Scott Dunn, one of the world’s leading personalized luxury travel companies, unveils the travel trends shaping 2026 - with conscious cuisine becoming the new fine dining, the power of teenagers’ ‘pester power’ influencing booking decisions and a growing appetite for nocturnal adventures.
“The world is changing and so too are our guests’ travel behaviors. Shoulder season is now peak season in many destinations, booking windows are shortening, and value continues to be of the utmost importance. We predict that in 2026, luxury travelers will be seeking safety and space more than ever before in the destinations they travel to, embracing under-explored regions and nocturnal excursions free from overcrowding, reconnecting with the world through quiet wildlife encounters and conscious culinary experiences.” - Simon Lynch, Scott Dunn Global Product & Strategy Director
TRENDS TO WATCH
TEENS SET THE FAMILY TRAVEL AGENDA
“At Scott Dunn, we’ve spent the past four decades planning every type of family vacation you can think of and one thing has become clear: teenagers are sorely underserved and quite often forgotten entirely by luxury travel brands. We’re changing that in 2026 by launching new itineraries and experiences designed for and by our teenage guests” comments Simon Lynch, Scott Dunn Global Product & Strategy Director
Research from Scott Dunn’s 2025 survey of their teenager guests and parents reveals teens’ Pester Power, as they emerge as the strongest influencers in family travel decisions:
The dream destinations named by teens include Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Greece and Costa Rica, with the Maldives ranking as the most sought-after beach escape. Informed by this research, Scott Dunn will be launching a series of new itineraries in 2026 centered around independent experiences curated just for teens.
CONSCIOUS CUISINE IS THE NEW FINE DINING
“Culinary experiences have always been a huge motivator for our guests’ travels, but we’re seeing a shift towards ‘conscious cuisine’: luxury travelers choosing authentic experiences that connect them with the destination they’re in, be it a culturally informed food tour, meals with locals hosted within their homes, or hands-on cooking classes, that start on the farm and end around a communal table”, notes Simon Lynch, Global Product & Strategy Director.
Scott Dunn is connecting guests with unexpected food experiences through local insiders who bring the culinary memories and traditions of a destination to life. These experiences include foraging for native plants in the high-altitude plateaus of Peru’s Sacred Valley at the MIL Food Lab and meeting pioneering female cheesemaker Marisol Martinez at her quesería on a riverside farm in Chile’s Lake District, to uncovering Phnom Penh’s vibrant street food scene with Vanarith Nop, a young local guide who grew up fishing and foraging native plants with his grandparents in the jungle of Koh Kong province.
Luxury hotels that offer farm-to-fork culinary stays are also in high demand, from journeying back to 19th century farm living at Babylonstoren in South Africa, picking fragrant medicinal herbs in Tuscany’s Borgo Pignano, or sharing a meal of homegrown Scottish produce at the communal kitchen of Wildland’s Killiehuntly Farmhouse, slow cooked in the cottage’s AGA. Fine dining still has a hold over luxury travelers, but Scott Dunn’s gourmand guests are becoming more selective, choosing restaurants with strong sustainability credentials such as the 600+ restaurants worldwide that have now achieved a Green Michelin Star.
WELLNESS EXTENDS TO THE MINI BAR
Not only are luxury travelers becoming more conscious of their food provenance, many are increasingly choosing to abstain from alcohol while traveling, as awareness grows of the negative health effects of drinking and its impacts on longevity. ‘Dry tourism’ is on the rise and luxury hotels are responding by adapting their offering. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, the lodge’s classic 5-course tasting menu now offers a wine pairing alternative of alcohol-free botanical drinks, whilst Amsterdam's acclaimed Restaurant Flore, the Michelin Green-Starred dining destination at Hotel De L’Europe Amsterdam, offers an expertly crafted house-made juice pairing as an alternative to wine.
