Innholdsfortegnelse for January / February 2026 i National Geographic Traveller (UK)

Orla Thomas Cambridge’s educational reputation is well established, and I found spending just one weekend there mind-expanding. But this is a city with a sense of fun, too, whether that’s punting on the river or sinking a pint in one of its many literary pubs.  CAMBRIDGE P.34 Amanda Canning A celebration of Sámi identity held every year since 1605, Jokkmokk Winter Market was a fitting end to my time in Swedish Lapland. I’d spent several days discovering the creativity that thrives in the region, and it was no better expressed than in Sámi culture.  SWEDEN P.90 Duncan Craig For many, the Grand Canyon is a spectacle rather than an experience. A multi-day hike down to the canyon floor and along the banks of the mighty Colorado River offers a deeper…

This journey back in time starts in southern Alberta, where the ground cracks open to reveal an archive dating back some 76 million years. Here, the rolling prairie collapses into wrinkled valleys carved out by ancient glaciers, banded in orange and grey layers, and punctuated by ‘hoodoos’, pillars of rock wearing jaunty sandstone hats. These are Canada’s Badlands — so-called because early French fur traders found them inhospitable and difficult to cross. In this treeless desert, only the hardiest vegetation survives: yellow buffalo bean flowers and tiny pincushion cacti sprout between gullies, and the aroma of sagebrush hangs on the breeze. This area may have been bad for the settlers, but it’s a gold mine for palaeontologists. The scientific mother lode lies in Dinosaur Provincial Park, a 29sq-mile UNESCO World…

It’s show time. Up heaves the sail, a concertina of heavy canvas pulled taut against the creaking wooden mast. It gulps the breeze that’s whisking cotton puffs of cloud out to sea. Black butterflies, big as sparrows, rise from the steep jungle at our backs as the droning of cicadas meets the surf raking the beach. The air is flower-scented, hot and heavy as water. Up comes the anchor, out come the paddles; the nose of the traditional sabani boat plunges into the waves. Any sailor leaving Ishigaki island needs to be absolutely certain of their course. Head north west, and the next landfall lies hundreds of miles away in China; east, and it’ll be the considerably farther-flung shores of Mexico. Here, in southern Okinawa Prefecture, Japan fizzles out in…

SEE Sapporo Snow Festival When February temperatures plunge below zero and prefecture capital Sapporo is carpeted in snow, the locals come out for this city centre festival featuring intricate, larger-than-life outdoor ice carvings, sled runs and street food. 4-11 February 2026. snowfes.com Summer flowers With its volcanic plateaus, mountainous peaks and cooler climate, Hokkaido has the perfect conditions for an abundance of seasonal blooms. Spot rows of lavender in Furano and sunflowers in Hokuryu. Wildlife Led by an Indigenous Ainu guide, spot local wildlife such as Steller’s sea eagles and deer on a woodland walk around Lake Akan, a drowned crater in the island’s east. By the eastern and southern coast you can also spot orcas and, in winter months, dancing red-crowned cranes (tancho in Japanese), which gather en masse…

One-armed, lavishly bearded and as tough as bedrock, John Wesley Powell was the leader of the first river passage through the Grand Canyon. The geologist and explorer wrote extensively about his expedition in 1869, concluding: ‘You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtainmight be lifted. To see it, you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths.’ It’s in this spirit — if not quite this timeframe — that I arrive in Arizona’s foremost national park. I’m hiking the Escalante Route: a four-day circuit that snakes all the way down to the banks of the mighty Colorado River from the South Rim, the entry point to the canyon for the vast majority of visitors. Ten miles…

A mural of Paul Bocuse, the Lyon-based father of nouvelle cuisine, watches over Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse on Cours Lafayette. It’s a gourmet take on a food market, where meals might start with frogs’ legs and end with a pink praline brioche. It’s also a good snapshot of this city in southeast France: a gastronomic powerhouse whose reputation was built by homely bouchon taverns and cemented by inventive Michelin-listed addresses — Paul Bocuse’s own restaurant still holds two stars. Much like the food it serves, Lyon is made up of fine ingredients. The rivers Rhône and Saône flow through the city and merge at La Confluence district. Two viticultural regions, Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley, provide such a steady flow of wine it’s often joked there’s a third…

