The year has just started, and we are happy to present our travel calendar for 2026: suggesting twelve inspiring destinations that make for a perfect holiday experience – no matter when you travel. 

More sustainable travel starts with better decisions—and sometimes simply with the right timing. While many destinations are overwhelmed with visitors during the traditional vacation months, countercyclical travel offers a sustainable alternative: consciously traveling outside of the high season.

The advantages of traveling in the off-season

Countercyclical travel means discovering destinations when they have room to breathe. Or to put it simply: when everyone else is flocking to the south, we discover the north. The advantages:

• Less crowds relieve pressure on nature, infrastructure, and local communities.
• At the same time, you often experience places that are more unspoiled, quieter, and more authentic—and (bonus!) cheaper.
• For hosts, too, this form of travel is an important lever for flattening seasonal peaks, securing jobs all year round, and making sustainable concepts viable in the long term.

Your countercyclical travel calendar for 2026

In our green travel calendar for 2026, we therefore show you twelve travel ideas – one inspiration for each month. All destinations follow a simple principle: travel sustainably, avoid overtourism, and experience special vacation moments when others are not even thinking about them yet.

1. January

Traveling to a region during the rainy season has two big advantages: fewer tourists and lush greenery! That’s why our tip for January is Peru. There is no classic dry season in the Amazon region anyway. However, it rains (even) more frequently and heavily until around April. And it is precisely this time of year that causes the rainforest to explode in lush greenery. (Sure, the paths can be muddy, but that’s just part of the jungle experience). You’ll stay right in the rainforest at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica. And if you want to enjoy the Andes during the rainy season, the highlight of Machu Picchu near the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is at least a little less crowded than during the high season.

2.February

February – neither winter nor spring. However, Freiburg doesn’t need spring to charm its visitors. The charming city center has a lot to offer, especially the historic architecture, the Freiburg Bächle (small streams) and the almost daily weekly market around Freiburg Cathedral, which are among the city’s landmarks. When the weather is bad, there is culture to discover in museums (Augustinermuseum, Natur und Mensch) and historic sites (Colombischlössle).

In Freiburg’s eco-friendly Vauban district, you will find particularly sustainable accommodation at the Green City Hotel Vauban after an eventful day. By the way: whether it’s the onset of winter or already spring-like temperatures, from here you can quickly reach the Black Forest countryside, which is beautiful in every season.

3. March

Skiing doesn’t have to take place in the middle of winter. In Switzerland, snow arrives later in many places, but it stays longer in the high mountains. March therefore often offers the best conditions – and that’s outside the high season. In Zermatt, the slopes are emptier, the temperatures milder, and the light particularly intense. Fabienne Anthamatten from Zermatt sums it up:

“Come skiing in March or April! You won’t be skiing on artificial snow – and that’s really fun.”

Naturally, we recommend the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. The Anthamatten family’s family-run hotel is located directly on the ski slope, is comfortably furnished with lots of wood, and offers a magnificent view of the Matterhorn – perfect for relaxed skiing days without too much hustle and bustle.

4. April

How about forest bathing instead of an Easter egg hunt this Easter? The Selfnesshotel SCHWALRZWALD PANORAMA is offers this relatively new treatment over the Easter holidays. “Black Forest bathing” with a private trainer.

Forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) has health-promoting effects on your entire organism, strengthens the immune system, and soothes the soul. This meditative excursion into nature is particularly suitable for stress management. And forest bathing in Bad Herrenalb is especially worthwhile because the forest here is so wonderfully unspoiled!

5. May

A beach holiday on the Baltic Sea in May? Why not! The sun is already shining and the beaches are not very crowded at this time of year. Moreover, bathing in the (admittedly, still cold) sea promotes blood circulation and strengthens the immune system like a climate therapy. If you want to warm up afterwards, it’s best to enjoy the view of the rooftop sauna at the SANDnature on the Timmendorfer Strand.