CROWD-FREE NOCTURNAL EXCURSIONS
“The allure of nocturnal excursions is more appealing than ever before, as our guests increasingly request experiences that involve venturing out by night to avoid the crowds and embrace the silence - be it under the stars of a pollution-free sky or guided by the glow of the Midnight Sun.” Simon Lynch, Global Product & Strategy Director
Dive into an underwater world illuminated by bioluminescent plankton in the waters of Bawah Reserve in Indonesia by night. Kayak through the Norwegian fjords with scenery to rival Patagonia under the bright light of the Midnight Sun. Witness nature transform under the cover of darkness on a guided night safari in Zambia’s South Luangwa. Track elusive jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal after dusk when they are most active. Stop and listen to the sounds of nature on a guided moonlit walk through the Ecuadorian cloud forest.
QUIET WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Ali Holman, Scott Dunn’s Destination Manager for Africa & Wildlife, comments: “We’re seeing a shift away from the ‘Big Five’ bucket-list style safaris, as luxury travelers place increasing value on ‘quiet’ wildlife encounters with lesser-known species, in less crowded national parks and reserves where space, sustainable practices, and the wonder of unexpected wildlife sightings create a more meaningful experience.”
As an alternative to the Great Migration, Scott Dunn guests are venturing to Zambia’s remote Liuwa Plain National Park - home to the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa and only one permanent camp, King Lewanika Lodge, allowing for secluded wildlife encounters unlike anywhere else. Swapping Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park for lesser-visited Kumana National Park, travelers are embracing the mobile tented camp experience at Kumana Under Canvas where leopard sightings reward patient explorers. In India, guests will be traveling beyond Rajasthan’s palaces and tigers as the lesser-explored national parks of Central and Eastern India take center stage in 2026: andBeyond will debut a new expedition in Singalila National Park, offering a chance to track rare red pandas and tigers along the India–Nepal border.
NEW WAVE RAIL AND SAIL
Simon Lynch, Global Product & Strategy Director comments: “The cruise boom isn’t going anywhere as some of the world’s most iconic hospitality brands launch a series of new luxury ships in 2026 designed with ‘cruise curious’ guests in mind: small, exclusive, experience-led. The interest from luxury travelers is strong - we’ve seen huge growth in cruise bookings from a diverse range of guests who are combining a journey at sea with tailored land-based experiences using Scott Dunn’s network of local guides and hotel partners.”
New luxury ships are opening up more opportunities for remote adventures in 2026. Explora Journey’s new Explora III sets sail in the summer of 2026 and will be heading for Asia the following year, arriving in Japan just in time for the fall colors in September 2027. Aqua Lares sets off on its inaugural sailing season around the Seychelles' Inner Islands in 2026, where guests will encounter the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.
Merging the worlds of rail and cruise travel, the Orient Express Corinthian yacht will set sail in the Mediterranean for the 2026 summer season, with itineraries as short as two nights making this the perfect taster experience for cruise-curious travelers seeking a balance of land and sea adventures. The brand’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express marked a milestone for luxury rail travel when it launched in 2025. In Australia, luxury train The Ghan will debut two new luxurious suites in April 2026, featuring queen-sized beds, expansive lounges, personalized butler service, and private in-suite dining.
HOW THE 1% ARE TRAVELING IN 2026
WITH SCOTT DUNN PRIVATE - INVITATION ONLY MEMBERSHIP SERVICE
“When it comes to UHNW travelers, there really are no distinct trends in terms of the destinations they visit. However, our members are increasingly united by one common motivation: a desire to reconnect with their purpose. The 1% are seeking life-changing journeys and we are the conduits, be it pushing boundaries on a guided high mountain trekking expedition through New Zealand or participating as a family in biodiversity restoration projects in Costa Rica” comments Jules Maury, Head of Scott Dunn Private - the brand’s invite-only membership service for UHNW travelers.
No longer satisfied with simply donating money to the causes they care about, UHNW travelers are embracing the citizen science movement, increasingly requesting hands-on involvement with grassroots nature restoration, wildlife conservation, and community engagement projects in the destinations they visit.