What’s being proposed? Snaking inland from Wales’s north coast, set east of Eryri (Snowdonia) and west of Wrexham on the English border, Glyndŵr is in the offing to be Britain’s next national park. Named after medieval Welsh prince Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Prince of Wales, the proposed park was recently under public consultation. According to polls, the locals are sharply divided over the plans. An initial public engagement survey in 2023 found 51% in favour and 42% against the proposal, while a consultation process in 2024 showed an approximate 10% majority in favour of the new park. What’s there? Stretching across northeast Wales and Powys, around the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Landscape, the park would take in landmarks including Pistyll Rhaeadr, Wales’s highest waterfall, and Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct,…

Explore the country’s spectacular landscapes: road trip through Torres del Paine National Park, go stargazing in the Elqui Valley, meet the moai of Easter Island, dig into the coastal cuisine of Chiloé and saddle up in the Colchagua Valley wine country PLUS ALGIERS, BERLIN, CONGO, DUBLIN, KERALA, LOUISIANA, MADRID, MEXICO CITY, PARIS, SHROPSHIRE, SOUTH DOWNS, VENICE, WALES & MORE MARCH ISSUE ON SALE 5 FEBRUARY 2026 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS, SEE PAGE 175…

This offer comes with a Hydro Flask worth £38, a tote bag and a copy of Experiences Collection by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Visit CHECKOUT.NATGEOTRAVELLER.CO.UK/OFFERS and use code ‘DJANX26’ or call 01858 438787 and quote code ‘DJANX26’ T&Cs: Closing date for orders is 1 March 2026. The price shown is a UK Direct Debit offer. Your subscription will begin with the next available issue; if a gift subscription’s selected, it’ll begin with the first issue after Christmas. If you don’t cancel at the end of the six-month subscription period, it’ll auto-renew by Direct Debit every six months at £35. All subscriptions are non-refundable. The goodie bags are available to the first 100 UK subscribers only. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery of the goodie bags. This is a…

Japan’s blend of ancient culture and futuristic innovation has long captured the imagination, with its soft power across the globe forever reaching new heights. Thanks to its unique heritage — including everything from anime and cuisine to fashion and samurai — the country has successfully appealed to people’s psyches to the point that it’s seen record-breaking visitor numbers in the past two years. And while that means some parts of Japan can get a little busy at times, there’s still an enormous amount of country to explore. Stretching nearly 2,000 miles in length across its four main islands and thousands of smaller ones, it offers myriad attractions beyond the timeless classics. This issue we head from the tropical Okinawa archipelago in the south to the snow-covered island of Hokkaido in…

Calderón Hondo crater, Fuerteventura I was struck by the vast plains and flatness of this Canary Island, which contrast magnificently with the volcanoes that rise from the arid landscape, shaping a skyline of stark beauty. This incredible example of a caldera looms over Fuerteventura’s northern badlands. I wanted to capture the low sunlight skimming over the land at dusk, so the contrast of the light on one side and shadow on the other would enhance the striking circular form of the volcano. Using a drone helped me get the perspective I wanted.…

Winterland: The Colours of Snow French artist and photographer Christophe Jacrot, a self-described ‘climate archaeologist’, showcases snowy winters as a precious phenomenon in this glossy gallery. It’s a poetic take on the ephemeral magic and melancholy of winter landscapes, from a Manhattan blizzard to snow-covered Russian wildernesses. TeNeus, £55 Frostlines Embark on ‘an epic exploration of the transforming Arctic’ with Neil Shea, a National Geographic writer who’s spent the last 20 years travelling in the region. During a close encounter with a family of wolves on Canada’s Ellesmere Island, Shea locked eyes with a beast that he called Graymane — an electric moment that inspired him to better understand the fragile beauty of the frozen north. Picador, £20 Nightfaring A benefit of long winter nights is stargazing. Let your guide…

