From a new snow leopard and big cat adventure in Ladakh to Colombia’s centenary tribute to Gabriel García Márquez and the return of giant tortoises to the Galápagos, the multi-award-winning tailor-made travel company maps the anniversaries, openings, and new flight routes shaping travel in 2027
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England —Red Savannah, the tailor-made travel company behind bespoke journeys, hand-picked villas, yachts and gulets worldwide, is unveiling its “Where to Go in 2027” guide: a destination-by-destination look at the anniversaries, hotel openings, new ships, major events, flight routes and more set to define the year ahead. The guide is compiled by the company’s in-house travel specialists, who draw on decades of on-the-ground expertise across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australasia, and the Polar regions to identify where 2027’s biggest moments will unfold.
Converging in 2027 is a lineup of extraordinary events, captivating milestones, and amplified access that place new intrigue on long-beloved and emerging destinations. From a total solar eclipse over Egypt’s Nile Valley, a 100th-birthday tribute to Gabriel García Márquez in Colombia, and Beethoven’s 200th anniversary in Austria to a new longevity hotspot in Sardinia and the launch of the first near-zero-emission Arctic expedition ship, Red Savannah’s expert team has hand-selected a list of 17 destinations that are worth building a trip around next year.
“We’ve always believed that travel should be more than a trip measured in miles and hours, it should be a journey for the soul,” said George Morgan-Grenville, Founder and CEO of Red Savannah. “Each year we’re met with the same question: where should we go next? And each year, our specialists scan the globe for the destinations and moments that go beneath the surface—an eclipse over the Nile, a centenary in Colombia, a species finding its way back to the Galápagos. But finding the moment is only the first step. The itineraries we build around each one are designed to go further: to be a catalyst for real connection—to a place, its people, its culture—and to turn a well-timed trip into a journey that matters. That’s the difference between visiting somewhere and being changed by it.”
AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST
- Northern Namibia – Spanish hospitality brand, Vestige Collection, is launching four luxury lodges across northern Namibia beginning autumn 2026—Sorris Sorris, Omatendeka, Sheya Shuushona, Xadum—linking sand dunes, mountains, rugged desert, and dry riverbeds into a wildlife and cultural heritage-rich circuit. With this launch, Red Savannah is expanding its collection of itineraries in the region to cover this new route.
- The Nile Valley & Siwa, Egypt – On August 2, 2027, the “eclipse of the century” will sweep over the Nile Valley with 6 minutes and 23 seconds of totality—the longest land-based eclipse on Earth until 2114. Egypt’s luxury hospitality scene is being reborn alongside it: the remarkable opening of the 10-suite Kazazian Siwa in the Western Desert, and Mandarin Oriental’s restorations of the historic Old Cataract (Aswan) and Winter Palace (Luxor)—hotels tied to Agatha Christie, Winston Churchill and Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb—both reopen in July 2027. “This is a chance to showcase a different side of Egypt, one that beautifully complements Cairo and the classic Nile itineraries,” said Samantha Gordon, Red Savannah’s Africa specialist.
- Zanzibar – Direct flights between Kigali and Zanzibar launched in 2025, and a new Airlink route from Cape Town begins in late 2026, opening more direct east-to-south African itinerary options that pair gorilla trekking, safari, gastronomy and beach time.
EUROPE
- Vienna, Austria – 2027 marks 200 years since Beethoven’s death in Vienna, with a year of commemorative performances opening New Year’s Day at the Brucknerhaus Linz and continuing at Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus. Red Savannah can build custom cultural tours around tickets to the year’s marquee performances.
- Arzachena & the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia – Sardinia’s luxury hospitality scene continues to expand: a new Delta route from JFK launched in the summer of 2026 and two 2026 hotel openings are joined by Mandarin Oriental, RF Hotels, and a reflagged Cheval Blanc Pitrizza, all expected in late 2026 or early 2027. The island’s appeal now extends beyond its coastline—the town of Arzachena was recognized as a Blue Zone in 2025. Red Savannah’s Europe specialist, Clare Watkins, can arrange itineraries that cater to exploration of these regions.
- Évora & the Alentejo, Portugal – Évora and the Alentejo are named European Capital of Culture in 2027, with a year-long program guided by “Vagar”—a philosophy of slowness and connection to place. Red Savannah’s Clare Watkins recommends basing a trip at the restored rural estate São Lourenço do Barrocal, paired with new direct Philadelphia-Oporto flights launching summer 2027, which follow the summer 2026 launch of direct JFK-Oporto flights.
- Florence, Italy – The Florence Biennale turns 30 in 2027 with a contemporary art and design celebration devoted to time, memory, and eternity. The city will also mark 650 years since the birth of Architect Filippo Brunelleschi, whose legacy can be traced through the Duomo. New hotel openings coincide with the milestone year, including La Réserve Firenze in late 2026 and the Capella Group’s European debut in 2027.
- Théoule-sur-Mer, Côte d’Azur, France – Season four of “The White Lotus,” slated for 2027, relocates the series to the French Riviera, with Cannes and Saint-Tropez as filming locations. Red Savannah’s Head of French Villas, Victoria Meeke, recommends Théoule-sur-Mer as a quieter alternative with two newly contracted properties and easy access to Cannes, while Red Savannah Specialist Camilla Davidson can arrange stays at Le Mas Bellevue Saint-Tropez, a new Oetker Collection hotel opening in 2027.
