025 and into 2026, driven by a surge in interest in nature-based, wellness and cultural experiences.
Meanwhile, the World Travel & Tourism Council highlighted a shift towards ‘transformational travel’, noting that travellers are increasingly looking for experiences that offer personal growth and environmental connection.
From multi-day endurance challenges to restorative retreats, National Geographic has revealed the top experiences to book for 2026.
The best news? Two of these experiences are in the UK, meaning your next escape could be on your doorstep.
Mini stargazing safari in Northumberland
While the words ‘safari’ and ‘Northumberland’ may not normally go hand in hand, National Geographic reports that following a post-COVID surge in interest in astronomy, a wave of new facilities and experiences has opened across the region.
Kielder Observatory is a public astronomical observatory and educational charity located in the heart of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park
Kielder Water in Northumberland is pictured on a starry evening
At the centre of this lies Kielder Observatory, the UK’s most revered astronomical institution outside of Greenwich.
Set in a purpose-built timber structure high up in Kielder Forest, the observatory and educational charity operates more than 700 events a year, appealing, in its own words, to ‘all ages from six to 100’.
January brings long nights, with the sun setting by 4pm for most of the month, making it a perfect time for stargazing.
Tickets start at £25 for children’s events with prices reaching to £59 for the Dark Sky Discovery experience, which takes place between 11pm and 1am.
Modern-day pilgrimage in Portugal
The dramatic coastal cliffs at Cabo da Roca in Portugal offers panoramic views of the rugged coastline and the Serra de Sintra
If walking is more your speed, Portugal’s Rota Vicentina offers a network of linear and circular trails showcasing the wild, deserted beaches, honey-hued cliffs and sleepy coastal towns of southwest Portugal.
The 143-mile stretch, Fishermen’s Trail, starts near Porto Covo, in Alentejo province, and extends all the way to Lagos in the Algarve, taking in some of Europe’s best-preserved coastal ecosystems en route.
Visitors can take a six-night trip along the Fishermen’s Trail with specialist tour operator Macs Adventure, starting at £599 per person, including accommodation at traditional guesthouses, daily bag transfers and app-based navigation.
Conquer Slovenia in six days
Pictured: Triglav National Park, Julian Alps, Slovenia
Slovenia is fast emerging as one of Europe’s top adventure destinations, according to National Geographic.
With flights from the UK taking just over two hours, the country is a great mini break for Brits looking to maximise their annual leave.
Slovenia’s small scale means it’s easy to get around and nip between its picturesque lakes, mountains, walking trails and rivers.
Sport tour agency Outventure-X offers a six-day itinerary which includes climbing to the summit of 9,395ft Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain, as well as biking, rafting and paragliding.
Slovenia Outdoor Week starts from £876 per person, including accommodation, expert guides and most activities.
Forest bathing in Japan’s Kii Peninsula
Shinrin yoku, often translated as ‘forest bathing’, is a Japanese philosophy of recuperation by spending time in the woods, which is said to help reduce stress levels and increase wellbeing.
Set in the dense forests of the Kii Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, three sacred sites – Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, Koyasan – linked by pilgrimage routes to the ancient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto, reflect the fusion of Shinto, rooted in the ancient tradition of nature worship in Japan, and Buddhism, which was introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula.
Daimon-zaka is an impressive cobblestone staircase slope which runs from the base of the valley to Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple and Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Japan
Pictured: The rugged, forested Kii Mountains in Japan. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers breathtaking horizons and dense forest landscapes
The sites and their surrounding forest landscape reflect a persistent and extraordinarily well-documented tradition of sacred mountains over 1,200 years.
The area, with its abundance of streams, rivers and waterfalls, is still part of the living culture of Japan and is much visited for ritual purposes and hiking, with up to 15million visitors annually.
Each of the three sites contains shrines, some of which were founded as early as the 9th century.
By day, you might join an art workshop working with cedar shavings. By night, you might stay in the Yoshino Cedar House, a high-design lodge that’s faintly like a treehouse in its shape, with views of forested mountains from its sunny verandah.
Sessions in Yoshino can be booked through the Yoshino Tourist Board, taking place in summer and autumn. Prices start from £25 per person.
For stays in Yoshino, Ryokan Yukawaya offers traditional accommodation with mountain views from £84 per night, including dinner, while Yoshino Cedar House sleeps up to seven guests from £131 per night.
Warm mud bath in Italy
Tourists are pictured enjoying the hot mud baths (Laghetto di Fanghi) on the Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Rising from the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea around 15 miles off the north coast of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands remain one of Italy’s best-kept secrets.
Vulcano, at the southernmost end of the archipelago, is celebrated for its therapeutic thermal mud baths and openings in the earth’s crust that vent steam.
Bathing in the bubbling, slate-grey mud is soothing for muscles, boosting circulation and aiding skin conditions.
Mud‑bath entry at the Laghetto di Fanghi, Vulcano starts from £4 per person and includes shower access.
Sweat it out in an urban sauna in London
A room with a view! Rooftop Saunas, a wellness experience with locations in London, offers views of the city skyline
Full list of National Geographic’s 20 travel adventures to book in 2026
1. Mini stargazing safari in Northumberland
2. Modern-day pilgrimage in Portugal
3. Conquer Slovenia in six days
4. Forest bathing in Japan’s Kii Peninsula
5. Wallow in a warm mud bath in Italy
6. Get a change of scenery on a grief retreat
7. Sweat it out in an urban sauna in London
8. Soak with seaweed in Brittany
9. Take a football pilgrimage across South America
10. Play padel in Spain
11. Train for a triathlon in Lanzarote
12. Try trail running in the Lofoten Islands
13. Dive with the elusive octopus in Seattle
14. Listen to whale song in the Azores
15. Learn about rewilding in Romania
16. Kayak through bioluminescence in Puerto Rico
17. Try concert hopping in Chicago
18. Celebrate craft heritage in Mexico
19. Learn a new language in Okinawa
20. Go back to your roots in Ghana
Source: National Geographic
For many Londoners, the hustle and bustle of city life leaves little room for relaxation.
But in recent years, London has been leading the urban wellness trend, offering busy Londoners the chance to sweat out stress on a lunch break and return to the office feeling reinvigorated and renewed.
One of the most striking options is Rooftop Saunas in Hackney, perched high above an East London office block with sweeping views of the skyline, offering a serene escape in the clouds.
Also in Hackney, the Community Sauna Baths offer a more rustic charm, tucked away in a slightly ramshackle yard filled with potted plants.
Further south, Peckham’s Sauna Social Club lets you unwind in a converted railway arch, where you can hear the gentle rumble of passing trains overhead.
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