Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly

It's a fresh new year and this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

Places like Da Nang, Vietnam's fifth-largest city and a coastal destination long beloved by Vietnamese travelers that's now drawing international attention with new luxury hotels, airline routes, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Liz Provencher, a food, drink, and travel writer who spent several weeks exploring Vietnam in 2025. Liz shares why Da Nang offers the best of both worlds: a bustling city with motor taxis and night markets, plus 40 miles of coastline, one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam, and regional dishes you literally cannot find anywhere else.

Plan Your Da Nang Getaway

(First, explore our Vietnam travel guide.)

Stay

—Book a room at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, located within the protected Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, designed by Bill Bensley, the architect behind the White Lotus Thailand hotel

—Watch for the Mandarin Oriental opening in early 2026

—The Nobu hotel is also coming in 2026—once complete, it will be the city's tallest building, located on the beachfront

Eat and Drink

—Start your morning with mì quảng, a turmeric noodle soup topped with shrimp (or chicken, pork, or frog), herbs, and a crispy rice cracker

—Day trip to Hoi An for cao lầu, a noodle soup that can only be made there

—Explore the night markets for street food and the bustling energy Vietnam is known for

See and Do

—Spend time on Da Nang's 40 miles of stunning coastline along the South China Sea

—Hike the Son Tra Peninsula, a protected nature reserve in the northern part of the city that's home to one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam

—Take a day trip to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 minutes away

—Travel the coast in style on the Vietage Train by Anantara, a luxury train service connecting Da Nang to other cities along the central Vietnam coast

Resources

• Follow Liz's work on Instagram

• Visit Liz's website

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠⁠

E5: ⁠Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention ⁠

E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing (this one!)

Stay Connected

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's ⁠⁠Where to Go list⁠⁠. And this year's list is a little different. Because in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

Like the Columbia River Gorge, a Pacific Northwest icon where waterfalls tumble from towering cliffs, the landscape shifts from rainforest to arid grasslands in under two hours, and a historic highway is being transformed into a car-free trail.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Zoe Baillargeon, a Portland-based travel writer who has spent years exploring this 80-mile stretch of cliffs, rivers, and vineyards. Zoe shares what's new in the Gorge—from a glamping resort with stargazing tents and views of Mount Hood to a newly reopened hot springs spa with thousand-year-old Indigenous roots, plus a James Beard–recognized wine farm and a historic highway being transformed into a car-free trail.

Plan Your Columbia River Gorge Getaway

(First, explore our Oregon travel guide.)

Stay

—Book a stargazing tent at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge, a new glamping resort on 120 acres near White Salmon

—Soak in natural mineral hot springs at the newly refurbished Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa.

Eat and Drink

—Get in line early at Grasslands Barbecue, a Hood River food cart that sells out daily

—Book a farm-to-table tasting experience at Hiyu Wine Farm, a biodynamic winery and James Beard semifinalist for outstanding wine program

—Drive the Fruit Loop trail through the valley behind Hood River for wine tastings, u-pick fruit, and farm stands—stop at the Gorge White House for tastings and views

See and Do

—Drive the historic Columbia River Highway, the nation's first planned scenic byway, for waterfalls, forest views, and towering gorge walls

—Hike or bike the newly opened Mitchell Point Tunnel section of the historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

—Watch (or attempt) windsurfing and kiteboarding in Hood River, one of the world's top destinations for wind sports

—Visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles for regional history, or the Maryhill Museum of Art for an eclectic collection in a stunning setting

Resources

• Follow Zoe's work on Instagram

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention

Stay Connected

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released ⁠Where to Go list⁠—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Laikipia, that means looking beyond the overcrowded Maasai Mara to discover a Kenyan plateau where half the country's black rhinos roam, where you might be the only vehicle at a sighting, and where conservation and community go hand in hand.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Alexandra Owens, a travel writer who specializes in conservation tourism and sub-Saharan Africa. Alexandra shares why this network of community-run conservancies offers a model for what safari can be: high value, low impact, and genuinely beneficial to local communities.

Plan Your Laikipia Safari

(Listen to the View From Afar episode about the Great Migration controversy.)

Stay

—Book a stay at andBeyond Suyian, a new lodge that opened in July 2024 on Suyian Conservancy

—Try Segera Retreat, a conservancy with a collaborative relationship with local communities and a new rhino sanctuary

—Stay at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, one of the original conservancies in the region, known for its rhino protection program and house-made goat cheese

See and Do

—Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy to see the last two northern white rhinos on Earth—a mother and daughter—and learn about groundbreaking efforts to bring the species back from functional extinction

—Consider hiring a safari advisor, especially if visiting multiple conservancies—they can help with charter flights and insider experiences. Alexandra recommends Tamsyn Fricker at Travel Artistry Africa and Chris Liebenberg at Piper & Heath

Resources

• Follow Alexandra's work on Instagram.

• Visit Alexandra's website

• Learn more about Space for Giants, the elephant conservation NGO working in Laikipia

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention

E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari (this one!)