THE EXPERIENCE Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort sits on a Blue Flag-awarded pebble beach, offering sprawling views of the Gulf of Chania and the rugged landscapes of Cape Spada. The resort features a lagoon-style swimming pool with swim-up bar, three restaurants and a kids’ club, while the spa features an indoor heated pool, sauna and hammam. Active guests will relish the sports facilities, which include two tennis courts, a volleyball court, bicycle rental, running track and fully equipped gym. The resort’s facilities are so highly regarded that the Swedish Olympic team regularly selects Cavo Spada for their elite training camps. giannoulishotels.com THE PRIZE Courtesy of Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts, the winner and a guest will enjoy seven nights at Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort.…

LITERATURE The UK’s best book bars Far from mere bookstores, these venues merge libraries, coffee lounges and cocktail bars into one NEIGHBOURHOOD GUIDE How to experience the real DC There’s more to Washington than the National Mall. Here’s where to find food and entertainment FOOD The best destinations Elite chefs offer their pick of the world’s most exciting cities and regions for gastronomy HIKING Scotland’s West Highland Way Follow this 96-mile trail along old military roads, through pine forests and over barren moorland DISNEY The city that inspired Walt Disneyland’s idyllic ‘Main Street’ was modelled after the brick facades of Colorado’s Fort Collins ISLANDS Where to go in Southeast Asia The region has sandy beaches, palm trees and turquoise waters, but there’s more to look out for SEARCH FOR NATGEOTRAVELUK…

1 Chigasaki, Kanagawa Escape the Tokyo crowds at the birthplace of Japanese surfing, just 90 minutes from the capital by rail. Chigasaki is known for its reliable waves and, on clear days, views to Mount Fuji. Travellers can rent boards here or take a lesson at one of the surf schools. Make a day of it by wandering along the coast towards Enoshima island, where beach bars clutter the sands and local shrines await discovery. Where to stay: With a terrace and some rooms overlooking the sea, Marsol CS Beach Hotel costs from ¥28,500 (£140). marsolhotel.jp 2 Shimamui Coast, Hokkaido It’s less the sands and more the vibrant cobalt blue of the water that draws visitors to this scenic spot at Hokkaido’s Cape Shakotan, a two-hour drive north west of the…

Manicured orchard rows fan out before me, branches heavy with picture-book apples in glistening lipstick red. Between the succession of trunks, tufts of grass are tickled by breeze; in the sky above, clouds drift by lazily. Green and pleasant, this scene could be mistaken for rural Britain — but it’s actually northern Japan. Think of Japanese produce, and rice, soybeans and wasabi spring to mind. But in the vast prefecture of Aomori, at the tip of the main island of Honshu in the under-explored Tohoku region, the picture differs. In this agricultural heartland — a landscape of plains and peaks, encircled on three sides by water and punctuated by the figure of ‘mini Fuji’, Mount Iwaki — apples are the star. And when you visit the central inland city of…

Meeting & greeting Japanese people are punctual and frequently early, so try not to be late to meet guides, pre-booked taxis or restaurant reservations. Bowing is the usual greeting but you needn’t do anything grand; a small head bob is plenty. Should you be offered a handshake, keep it light and brief. If you’re given a business card — which are still used in Japan at venues such as restaurants — accept it with both hands and hold with care until you can slip it into a wallet; disrespecting the card is akin to disrespecting the person. When using someone’s name — say, that of a guide — tack ‘-san’ onto the end to show respect. For example, Hiroko-san. Food Meals typically begin with a hot or cold wet towel;…

Routes like the Glacier Express may grab the headlines, but beyond lie a plethora of overlooked rail itineraries — all of which uncover a more surprising side to Switzerland. Here’s how to plot an alternative tour of the country that does train travel best. BELLINZONA TO LUCERNE BEST FOR: ALL SIDES OF SWITZERLAND The often-bypassed town of Bellinzona — home to three of Switzerland’s best-preserved medieval castles — deserves a linger. After exploring, board the Gotthard Panorama Express and head north. Riding this train is like stepping into a reel of film with every landscape glimpsed through its windows a new scene. One moment, you’re racing past the palms and piazzas of the Italian-speaking region of Ticino. The next, you’re ascending past waterfalls, chestnut groves and romantic, solitary chapels, spiralling…

