The Heat-Seekers' Hit List

By Emma Love

February 23, 2026

From dune-bashing in the desert to afternoons wandering world-class museums, these winter-sun hotspots reward the curiosity of those who step away from their sun-lounger.

Curved sand dunes at sunset in the empty quarter, Rub'al Khali desert.

Abu Dhabi's Wild Side

Culture aside, one of Abu Dhabi’s most compelling attractions lies beyond the city limits, where the Arabian Desert begins to unfurl. Less than three hours’ drive away, the Rub’al Khali (the Empty Quarter) is the largest continuous sand desert on earth, a vast landscape of towering dunes and rolling valleys that seem to stretch endlessly into the horizon. Thrill-seekers can lean into the drama with quad biking or dune bashing in a 4x4, skimming the crests and plunging into bowls at vertiginous angles. For sandboarding, the ochre slopes of the Liwa Oasis are unrivalled – seasoned boarders gravitate towards the 300m Moreeb dune, nicknamed the ‘scary mountain’ for its formidable pitch (best tackled early, before the heat builds). Those preferring a gentler pace can trade adrenaline for atmosphere, setting out on a traditional camel trek as the sun sinks and the desert turns gold.

Where to stay… Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi can arrange desert safari days out that combine henna painting, falconry and belly-dancing performances with camel riding, sandboarding and dune bashing.

Close-up of a Rufous backed Kingfisher in Panti Forest Reserve, Malaysia.

Jungle Boogie on the Desaru Coast

Around an hour’s drive north and inland from southern Malaysia’s Desaru Coast, the Panti Forest Reserve is a birder’s paradise. The 275sqkm are renowned in tweeting circles as being one of the best places in the world to glimpse the reclusive, rusty-hued Malaysian rail-babbler (thanks to the peat swamp habitat), which inflates a purplish balloon at the neck and emits a haunting rise-and-fall whistle as part of its mating ritual. Keep eyes peeled and binoculars trained skywards and into the undergrowth, and plenty more species, from hornbills and bulbuls to kingfishers, cuckoos and the pretty scarlet-rumped trogon are all likely to appear. The forest is also home to many primates – white-handed gibbons, long-tailed macaque monkeys and banded langurs can all be spotted moving through the canopy.

Where to stay… The resident naturalist at Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast will lead guests into the reserve at dawn just as the forest inhabitants wake up, followed by a picnic breakfast.

Cacti and the iconic yellow/blue architecture inside the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.

The Cultural Scene in Marrakech

The cobalt-blue painting studio within the Jardin Majorelle – created by artist Jacques Majorelle and later repurposed as the Berber museum by Yves Saint Laurent – might be one of the most iconic cultural spaces in Marrakech but it is only the beginning. The city rewards those who look beyond the obvious, with a rich constellation of museums and historic spaces that speak to its layered identity. Among them is the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), which reopened in 2025 to permanently showcase the Lazraq family’s private collection, its galleries organised around themes such as ‘decolonise’ and ‘cohabit’, reflecting pressing social and political conversations. Equally compelling is palace-turned-museum Dar El Bacha, a magnificent example of Islamic architecture in the medina. Completing the cultural circuit are the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, a tribute to the designer’s enduring legacy, and the grand Bahia Palace, where zellige tiles, intricate woodwork and ornamental plaster celebrate the heights of Moroccan craftsmanship.

Where to stay… With its own contemporary gallery space M.O Studio, co-created by Moroccan artist Idriss Karnachi, Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech is part of the city’s vibrant arts landscape.

A tortoise in the grounds of Mandarin Oriental, Canouan.

New Perspective in Canouan

While many visitors come to Canouan to snorkel in the crystalline waters of Tobago Cays and explore the world-class dive sites, there are wildlife thrills to be found on dry land, too. Here, the only thing holding up traffic are tortoises. Around 15,000 of the slow-moving residents roam freely on the championship golf course, grazing along grassy verges and even making their way to the summit of 877ft Mount Royal, Canouan’s highest point. Rise early to hike up the steep woodland track to the top, accompanied by flitting hummingbirds and tree-climbing hermit crabs along the way, culminating in sweeping 360°views of forest canopy and pale sand below. For another perspective, take to the water and boat across to Petit Canouan, an important breeding ground for seabirds including frigates, brown boobies and roseate terns.

Where to stay… Guests at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan can book a private 80-minute guided hike up Mount Royal with breakfast, or Champagne at sunset.

About the Author

Emma Love

London-based journalist Emma Love is a contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveller and writes regularly for titles including Centurion, Departures, Country & Townhouse, House & Garden, The Telegraph and more.