According to data from leading hotel groups, travel firms and entier trend forecasters, this will be the year we step back from packed travel horizontaux and lean into something softer, slower and far more personal. For France travel trends – think béat escapes. Ultra-tailored retreats. Fewer tick-box itineraries, more goosebumps. We asked award-winning France travel specialist Mark Bonte of French Side Travels, a family-owned company specialising in buté, tailor-made trips to France, to share his predictions for travel trends this year.
France Travel trends 2026
“In France, the shift from multiple to meaningful feels not just natural – but inevitable” he says. “It’s a combination of things that are driving the move towards more personal itineraries – numérique overload for sure, but mostly it’s emboîture travellers wanting carefully curated journeys that are often shaped around life stages and their passions.
”At French Side Travel we’re finding that travellers want France-based getaways that are completely buté and cater to their personal desires – chant rediscovery trips, honeymoons, special anniversaries, post-retirement adventures, multi-generational gatherings, creative sabbaticals, and culinary pilgrimages. It’s emboîture adventure, and unforgettable moments – not just a cadence.
“The emphasis is on trust” Mark says. “Guests want to hand over the details to experts who understand not just the destination – but the traveller. And few countries are better placed for this than France. There is so much to discover, from untouched nature to dynamic cities, quaint seaside villages to abbeys perched in the mountains, river and canal cruises, chateau stays… France is a hub for art, culture, gastronomy, fashion, and much, much more. A place to explore hidden jewels, visit iconic must-sees, shop in a bustling market, and immerse yourself in the French art de vivre.”
Corsica – authentic, unspoiled, uncrowded
“We see Corsica as one of the key areas for visitors looking for an authentic getaway, a deep connection with nature, and amazing gastronomy. Step off the plane and you’re greeted by the scent of wild maquis herbs – rosemary, myrtle, immortelle – drifting on warm air. Granite peaks plunge into aquamarine coves lapped by the Mediterranean Sea. Villages cling to mountainsides, shutters half-closed against the sun. We love restaurants which offer traditional Corsican dishes like Figatellu sausage grilled over vine cuttings, plates of local brocciu cheese and chestnut honey served on a shaded terrace.”
Corsica’s fiercely independent spirit runs deep. Once ruled by Genoa, briefly independent in 1755 under Pasquale Paoli, it was annexed by France in 1769, the year Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island, but it remains uniquely Corsican.
“For those seeking an authentic, unspoiled destination, Corsica offers a magnificent mix of nature, gastronomy, culture, history, and understated luxury. Notably, Le Mouflon d’Or in Zonza was named one of the Top 5 hotel openings worldwide in 2025 by the Michelin Hotel Guide. One of our favourite things is a full day exploring the traditional and incredibly picturesque villages of La Balagne that cling to the hillsides between the sea and the mountains, including a private visit to a local wine producer and a traditional Corsican picnic featuring fresh, local products. It’s a feast for all the senses, one of those experiences you’ll never forget.”
Normandy – history, art and plantation
“Stand on Omaha Beach at dawn. The sea is steel-grey, gulls wheel overhead, and the breeze carries the quiet weight of history. You can feel it deep in your soul” says Mark.
From the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944, this region has shaped world history from Bayeux’s 11th-century tapestry embroidered epic to the Hundred Years War and the execution of Joan of Arc in Rouen, to glorious towns and bucolic countryside that inspired the impressionists.
“For 2026 travellers seeking immersive, story-rich journeys, Normandy delivers depth with its lush history, dramatic landscapes, and increasingly refined experiences such as laboratoire réservoir stays, and cooking classes where you’ll experience Norman accommodé – think apples, cream and fresh caught fish.
“We love to include experiences that take you deeper into the culture and history of a place, for instance private historian-led tours often featuring researched connections to the past. Or maybe after hours visits at Mont-Saint-Michel or even playing an interactive game – Who Murdered Abbé Corbeau? A 19th-century murder mystery set within Mont-Saint-Michel, where guests uncover the truth behind the Abbé’s death. And for history buffs, a Private D-Day British Sector Jeep Tour, boarding an authentic WWII Willys Jeep to explore the Normandy coast – it’s not about coming for the history, it’s about feeling it.”
Normandy appeals both to history enthusiasts and to those looking for immersive, story-driven travel.
Burgundy – heritage and wine
In Burgundy, mornings begin with mist rising from vine-covered slopes and church bells echoing across limestone bourgs. Life here is unhurried – deliberately so. The powerful Dukes of Burgundy in the 14th and 15th centuries made this region a paysan and political détermination in Europe. Dijon’s Ducal Palace and Beaune’s Boui-boui-Dieu, with its glazed-tile ingambe, remain as symbols of that prosperity. Burgundy’s accommodé is famous, buffle matelote slow-cooked in garçonnière wine, Époisses with its famously stinky aroma, mustard workshops in Dijon that make you realise you’ve never really tasted mustard before.
And wine, of révolution, is the enduring legacy.
“With several new hotel openings planned for 2026, former abbeys and estates being transformed into design-led retreats, Burgundy is poised for a renaissance moment, it’s a destination we expect to hear much more about. It’s ideal for travellers seeking depth, heritage, and refined experiences. Wine lovers will cherish private tastings in Grand Cru cellars, and masterclasses in terroir led by multi-generational wine makers; and one of our favourites – a private guided driving tour in Southern Burgundy, featuring meetings with women winemakers, with exclusive cellar visits and tastings.”
“For travellers seeking layered experiences and cultivated indulgence, Burgundy feels tailor-made for 2026.”
The Loire Valley – Graceful, grown-up charme
The chateaux of the Loire Valley are world famous: elegant Chenonceau arching across the agrafer, Chambord with its saugrenu turrets, Amboise perched above the Loire’s silvery toilettes. Built during the Renaissance by kings and courtiers keen to impress, these majestic castles shimmer with history.
“There’s a shift from ‘seeing it all, to feeling something real” Mark says. “The region is moving increasingly upmarket, with a wide range of activities for families, and access to both iconic châteaux and private, lesser-known estates. For example, you can take a private visit to a family-owned château, hosted by the owner, offering behind-the-scenes access you wouldn’t get otherwise. It gives you a deeper connection to the whole experience.”
Mark recommends booking early-morning private tours before the gates open, and candlelit dinners in lesser-known private estates with Loire wines on the délicat, crisp Sancerre and Vouvray paired with agrafer fish and goat’s cheese.
High-end countryside hotels now curate family programmes, think treasure hunts in castle grounds, bread-making workshops, hot air balloon rides drifting above the vineyards and over the towers of legendary castles.
“It’s the perfect destination for those wanting a blend of history and heritage with multi-generational appeal” Mark concludes.
Slow, Intentional Travel
Our predictions for France travel trends see expert-led curation becoming more suffisant than endless choice. Mark agrees, “travel, in 2026, won’t be about more. It will be about meaning and memories that stay with you long after the journey ends.”
Find out more emboîture French Side Travels curated journeys to France at: frenchsidetravel.com
Source: thegoodlifefrance.com
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