Napa is one of the most famous wine regions in the world and one of the most frequently visited incorrectly. The real version is private estate lunches with winemakers, library tastings of vintages you cannot buy, and a handful of extraordinary properties that make wine country feel like the Burgundy of California it was always meant to be. 2026 is the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris. The valley is celebrating.

Arabia without the skyscrapers, the malls, or the manufactured attractions. What Oman has instead is a coastline of hidden wadis, a desert of 150-kilometre dunes, mountain plateaus at 2,000 metres, and one of the most genuine hospitality cultures left in the region. The infrastructure is quietly excellent. The crowds have not arrived yet.

The best Tuscany trip is not based in Florence. It is based in the Val d'Orcia, the UNESCO-listed landscape south of Siena where the wheat turns gold in September and the Brunello vineyards produce some of Italy's finest wine. Slow down, stay on an estate, and eat better than you have anywhere else.

Kyoto is the former imperial capital of Japan, with fifteen hundred temples, preserved geisha districts, and a food culture serious enough to make the rest of the country take notes. Kanazawa, two hours north, kept its castle and its samurai quarters when most of Japan did not. Together they are the version of Japan that stays with you longest.