By Gina Bang, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer 鈥� Avanti Destinations 

People always ask me what it was like growing up in Kodiak, Alaska. I know what聽they’re聽really asking 鈥� the remoteness, the cold, the dark. And yes, all of that is true. But聽here’s聽what I聽actually tell聽them: my parents still live there, and the winter sky in Kodiak is one of the most luminous things聽I’ve聽ever seen. A full moon with snow all around you聽doesn’t聽feel dark 鈥� it feels鈥�bright. Millions of stars. Shooting stars. The Aurora聽dancing聽overhead. You stand there and think: I have never聽in my life seen a sky like this.聽

That’s聽my origin story with聽astrotourism. And聽it’s聽why I mean it when I say: in 2026, the universe is putting on a show, and you should be there for it.聽

We’ve聽been looking up at the sun, moon, and stars with awe and curiosity since the beginning of human history. And that looking up is precisely what connects us across cultures, centuries, and continents. Whether you want to聽witness聽a once-in-a-generation celestial event or simply sit quietly under a canopy of stars somewhere far from a city’s glow,聽astrotourism聽delivers the kind of travel聽that’s聽genuinely hard to forget.聽

And in 2026, the calendar is stacked. 

The Big One: Solar Eclipse over Spain, August 12 

On August 12, a total solar eclipse will cross northern Spain, Iceland, and western Ireland, the first visible in Europe since 1999. Avanti has a seven-day/six-night Spain package聽departing聽August 10 that puts you exactly where you want to be: watching the eclipse鈥�and鈥痶he Perseid meteor showers that same evening, from the top of a castle surrounded by vineyards.聽That’s聽not a sentence I expected to write, and yet here we are.聽

The itinerary winds through Madrid, the Ribera del Duero wine region, La Rioja, Zaragoza, and Barcelona, through medieval towns, wineries with tastings, stays in luxury historic properties (one was a synagogue in the 13th century). An expert astronomy guide is with you for the eclipse itself.聽It’s聽the kind of trip that has a story in every single element.聽

Dark Sky Reserves: The Southern Hemisphere’s Best Kept Secrets 

New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is the largest in the southern hemisphere and one of the finest stargazing spots on the planet. It’s where the Milky Way is聽visible to the naked eye. A 1.5-hour guided tour pairs high-powered binoculars and聽state-of-the-art聽telescopes with a Theatre Planetarium orientation. Go in winter (our summer).聽

In Chile, the Atacama Desert logs more than 320 clear nights per year with minimal light pollution at high altitude. A two-hour experience, maximum of 15 guests, a driver, an astronomy guide, and an aperitif at a hand-picked location, is exactly the kind of thing that sounds understated and lands as extraordinary.聽

In Peru, the Cuzco Planetarium sits at over 11,000 feet and grounds you in the ancient Andean relationship with the cosmos before sending you outside with professional astronomical equipment to see it for yourself. 

Northern Lights: Multiple Ways to Chase the Aurora 

In the northern hemisphere, the Aurora Borealis聽remains聽the ultimate fleeting reward, and there are more ways to chase it than ever. Take an Aurora safari by snowmobile-pulled sledge near Ruka, Finland. Lace up snowshoes in聽Saariselka聽or Kiruna. Ride a dogsled in Sweden. Take a聽SuperJeep聽in Iceland.聽

My personal favorite on the list: a Northern Lights photography tour near聽Svolvaer聽in Norway’s remote Lofoten Islands, led by a local nature photographer who shares his favorite spots for capturing the best shots.聽That’s聽not a tour; it’s聽an invitation into someone’s world.

And if you really want to lean in, the Aurora Colosseum in Kiruna, Sweden is a handmade, hand-carved ice structure rebuilt every year. You arrive by snowmobile to watch the lights from beneath reindeer hides with fires nearby. Pair it with a stay at the legendary聽IceHotel聽in nearby聽Jukkasj盲rvi聽and聽you’ve聽got yourself a trip.聽

The universe has always been putting on a show. In 2026, we’ve got front-row seats. 

About Avanti Destinations

Since 1981, Avanti Destinations has been selling custom-crafted independent travel vacations in Europe, Asia, North Africa/the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Central and South America. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator offers a wide range of FIT components to travel advisors only, including air, rail, rental cars, hotels, sightseeing/attractions, transfers and hard-to-find experiential travel options, such as astronomy, soft adventure, nature/wildlife spotting, cooking classes, food and wine/beer/spirits tastings.   

