Travel 2026 Guide | The West Australian

Japan, Vietnam, Bali, solo travel, safaris in Africa, river cruising in Europe, and ocean cruising just about everywhere.

West Australian travellers are all over the place, often several times a year.

And 2026 is shaping up to be another big travelling year.

Expect to book early to get your pick of tours, cruise cabins and well-positioned hotels, and full planes — and to be eyeing 2027, too.

The first annual report by Wendy Wu Tours, called The Journey Ahead, reveals:

+ Japan remains Australia’s top destination.

+ Popular destinations for 2026 include Vietnam, China, India, South America, South Korea, Africa and the Middle East.

+ Solo travel continues to increase, with 73 per cent of Australians considering exploring alone. “They are drawn by freedom, personal growth and cultural immersion,” the report states.

+ Multi-generational trips are increasingly popular, bringing families together.

And, indeed, in the global World Tourism Barometer, published by United Nations Tourism, Japan shared the top spot with Vietnam for the highest tourism growth rate in the first half of 2025. It saw a 21 per cent increase in international visits compared with the previous year — with Tokyo as its most visited destination.

IMMERSIVE & MEANINGFUL

But for all that frenzied activity, just about the whole travel industry has a rather different take on the dominant travel theme of 2026. There is a shift towards the immersive, meaningful and slow-paced. Australians are rethinking the way they explore the world, Wendy Wu’s The Journey Ahead reveals.

Indeed, there’s a hint as the report names Japan as the top destination — as it predicts that 2026 will see a growing appetite for deeper, more meaningful experiences there.

“We are witnessing an exciting evolution in Australian travel,” says Wendy Wu Tours Australia managing director Simon Bell. “People are slowing down, connecting more deeply, and prioritising experiences over checklists.”

I see that in itineraries across the board. In Europe, specialist small-group Albatross Tours has many “off the beaten track” itineraries, many with three-night stays in some of the most interesting spots.

“In 2026, travel isn’t about escaping real life — it’s about bringing your whole self along for the journey,” says a spokesperson for Skyscanner, the global travel search engine that compares prices for flights, hotels and car hire from thousands of companies.

Indeed, its travel trends for 2026 is titled: “Beyond escape. Travel as an expression of self” — and it sees the top three trends for 2026 as:

Glowmads “In 2026, skincare routines and beauty rituals won’t just live on social feeds — they’ll shape real-world travel plans and behaviour. Think in-flight skincare routines, shopping for local beauty products and detours to cult-favourite retailers. Travel beauty isn’t just about where to go — it’s also about beauty shaping how we explore.” Across its huge database, 33 per cent of travellers say they sample or keep beauty products from hotel bathrooms, and 32 per cent say they buy local products they can’t get at home.

Shelf discovery “Culinary tourism is swapping restaurant reservations for supermarket safaris,” says the spokesperson. “To ‘eat like a local’ now means heading to the snack aisle. From Tokyo vending machines and 7-Eleven Slurpees to Iceland’s geothermal baked bread, gastro-tourism is changing.” Travellers are looking for a unique glimpse into local life that’s affordable and authentic. Skyscanner’s data shows almost seven in 10 Aussie travellers always or often visit local supermarkets while overseas.

Altitude shift Mountain tourism is peaking interest. Travellers are looking for high and serene spots, from the Dolomites to Annapurna to the Canadian Rockies. The data shows 74 per cent of Aussie travellers considering or planning a mountain escape for summer or autumn 2026.

OUR PICK OF PLACES

I know, it’s ridiculous coming up with a list of the “hottest places” in 2026.

But we have continual contact with readers and the travel industry, so if anyone is well placed to make guesses and suggestions that are relevant for WA travellers, it’s us…

Cairo & the Nile Travel in Egypt continues to be in high demand. I call it the “safe corridor” from Cairo, down the Nile to the archaeological sites — and think most travellers should just be sticking to this. There’s great contrast, from the bustling markets of Cairo to the steady blue of the River Nile. But a spokesperson for Intrepid Travel comments: “While the headliner sites of the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings are what you come for, the home-cooked dinners with Nubian families, nights spent under the stars on feluccas or your first taste of koshary will be what stays with you long after the pyramids disappear over the horizon.” I’d be looking at their nine-day Premium Egypt tour (usually from $6795 but, as I write this on November 26, 2025, at $5346) or 12-day Egypt Experience for $5465 (currently $4372). Viking, Scenic and Avalon all have good river cruise and tour packages.

