With so many ‘where to travel’ lists popping up at this time of year, it takes some confidence to name just one place as the top destination for the 12 months ahead.
But that’s precisely what Travel + Leisure do every November, and back for its twelfth edition, we now know where in the world is their crowning destination for 2027.
Editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford said that ‘I first visited when I was three and was spellbound by the colors, the buttery naan, the fine-spun silk of the saris, the chaos of the traffic, the warmth that emanates from every conversation. The country seeps into your skin.’
So, where is the country in question? Well, it’s none other than India. From its relaxed beach destinations to nature-packed safaris, its energetic metropolises to its lesser-known corners, there’s enough to keep you occupied for months or even years of exploring.
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Take the Archipelago of Lakshadweep, for example. It’s one of the destinations spot-lit by T + L. Nestled off India’s southwestern coast, it’s only open to permitted visitors. Of the 36 islands in total, around 10 are populated, and three or four are open to visitors each year (with permission from Lakshadweep’s administration).
There’s also the warren of sandstone caves that lie beneath the rain-soaked landscape of Mawsynram, which is the wettest inhabited place on the planet, or India’s ‘mini-Switzerland’, Khajjar, which is hidden away in the Himalayas among snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows.
T + L also highlights Udaipur, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’, plus the micro-neighbourhoods of Mumbai. Then there’s Humayunpur, a neighbourhood in Delhi, which ranked as the sixteenth coolest in the world this year, according to .
On top of all that, we’ve got guides to the best boutique hotels, safari spots, restaurants and cities, all on India’s hub.
ICYMI: This is the world’s ‘most desirable’ country, according to 250,000 travellers.
Plus: The world’s best city hotels in 2026, from London to Singapore.
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