Choosing where to take your group next? We’ve done the hard work for you, rounding up the overseas destinations with the most compelling reasons to visit from landmark anniversaries and major events to new flight routes, rising trends and unmissable experiences.
City break or country escape? Seaside or mountainside? Roads well-trodden or paths unbeaten? There are a lot of decisions involved in shortlisting a destination for an overseas trip, and that’s before you even get to the continent or country.
Sri Lanka
As of May 2026, Sri Lanka is offering free visas to British travellers and with British Airways launching three new weekly flights from London to Colombo in October, this tear-drop-shaped country is now even more accessible. The sights come thick and fast on this Indian Ocean island.
To the north, there are the ancient sacred cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa with their dagoba shrines and stone buddhas. In the centre, visitors will find terraced tea plantations and the Unesco-protected Lion’s Rock. The south promises virgin tropical rainforest and Udawalawe National Park, where 500 wild Asian elephants roam.
Then there’s the coast, where beaches like Arugam promise palm-shaded sands and whale spotting opportunities.
Rabat, Morocco
Peering out over the Atlantic Ocean on the north-west corner of Morocco, UNESCO-protected Rabat is one of the destinations name-checked in Skyscanner’s Travel Trends report. Less glamorous than Marrakech, the city’s highlights include a walled Kasbah, a medina of weaving streets and souk-style shops, and a serpentine waterside corniche promenade.
Just outside the historic centre, the Mausoleum of Mohammed is another must-see. Stallion-mounted and rifle-armed Moroccan Royal Guards protect the entrances and grounds of this complex, which contains the tomb of Moroccan King Mohammed V and his two sons.
For an extended trip and include Fes, Meknes, Marrakech, and Casablanca, as well as Rabat.
Bilbao, Spain
Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends Report revealed that internet searches for this northern Spanish city have surged by 97% in A year. Start an itinerary with the inimitable Guggenheim, where a 60-tonne titanium exterior gives way to more than 24,000 square metres of gallery space, featuring pieces by Lichtenstein, Warhol, Koons and other greats (discounted admission and private tours are available to groups of 20 plus).
Then move on to Bilbao’s 111-year-old funicular, which inches up the side of 226-metre Mount Artxanda, for sweeping views of the city. Schedule in plenty of time for exploring the Old Town, which orbits the Siete Calle – seven 15th-century streets – and be sure to plan in multiple pintxos stops. These cocktail stick-spiked snacks are Bilbao’s signature dish, and you can sample dozens of them in the bars that frame Plaza Nueva.
Egypt and Algeria
On Monday 2nd August 2027, the ‘Eclipse of the Century’ will darken the skies above southern Spain and North Africa and tour operators are already planning trips to coincide with the event. The greatest totality will occur in Luxor, where the eclipse will last more than six minutes. Trip itineraries here can easily be plumped up with visits to Karnak, the recently renovated Luxor Museum, or even cruises along the Nile.
Algeria will be another top eclipse-watching spot. Visits to see the solar event can be extended with time in Algiers with its UNESCO-listed Casbah, Constantine – the City of Bridges or waterside Oran.
Centra Asia and Mongolia
Since being used as the backdrop for the latest series of Race Across the World, interest in Central Asia is on the up. Some operators are reporting that bookings for Uzbekistan trips increased by 50% the week after the country featured in the show, whilst bookings for Mongolia went up by 60%. Spilling out over more than four million square miles, the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are contoured by mountains, lakes, and the passageways of the storied Silk Road.
Tour itineraries here are peppered with everything from yurt stays and spice market shopping to time in UNESCO World Heritage cities such as Samarkand. In Mongolia, meanwhile, dormant volcanoes, unpeopled desert, and hot springs await.
Normandy
2027 is officially The Year of the Normans in Normandy, as the region marks 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror. Plans include an immersive exhibition on the great Norman epics, a clue-finding ‘quest’ across the region, a Viking ship event, a new art trail, digital projections, and the reopening of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum.
Groups wanting to craft an itinerary around the man himself can visit Falaise, where he was born, Caen, where the future king built a ducal castle, and Dives Sur Mer, the harbour town where William set sail for England in 1066. Opting for a tour that includes Falaise and Caen alongside the likes of Mont St Michel and St Malo is a great choice.
Montenegro
Celebrating its 20th birthday in 2026, Montenegro is a country of lakelands, forests, national parks, and river canyons – including one of the deepest in Europe. Visit Kotor for its fjord-like bay, red-roofed old town, and – just outside of the city – alpine coaster, which shoots riders down the side of Mount Lovćen.
Drop by Tivat to see the superyachts that earned the town its ‘Monaco of Montenegro’ nickname. Bob over to seaside Budva for some beach time or walk the city walls and tour the citadel.
Alternatively, to get out into nature, base your group in Zabljak, with its 1,500 species of plants and white water rafting routes.
Tanzania
Going on safari in this East African country is the stuff of bucket lists. Stalk the big five through the ‘endless plains’ of the Serengeti National Park. Watch flamingos take flight in front of Mount Kilimanjaro. Witness the spectacle of the Great Migration. Sleep in low-lit wilderness lodges. Then top it all off with a post-safari stay on tropical Zanzibar.
For groups, private safaris can be organised for parties of as many as 100 people. Plus optional activities like horseback rides through the bush and visits to a giraffe conservation centre can add to an already exciting tour.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
UNESCO City of Music, Belfast will host the world’s largest Irish music festival in summer 2027. The eight-day Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will see dancers, musicians, and performers from around the world descend upon the city.
Taking place between 1st and 8th August, 2027, groups can flock to the Waterfront and Ulster Hall for various performances celebrating traditional Irish music, song and dance.
Brescia, Italy
This Lombardian city makes an ideal alternative to more crowded Milan and Verona. Halfway between the two, it’s known as The Lioness of Italy due to a fierce civilian uprising against the Austrian Empire in 1849. Brescia’s signature sight is its ‘Longobards in Italy: Places of Power’ UNESCO World Heritage Site, which incorporates a frescoed monastery complex and museum, and an archaeological park strewn with Roman ruins.
Elsewhere, there’s a hill cresting castle, two cathedrals, and a grand theatre which is open for guided tours. On the city’s doorstep, meanwhile, there’s Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, and the Franciacorta sparkling wine region.
Èvora, Portugal
All eyes will be on Évora in 2027, as the city becomes a European Capital of Culture. 130 kilometres east of Lisbon, the capital of the Alentejo region is nicknamed The Museum City, for having a centre like an open-air museum. Also protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, this central area features the columned ruins of a Roman temple, convents, churches, and palaces from the 15th century when the Portuguese kings started living in Évora, and some noteworthy ‘patrician houses’ or villas from the 16th century.
Capital of Culture celebrations are set to be themed around ‘vagar’ or ‘slow living’ and include live music, theatre, art installations, and festivals.