Stretching from the shimmering Arabian Gulf all the way to the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia is a diverse landscape, dotted with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites that reveal a layered past. In recent years, Saudi has piqued the curiosity of travellers like nowhere else on Earth. And this growing interest is being further fuelled by a host of new developments, from new hotels and high-profile sporting events to the introduction of direct Virgin Atlantic flights between Riyadh and Heathrow, providing UK travellers with a daily connection. So for those planning their first visit, here’s how to experience the best of Saudi. DISCOVER A DYNAMIC CULTURAL SCENE Saudi has become one of the Middle East’s most vibrant cultural destinations. Riyadh Season — a series of entertainment, artistic and sporting events —…

Japan is a country of many personalities: simultaneously the neon-lit commotion of Tokyo and Osaka by night, and the reverent hush of a Kyoto temple garden by day. It can be the grace and refinement of a traditional kaiseki banquet, and the boisterous energy of an alleyway izakaya (pub). The good news is that it’s possible to get acquainted with all this dazzling diversity on a short tour — thanks in part to the country’s efficient and extensive rail network. The bullet train will whisk you between major cities at lightning speeds, while a supporting cast of local services usher you to more out-of-the-way destinations. These are some of the country’s defining experiences — all easily accessed via its extremely efficient rail network. RIDE THE BULLET TRAIN In Japan, it’s…

Cruise 2026 guide Set sail with our annual guide to cruise travel. The cover story this year looks at the world’s best small-ship expeditions, taking guests everywhere from French Polynesia to the uninhabited islands in the Seychelles. Travel trends This year is shaping up to be one of travel niches. From noctourism and running escapes to the new generation of all-inclusive holidays and the impact of AI on trip planning, here are the trends to know. P.164 SUBSCRIBE TODAY Get three issues for just £5! subscriptions.natgeotraveller.co.uk or call 01858 438787 and quote ‘NGT5’…

1 BLOCKHOUSE PARTY, GOTHENBURG For the third year, Swedish urban winery Wine Mechanics is organising a summer festival in the Slakthusområdet district. This year’s edition will be the biggest yet, with two music stages and a food area hosting local names. Expect acts from Swedish musicians, alongside slices from New York-style Pizzabar and craft lagers from Beerbliotek. 16-18 July. winemechanics.se 2 Iceland Eclipse, Hellissandur Iceland is synonymous with astrotourism, so it’s little surprise the country’s going all-out for its once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse. The western Snæfellsnes Peninsula will experience two minutes of daytime darkness on 12 August 2026. This festival in and around the village of Hellissandur will celebrate with four days of live music, DJ sets and talks by everyone from artists to astronauts. 12-15 August 2026. icelandeclipse.com 3…

Beaches Pristine volcanic black and golden sand beaches are the star attraction in St Lucia. Anse Chastanet — and sister Anse Mamin beach, connected by a short coastal walkway — are two particularly renowned for their striking sand. Both offer lounge beds, watersports and snorkelling. Other highlights include Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay, backed by restaurants and known for its turquoise waters; and Sugar Beach, scenically positioned between St Lucia’s twin Piton mountains. Volcanoes & mountains St Lucia’s volcanic geology has created several attractions that teens are likely to appreciate. At the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths in Soufrière, it’s possible to bathe in volcanically heated, mineral-rich waters. The Sulphur Springs, meanwhile, is a famous walk-in volcano where the family can try a do-it-yourself mud treatment, before heading…

