Summer does not have to mean heat. As temperatures rise in traditional holiday hotspots and overcrowding becomes the norm, a new kind of summer trip is gaining ground. From Arctic expeditions in Svalbard and mountain escapes in the Dolomites to lakeside retreats in Finnish Lapland and high-altitude riding in the French Alps, the coolcation offers something the beach cannot: fresh air, open space, and experiences worth the journey.

Cooler destinations, from the high Arctic to the Swiss Alps, are drawing attention for the right reasons. The scenery is dramatic, the activities are genuinely rewarding, and the experience of arriving somewhere that is not overrun makes an immediate difference. These are eight destinations that deliver all of that, across three very different types of adventure.

Spitsbergen with AE Expeditions

If there is one trip on this list that will change the way you think about travel, it is this one. AE Expeditions’ Spitsbergen: Realm of the Ice Bear takes guests deep into the Svalbard Archipelago, a remote chain of islands sitting roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Over eight days, the voyage moves through a landscape of colossal glaciers, ancient fjords, and vast stretches of sea ice that have barely changed since the first Arctic explorers passed through them centuries ago. There is nowhere on Earth quite like it.

The wildlife is the real headline. Walrus gather in groups on the ice just metres from the ship, seabirds fill the cliff faces in extraordinary numbers, and the polar bear, the iconic resident of this extraordinary wilderness, roams freely throughout. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the possibility is real and present every single day on the water. This is not a managed or staged experience. What guests encounter here is wild, authentic, and utterly unforgettable.

The voyage is fully inclusive, covering all meals, snacks, soft drinks, and beer and wine with dinner, so once on board there is very little to think about beyond soaking it all in. Prices start from £8,716 per person for the eight-day itinerary, with flights booked separately. It is the chance to reach one of the most remote and spectacular places on Earth.

Summer in Lapland with Oliver’s Travels

Most people have Lapland firmly filed under winter, but summer here is something rather special and almost entirely undiscovered. Oliver’s Travels’ Chalet Esteri sits right on the banks of Lake Silmäsjärvi in the heart of the Finnish wilderness, and in July the whole landscape comes alive in a way that is almost impossible to put into words. The forests are lush and green, the air is clean and cool, and thanks to the midnight sun the sky stays light all night, giving the days a dreamlike, endless quality.

The property sleeps six guests and has direct access to kayaking, fishing, and wild swimming from the doorstep, as well as beautiful walking trails through ancient forest and along quiet lakeshores. There are no crowds here, no noise, and no sense of being anywhere near the rest of the world. Summer Lapland is one of those places that surprises almost everyone who goes, and Chalet Esteri is the perfect base from which to discover it. Weekly rates start from £5,765.

Alaska by sea with Oceania Cruises

Alaska has a way of exceeding even the highest expectations, and Oceania Cruises has put together an itinerary that hits all the highlights in the most enjoyable way possible. The ten-day Alaska Horizons voyage sets off from Seattle aboard Oceania Riviera on 2 July 2026, calling at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier, Klawock, and Victoria in Canada.

Every single stop delivers something remarkable: Ketchikan is home to the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles; Juneau, the state capital, is only reachable by sea or air; Skagway is a Gold Rush town that feels as though time stopped in 1898; and Hubbard Glacier produces calving events of a scale that takes the breath away.

Oceania Riviera is an intimate ship, and the pace throughout is pleasantly unhurried, which means there is always time to properly absorb each destination rather than rushing to the next. Wildlife appearances throughout the voyage, from humpback whales and orcas to bald eagles and brown bears spotted from the deck, are frequent and thrilling. The all-inclusive pricing covers speciality dining across all restaurants, shipboard gratuities, and Wi-Fi throughout. Prices start from £2,275 per person for an inside stateroom, with flights arranged separately. Alaska is extraordinary, and this is a wonderful way to see it.

Moar Gut, Austria

Moar Gut Family Nature Resort near Salzburg is the alpine family hotel that sets the bar for other. Located on a gorgeous private estate of ten hectares, it combines breathtaking mountain scenery with a summer activity programme that keeps children happily, productively busy from morning to evening.

Hiking, cycling, climbing, tennis, and horse riding are all on the menu, alongside the wonderful Kinderwelt programme, which takes children on guided forest walks, introduces them to the organic farm on the estate, and runs hands-on workshops in woodworking, baking, and crafting with natural materials gathered from the surrounding land.

Moar Gut’s is all-in pricing, as it covers gourmet full board and professional childcare throughout the stay. Nightly rates start from €600 for a double room and reach €1,450 for a luxury suite. The estate is beautiful, the food is exceptional, and the childcare is outstanding. It is one of the best family options in the Alps.

