Want to travel better in 2026? Connect with local communities and clap eyes on this year’s total solar eclipse with Intrepid’s new adventures in Europe.
Trails that lace through lesser-trodden mountains and trips that visit once-neglected monasteries in urgent need of preservation are just some of the highlights of Intrepid’s new and updated Europe trips for 2026. But while adventure is the through-line that links all these diverse departures, there are still surprises to be found in the form of first-time trips to the Faroes, Arctic cruises to witness rare celestial phenomena and unusual family holidays that encourage you to ditch the all-inclusives in favour of offbeat experiences on the shores of Greece and the far-flung forests of Finland.
1. Marvel at the total solar eclipse from a polar ship
Few people can claim to have seen a total solar eclipse – much less from aboard an Arctic ship (with a sauna, two Jacuzzis and a fleet of Zodiacs to whisk you off for on-land excursions). Yes, the Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse in Depth truly earns the right to be labelled ‘once in a lifetime’. Setting off from Reykjavik, you’ll head towards Greenland via iceberg-dotted fjords and remote villages, arriving at Scoresby Sound – a large fjord system of the Greenland Sea – at the point of totality (12 August 2026). Considering the last total solar eclipse north of the Arctic Circle was in 2015, this really is a date for your diary. Throughout, you’ll be accompanied by a world-renowned author and eclipse expert, Michael Zeiler.
2. See the Balkans’ lesser-known corners in style
Looking for an up-and-coming destination for 2026? Why not take in two on Intrepid’s new Premium Montenegro and Albania trip. You’ll discover the dashing duo with the help of expert guides and authentic experiences. Namely, in Albania, you’ll visit the once-outlawed Orthodox monasteries of the Drino Valley, abandoned in the 1960s after the communist government refused to recognise these religious institutions, relegating them to an era of disrepair. Having recently been added to the World Monuments Watch, it’s never been more important to support the preservation and protection of these religious refuges. In Montenegro, you’ll also get a different perspective on the Bay of Kotor via a scenic boat trip.
Read more: 26 totally new Intrepid trips and experiences
3. Step into a silver-screen adventure on the Faroe Islands
The cinematic landscapes of the Faroe Islands belong on the big screen (indeed, How to Train Your Dragon and Bond film No Time to Die both used the islands as their backdrop). This year, Intrepid is bringing all the drama of the archipelago to you for the first time. On the new Explore Faroe Islands trip, you’ll admire the grass-roofed houses of Torshavn – one of the world’s smallest capitals – before venturing out to the 100-house seaside settlement of Gjogv and the twin sea stacks of Risin og Kellingin. Boat tours of Bordoy island and Bond-featured Kalsoy will launch another dramatic day that ends with a slice of heimablidni (home hospitality) on a 16th-century Faroese farmstead.
4. Glamp with the kids in Greece
Intrepid’s new Greece Family Holiday is a group-gathering Greek getaway with a difference. First up, ditch the all-inclusive and treat the kids (and yourselves) to a dose of culture, walking amid the ancient ruins of Delphi and Olympia – home to the first Olympic Games. Next, a highlight is sure to be the chance to unwind with three days’ glamping in beautiful bell tents beside the coastal village of Galatas. Based on a family owned eco farm (with an all-important swimming pool), you’ll stay just a five-minute boat transfer from the twin islands of Poros (renowned for their lamb, olive groves and whitewashed houses), with ample unplanned time for swimming, kayaking and cooking Greek meals together.
5. Appreciate ‘friluftsliv’ (open-air life) in a Norwegian cabin
Norwegians’ peaceful lifestyle is founded upon ‘friluftsliv’ – a profound connection with the natural world. On this new Norway: Hike, Bike & Kayak trip, you’ll feel these benefits for yourself by holidaying, Norwegian-style, in a series of scenic cabins. Some nights, you’ll sleep beside by a glacial river in Loen, in the shadow of the mighty Mount Skala (one of Norway’s highest peaks); others will be spent bedding down in Gudvangen, between steep cliffs and deep fjords. Daytime activities include kayaking trips on the Naeroyfjord, bike adventures past the small farms of Flam and hikes amid the Ice Age landscape of the Briksdal glacier.
6. Scale Albania’s legendary Accursed Mountains
Up for a challenge? The new Hike the Albanian Alps trip is an epic, eight-day journey among the mist-wreathed peaks and plunging, pine-filled valleys of the Accursed Mountains (or Albanian Alps), covering up to 18km per day. This includes the route from Theth to Valbona through two national parks where, since there’s no road connecting these two villages, the only way to get from one to the other is by foot. Remoteness along the route is what makes this trip memorable – at times, you’ll have to remind yourself you’re in Europe after all.
7. Get hands-on with crafts and cooking in Finland
Finland is officially the world’s happiest country, according to the latest World Happiness Report – perhaps because they spend more time in saunas than on screens. The Finland Family Holiday entices everyone to look up and appreciate nature, with time for forest bathing (and tree hugging) amid the matchstick pines of Halipuu. In addition to all that time outdoors, there’s also a new hands-on cultural experience near Rovaniemi, where you’ll visit a local family on their Lappish farm to try the craft of felting using wool from their own sheep. You’ll also bake traditional kampanisu pastries and relax, Nordic-style, around an open fire.
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8. Immerse yourself in the drama of Iceland
Road-trippers love Iceland for the Ring Road, a circular highway that loops around the island’s main sights. But you really you need to get out of the car to feel the landscape’s visceral energy. On Intrepid’s new Iceland: Hike, Bike, & Raft trip, you’ll take in the trio of natural attractions that makes up the Golden Circle (Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall), before hiking along (and swimming in) the Reykjadalur thermal river. There’ll also be a hike to south Iceland’s lesser-known Nauthusagil Canyon and a sea kayaking adventure from the fishing village of Stokkesyri. But the highlight will surely be a scenic coastal cycle around the Westman Islands, spotting puffins nesting amid soaring sea cliffs.
9. Support young people with disabilities in the Balkans
The Balkan countries have the sunny weather and cultural draws of southern Europe – but without the crowds. Intrepid’s Explore the Balkans trip gives a tantalising taste of the region, zipping through Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia over ten days. New for 2026, you’ll visit Zvuci Srca cafe in Belgrade, which provides opportunities to young people with developmental disabilities and their families, in an effort to reverse the statistical reality that only 13% of Serbia’s disabled community are employed.
10. Weave your own piece of history in Scotland
The Premium Scotland tour promises a particularly ‘braw’ time, with stays in smart hotels such as Aberdeenshire’s 13th-century Meldrum House, distillery tastings along the Speyside Whisky Trail and expert-led tours of Edinburgh and Glasgow. This year, Intrepid has also added two new experiences. In Stirling, you’ll create your own tartan at a local workshop led by Radical Weavers and over on the Isle of Skye, you’ll spend a full day visiting natural landmarks, including the Old Man of Storr mountain and the glossy, green-coned hills of Fairy Glen, on the Trotternish peninsula.
11. Write your own Transylvanian tale in Romania
There’s much more to Transylvania than vampires. Though this new Hiking in Romania: Via Transilvanica Trail does include a visit to Bran Castle (claimed to have been the inspiration behind Dracula’s castle), you’ll also be venturing deep into the Carpathian Mountains on the Transilvanica trail – an ancient long-distance route, maintained by Intrepid Foundation partner, the Tasuleasa Social Association. Stops along the trail will include visits to such curiosities as the Sucevita Monastery (one of eight painted churches in the Bucovina region listed by UNESCO), as well as small mountain villages.
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12. Support Spanish community tourism in Andalucia
With reports of overtourism and protests in Spain grabbing the headlines, it’s never been more important to travel responsibly. The Highlights of Andalucia trip goes beyond the big sights and dives deep into Spanish culture, with a flamenco class in Seville and a tapas-tasting tour in Granada. New for 2026, you’ll also explore the Granada Geopark in a 4WD – one of Spain’s 18 UNESCO-protected geoparks, designated for their geological interest (not to mention their camera-summoning scenery), where you’ll sleep in a century-old cave hotel, still owned by the original farming family who first lived here.
13. Meet creative communities in Greece and Turkey
Athens and Istanbul are two of the world’s great cultural cities – but on the new Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul trip, you’ll discover not only these must-see stops, but also the rural communities that connect them. In the mountains beyond the lesser-visited Greek city of Xanthi, you’ll meet an organisation of women creating homewares and accessories in traditional styles. Veering off the beaten path further still, you’ll get to taste coffee and pies made by the women of north-eastern Greece’s Pomak community of Bulgarian-speaking Muslims in the village of Pachni.
Find out what else is new for 2026 with The Goods – a collection of new trips and experiences to inspire a year of adventure.
