Where to 'Coolcation' in 2026

In recent years, the classic summer holiday to southern Europe has started to take on a new rhythm. Some are shifting their plans into the later weeks of the season, while others are swapping familiar coastlines for something altogether different. As temperatures rise and crowds follow suit, the desire for quieter moments away from the well-trodden path has never been stronger.

Whether you’re dreaming of wide-open wilderness, charming countryside retreats or traditional alpine living with a touch of indulgence, here are our favourite destinations for luxury “coolcationing” in 2026.

Dolomites: Alpine Authenticity

The heat of Italy’s warmer regions rarely touches the mountains, even in July and August, when temperatures hover around the early 20°Cs at high altitudes. Mornings in the Dolomites are refreshing with cool alpine air, while evenings are atmospheric, ending with dusky pink alpenglow and the occasional storm.

Stay: Set in the heart of Corvara, Hotel La Perla is one of the region’s most characterful family-run hotels. Expect pure alpine authenticity, with wooden balconies draped in geraniums, and a sense of hospitality that is both intimate and polished. 

Recharge in the spa and its striking outdoor infinity pool with mountain views, and afterwards, indulge in a romantic dinner, amongst the wood-panelled, Michelin-starred Stüa de Michil, paired with a rare vintage from the 3,000-bottle strong wine cellar.

Pure Nordic Immersion in The Norwegian Fjords

The crisp, clean air, pine-clad hills and diamond-clear lakes reflecting the mountains give the Fjords an almost monastic calm. It’s an ideal destination for picturesque hikes that feel both cinematic and effortless, with trails that weave through lichen-rich forests and alongside rivers steeped in Nordic myth and legend.

The summers are mild, and the days are long and bright, making the fjords perfect for prolonged outdoor activities such as canoeing, waterfall bathing, fishing and e-biking.

Stay: For summers in the fjords, stay at the exceptional Åmot estate, a gracefully restored Norwegian farmstead in Sunnfjord.

Days are spent wild swimming at dawn, joining forest walks, refuelling with long lunches built around local produce, and evenings spent close to the flicker of the fire as mist gathers across the valleys. The estate hosts up to 14 guests across numerous buildings, making it a fantastic choice for families searching for a distinctive rural destination to reconnect in the captivating fjords.

Nature’s Cinema in British Columbia

Vancouver Island’s rugged Pacific Rim offers an entirely different expression of cool-cationing: wild, wind-sculpted, and exhilaratingly elemental. Summer here is rarely too hot. 

Instead, you get rolling Pacific fog, salty ocean air, and temperatures ideal for coastal walks with near constant vistas. Days revolve around wildlife trails, surfing, beach fires as dusk settles and stars speck the sky, cultural visits to First Nations villages and watching for whales breaching the dense Pacific waters.

Stay: Set at the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park, The Wickaninnish Inn enjoys a seriously stunning location perched above emerald Pacific waters on a rustic, rocky outcrop.

The floor-to-ceiling windows frame both ocean and forest views, while the interiors are natural: carved cedar, stone, and coastal tones, echoing the nature found beyond the glass. 

Iceland: Elemental Escapes

At the height of summer, when Iceland is at its most accessible, temperatures are refreshingly mild, with crisp air, and ethereal landscapes that slowly phase from moss-covered lava fields to glacier tongues, black-sand beaches, and geothermal plains. 

Days are bright and long, offering more hours to explore ancient landscapes and embrace thrilling adventures. Think descents into the dormant chamber of a volcano, helicopter flights over vast glacier lagoons, dives between tectonic plates, and wild camping beneath remarkably clear skies.

Stay: Design and seclusion collide at the ION Adventure Hotel, a minimalist, architecturally striking hotel close to Þingvellir National Park. ION has always advocated a sustainable approach to tourism and locality, with upcycled wood, wool and even lava lining the interiors. The Silfra restaurant boasts seasonal cuisine with an emphasis on farm-fresh, ethically sourced ingredients, with dishes of exceptional Nordic cuisine that bring Iceland’s stunning pastoral aesthetics to the table, beautifully paired with a menu of cocktails crafted from Icelandic spirits.

Ireland: Storybook Grandeur

Ireland’s emerald landscapes offer a serene alternative to mainland Europe’s heat. An excellent spot for coolcationing is County Limerick, specifically the charming village of Adare with its friendly pubs, postcard-pretty thatched cottages and the scenic ruins of a 13th-century castle. 

Days are a mix of Irish culture and slow-moving countryside pursuits: winding rivers, misty lakes at dawn, shaded woodlands punctuated by grand estates, and a countryside that invites long walks, horseback rides and a slower pace of exploration.

Stay: Adare Manor is set within a vast estate of manicured gardens, ancient woodlands and a babbling river, and is renowned for its attentive hospitality. The grand manor has a lavish main building with stacks of ornate chimneys, a turret and gardens that wrap around it in mini hedgerow mazes and trees strung with ivy. The interiors are sublime, with two spas, one of which is inside the padel club, and has an infinity pool encased in floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the lush exteriors indoors.

Wellness in the Austrian Alps

Travel high into the Austrian Alps, and you’ll find a quiet side of the mountains that feels worlds apart from the ski season’s bustle.

Summertime alpine air is crisp, with hikes scented by a kaleidoscope of wildflowers, forests open into sweeping meadows, and glassy lakes reflect the serrated mountain ridges above. Long daylight hours make it all too easy to spend entire days hiking trails in search of panoramic dioramas of distant mountain villages, or pausing at centuries-old mountain huts for delectable Austrian cheeses paired with cold climate wine.

Stay: Tucked into a secluded nook of the Tyrolean Alps, backed by lush forested mountains, Eriro is an adults-only retreat designed for guests who value tranquillity and elemental purity. 

The wellness programme is a highlight, drawing from Austria’s natural resources, with an evocative underground meditation pool, home to a singing bowl roof that sends vibrations rippling through the water when struck. Additionally, there are open-air soaking decks positioned for uninterrupted views of the peaks, and a spruce sauna with views of alpine pastures. Dining at Eriro is hyper-seasonal and fuelled by foraged herbs and excellent local produce transformed into hearty Tyrolean recipes, reimagined through a thoughtful modern lens.

If the draw of cooler days and languorous horizons speaks to you, I would be delighted to craft a journey around them. From securing the most suitable luxury suites to arranging expert guides, curated experiences, and seamless logistics, I’ll curate a holiday that is entirely your own.