Summer Travel Ideas: The Best Destinations to Book Early
It’s fuzzy-socks-and-cocoa season here in North Dakota — and if you’re like most of us, it also means you’re quietly whispering:
“I can’t wait for summer.”
Ciao bella, I’m Megan, a North Dakota native turned award-winning travel designer. I plan unforgettable, globe-spanning journeys for people who refuse to settle for basic, mass-market trips—because unforgettable travel is never one-size-fits-all.
If you’re already dreaming of longer days, sunshine, and adventures that don’t involve snow boots, now is the moment to start planning your Summer travel.
The travelers who get the best trips aren't the ones who wait — they're the ones who plan early. Booking now means access to the best hotels, ideal flight schedules, and exclusive experiences that simply won't be available later.
If summer travel is on your mind, let's start shaping it now — before the rest of the world catches up.
Planning now means:
• More availability at the hotels and lodges you actually want
• Better pricing before peak-season rates rise
• First choice of flights and room categories
• Less stress and more excitement as summer approaches
Peak season doesn’t have to mean peak chaos — as long as you start early.
So grab your coffee (or cocoa) and let’s look at the best places to travel in summer 2026. Read on below for some ideas you maybe hadn’t thought of. 🌞
Portugal & Southern Spain
Sunny, warm, and perfect for combining culture, food, wine, and beaches. Lisbon's terracotta-roofed neighborhoods come alive in early summer, while Porto's riverside wine cellars offer the perfect escape from midday heat. The Algarve coastline stretches with golden cliffs and hidden coves, and just across the border, Andalusia delivers flamenco, tapas culture, and Moorish architecture that glows in the long evening light.
Why book now: Hotels in the best neighborhoods — Alfama in Lisbon, Ribeira in Porto, Seville's Santa Cruz district — book early. The intimate boutique properties and family-run quintas that make this region special have limited rooms, and summer is peak season for good reason.
Cruise option:
Consider a luxury river cruise along the Douro River. These intimate voyages wind through Portugal's terraced wine country, stopping at quintas for private tastings and offering a slower, more immersive way to experience the region. River cruises here typically accommodate just 100-150 passengers, creating an elegant, unhurried atmosphere as you drift past UNESCO-protected landscapes. You'll dock in Porto and cruise inland through the heart of port wine country, with excursions to historic estates and medieval villages that larger ships simply can't reach.
Learn more about why river cruising is perfect for this region: River Cruise Guide
The Swiss Alps (Europe Pick)
When people think of Europe in summer, they usually picture the Amalfi Coast or Santorini. But one of Europe's most spectacular warm-weather destinations is actually Switzerland.
The Swiss Alps in summer are breathtaking: wildflower meadows stretching across mountain valleys, turquoise lakes reflecting glacier-capped peaks, charming villages with window boxes overflowing with geraniums, and mountain trains gliding through storybook scenery. Temperatures hover around a comfortable 65–75°F, making it perfect for hiking, sightseeing, and slow scenic travel.
The Bernese Oberland region — Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren — offers some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on Earth. Take the cogwheel railway to Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe," or simply wander through alpine meadows with the Eiger towering above. The lakeside towns of Interlaken and Lucerne provide cultural balance, with medieval old towns and elegant promenades.
Yes, July and August are peak season — because this is when Switzerland is at its absolute best.
Why book now: The most charming family-run alpine hotels and mountain lodges have just a handful of rooms. Peak summer dates fill up nearly a year in advance, especially properties with those iconic mountain views.
Read about the Lauterbrunnen Valley here
Peak-Season Alternative: Slovenia's Julian Alps
If you love alpine lakes and mountain villages but want fewer crowds and better value, Slovenia is a dream. Lake Bled, with its island church and clifftop castle, and Lake Bohinj's pristine shores deliver that same magical Alpine feel — without the Swiss price tag. Kranjska Gora offers excellent hiking, and the entire region feels like a secret Europe hasn't fully discovered yet. Read more here
Scotland & the Scottish Highlands
Summer brings long days (sunset after 10pm in June), blooming heather landscapes, castle tours, and whisky tastings. This is when Scotland sheds its moody grey reputation and reveals itself in full color — green hills, purple moorlands, and that legendary golden light stretching late into the evening.
The Highlands are made for slow exploration: driving the North Coast 500, touring distilleries in Speyside, hiking in the Cairngorms, and staying in converted castles and country manors. Edinburgh's festivals heat up in August, while the Isle of Skye offers dramatic coastal landscapes and fairy-tale ruins.
