Where We’re Going in 2026

Each new year brings with it a set of property openings, hotel restorations and cultural events that influence where we want to travel. 

For 2026, several destinations stand out - places where architecture, landscape and contemporary local culture come together in ways that feel particularly compelling to us.

To inspire your travels next year, we’ve highlighted the regions and properties we’re most excited about as we look ahead to the coming year.

Seoul & Wider South Korea

As travellers look beyond the familiar circuits of East Asia, South Korea stands out for the range and quality of experiences available within a relatively compact geography.

Seoul has become one of Asia’s most dynamic capitals, with a design and culinary scene that is evolving at remarkable speed.

In addition, the country outside the capital offers equally rewarding experiences - from the historic city of Gyeongju and the craft traditions of Jeonju to the volcanic landscapes of Jeju Island.

As interest in the country heightens, 2026 feels like the perfect time to explore South Korea through a more considered lens: architecture, contemporary arts, regional food heritage and the cultural threads that tie the country together.

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto’s heritage is well-known, but 2026 brings significant new openings that add fresh contemporary interest to the city.

The newest teamLab installation - an immersive digital art space blending light, scale and interactive technology - is set to open, offering a contemporary counterpoint to Kyoto’s traditional temples and wooden machiya streets.


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Capella Kyoto, due to open in the first half of 2026, adds another layer to the city’s design landscape, a contemporary property shaped by attention to detail and understated service for which the brand is known.

 

Whether a first-time visitor, a repeat traveller or those seeking to stay on the pulse of contemporary Japanese culture, Kyoto will be one of the most interesting destinations to revisit next year.

Nihi Rote, Indonesia

Nihi’s new property on Indonesia’s Rote Island, Indonesia’s southernmost inhabited island, located off the coast of West Timor, is set to be one of 2026’s most talked-about openings, offering a new base from which to explore one of Indonesia’s most remote and little-visited regions.



Known for combining thoughtful, locally-inspired design with remote landscapes, the brand’s expansion to Rote opens access to one of Indonesia’s least-visited islands.

Rote’s position also makes it an exceptional base for exploring a part of Indonesia that few travellers reach, with surf breaks, fishing grounds and local communities that remain largely untouched by mainstream tourism.

India 

India’s architectural heritage continues to offer depth well beyond the established circuit and 2026 brings renewed focus to regions where restoration and cultural stewardship are shaping a more considered way of travelling.

In Rajasthan, Deeppuragarh stands out as one of the most thoughtful recent openings. Originally adorned in the early 20th century by Rao Raja Kalyan Singh Bahadur, the last Maharajah of Sikar, the fort is notable for its rare murals, works that depict not only royal life but also the artisans and craftspeople behind them.

After years of neglect, the fort was acquired and painstakingly restored by Italian jewellery designer Maria Grazia Baldan, whose long-term commitment to conservation has returned Deeppuragarh to life while preserving its original architectural character.



Set amid farming villages and traditional craft communities, the property offers a quieter, more intimate perspective on Rajasthan - one shaped by rural life, material heritage and regional history rather than spectacle.

Further south, Central India adds another compelling dimension. The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, located in the Malwa region, brings Oberoi’s luxurious approach to a palace restoration that foregrounds proportion, craftsmanship and historical integrity. From here, travellers can continue to Khajuraho, home to one of India’s most extraordinary temple complexes, renowned for their sculptural detail and UNESCO recognition.

Together, these regions form one of India’s most rewarding cultural routes for the year ahead - combining careful restoration, lightly visited landscapes and architecture that reveals its meaning gradually.

Botswana

Botswana’s Okavango Delta remains one of Africa’s most remarkable ecosystems, and new openings like Monachira signal an exciting shift in the region’s safari landscape.

Monachira sits in a prime Delta location, with waterways, floodplains and woodlands that support exceptional wildlife viewing throughout the year.

 

What makes it compelling for 2026 is how it pairs contemporary camp design with ecological sensitivity - part of a new wave of Delta properties that offer strong guiding, refined accommodation and a clear link to conservation.

 

Monachira sits comfortably within a new generation of Delta properties that prioritise guiding, design and ecological awareness in equal measure.

Bhutan

Bhutan’s valley landscapes remain as atmospheric and culturally rich as ever, and recent openings continue to shape how travellers experience the country. 

In the Punakha Valley, &Beyond Punakha River Lodge has brought renewed attention to one of Bhutan’s most fertile and historically significant regions. Several seasons in, it is now firmly established as a tried and tested new favourite place to stay.



Set along the Mo Chhu River, this fun property brings thoughtful design to a region known for rice paddies, traditional farmhouses and historic dzongs.



Punakha’s appeal lies in its balance, accessible yet unspoilt, gently lived-in rather than performative, making it a natural focus for travellers interested in Bhutan’s cultural foundations, river valleys and long-established walking routes.

Looking Ahead

From the cultural evolution of South Korea and Japan’s new openings to the ecological richness of Botswana and the architectural heritage of India and Bhutan, 2026 brings a diverse set of destinations that feel particularly relevant.

Thinking about planning a 2026 trip? Our specialists can design an itinerary shaped by regional insight. Contact the team at info@ampersandtravel.com.