Avanti specializes in hand-picked 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels, resorts, and unique accommodations, such as jungle ecolodges, villas, and castles, in both large cities and small towns and in connecting all the pieces of complex or multi-destination itineraries. The company also creates complete packages for custom groups of 10 or more passengers.  

For more information: .  

The post Astrotourism聽around the world in 2026: solar eclipse, meteor showers, Northern Lights, and stargazing聽 appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

By Madigan Talmage-Bowers,  

As in past years, Nordic and northern European countries have claimed the top spots on the list of 鈥渨orld鈥檚 happiest countries鈥� in the 2023 World Happiness Report, an annual ranking that aims to quantify the aspirational concept of happiness around the globe based on six measures of life evaluation: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, generosity, social support, the freedom to make life choices, and the presence or absence of corruption. For travelers wanting to explore these happiness hotspots, here are ways to engage with local culture and natural attractions for a well-being boost.  

Finland (Happiness Rank: #1) 

Despite notoriously harsh winters, the reigning happiness champion draws visitors to its vast, pristine wilderness鈥攁bout 75% of the country is forested鈥攁nd distinct regional culture. In the south, the welcoming seaside capital of Helsinki offers cutting-edge Finnish architecture and design, with easy day trips to the charming artistic villages of Porvoo and Fiskars. Further north, the S谩pmi area (also known as Lapland) brushes the Arctic Circle, offering extra hours to explore during summer鈥檚 鈥渕idnight sun.鈥� In the winter, intrepid travelers willing to bundle up can experience ideal northern lights viewing opportunities and connection with the indigenous S谩mi鈥痗ulture, known for the semi-nomadic practice of reindeer herding.  

Denmark (#2) 

Graceful Renaissance architecture paired with modern Danish design and a world-class culinary scene makes Denmark鈥檚 capital of Copenhagen one of the rising stars of European tourism. Gourmands are spoiled for choice among the city鈥檚 roster of Michelin-starred restaurants showcasing nouveau Nordic cuisine, while visitors interested in Danish arts and crafts can browse the showrooms of local designers, watch master glassblowers at work, or admire delicate porcelain creations at the Royal Copenhagen factory. Part of the Kingdom of Denmark (though about 700 miles offshore), the autonomous archipelago of the Faroe Islands offers untouched landscapes of wind-swept emerald heaths and stunning sea cliffs, alongside a distinct culture that includes a rich musical heritage and time-honored crafts such as Faroese wool knitting.  

Iceland (#3) 

Much more than an appealing stopover on transatlantic flights, Iceland is gaining traction as a destination in its own right, with easy connections from many European cities and a wealth of natural attractions. One of the continent鈥檚 smallest capitals, easy-going Reykjavik also ranks among the world鈥檚 most sustainable cities, thanks to an abundance of renewable geothermal energy and an ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2040. After a restorative soak and mud bath in the naturally heated Blue Lagoon, visitors often head to Southern Iceland鈥檚 popular Golden Circle touring route鈥攕howcasing otherworldly landscapes of waterfalls, bubbling geothermal fields, lava tubes, and glaciers that invite ice trekking or thrilling snowmobile tours.

Sweden (#6) 

Most visitors to Sweden start at the enchanting capital of Stockholm, where the ochre-hued townhomes and Royal Palace of the Gamla Stan (Old Town) preside over a lacy network of canals and bridges connecting medieval and modern Stockholm. A cruise through the Stockholm Archipelago offers easy access to a network of nearly 30,000 islands鈥攕ome with remnants of quaint fishing villages, while others are uninhabited landscapes of woodland and rocky cliffs. Over on Sweden鈥檚 North Sea coast, the riverside city of Gothenburg has earned the title of the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 most sustainable city鈥� every year since the ranking was debuted by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement in 2016. Here, nearly 90% of hotels are eco-certified and an excellent dining scene showcases sustainable, locally sourced seafood.  

Norway (#7) 

Boasting the second-longest coastline in the world (after Canada), Norway offers spectacular natural landscapes alongside contemporary Scandinavian culture. In the vibrant capital of Oslo, travelers can admire groundbreaking Norwegian architecture on a tour of the iceberg-inspired Oslo Opera House or discover Norway’s seafaring heritage at the Viking Ship Museum, featuring magnificent longboats from the ninth century. On the southwestern coast, the city of Bergen is known for both its cultural cache (it鈥檚 home to one of the world鈥檚 oldest symphony orchestras) and as the gateway to Norway鈥檚 famous fjords. Further north, the majestic, snow-capped Sunnm酶re Alps鈥痶ower over the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and offer a year-round playground, with alpine hiking in summer and snowshoeing or ski touring during snow season.  