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is not your average spa hotel. Situated in the Swiss town of Bad Ragaz, in the Rhine Valley between Liechtenstein and the Alps, the resort has been a serious wellness destination for well over a century, drawing on the naturally warm thermal waters that flow from the nearby Tamina Gorge.

The clinical wellness programmes here are developed and supervised by medical professionals. Whether the goal is recovery, stress management, or a thorough physiological reset, the approach is structured, expert, and surprisingly joyful.

Summer adds a wonderful dimension to the experience, with hiking trails leading directly from the resort, pristine alpine lakes nearby, and mountain air that does a considerable amount of the work before any treatment even begins. The resort encompasses two hotels, multiple restaurants, and a championship golf course, so there is always something to enjoy.

Casa Cook Madonna, Dolomites

The Dolomites in summer are something to behold. The great jagged limestone peaks that define this part of northern Italy catch the long summer light in extraordinary ways, turning shades of pink and gold at dusk that make even seasoned travellers stop and stare. Madonna di Campiglio sits right at the heart of it all, and Casa Cook’s beautifully designed property in the village is the ideal place to base a summer adventure. The hotel has a gym, yoga facilities, a spa, and a sauna, and the surrounding area offers an activity calendar that could easily fill a fortnight: hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, lake trails, and wine tasting in the valleys below.

The food scene around Madonna di Campiglio is excellent, with several outstanding restaurants within easy reach, and the village itself has a style and energy that feels authentically Italian rather than purely alpine. Few places combine world-class mountain scenery, exceptional outdoor activities, and that particular Italian quality of life as naturally as this corner of the Dolomites does. It is a summer destination well worth discovering.

Killarney Royal Townhouse, County Kerry

Covering more than 10,000 hectares of ancient oak woodland, mountain terrain, and three interconnected lakes, the park is best explored on foot, and Killarney Royal Townhouse puts guests right on its doorstep.

Part of the Scally Hotel Collection and freshly refurbished, the townhouse sits in the centre of Killarney town just minutes from the park entrance, with forest hiking, scenic cycling routes, lake kayaking, and cold-water open swimming all within easy reach.

New for 2026, the hotel’s Natural Pause Package is a particularly lovely addition: a two-night stay that includes a guided walk through the national park led by a local expert whose knowledge of the landscape, its wildlife, and its history transforms a great walk into something truly special. Nightly rates start from €285. Ireland in summer is cooler, quieter, and considerably more beautiful than most people expect, and Kerry, given the time it deserves, never disappoints.

High altitude summer in Val d’Isère, France

Val d’Isère in summer is one of the Alps’ best-kept secrets, and 2026 feels like the year it stops being a secret. Sitting at 1,850 metres above sea level, the resort rarely exceeds 25°C, the glacier-fed rivers and mountain lakes are cold and brilliant, and the mountains, free of their winter crowds, feel wide open and wonderfully alive. The Tignes-Val d’Isère Bike Park is among the finest mountain bike venues in the world, with trails running from gentle flow routes to technical descents that draw serious riders from across Europe. The new Bellevarde Uphill Flow e-MTB event adds a fresh competitive format to the 2026 summer calendar.

For those who prefer their adventures on foot or on two wheels of a different kind, the Col de l’Iseran, one of the highest paved mountain passes in the Alps, offers outstanding road cycling and hiking with views that stretch across multiple ranges on a clear day. Come evening, the Lac de l’Ouillette stargazing festival makes the most of the exceptional dark skies at altitude for something quieter and equally memorable. Val d’Isère in summer is a brilliant destination, and the secret is very much out.

Mama thresl, Leogang

mama thresl in Leogang, Austria is the kind of hotel that makes you want to tell everyone about it, and then immediately regret doing so. Set an hour south of Salzburg airport at the foot of the Saalbach Hinterglemm region, the 51-bedroom property combines serious mountain terrain with a social atmosphere that most alpine hotels simply do not attempt. The hiking and mountain biking here are outstanding, with trails ranging from gentle valley routes to demanding high-altitude tracks across some of the most varied scenery in the eastern Alps. Days here are very well spent.

Thursday through Saturday evenings, the restaurant hosts live DJ nights featuring well-known artists from across Europe, and the energy shifts accordingly. The kitchen delivers all week, and the combination of exceptional outdoor days and a lively, well-designed social space in the evenings gives mama thresl a character that is entirely its own. For summer 2026, it is one of the most original and entertaining mountain options on the list.