Stay Connected

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released ⁠Where to Go list⁠—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Menton, that means looking beyond Cannes and Nice to discover a quieter corner of the French Riviera—one with candy-colored buildings, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and lemons so sweet you can eat them like apples.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Jenn Rice, a food and travel writer who fell hard for Menton after a birthday dinner at Mirazur. Jenn shares why this town of 30,000—perched where France meets Italy—deserves a spot on your list. From a subtropical microclimate that produces IGP-protected citrus to affordable hotels with sea views and a culinary scene shaped by one very busy chef, Menton offers all the glamour of the Riviera without the flash.

Plan Your Menton Getaway

(First, explore our France travel guide.)

Stay

—Book a room at Hotel Napoléon, right across from the sea and walking distance to old town—rooms with terrace patios and views of the candy-colored buildings start around $200/night even in summer

—Check out the newly renovated Villa Genesis, an older villa refurbished by Hotel Napoléon

—Try Hotel Gabriel, a newly renovated boutique option with a more modern, hip vibe

Eat and Drink

—Splurge on dinner at Le Mirazur, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant from chef Mauro Colagreco—it starts with a tour of his garden overlooking the sea and mountains, and yes, you'll eat a lemon like an apple

—Pick up sandwiches, lemon cake, and the famous lemon panettone (in season) at Mitron Bakery in old town, which uses the same artisanal ancient grains as Mirazur

—Try the lemon pizza at La Pecoranegra, Colagreco's pizzeria focused on quality ingredients

—For something unexpected, visit Colagreco's Argentinian steakhouse, Casa Fuego, down the street

See and Do

—Wander the old town, where candy-colored buildings tumble toward the sea in a scene reminiscent of the Italian Cinque Terre

—Stroll the brand-new promenade along the waterfront

—Hop on the train to Nice, Cannes, or other Riviera destinations—Menton makes a great, affordable home base

Resources

• Follow Jenn's work on Instagram

• Visit Jenn's website

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention

E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret (this one!)

Stay Connected

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Birmingham, that means discovering what Alabama's second-largest city really offers—especially its quietly stellar food scene that's been racking up James Beard nominations.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Jenny Adams, a travel writer and Birmingham native now based in New Orleans. Jenny shares why this "big fish in a small pond" city deserves a second look—from its fourth-largest concentration of barbecue restaurants in America to Alabama white sauce, a downtown transformed by Railroad Park, and vintage shopping that rivals anywhere in the South. She also makes a case for an Alabama road trip, from Muscle Shoals to the Gulf Coast beaches.

Plan Your Birmingham Getaway

(First, explore our Alabama travel guide.)

Stay

—Book a room at The Elyton, a historic downtown hotel

—Try The Painted Lady, a new boutique hotel in the city center

Eat and Drink

—Start your morning at Continental Bakery in English Village for old-world European pastries

—Get a sandwich at The Garage Café, a collection of 1920s car garages with a courtyard bar where everything—including the furniture—is for sale

—Try Birmingham barbecue at SAW's BBQ or Jim 'N Nick's, and don't skip the Alabama white sauce—a tangy, mayo-based condiment invented in Decatur

—For Gulf seafood and oysters, head to Bayonet, a new raw bar

—Sip fancy cocktails at Adios, a Mexican bar and James Beard semifinalist

—For a bucket-list dive bar experience, go to The Nick for cheap domestics and live grunge bands

See and Do

—Walk or bike Railroad Park, a linear park built on former blighted railroad tracks

—Tour Sloss Furnaces, the historic ironworks that defined Birmingham's industrial past

—Visit the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to engage with the city's essential history

—Catch a show at one of three restored historic theaters: The Alabama, The Carver, or The Lyric

Shop

—Browse Pepper Place, a collection of old brick warehouses with permanent shops and a Saturday farmers market

—Find vintage treasures at Devore, with pieces spanning the Victorian era to the 1970s

—Pick up artisan Alabama goods at Stone Hollow Farms (pickles, ginger syrups, cast iron cookware) and Design Supply (Southern artists and large-scale art)

—Visit Shoppe, a garden store with a charming general store next door where you can eat a BLT while browsing tablecloths and vintage spoons

Resources

• Follow Jenny's work on Instagram

• Visit Jenny's website

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠⁠

E4: ⁠Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate ⁠

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention

E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting (this one!)

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Rabat, that means looking beyond the well-trodden streets of Marrakech and Fes to discover what Morocco's laid-back capital really offers—especially as Africa's largest music festival transforms the city into an open-air stage each summer.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Yulia Denisyuk, a travel writer and host of the podcast Going Places with Yulia. Yulia shares why this Atlantic coast city deserves a second look—from its free weeklong Mawazine music festival to a non-touristy medina, Andalusian gardens, Roman ruins, and dishes you won't find anywhere else in Morocco. She also reveals what's coming in 2026: new museums, UNESCO World Book Capital status, and a high-speed train connecting Rabat to Casablanca in just 35 minutes.

Plan Your Rabat Getaway

(First, explore our Morocco travel guide.)

