What's Hot for 2027

Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai remain firm favourites, from the Forbidden City and the Great Wall to the Terracotta Army and the Bund, while more guests now add Yunnan’s ancient towns and the rice terraces near Guilin. In Beijing, Six Senses is set to open a rare 46-room hotel, a small-format property for the brand in a major capital, and new Scott Dunn itineraries for 2027 focus on Chinese history, culture, and wildlife.

Sri Lanka packs a great deal into one island, from leopard safaris and the climb up Sigiriya’s rock fortress to tea country, best seen from the train to Ella, and a south coast of golden beaches and whale watching. An easy escape from Asia, it suits teenagers too, with lots of teen-friendly activities on offer. Uga Ghiri is newly open in Ella, and The One Group is adding hotels in Kandy and Colombo.

Egypt’s story is told along the Nile, where ancient temples rise from the riverbanks and a slow cruise between Luxor and Aswan remains the finest way to travel. Beyond the Pyramids of Giza and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, 2027 brings the longest total solar eclipse of the century, crossing Luxor in August. The Old Cataract and the Winter Palace reopen under Mandarin Oriental in July, with Four Seasons Luxor and new Nile vessels from Oberoi and Waldorf Astoria also on the way.

Beyond Sydney’s harbour and Melbourne’s laneways lies a continent of extremes: the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest, red desert and some of the southern hemisphere’s finest wine regions. It’s a mid-year winter escape from the heat, with snowy mountains and alpine lodges from June to August. 2027 is a landmark year, with Waldorf Astoria Sydney opening early on and the Rugby World Cup in October. From November 2026, Singapore Airlines flies daily to the new Western Sydney airport.

When summer heat builds across Asia, New Zealand’s winter, from June to August, offers a cooler escape. Ski Queenstown’s slopes or ride a helicopter to a snowmobile trail high in the Southern Alps. At night, head to the Pukaki Observatory at Mount Cook Lakeside Retreat, in the Aoraki Dark Sky Reserve, for Saturn, Jupiter and the Milky Way through a telescope, with a glass of wine to start.

Japan is easy to book yourself, but harder to know well. Scott Dunn can open doors that are hard to find independently: watch sumo wrestlers train at a private stable in Ryogoku, take tea in a Kyoto temple closed to the public, or walk a UNESCO World Heritage temple after dark with a Buddhist monk. Add Naoshima’s art island, a calligraphy master’s home in Tokyo, and artisan ateliers in Fukui where you meet the makers.

South Africa packs wildlife encounters, immersive experiences and fine wine into one journey, and 2027 brings extra reasons to go: a partial solar eclipse on 6 February and the Cricket World Cup, that runs from October to November. Explore the wilderness in style on safari, go stand-up paddle boarding along Cape Town’s rugged coastline and finish with long, indulgent lunches in the Cape Winelands.

Peru rewards every kind of traveller, from honeymooners seeking exceptional dining and quiet moments to families on a journey of discovery. Explore Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco with expert local guides who take you below the surface. Then eat your way through Lima, from hidden huariques to a tasting menu at Mil, cook with local chefs and visit Andean farm kitchens. For something wilder, head into the Peruvian Amazon by river and on foot.

Every resort sits on its own private island, reached by speedboat or seaplane, and each has a distinct character. Snorkel reefs home to over 200 species of coral and the occasional whale shark, join marine biologists on conservation work, then end the day with a sunset dinner on your villa deck. New for 2027 is Rosewood Ranfaru, the brand’s first Maldives resort, with around 120 beachfront and overwater villas, all with private pools.

Mughal monuments, tiger country, Himalayan peaks: India offers a different journey in every direction. Track the Royal Bengal Tiger on safari and spend time in village life, then explore the palaces of Rajasthan on a private guided tour. First-timers love the Golden Triangle linking Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, while Kerala’s backwaters suit a slower pace.