Switzerland (#8) 

Switzerland packs a wealth of inviting destinations into its relatively small size. In the shadow of the towering Swiss Alps, mountain-chic resort towns like Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Gstaad boast some of Europe鈥檚 best ski terrain with world-class amenities to match. In French-speaking Lausanne, the Olympic Museum traces the history of the games through sculptural interpretations of the Olympic spirit along with a robust collection of sporting memorabilia. Nearby, the fertile Lavaux Valley is lined with UNESCO-listed vineyard terraces that have been producing wine for nearly a millennium. At one of many hillside wineries, oenophiles can savor a glass of wine paired with Swiss fondue and spectacular views over Lake Geneva.  

About TCS World Travel 

has been dedicated to enriching lives through travel since its founding in 1991. As a pioneer in the private jet expeditions industry, TCS has developed and operated nearly 300 luxury jet tours to more than 200 destinations. To commemorate its legacy of travel, the company recently launched a across Scandinavia and northern Europe aboard a customized A321 private jet. Travelers will be joined by TCS President Shelley Cline on the inaugural itinerary, departing in July 2024. 

The post <strong>Nordic Countries Once Again Named 鈥淲orld鈥檚 Happiest鈥�</strong>  appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

By Mila Kickert, Product Manager Northern/Central Europe,

Nature is practically the national religion of Finland. 

If you don鈥檛 know this sparsely populated, little-touristed Nordic country that sits between Sweden and Russia, you owe it to yourself to get familiar with it, especially if you love nature.鈥� There is no other place like it. 

No matter what the season, Finland gives you plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities: hiking, trekking, biking, cross country skiing, ice skating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, Husky and reindeer sledding, snowshoeing, fishing, bear-watching, and picking wild mushrooms and berries while strolling through its鈥�nearly 50 million acres of forests. Since we鈥檙e talking numbers 鈥� there are鈥�more than 180,000 lakes鈥痠n Finland. 鈥淟and of 1,000 Lakes鈥� is an understatement. 

You鈥檒l be happy to know that鈥�most Finns speak鈥�excellent English鈥�� because who in the world is going to learn to speak Finnish? It鈥檚 a complex language completely unrelated to any other, except Estonian and Hungarian. With so many Finns speaking English 鈥� and eager to practice 鈥� it鈥檚 easy for Americans to get around.鈥� Finland also has an excellent road system if you want to rent a car, as well as a great public transportation system and good air connections between destinations. Keep in mind that if you rent a car, gas is quite expensive compared to the US 鈥� 鈥痩ike most other countries. 

Because of its extreme northern latitude, you can also experience two natural phenomena in Finland. Between October and March, when the days are short and the nights are long, you can see the鈥�Northern Lights鈥痮r aurora borealis, that spectacular kinetic light show dancing in the night sky. In the late spring through the summer, you have the wonderful long days of the鈥�Midnight Sun, when the darkest it gets in the middle of the night is like twilight. For two months in the far north, enjoy 鈥淲hite Nights鈥� when the sun does not set at all. 

The only thing as sacred to Finns as being active outdoors is relaxing from all that exertion in a real鈥�Finnish sauna鈥�� which usually involves several dips in rivers, lakes or the sea in water that can be quite 鈥� shall we say, invigorating? In the winter, Finns cut holes in the ice to take a quick swim after a sauna. I personally am sold on saunas, and saunayoga 鈥� the best way to relax after hiking, skiing or kayaking or whatever you want to put your body through. 

For those seeking some adventure, one of my favorite places is Lapland 鈥� specifically Ruka and Kuusamo, near Oulanka National Park. When I visited in February we 鈥渉unted鈥� for the Northern Lights by snowshoe one evening, by a sled pulled by huskies the next.鈥� During the day, we went cross country skiing, and successfully tried ice fishing.鈥� On a subsequent trip during June, there were so many things to do: we canoed, went whitewater rafting, rode fat-tire bikes on forest trails, fished for brown trout in a nearby river, patiently watched for bears, and picked wild berries 鈥� blueberries, lingonberries and 

Ah 鈥� heaven. No wonder Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the past four years! 

Since 1981, has been selling independent travel products and custom-crafted vacations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator offers a wide range of FIT components to travel agents only, including air, rail, rental cars, hotels, sightseeing/attractions, transfers, and hard-to-find experiential travel options.鈥� Avanti specializes in hand-picked, locally-owned hotels in both large and small cities and in connecting all the pieces of complex, multi-destination itineraries. The company also creates complete packages for custom groups of 15-100 passengers.  

For more information:   

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