9 New G Adventures Trips to Take in 2026 for Maximum Happiness

by Belt Drive Betty | Aug 7, 2026 | Travel Tips

G Adventures has set out to make 2026 the happiest travel year yet — and they’ve done it by researching exactly what destinations and experiences make travellers feel most alive. The result is nine brand-new trips built around joy, community, and wonder. Here are the standouts most likely to appeal to adventurous Albertans.

Southern Africa: Kruger, Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe

This 17-day Geluxe journey covers four countries with the perfect mix of indulgence and adventure. From lions at sunrise on the Kruger savanna to the thundering roar of Victoria Falls — the world’s largest waterfall by width and volume — you’ll track wildlife with expert guides in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. End with a cycling tour of Stellenbosch vineyards and views from Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. This is Southern Africa at its very best.

Panama: Sandy Beaches and San Blas Sunsets

Panama offers one of the most surprising combinations in travel: a sophisticated cosmopolitan capital (Panama City’s Casco Viejo is genuinely beautiful) and the utterly remote San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coast — home to the Indigenous Guna people, with powdery sand, swaying palms, and zero light pollution. Six days of contrast and colour, perfect for travellers aged 18 to “thirtysomething” — and beyond.

The Silk Road: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

For adventurous travellers who want somewhere genuinely different, the five Stans of Central Asia are starting to appear on the radar. This 23-day National Geographic Journeys itinerary traces the storied Silk Road through ancient cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, dramatic landscapes from canyon country to steppe, and cultural experiences including learning to build a yurt and making traditional manti dumplings. This is the kind of trip your friends haven’t done yet.

Iceland — Local Living

G Adventures’ new Local Living format slows everything down — fewer destinations, longer stays, local guesthouses and homestays instead of hotels, public transport instead of tour buses. In Iceland, that means six days based in the remote village of Bakkagerði, hiking coastal trails, soaking in steaming pools, cooking in a family kitchen, and connecting with a place — not just passing through it.

Arctic Expedition: Realm of the Polar Bear

On the new G Expedition ship — just 128 passengers — sail into Norway’s fjords and Arctic bays to encounter polar bears, seals, reindeer, and colonies of seabirds. Zodiac rides, kayaking, and on-foot wildlife encounters make this the most intimate way to experience the High Arctic. Given Alberta’s appreciation for wilderness and big skies, this one hits differently close to home.