THE AMERICAS & POLAR REGIONS
- Floreana Island, Galápagos – In 2026, 158 giant tortoises were reintroduced to Floreana Island, part of a conservation plan returning 12 once-locally-extinct species to the island by 2030. Travelers can visit Floreana aboard the new luxury catamaran M/C Galápagos Eminence, launching April 2027. Also new in the region for 2027, Red Savannah has launched a new nine-day itinerary, “In the Footsteps of Sir David Attenborough”.
- Bogotá to Aracataca: The García Márquez Trail, Colombia – 2027 marks 100 years since the birth of Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez, with his legacy as one of Latin America’s most celebrated literary voices expected to be a strong theme in Colombia’s cultural calendar. “An itinerary comprising Bogotá, Cartagena, and some relaxation near Santa Marta with a day trip to Aracataca would be a great introduction to the Colombia of Gabriel García Márquez,” said Red Savannah’s Latin America Specialist Dineke Verlinden.
- Baja California’s East Cape, Mexico – Aman opened its first Mexican resort, Amanvari, on Baja California’s East Cape in August 2026; by 2027 the destination enters its first full year of operation, with additional Baja openings from Conrad and Soho House expected to follow. Red Savannah Latin America Specialist Dineke Verlinden is particularly excited about the increasing opportunities for combining adventures in nature with seclusion and beach relaxation at polished luxury resorts.
- The Arctic – The early 2027 launch of the world’s first nature-powered polar expedition ship, Selar’s Captain Arctic, will signal a new era of polar exploration. The near-zero emission vessel has been created to navigate the most remote waters of the region, is exceptionally bold in design, caters to unscripted itineraries, and displays a wealth of pioneering technological advances with a cutting-edge on board experience to match.
- Antarctica – Antarctica 21’s Magellan Discoverer, launching December 2026, joins the fly-cruise fleet with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion and room for just 76 guests. The ship will deliver a more profound experience that focuses on low-impact operations, an easy-access bow that brings travelers closer to the ice and wildlife while sailing, and the provision of balconies in every suite that deepen connection with one’s natural surroundings.
ASIA & AUSTRALASIA
- Komodo National Park, Indonesia – In 2027, Komodo National Park marks 50 years since joining UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, recognizing its global importance as a protected living ecosystem and providing a timely reason to reflect on Komodo’s global conservation significance. Red Savannah Specialist Melissa Matthews recommends privately chartering a phinisi from Red Savannah’s hand-picked portfolio to see Komodo dragons and the park’s array of habitats away from the busiest spots. The long-awaited NIHI Rote also recently opened, embracing positive impact tourism while debuting alongside a dedicated Hospitality Academy dedicated to training young regional talent.
- Phuket, Bangkok and Northern Thailand – Timeless traditions, extraordinary landscapes, and a world-renowned hospitality scene continue to evolve, making 2027 an exceptional time to return to Thailand. A collection of outstanding new luxury resorts in Phuket and hotels in Bangkok—such as Navera, Langham Custom House, Plaza Athenée Nobu, and the new health resort born out of a collaboration between Montara Hospitality and Clinique La Prairie—will raise the bar once again, while expanded international air routes, increased flight frequencies and direct services from the UK will make traveling to Thailand easier than ever. Red Savannah’s Northern Thailand Discovery encourages travelers to look beyond the traditional adventure routes and explore the lesser-known, hidden-gems of the country.
- Ranthambore, India – Raffles is set to open its third Indian property, the 63-villa Raffles Ranthambore, in mid-2027. Red Savannah’s India specialists have launched an India Big Cat Safari, pairing Ranthambore’s tigers with mountain lions in Gujarat’s Gir National Park, and ultimately, snow leopards in Ladakh.
- Sydney, Australia – The 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup brings six weeks of competitive fervor to Australia beginning in October, with Sydney among the host cities. UK travelers have an added incentive: Qantas’s nonstop London-Sydney service, also launching October 2027, will become the world’s longest passenger flight by direct distance.
Together, these 17 destinations make up Red Savannah’s outlook for where the world is headed in 2027, and the meaningful itineraries its specialists are already building around each one.
For more information or to book with Red Savannah, please visit https://www.redsavannah.com/.
About Red Savannah
Founded in 2011 by George Morgan-Grenville, Red Savannah is a multi-award-winning luxury travel company offering tailor-made journeys, yachts and gulets, and exclusive luxury villas worldwide. Bringing discerning travelers ease, access, and undiscovered experiences, by land or by sea, Red Savannah’s dedicated team of global specialists leverage decades of on-the-ground expertise to curate high-end, experiential travel itineraries that turn into trips that matter. Specializing in getting to the heart of destinations in every corner of the world, unveiling new ways to experience tried and true locations and pioneering emerging hotspots, the Red Savannah experience spans all seven continents, and guarantees a trip delivered with charm, passion, integrity, and individualized style, including adventurous gorilla trekking safaris throughout Rwanda; luxury villas across the idyllic, palm-fringed British Virgin Islands, gorgeous Italian Manor Houses and sun-soaked Greek Islands; unforgettable island-hopping in the Aegean on a traditional Turkish gulet; and rustic explorations of Sherpa traditions in Nepal; imaginative Sri Lankan culinary itineraries; rugged outdoor experiences across Slovenia; restorative journeys off-the-beaten-path in Bhutan, and many more, their inventive, bespoke, and truly immersive itineraries that get travelers well below the surface of the destination.
