Every year, our Product Development team works on fine-tuning each of our small group tours to ensure Odysseys guests enjoy an unforgettable travel experience, no matter where in the world their wanderlust takes them. And in 2026, these enhancements span the globe. In addition to departing on three brand-new tours, guests will explore new cities, stay in gleaming new accommodations, and dig deeper into previously unexplored local culture.
Below is a select list of the updates we’ve made to our small group tours for the 2026 travel season – along with links to each tour, should you wish to learn more about any of them.
The Treasury, Petra
New Tour: Exploring Jordan & Egypt
New for 2026: Two legendary destinations come to life on one enthralling journey. Accompanied by expert Jordanian and Egyptian guides, we explore Jordan's capital of Amman, ancient Petra, and the sands of Wadi Rum, then head to Egypt to discover Giza, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. And for even more Egypt explorations, guests have the option to take a four-night extension to Alexandria, with visits to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Monastery of St. Bishoi, Greco-Roman Museum, and more.
Combining the best of our popular Egypt & the Eternal Nile tour with a full week of Jordan touring, this new adventure should rise to the top of the wish list for all lovers of the ancient world.
And as announced last year, both Journey through Greece and Majestic Switzerland will be seeing their first departures head out on the road this spring. These two fresh itineraries uncover the highlights and hidden gems of two tried-and-true destinations – click the links above to explore them both.
The blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco
New Extension: Tangier with Chefchaouen (Moroccan Discovery)
New for 2026, continue your Moroccan Discovery with four extra days exploring two of the country’s most beloved destinations. We take the Al-Boraq high-speed train from Casablanca to Tangier, where we see the lively medina and Kasbah, Villa Harris art museum, the American Legation, and Cape Spartel lighthouse. Then it’s on to the Old Town of Chefchaouen for a full-day exploration of the famed blue-washed buildings of its medina.
Doi Suthep temple, Chiang Mai
New Destination: Chiang Mai on Southeast Asia Odyssey
Starting this fall, guests on our Southeast Asia Odyssey small group tour will enjoy three nights in Chiang Mai, which was recognized by Travel + Leisure readers in 2025 as the world’s second best city to visit. The bustling night markets attract tourists and locals alike, and our itinerary includes a visit to this collection of food carts, flower sellers, gift shops, and everything in between. We also visit Doi Suthep temple (above), said to contain relics of the Lord Buddha, and enjoy two small group highlights: a local cooking class at an organic farm, and a visit to an elephant sanctuary where we help care for these gentle giants.
Gaudi's breathtaking Bishop's Palace, Astorga, Spain
Enhanced Itinerary: Across Spain & Portugal
On this year’s iteration of Across Spain & Portugal, guests will enjoy more free time in Barcelona, with an afternoon at leisure on Day 15. And lovers of art and culture will rejoice, as we have added a stop in the historic town of Astorga on Day 8, during our drive from Santiago to León. The reason for our detour: a visit to the soaring, fairytale-esque Episcopal Palace of Astorga, one of only three buildings outside Catalonia designed by Antoni Gaudí.
Odysseys guests work with local Anangu people during a cultural experience in the Outback
New Cultural Experience: Exploring Australia & New Zealand
During our tour of Australia and New Zealand, we head to Australia’s Northern Territory to visit the site of Uluru (Ayers Rock). A new cultural demonstration adds context to this expedition as a member of a local Aboriginal tribe (the Anangu) joins us to share fascinating details about life spent in the remote Australian Outback.
Zangbeto masked dancer, Benin
Enhanced Itinerary: West Africa Discovery
Our West Africa Discovery small group tour enters its second year in 2026, and we’ve made a few tweaks to improve this sojourn through Ghana, Togo, and Benin, allowing for more time to enjoy these three fascinating countries. Now, guests spend their first 10 days touring across four memorable Ghanaian destinations: Accra, Elmina, Kumasi, and Akosombo. Then guests cross the border for a two-night stay in Lomé, Togo, followed by another two-night stay in Cotonou, Benin, before heading home. Fewer border crossings and more time to enjoy three of West Africa’s best.
Also, we’ve added both the AnoMansa Beach Resort at Elmina Bay (opened in 2024) and the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa (2025), two of the finest lodging options in the area. Both hotels offer amenities galore, including sprawling outdoor swimming pools.
The iconic Trojan Horse on display at Troy
Enhanced Itinerary: Legendary Türkiye
An updated itinerary brings more time to explore one of the ancient world’s most famous sites: Troy, the setting of Homer’s epic The Iliad. Our new route brings us over the 1915 Canakkele Bridge, the 1.3-mile-long span across the Dardanelles that has held the title of world’s longest suspension bridge since its unveiling in 2022. This allows us to spend more of Day 6 exploring the ancient site of Troy, as well as visit the Museum of Troy, showcasing more than 2,000 historical artifacts from this city whose existence spans four millennia.
A new year brings new adventures, and we can’t wait to have you join us in exploring the world. To discover every tour that we offer, and to reserve your spot on the small group tour of your choice, click here.
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