See and Do

—Attend the Mawazine Festival, Africa's largest music festival, a free weeklong celebration featuring artists from around the world

—Explore Chellah, a Roman settlement dating to the first century that doubles as a festival stage

—Wander the Kasbah of the Oudayas, a 12th-century Islamic fort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean

—Stroll through the Andalusian Gardens for mint tea and ocean views

—Take a water taxi across the Bou Regreg River to Salé and back

—Browse the medina, where locals shop, have tea, and produce books—a less touristy experience than Marrakech

—Visit Mohamed Aziz, a famous bookseller in the medina who has read thousands of books and loves to discuss them

Eat and Drink

—Try Rabati pastilla, the "royal" version with thick layers and lots of eggs, influenced by Moorish settlers from Andalusia

—Seek out kefta, meatballs made with spices unique to Rabat that you won't find elsewhere in Morocco

—Eat fresh shrimp and seafood from the Atlantic coast

—Sip mint tea at cafes along the riverfront promenade

Know Before You Go

—In 2026, Rabat becomes UNESCO World Book Capital, with literary events and celebrations starting in April

—A new high-speed train will reduce travel time between Casablanca and Rabat from two hours to 35 minutes

—The Mawazine Festival typically takes place in late June

—Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures; summer is hot but tempered by Atlantic breezes

—The medina, Kasbah, and Chellah are all within walking distance of each other

Resources

• Listen to Yulia's podcast, Going Places with Yulia

• Follow Yulia on Instagram

• Visit Yulia's website

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠

E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention (this one!)

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, ⁠View From Afar⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released ⁠Where to Go list⁠—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Albuquerque, that means looking beyond a quick stop on the way to Santa Fe to discover what New Mexico's largest city really offers—especially as Route 66 celebrates its centennial in 2026.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Matt Kirouac, a writer who fell in love with Albuquerque several years ago during Balloon Fiesta and has returned many times since. He shares why this "flyover city" deserves a second look—from its 18-mile stretch of neon-lit Route 66 to native-owned breweries, centuries-old restaurants in Old Town, and petroglyphs scattered across dormant volcanoes.

Plan Your Albuquerque Getaway

(First, listen to our Unpacked episode about the city and explore our New Mexico travel guide. )

Stay

Eat and Drink

See and Do

Resources

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠

E3: ⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠

E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate (this one!)

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Sweden, that means skipping Stockholm and heading instead to the Stockholm Archipelago—a series of 24,000 islands about the size of Connecticut. It's home to a new 170-mile-long hiking path network launched in October 2024.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Katherine LaGrave, Afar's executive editor and host of our Unpacked: Five Questions series. This past summer, Katherine and her cousin spent a week hiking through pine and oak forests, island-hopping by ferry, eating post-hike Swedish meatballs, and sweating in saunas along the archipelago—covering about 62 miles across seven islands.

Plan Your Stockholm Archipelago Trip

Getting There & Around

•       The archipelago is easily accessible from Stockholm via a well-connected ferry system

•       Boat taxis are available for more direct island-to-island transport

•       On the islands, get around by foot or bike—rentals are available

•       Use the Stockholm Archipelago Trail app for offline maps and trail navigation

Where to Stay

•       Grinda Wärdshus—stay at the historic home, once the summer residence of the director of the Nobel Prize Committee

•       Ingmarsö—a farmhouse B&B with private garden access

•       Waxholms Hotell—a newly restored in Vaxholm, the island's capital

•       Thanks to Sweden's Right to Roam laws, you can camp almost anywhere for one night (with stricter rules in nature reserves)

Listen to All Our Where to Go in 2026 Episodes

E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude

E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret

Resources

•       Read Katherine's full story and explore all 24 destinations on our Where to Go in 2026 list

•       Learn more about sauna culture in the Midwest (and why there's a right and a wrong way to say it...)

•       Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Picchu and Cusco to discover what lies south—a region of white volcanic cities, canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a food scene that rivals Lima's in flavor (if not fame).

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Mark Johanson, a Chile-based travel writer and author of Mars on Earth: Wanderings in the World's Driest Desert. Mark recently explored southern Peru—from the gleaming colonial streets of Arequipa to the condor-filled skies above the Colca Canyon—and found a landscape rich with adventure, history, and some of the heartiest food in the Andes.

Plan Your Southern Peru Getaway

In Arequipa

Colca Canyon & Beyond

Cotahuasi & Toro Muerto

Lake Titicaca

Getting Around

Resources

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.

For the series finale: Charleston's performing arts scene is nothing short of extraordinary. Aislyn explores the city's world-class venues—from America's first dedicated theater to a stunning apricot-colored concert hall—and meets the people bringing opera, dance, jazz, and theater to life in the Lowcountry.

In This Episode You'll Learn

Don't Miss These Moments

*Time stamps are estimated and may change due to programmatic advertising.

Featured in This Episode

Venues

Festivals & Organizations

Performers

Resources

Catch Up on the Series

Missed any episodes? Here's the full Charleston series:

Stay Connected

Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices