Top 7 luxury trips for 2027: The journeys we recommend booking now

If the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express celebrates the romance of rail travel, the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express celebrates its spirit of discovery. And, as travellers look beyond familiar destinations, interest is growing in journeys that combine cultural depth with exceptional comfort.

This is more than a luxury train journey; it is an exploration of one of history's most important crossroads of civilisation. For centuries, merchants, pilgrims and explorers travelled these routes, exchanging ideas, religions, technologies and cultures that would shape the world as we know it.

Today's travellers can follow in those footsteps with considerably more comfort. Elegant cabins, fine dining and impeccable service accompany a journey through some of China's most fascinating regions, linking ancient capitals, archaeological treasures and UNESCO-listed sites.

Yet the real appeal lies in the sense of perspective the journey provides. Few itineraries offer such a compelling insight into the rise and fall of empires, the development of trade routes and the enduring legacy of cultural exchange across Asia. For intellectually curious travellers, it is every bit as enriching as it is luxurious.

While much of the world seeks sunshine, some of the most magical travel experiences are found in the heart of winter. Hidden among the forests of northeastern Finland, the newly opened Arctic Lumo Resort offers an altogether different kind of luxury, one defined by silence, space and an extraordinary connection to nature.

This is not Lapland as most people imagine it. Rather than busy tourist hubs and crowded viewing points, guests are immersed in a remote wilderness environment where snowy landscapes stretch to the horizon and the Northern Lights frequently provide the evening's entertainment.

The resort itself plays a major role in the experience. Contemporary private cabins blend seamlessly into their surroundings, while floor-to-ceiling windows bring the Arctic landscape indoors. Days can be as active or as relaxed as you choose, whether exploring frozen forests by snowmobile, setting out on snowshoe adventures or simply unwinding in your private outdoor hot tub.

For couples in particular, it offers something increasingly difficult to find: genuine seclusion. In a world that moves ever faster, the greatest luxury can sometimes be complete stillness, and few places deliver it quite as beautifully as this.

Transformative travel continues to shape luxury holiday trends, with travellers increasingly prioritising meaningful experiences over simply ticking off destinations. And, while there can be very few travel experiences capable of stopping you in your tracks, an East African safari is certainly one of them. This is the Africa of sweeping savannahs, acacia-dotted horizons and wildlife spectacles that have inspired generations of travellers. Yet what makes this journey particularly compelling is the way it combines two of Tanzania's greatest treasures into a single, seamless adventure.

The itinerary begins among some of the continent's most iconic safari landscapes. Exploring the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater and the vast plains of the Serengeti, days are shaped by the rhythm of the natural world. One morning might bring sightings of elephants moving silently across the grasslands; another could see lions resting beneath an acacia tree or a cheetah surveying the plains.

Then comes a dramatic change of scene. Trading game drives for white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, Zanzibar offers the perfect conclusion to the journey. Here, days slow to a gentler pace, whether exploring the historic alleyways of Stone Town, sailing along the coast at sunset or simply unwinding beside the Indian Ocean. It's this combination of adventure and relaxation that makes the itinerary so rewarding. Equally suited to first-time safari-goers and seasoned Africa enthusiasts, it pairs some of the world's finest wildlife viewing with the laid-back luxury of a tropical island escape. For those seeking a journey that combines bucket-list experiences with genuine variety, few holidays strike the balance quite so well.

There are luxury holidays, and then there are journeys that become stories in their own right. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express belongs firmly in the latter category. Long before arrival on Italy's celebrated coastline, the experience begins the moment you step aboard one of the world's most iconic trains, where every detail, from the polished marquetry and Art Deco interiors to the white-gloved service, recalls a golden age of travel that many believed had been lost.

Yet what makes this itinerary particularly compelling is the contrast that follows. After the elegance and nostalgia of rail travel, southern Italy unfolds in all its sun-drenched splendour. Here, days are spent exploring cliffside villages draped across dramatic coastlines, wandering among ancient ruins and enjoying long, leisurely lunches overlooking the Mediterranean.

This is Italy at its most romantic. Whether watching the coastline slip by on a private boat excursion, tracing the history of Pompeii or simply soaking up the atmosphere of Positano's colourful lanes, every day feels cinematic. For travellers who see travel as an art form rather than simply a means of getting from one place to another, few journeys can rival it.

Few destinations reward curiosity quite like Japan. One moment you're gazing across Tokyo's futuristic skyline, the next you're removing your shoes before entering a centuries-old temple where traditions remain unchanged. It is this constant interplay between old and new that makes the country so endlessly fascinating.

As an introduction to Japan, this itinerary strikes a careful balance between the headline sights and the cultural experiences that visitors often remember most. Yes, you'll discover iconic cities and travel aboard the world-famous bullet train, but you'll also gain insight into a way of life shaped by craftsmanship, ritual and extraordinary attention to detail.

Particularly memorable are the stays in traditional ryokan inns, where tatami floors, hot-spring bathing and exceptional hospitality provide a glimpse into a side of Japan many travellers never fully experience. Combined with exquisite kaiseki dining, where each course celebrates seasonality and presentation as much as flavour, the journey reveals why Japan is often regarded as one of the world's most rewarding cultural destinations.

Ideal for first-time visitors seeking depth rather than simply a checklist of sights, this is a journey that consistently exceeds expectations.

Some landscapes are simply too spectacular to rush through. Canada's west is one of them. Travelling aboard the Rocky Mountaineer transforms the journey itself into the main event. Instead of focusing on the destination ahead, travellers spend their days immersed in the scenery, watching glaciers, waterfalls, emerald forests and towering peaks unfold beyond panoramic windows.

What makes the experience especially rewarding is its sense of scale. Few destinations feel quite as vast and untamed as western Canada. Wildlife sightings are common, whether bears foraging in forest clearings, bald eagles soaring overhead or whales breaching in the waters surrounding Vancouver Island.

Yet despite its wilderness credentials, this is a remarkably comfortable way to experience the region. Luxury hotels, exceptional dining and attentive service ensure every detail is taken care of, allowing guests to focus entirely on the landscapes around them. For travellers who dream of seeing nature on a grand scale, Canada rarely disappoints. Combined with the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver Island, this itinerary showcases exactly why Canada remains one of the world's most rewarding destinations for 2027.