1 ANKER SOLIX PS30 PORTABLE SOLAR PANEL Keen adventurers might want to consider investing in Anker’s clever solar-powered charging station — compatible with cameras as well as phones and other devices — which will keep your kit juiced up when camping or going off grid. It folds to roughly the size of a tablet, weighs 1.1 kg and is safe from light showers. £69.99. ankersolix.com 2 VANGUARD VESTA GO 234CB CARBON TRAVEL TRIPOD WITH BALL HEAD Light on your shoulders, compact in the bag and reliable on the ground: this tripod ticks all the boxes. With a maximum load capacity of 4.5kg, it’s suitable for most everyday camera bodies, and it also includes a smartphone adaptor. For hobbyists with smaller kits, the VESTA 203AP is a heavier but cheaper alternative.…

Walk a secret railway line in Paris Paris’s Petite Ceinture was a mid-19th-century train line that was abandoned in the 1980s. Large sections have been converted into parks, where you can wander among urban foxes and street art or find yourself enveloped by thick woodland in the centre of the French capital. Go paragliding over Rio Rio de Janeiro is a city of vantage points, whether it’s from the feet of Christ the Redeemer or the cable-car that rattles up to the peak of Sugarloaf Mountain. But none quite compare with the experience of paragliding over the urban sprawl, with grand boulevards, steep favelas and the hallowed sands of Ipanema and Copacabana far beneath you. Kayak around Birmingham It’s an oft-repeated fact that Birmingham has more miles of canals than…

Best for chic urbanites  NOBU HOTEL MARRAKECH Nobu’s first hotel in Africa debuted in the upmarket Hivernage district in 2023, swiftly becoming a magnet for trendy locals and travellers. Neutral hues are combined with Moroccan flair in the 71 rooms, accented by dashes of ruby red, Japanese-influenced artworks by a Marrakeshi calligrapher and brass metalwork lanterns. Dining is — as expected — one of the main events, with rotating entertainment from international DJs, fire breathers and belly dancers. However, it’s the boho rooftop bar that’s one of the hottest tickets in town. Crowned by a circular pool deck and cabanas reserved exclusively for hotel guests, it provides 360-degree city views, including the Koutoubia Mosque and Atlas Mountains beyond. ROOMS: From 4,800 MAD (£394), B&B. nobuhotels.com Best for creativity  IZZA If…

Dawn breaks over Sydney’s seafood market and the clouds spill like fish scales across the vivid apricot sky. The flat-roofed, two-storey building beneath them — the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere — is already full of life despite the early hour, with workers busy unloading boxes of Balmain bugs (a species of lobster native to Australia). Seagulls squawk as they wheel in lazy circles overhead, while a pelican on the roof keeps eager watch over a crate of mud crabs. “You here for the behind-the-scenes tour?” asks Michael Huls, a young man in wellies with a tattoo of a colourful octopus curling around one wrist. I can just about hear him over the frenzied seagulls. I nod. “Come with me,” he says. I could be watching my first…

Outside of Brazil, where’s the best place to experience the Amazon? Two-thirds of the Amazon lie within Brazil, but eight other countries and territories have shares of the rainforest region: Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. While all have their selling points, Bolivia offers some of the most memorable, accessible and good-value Amazonian experiences. Located in the north west, the 7,320 sq-mile Madidi National Park is one of the world’s most biodiverse protected areas, home to more than 8,800 species, including pink dolphins, anacondas, jaguars and capybaras. The park’s gateway is the town of Rurrenabaque, a 40-minute flight from La Paz. From here, boats travel down the Beni River to secluded eco-lodges such as Chalalán, which was founded by a Quechua-Tacana community. It offers immersive tours involving…

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Tell us about this image. A lot of people associate the Caribbean with beaches, so I was pleased to head into Puerto Rico’s highlands, where coffee grows and there’s dense jungle among the hills. Led by local guide Jorge Perez, the writer and I followed a path through the forests of the Cordillera Central mountains, emerging onto the bank of a river. Jorge waded in, beckoning us to follow him through the waist-deep water. It was worthwhile for the destination: a huge limestone cave hidden from view while we were on the trail. How did you achieve the shot? It was midday, so the sun was high above us and the cave’s interior was relatively dark, lit only by the glow of the light reflecting off the foliage outside. I…