Amsterdam to Budapest It’s still interesting to me that for all we write about alternatives and extensions (Budapest to Bucharest) of this classic river cruise in Europe, it still sits head and shoulders above others. But in 2026, look for overnight stays in pretty ports and unusual stops (a day in Bratislava, Slovakia). An example is APT’s 15-day Magnificent Europe between Amsterdam and Budapest on the ship Ostara or Solara. An APT spokesperson says: “This is our most popular river cruise, and for good reason.”

Japan Signage, language and technology have made the place so much easier to navigate that we’re now thinking about hire cars and meandering between more out-of-the-way places. There are plenty of English-speaking car rental options, and an electronic toll collection card usually comes with the rental car. The Japan Automobile Federation has lots of advice on rules, an driving tips, in English (english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/rules-of-the-road). One word of warning — parking isn’t cheap. The two most common carpark types are elevator parking lots (they look like car vending machines) and parking lots that secure the car by raising a low barrier underneath it. To free it, you pay at a central pay station. And another word of warning — Japanese drivers are very courteous — an attitude which may be challenging for some Perth drivers.

The Five Stans It’s not so many years since travelling through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was very difficult. It is still challenging, but things have been smoothed out quite a bit. Perth company Travel Directors pioneered The Five Stans, and still offers it, but other companies do too now. Uzbekistan, I think, is still rather the jewel in this crown of ex-Soviet countries, but is getting busier. Next year is a good time to visit.

Paris & the Seine A couple of years ago, this seemed like a new idea — to sail west from the French capital, calling at pretty places and ending up with an excursion to the beaches of Normandy. It is well proven now, and a great, contrasty addition to those days in Paris. Look at Viking’s itinerary.

Singapore Our near neighbour, a five-hour flight and in the same time zone, can be “on the list” every year — as it continually develops and reinvents itself. The Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore has undergone a big expansion to handle 11,700 passengers (up from 7000), and Princess will homeport Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess in Singapore for the 2026-2027 season — a nice option for us to fly-cruise. Several new hotels are scheduled to open in Singapore in 2026, including the Four Points by Sheraton in the western district of Jurong, and the Avani Singapore by Minor Hotels in Tanjong Pagar (a multicultural area with international dining and plenty of nightlife). The NoMad Hotel by Hilton (with a 15-storey waterfall) is now due to open early in 2027 — but bookings should open late in 2026.

India “I’ve always wanted to go there.” I hear this regularly from readers, and there is always a steady flow of West Australians to India — mainly to join a tour of the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra). We are still waiting for a direct flight (and I have been writing that for two years) — but I am not going to fall into the trap of predicting when it will happen. In October, WA Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said he was on a mission to make the seven-year direct flight dream a reality for Perth. Maybe in 2026? I hope so. (In 2018, then-tourism minister Paul Papalia said he was targeting India as the next hub for a direct flight.)

Hoi An and Hanoi With Perth’s direct flights only to Ho Chi Minh city, in the south, getting to Hoi An, in the middle of Vietnam, and Hanoi, in the north, isn’t that easy — but it’s worth it. In 2026, consider a longer trip, from south (Ho Chi Minh) to north (Hanoi and Ha Long Bay), with time in the middle (Hoi An). I like Luxury Escapes’ Deluxe 17-day Ultimate Vietnam with Sapa, Hue and Hoi An itinerary, from $4199 per person (and $3989 if you’re a Luxury Escapes member). luxuryescapes.com

Antarctica In 2026, I think we are just going to see “more of the same” in Antarctica — with a fleet of good, modern, fast and efficient expedition ships sailing south, mainly from Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina, to the Antarctic Peninsula, usually in a day and a half now. I’m not expecting any great deals — it is a privilege and a once-in-a-lifetime journey that we simply have to pay for. As the years go by, the season seems to be getting a bit earlier. I like to be there just as the penguin eggs are hatching, and that is about the end of November.