Privacy and security are also of the utmost importance to the UHNW traveler and Scott Dunn Private members are choosing the understated luxury of a private home or residence in favor of lavish presidential suites for their travels in 2026 and beyond. This demand is being met by luxury hotels who are developing private residence-style accommodation, from La Reserve’s new Florentine palazzo which will house six private apartments to The Newt in Somerset’s new Yarlington private home. Exclusive-use properties are also in demand, from an understated private family-owned island off the coast of Finland to the new Eleven Winterlake Lodge opening in Alaska’s backcountry.
DESTINATIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR 2026
HIGH ARCTIC
As eclipse-chasing and cool-cation destinations remain top of mind, and American travelers demand shorter journeys, Scott Dunn’s portfolio sees a boom in new cruise itineraries. August 2026 will mark the launch of Quark Expedition’s Iceland to Greenland Total Solar Eclipse and in 2027, Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot luxury icebreaker embarks on a 12-night expedition to the Geographic North Pole. In total contrast for travelers with more time on their hands, Seabourn launches its first-ever Pole to Pole Grand Voyage in 2027, taking guests on an epic 94-day, once-in-a-lifetime excursion.
GERMANY
Scott Dunn guests are discovering Germany beyond the typical tourist trail, with three new curated itineraries launching before year-end that showcase the country's remarkable diversity. Offering behind-the-scenes access to factories of iconic German car brands like Porsche and BMW paired with fairytale castle tours and in-depth World War II historical journeys, these itineraries reveal the country’s compelling contrasts, from high-performance engineering to medieval romance. Other highlights include private access to Neuschwanstein Castle, thrilling drives through the Black Forest and Bavarian Alps, and expert-led tours of Berlin's memorial landscape.
ITALY
Consistently Scott Dunn’s most-booked tailor-made destination in Europe, Italy is set to benefit from huge luxury hospitality investment in 2026. Exciting new openings include Mandarin Oriental Rome, Rosewood Milan, Four Seasons Danieli, Venice and Mandarin Oriental Cristallo in Cortina to name a few. Plus, the halo effect of the 2026 Cortina-Milano Winter Olympics in February will shine a spotlight on the Dolomites for ski fanatics and alpine hikers.
ISLANDS OF EUROPE
In response to the ever-extending summer season in Europe, United Airlines’ newly-launched seasonal direct service between Newark and Palma de Mallorca has added a full month until 24 October and increased frequency from three to four flights per week. Earlier this year, Delta and United Airlines launched new direct routes from New York to Catania and Palermo, meeting the continued demand for Sicily. Delta continues to expand its routes in 2026 with new nonstop flights from JFK to Malta, as well as Olbia and Cagliari in Sardinia, keeping the European islands booming for American travelers.
MADAGASCAR & SEYCHELLES
Taking advantage of Emirates’ recent increase in flights from Dubai via the Seychelles, Madagascar is becoming more accessible than ever for luxury travelers. With a rising interest from guests in conservation-focused experiences, Scott Dunn will be connecting travelers to local biodiversity and nature conservation efforts on the island such as Time + Tide Foundation.
CENTRAL & EASTERN INDIA
Moving away from the well trodden tourist circuit of Rajasthan, and Beyond’s launches a new red panda and tiger tracking expedition along the India–Nepal border. In Madhya Pradesh, The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace in Khajuraho opens this year and will offer the first truly luxury palace offering in this lesser known rural area, located just minutes away from the 1,500 year old UNESCO Heritage temples of Khajuraho and uncrowded tiger safaris in Panna National Park.
HAWAII
As Scott Dunn deepens its commitment to thoughtful travel initiatives, new impact-driven experiences in Hawaii are designed to connect travelers with the native culture and directly support community initiatives. On the Big Island, proceeds from private cultural cooking experiences fund Men of PA‘A, an organization creating cultural tourism employment opportunities, while Kauai’s island-to-table dining preserves native Polynesian agricultural techniques. Oahu visitors setting sail will support local schoolchildren learning their rich island heritage, and on Maui, visitors can volunteer on a community farm feeding Lahaina fire victims before dining on a chef-prepared meal that sustains the farm’s efforts.