It's peak season for a reason — and charming inns, historic estates, and the best castle hotels fill quickly.
Why book now: Scotland's most atmospheric accommodations are small-scale. Think 10-room coaching inns, family-owned Highland lodges, and boutique hotels in converted buildings. These properties book out months ahead for summer.
Iceland
Summer is the best time to drive the Ring Road, see waterfalls at full power, and experience the midnight sun. From mid-June through July, Iceland enjoys near 24-hour daylight — the sun barely dips below the horizon, bathing the landscape in endless golden hour light.
This is when Iceland's interior opens up. You can access the Highlands, witness rivers fed by melting glaciers thundering over cliffs, and hike across black sand beaches without battling winter storms. The lupine flowers bloom in purple waves across the countryside, puffins nest on coastal cliffs, and the weather is (relatively) mild and stable.
Iceland has a limited number of quality accommodations, and everyone wants to visit in summer. Book now or risk settling for whatever's left.
African Safari (Far-Flung Pick)
Late July and August fall right in the heart of Great Migration season in East Africa — one of the most extraordinary wildlife events on Earth.
This is when millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River in Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti, creating dramatic, unforgettable safari moments. Crocodiles wait in the churning waters, predators stalk the herds, and the sheer scale of nature's drama is unlike anything else on the planet. Add in dry weather, clear skies, and incredible game viewing (animals congregate around water sources), and you have the ultimate bucket-list trip.
Beyond the migration, East Africa in summer delivers: morning game drives with lions lounging in acacia trees, sundowner cocktails overlooking endless plains, and the kind of luxury safari camps that redefine wilderness travel.
Why book now: If Africa is on your someday list, Summer 2026 is the time to do it — and it needs to be planned far in advance. The best safari camps have just 10-20 tents, and they book out more than a year ahead for migration season. This isn't a trip you can throw together last minute.
Peak-Season Alternative: Rwanda
For something equally powerful but more intimate, Rwanda offers gorilla trekking, lush volcanic mountains, and ultra-luxury eco-lodges. Tracking mountain gorillas through the misty Virunga Mountains is one of the world's most profound wildlife encounters — you're limited to one hour with a gorilla family, in groups of just eight people. It's perfect for travelers who want a once-in-a-lifetime experience without massive safari crowds.
Read more here about why this trip should be on your radar, and here to bust the myth that an African safari is out of reach
Alaska (Domestic Pick)
Summer is Alaska's moment to shine. This is when the snow melts, wildlife is active, and the state becomes a paradise of glaciers, fjords, and wild landscapes.
Think:
Whale watching off the coast of Juneau and the Inside Passage
Glacier cruises gliding past walls of ancient blue ice
Long daylight hours (over 20 hours in Fairbanks in June)
Mild temperatures perfect for outdoor adventures
Breathtaking national parks like Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Glacier Bay
This is peak season for bear viewing (both brown bears fishing for salmon and black bears foraging), for spotting orcas and humpback whales, and for accessing remote wilderness lodges that close down the rest of the year.
Why book now: If you've ever thought about going to Alaska, summer is the season — and the best cruises, lodges, and rail routes (like the famous Alaska Railroad's Denali Star) book out well in advance.
Cruise option: Alaska is cruise country, and Explora Journeys brings a fresh luxury approach to this classic route. Their ocean ships offer a more refined, modern take on Alaska cruising — think spacious suites, destination-focused itineraries, and a sophisticated atmosphere without the crowds of mega-ships. You'll sail through the Inside Passage, witness calving glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park, and explore coastal towns like Sitka and Ketchikan, all while returning each evening to exceptional dining and elevated service.
Peak-Season Alternative: North Cascades National Park (Washington)
Towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and jaw-dropping hiking — with far fewer crowds. The North Cascades deliver that Alaska-like scenery of jagged mountains, hanging glaciers, and pristine wilderness without the long flights or cruise schedules. Diablo Lake's impossible turquoise color rivals anything in Alaska, and the hiking trails range from easy walks to serious backcountry adventures.
You’re not the help desk of your vacation.
Why Summer 2026 Should Be Planned Now
Here's the reality: the best summer travel experiences have limited capacity. Small hotels. Boutique safari camps. River cruise ships with just 100 guests. Rental cars on Iceland's Ring Road. These aren't infinite resources.
The travelers who get the dream trip — the room with the castle view, the safari camp during migration, the last rental 4x4 in Reykjavik — are the ones who plan early.
☀️ Your perfect Summer 2026 is waiting — we just need to design it.
Take a deep breathe, we’ve got every detail.
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