+ The shift in 2026, I think, will be more talk about East Antarctica. These are longer trips (24 or 25 days) across the Ross Sea, hoping to see Mawson’s Hut. Most leave from New Zealand, with New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands and Macquarie Island on the itinerary. But some, like Aurora, sail from Hobart, Tasmania, too.

Greenland (& Iceland & Northwest Passage) When we recently asked one of the world’s most experienced expedition cruise captains, Ponant’s Etienne Garcia, what he was most excited about, he replied “East Greenland”. Its fjords are remote. It has the world’s biggest fjord system and the largest nature reserve on Earth. It’s definitely “out there”. But many cruise companies are now sailing there — from Ponant to Seabourn.

Amazon, short river cruises While many travellers will make sure Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls are on their South America wish-list, I’ve been seeing a real development in the number and quality of short river cruises on the Amazon River — in Brazil, and now in Peru, the birthplace of the world’s biggest river (by volume), where the Ucayali and Maranon rivers converge.

Kimberley During the pandemic (dare I mention that?) and just after, we travelled WA extensively. Our big, beautiful backyard. And since then, we’ve been travelling interstate and internationally. But I’m aiming to be back in the East Kimberley soon, and Kimberley cruising will be much sought after in 2026.

Alice Springs So, you think this is an odd one to have on a 2026 list? I don’t. The direct flight to Alice is usually a bit over three hours — and there you are, in the heart of Australia. The West MacDonnell Range (Tjorita) is spectacular — amazing landscape with interesting places to visit. But the main reason I have included it for consideration in 2026 is my support for and confidence in new mayor Asta Hill (who took office on August 23, 2025). Alice-born and bred, and a defence lawyer and human rights advocate, she was a legal intern at The Hague and studied law in New York, but now lives where she grew up and is raising two children there. The first Greens mayor of Alice, she says: “I want to help change the story of our town — away from fear, racism and exclusion, toward hope, connection and pride. Our town has been in the media for all the wrong reasons, and I want to get the word out that this is the most beautiful place to live.” And visit. Asta adds: “Alice is gritty, raw and alive with creative energy, culture and panoply of languages and traditions. The collective power of our community gives me hope.”

AIRFARES 2026

We have been seeing very competitive international airfares (some, in my experience, at actual 1990s prices), and every indication is this will continue through 2026.

The Air Monitor 2026 report from American Express Global Business Travel backs this up: “Travellers in 2026 can expect airfares to look much like they do in 2025.” Instead of broad fare increases, carriers are focusing on “premiumisation” and continuous pricing to drive revenue growth.

BUSY IN THE AIR

Those full international planes aren’t just about us, of course.

Tourism Research Australia is part of the Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Commission, and it produces tourism forecasts.

It is expecting that international travel to Australia will exceed its pre-pandemic level in 2026 and domestic travel will pick up from 2026 onwards, following a stable period in 2024 and 2025.

BIG STOPOVERS

The oneworld airline alliance has released its first list of the top 10 stopover destinations for people flying on its Round the World ticket in 2026. Fifteen airlines which are part of the oneworld alliance fly to more than 1000 destinations.

Crunching the huge oneworld data source shows 66 per cent of those buying a Round the World ticket are solo travellers, visiting an average of seven destinations over three or more months.

A oneworld Round the World ticket might be a good trick for some travellers, as it is a single ticket that allows flexible travel to more than 900 global destinations for up to 12 months.

Australian travellers are near the top of the list of those “most likely” to take a Round the World trip in future, and the top three most searched for destinations for Round the World travel in 2026 on oneworld.com are:

+ London, UK.

+ Tokyo, Japan.

+ Doha, Qatar.

Hong Kong, China, was fourth, and Singapore was named 10th.

Roger Blackburn, oneworld’s vice-president commercial and loyalty, says: “Searches on oneworld.com show a strong appetite for adventure in the new year.”

There are three oneworld Round the World tickets, which may include from three to 16 flights across up to six continents, and must include a trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flight. Fares are valid for trips from 10 days to 12 months.

