Let curiosity lead the way as you step out of your comfort zone to experience extraordinary adventure
Living in the idyllic cities of Paris and Venice, I sometimes find it difficult motivating myself to plan new travels. But each year I make the resolution to push myself out of my comfort zone and forsake for a while the all-familiar café and croissants of my local Parisian bistro and the timeless gondolas gliding along the tranquil canals of La Serenissima. I set off once again in search of the undefinable traveler’s frisson, that unique thrill that tingles through the body when you arrive for the first time in a new destination, embark on an uncharted adventure, experience the spectacular diversity of nature – from tropical jungle to endless desert sands – and come face to face not just with unfamiliar cultures and cuisines, but a whole way of living.
Our motto for 2026 should be carpe diem: be bold, seize the moment, and plunge into a genuine adventure. This will be the year to look beyond the picture postcard and toward original destinations and experiences.
For intrepid travelers ready to push themselves to their limits, the sheer choice and variety on offer is irresistible. In the past, an ultimate adventure might involve hot-air ballooning over the magnificent châteaux of France’s Loire Valley. Today, you can stay at a Scandinavian wellness site and take a balloon ride as the sun rises over frozen Arctic lakes and deserted forests, where all that moves below are roaming herds of reindeer.
In the same spirit, while a camel ride around the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt or across the mountains and valleys surrounding Marrakech is always exotic, today, organized trips can whisk small groups of intrepid adventurers to the far extremes of China, where on the border with Outer Mongolia your camel takes you across the otherworldly dunes and oases of the Gobi Desert.
Adventure doesn’t need to mean an expedition to the ends of the Earth to glimpse sights barely touched by modern civilization, white-water rafting through dense jungle, or eating foraged food gathered by Indigenous tribal guides. Across the globe, a vast array of little-known gems awaits the curious traveler.
In Europe, under-the-radar Slovenia, a tiny Balkan nation east of Venice, is an astounding outdoor destination. Here you can traverse the land, exploring safely and confidently as a single traveler, and take on everything from negotiating fast-flowing rivers on kayaks to rock climbing across craggy mountain faces and paddleboarding on a still lake with not another person in sight. The solitude and sense of achievement of this kind of travel rewards the brave.
So, where should the savvy traveler look in 2026 to find the incomparable buzz that hits upon arriving in a destination that really takes you by surprise? That’s entirely up to you – there might be a little-known river or lake just outside your home, perfect to try wild swimming for the first time. Maybe it will be a foodie discovery you stumble across on an American road trip between Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico, where Native American chefs take diners far away from the comfort cooking of burgers and fries with dishes like roasted quail, braised hibiscus flower, fermented pepper sauce, and pickled asparagus. Tasting that is an adventure in itself!
Last year, on the island of Borneo, an undemanding day trek from the town of Kota Kinabalu took me into primeval rainforest offering fabulous sightings of nature and wildlife that will stay with me forever. In one of the most diverse, lush biospheres on the planet, I experienced a jungle paradise with more than 300 species of brilliantly colored birds from swooping hornbills to squawking wild parrots, plus remarkable orchids, giant pitcher plants, screeching monkeys, and fluttering butterflies.
As with all adventurous travel, this remarkable experience only whetted my appetite. I am already planning a return to Borneo to explore Mulu National Park, home to some of the world’s largest caves. Pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, I will journey on foot and by boat for what promises to be the ultimate spelunking escapade. It’s the kind of adventure we all should be setting our sights on. And 2026 is the year to do it.