Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2027: 50 Destinations And Experiences To Inspire Your Next Trip

Planning your travels for 2027? Lonely Planet has unveiled its Best in Travel 2027 list, featuring 50 destinations and travel experiences across six regions, from India’s Gujarat and Darjeeling to Japan’s Okinawa, Italy’s Veneto and the beaches of French Polynesia.

Unlike a conventional ranking, the annual list combines places to visit with specific experiences designed to encourage travellers to explore destinations in new ways. Lonely Planet said the selections were made by its global community of travel experts.

North America

The North American picks include Québec, California’s Coastal Redwoods, Maryland, Prince Edward Island and New Mexico.

Lonely Planet has also highlighted experiences such as becoming a temporary keeper at Rose Island Lighthouse in Rhode Island, flightseeing in Alaska, enjoying wine and fine dining in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, exploring Miami’s South Beach hotels and taking Minnesota’s “Slow Road.”

California’s Coastal Redwoods were highlighted for their towering, centuries-old trees, while the Rhode Island lighthouse experience offers visitors the opportunity to take part in maintenance and other keeper duties.

Europe

Europe’s destinations include Veneto in Italy, Dessau in Germany, Skanör-Falsterbo in Sweden, Šibenik in Croatia and León in Spain.

The experience list includes a road trip along France’s Route Napoléon, sailing around Sicily’s Aeolian Islands, walking St Cuthbert’s Way to Lindisfarne in the UK, exploring the underwater world of Greece and visiting Killary Fjord in County Galway, Ireland.

Dessau is recognised for its connection to the Bauhaus design movement, while Veneto offers travellers a chance to explore the historic cities and landscapes of northeastern Italy.

Caribbean, Central America And South America

The regional destinations include Montserrat, Bariloche and the lakes of Argentina, Granada in Nicaragua and Bocas del Toro in Panama.

Lonely Planet’s recommended experiences range from a Galápagos expedition cruise and dancing tango in Buenos Aires to taking a polar plunge in Antarctica and exploring Costa Rica’s Monteverde cloud forest.

Africa And The Middle East

The list features Oman, Rabat in Morocco and Kenya’s Tsavo East and West National Parks.

For experiences, travellers can explore Abu Dhabi’s museums, go on a safari trek in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, or discover the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Gombe is particularly associated with chimpanzee research and the pioneering work conducted there by primatologist Jane Goodall.

Oceania

In Oceania, Lonely Planet selected Dunedin and Waitaki in New Zealand, The Tweed in Australia and New Caledonia.

The experiences include immersing yourself in art in Australia’s Red Centre, experiencing Faʻa Sāmoa in Samoa and embarking on ocean adventures in French Polynesia.

Asia

Asia has five destination picks: Okinawa in Japan, Chengdu in China, Gujarat in India, Danang in Vietnam and Fulidhoo in the Maldives.

The five recommended experiences include taking a longboat into orangutan territory in Malaysia, riding the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India, trekking Japan’s Michinoku Coastal Trail, following a food trail in Taiwan and admiring the architecture of Astana, Kazakhstan.

Gujarat And Darjeeling Feature In India Picks

India has received two spots on the 2027 list, with Gujarat selected as a destination and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway chosen as an experience.

Lonely Planet describes Gujarat as a state where salt flats, temple towns and the Arabian Sea coastline meet wildlife and traditional crafts. The region is also home to the Asiatic lion, while its towns and communities preserve a wide range of cultural traditions.

Darjeeling, meanwhile, has been chosen for its famous Toy Train journey. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway covers about 14 kilometres between the hill town and surrounding areas, with the journey itself forming a major part of the experience.

A List Built Around Experiences

Lonely Planet’s 2027 selection goes beyond conventional sightseeing, bringing together wildlife, food, architecture, outdoor adventure, heritage and cultural experiences.

The list includes everything from giant pandas and Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu and subtropical island culture in Okinawa to longboat journeys through Malaysian rainforest and sailing among Italy’s Aeolian Islands.

Lonely Planet’s Nitya Chambers said the idea was to offer travellers different kinds of journeys, encouraging them to try experiences that might push them outside their usual travel plans.

The full Best in Travel 2027 selection is available through Lonely Planet’s website and annual guidebook.