SOLO TRAVEL

It’s not so many years ago that we, as a publication, stood alone in writing about solo and single travel. We even published a Solo Traveller Guide way back in 2005. Things have changed, and will continue to change in 2026, as the travel industry increasingly focuses on single and solo travellers. We are seeing more sympathetic solo traveller rates, cruise ships being built with some cabins specifically for singles, and tour operators very aware of the importance of solo travellers. Inspiring Vacations has a new range of small-group tours exclusively for those travelling alone, called Solo Journeys. They have no single supplements and are to popular destinations which including Japan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Africa and South America. Inspiring Vacations co-founder Paul Ryan says: “Demand for solo travel is growing. People of all ages, whether they are single or want to visit a destination their usual travel partners aren’t interested in — for too long this has meant putting their dream holiday on hold, sharing with a stranger, or incurring substantial solo supplements.”

OCEAN CRUISING

The cruise industry is so mature (and big) now that it has fragmented into segments, each of which has matured, too. What do I mean by all that? Years ago, we just wrote about “cruising” — but now we think and write about, say, exploration cruising, luxury cruising, family cruising and low-cost (big entertainment) cruising as their own entities. Within each, ships and itineraries are constantly being developed specifically for that “market segment” — the customers that they know will come. Not much more than 10 years ago, exploration cruising was in slow but strong (and loveble) old tubs, but now it is in fast, luxurious and ever more capable ships. That development, in each category, will continue apace in 2026, when at least 16 new ships are expected to debut. Among them are Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, the first Four Seasons Yachts vessel, and the first new Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship in a decade. The first hydrogen-powered cruise ship ever, Viking Libra, is scheduled for delivery in late 2026. Being built now at the Fincantieri shipyard, it will have a hybrid propulsion system using liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, meaning zero emissions while it’s sailing. It will have 499 staterooms and carry up to 998 guests.

+ There will be plenty of deals for ocean cruising enthusiasts — but the trick will be to buy early, I think. That’s the only way to get the choice of dates, itineraries and cabins. Look for companies like Ponant, which guarantees that the earlier you book, the lower the price is.

AI & THE TRAVELLER

Have no doubt, the travel and tourism artificial intelligence revolution is on.

It may not be that obvious yet to some, but AI is creeping (fast) into the back end of just about every facet of a journey, from planning and booking to economies in aircraft and ships.

It is not overstating this to say AI will become the driving force behind travel in 2026 and beyond.

Not all of that looks good at this stage, of course. If you have a problem to discuss with a travel company, you may already be doing that with an AI chatbot(!)

We think you can’t beat first-hand storytelling by humans (of course). We see and experience it, and tell you about it straight away. But increasingly, AI will get to know you (from your online interactions and intentions), and AI travel assistants and chatbots will help find flights, hotels and activities based on your preferences, spending inclinations, and travel history.

AI is already revolutionising the way bookings are made. In 2026, AI will increasingly be in the background with “dynamic pricing models” to adjust flight, hotel and package prices in real time, based on demand and competitor pricing. It can personalise a package to make it more attractive to you, to boost “booking conversions”.

Very helpfully to us all, it is driving fraud detection algorithms, to prevent unauthorised bookings or payment breaches.

And, way in the background, AI will continue to transform “operational efficiency” in the travel industry. For example, it is being used to anticipate mechanical issues for airlines (reducing disruptions and delays), and to optimise air routes, saving fuel, emissions and time.

But we know and still believe that our travellers value the human touch — the personalised alongside the automated.

THINGS NOT TO EXPECT

And finally, don’t expect fewer fellow travellers, shorter queues, more space in economy plane seats, less frustrations or (frankly) better manners from those around you. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy opened a can of worms on November 26, when launching a campaign called The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You. In a push for more civility among travellers, it draws on images and attitudes of the 1950s and 60s. A video advertisement for this Department of Transportation campaign compares old footage of smiling airport staff and well-behaved passengers with today’s social media videos of people putting bare feet up on seats and fighting on planes. “Let’s bring civility and manners back,” says Mr Duffy, suggesting people “dress with respect”. While some of us might sympathise with some of this, there was an immediate backlash. “If you want us to be respectful humans at the airport stop treating us like cattle,” wrote one social media user. Others commented they dressed to be comfortable in tight seats and while waiting in airports when there were delays.