6. June

Nepal is usually associated with the classic trekking season in autumn – but June is a particularly exciting time to travel. Shortly before the monsoon, the landscape is exceptionally green, the air is clear, and the trails are much quieter than in the busy months. Those who travel countercyclically will experience Nepal more intensely, more authentically, and more relaxed.

Our tip for this time of year is The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm near Pokhara. This boutique resort is picturesquely situated amid organically farmed fields and rolling hills, with views of the Himalayas. In sustainable villas, you can experience traditional Nepalese life as well as modern, environmentally conscious comfort, yoga, meditation, and great excursion options, such as animal-friendly safaris.

7. July

When beaches and cities are crowded in July, the Tyrolean mountains offer a refreshing alternative. A cooler climate, green landscapes, and plenty of space to breathe deeply make summer in the Alps ideal for countercyclical travel.

In Seefeld, the Hotel Klosterbräu combines sustainable five-star wellness comfort with over 500 years of history. The sixth-generation family-run hotel offers peace, nature, and relaxation—far away from the heat and hustle and bustle.

If you’re looking for more space and privacy, the Summit Lodges Pfunds in the Tyrolean Oberland offer luxurious, sustainably managed vacation homes for up to six people. With a private sauna and close proximity to the mountains, you can enjoy a relaxing summer here.

8. August

The Dolomites are the best place to enjoy late summer! When the mountains are bathed in red and gold by the setting sun in the evening (the locals call this spectacle “Enrosadira”), you won’t want to be anywhere else. The location of the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is perfect for this and also ideal for exploring the countryside on mountain bikes or discovering the hiking trails on the Alp de Suisse.

9. September

According to a British travel study, September is considered the most popular month for travel – “Super September.” That’s precisely why it’s worth consciously choosing not to go where everyone else is going, but to rethink your travel destinations.

Sicily shows its relaxed side in September: the intense summer heat is over, the sea is still warm, and life on the island returns to its own rhythm. Instead of the hustle and bustle of the high season, you can expect wide open spaces, peace and quiet, and a genuine dolce vita.

Our accommodation tip here is the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, which is secluded on a WWF-protected wild beach that is almost exclusively accessible via the resort. Surrounded by nature, with plenty of space, sustainable standards, and comprehensive wellness facilities.

10. October

October is the ideal time to consciously extend summer—without the heat, holiday crowds, and crowded beaches. On the Croatian island of Iž, you can now enjoy peace and quiet. It is precisely this time of year that makes the island a popular destination for countercyclical travel.

The sustainable Hotel Korinjak is located directly by the sea, surrounded by the scent of pine trees and salty air. Minimalist rooms with sea views, vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine, and the immediate proximity to the beach invite you to leave everyday life behind. Morning yoga, gong sound baths, or retreats support this slower pace.

11. November

When Central Europe becomes gray and cold, many people seek out the sun in faraway places. A little closer to home is Tenerife. In November, this Canary Island offers a mild climate (around 23°C to 26°C) and plenty of nature – and that’s outside the peak season.

The OCEANO Health Spa Hotel is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast of Tenerife (i.e., a little further away from the tourist hotspots). All rooms offer sea views, and there is also light, regional cuisine, thalassotherapy, a seawater infinity pool, and direct access to the natural Piscina Natural (seawater pool). Exercise, yoga, and health programs make November the ideal time for conscious relaxation. A hiking vacation in Tenerife is also ideal at this time of year.

12. December

Winter sports in December are a classic and therefore have less to do with countercyclical travel, but instead of skis and snowboards, you could enjoy the winter landscape on snowshoes and leave the hustle and bustle of the slopes behind you. At the Naturhotel Outside in Matrei, East Tyrol, you can hike across the snow-covered Hohe Tauern National Park.

Twelve months, twelve opportunities to travel consciously. Where can you find me? Where others are not. 🙂

This is an update from January 8, 2019.

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