The Ultimate Dream Vacations of 2026, According to Our Travel Editors
A“dream vacation” can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about seeing a place that has lived rent-free in their imagination since childhood. For others, it’s about doing something so logistically complex, so physically demanding, and so financially unrealistic that it only ever seems possible as an abstract, “if I won the lottery” trip. But for Matador Network’s editorial team — people who are lucky enough to travel around the world in search of stories as part of their professional responsibilities — a true dream trip has to clear a higher bar.
Our editors’ dream trips have to be immersive, not rushed; meaningful, rather than flashy — the kind of trip where you won’t find yourself standing in line to take a cliche Instagram photo. The dream trips below aren’t just about luxury, though we won’t deny that many are financially far out of reach for us. But mostly, they’re about responsibly seeing ultra-remote parts of the world, having experiences that aren’t part of your standard family vacation, and meeting and working with experts who can meaningfully change the experience during and after our travels.
Looking ahead to 2026, our travel editors found themselves gravitating toward trips that reflect a breadth of travel experiences, from skiing between European villages to working with researchers to track and monitor endangered black rhinos. Sustainability, supporting local companies, and practicing slow travel are also more than just buzzwords with the trips below.
The dream vacations below aren’t meant to be an exclusive list of the best vacations in the world, nor are most realistic for every budget or schedule (including ours). Instead, they’re aspirational — the trips our travel editors would take if time, money, and logistics were non-issues. Some are once-in-a-lifetime whirlwinds, while others are extended adventures that stretch for weeks. But all represent the kind of travel that reminds us why we do this work in the first place.
See you out there,
— Suzie Dundas, Matador Network commissioning editor
Around-the-World Private Jet Tour
Start and end point: Los Angeles, California, to Papagayo, Costa Rica
Why we picked it: A once-in-a-lifetime trip that connects dream destinations throughout South America.
Luxe Backcountry Biking in BC, Canada
Start and end point: Vancouver, British Columbia
Why we picked it: To spend our days on some of British Columbia’s best backcountry bike trails and evenings at a private luxury cabin.
Australia Outback and Reef Combo
Start and end point: Darwin to the Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Why we picked it: A luxury rail trip plus the chance to sleep in Australia’s only underwater hotel.
Boat-based Ski Tour of Antarctica
Start and end point: Ushuaia, Argentina
Why we picked it: A pricey dream trip for skiers who want to cross making turns in every continent off their winter bucket lists.
Wellness Getaway to a Hot Springs Resort
Start and end point: Flagstaff, Arizona
Why we picked it: For a rare combination of luxury and authentic rejuvenation — something seldom achieved in high-end wellness travel.
A Wilderness Lodge in a Biosphere Reserve
Start and end point: Johannesburg, South Africa
Why we picked it: conservation, ecological diversity, and solar-powered innovation converge in one purpose-driven luxury lodge.
A Walking and Conservation Safari
Start and end point: Lusaka, Zambia, to Zanzibar, Tanzania
Why we picked it: An extended safari that makes you work for your wild animal sightings.
Amazon River Cruise
Start and end point: Rio de Janiero, Brazil, to Lima, Peru
Why we picked it: An adventurous Amazon River cruise bookended by must-see South American cities.
Polar Bear and Whale Photo Expedition
Start and end point: Manitoba, Canada
Why we picked it: A full week of sleeping on the tundra in search of polar bears, wolves, belugas, and more.
Guided History Tour through Egypt
Start and end point: Cairo, Egypt
Why we picked it: A chance to take a deep dive into one of the most influential civilizations on Earth, guided by an expert historian.
Ski Tour of Europe
Start and end point: Geneva, Switzerland
Why we picked it: A full two months in search of endless winter and epic lines across multiple villages, cities, and countries.
New Zealand Wine-tasting Trip
Start and end point: Hawk’s Bay to Queenstown, New Zealand
Why we picked it: Two weeks of bougie wine-tasting bliss with some breaks for coastal adventures and fine dining.
Alaska National Parks Tour
Start and end point: Fairbanks to Anchorage, Alaska
Why we picked it: An extended road and bushplane trip through some of America’s least-visited — and most remote — national parks.
Basque County Food Tour
Start and end point: San Sebastián, Spain
Why we picked it: From street food to Michelin stars, Basque Country has some of the world’s best dining, cider and wine that every food lover should experience.