Travel led by Indigenous voices

Learn about the land from those who know it best

Travel trends in 2026 encourage slowing down, celebrating local culture and traditions, and embracing nature. There is no better way to do this than indigenous-led travel. This takes you beyond the knowledge of Google, of travel agents and regular tour guides, to discover ancient wisdom rarely passed beyond their communities.

This is the path to a connection, an experience, and a story you’ll never forget.

This month Travellers’ Tales has curated a list of authentic, indigenous-led travel experiences around the world, and bestselling stories to accompany your journey.

Exploration – Uluru, Australia

The heart of Australia is Uluru, the towering red monolith otherwise known as Ayers Rock, and a symbol of local land rights. For centuries tourists have flown just to see it. For the first time in April 2026, you can walk directly from Kata Tjuṯa to Uluru on an indigenous guided bushwalk staying within the National Park. These are hosted by local experts and Aṉangu Elders who can share their stories around the fire and help you connect to the land you walk on.

The book to take with you is The Yield by aboriginal author Tara June Winch.  It follows multiple stories: an elder trying to preserve his language, his granddaughter trying to fight a mine being built on their land, and a missionary realising his impact on the local community. This novel tackles issues indigenous communities face worldwide with nuance and care, enabling you to better understand and connect to those you meet.

Land – Iguazú Falls, Argentina & Brazil

A major indigenous population whose land is threatened is the Guaraní people across South America. You can meet them while staying at Awasi Iguazú, a small collection of private villas surrounded by rainforest and on the border of the magnificent Iguazú Falls. Awasi Iguazú offers a private guide and vehicle throughout your stay, so you can truly explore the land and community at leisure. The local Guaraní community includes naturalists, expert hunters and artisans. They can help you reach a deeper appreciation of nature and our relationship to it, while staying within a wonder of the natural world.  

You can read about the Guaraní in We Are Green and Trembling, which is longlisted for this years’ International Booker Prize. This novel is inspired by a Spaniard who fled a monastery and had numerous adventures across the world. He became a conquistador, deserted the army after witnessing their tyranny, and hid in the jungle with two Guaraní girls he had rescued. They find a surreal escape amid the magical wilderness, which can still be felt in parts of South America today. 

Culture & Ancestry

There are myriad ways to embrace Indigenous cultures while travelling. Why not attend a celebration such as a powwow, inspired by Tommy Orange’s award-winning Native American novel There There? Or learn about the daily lives of communities in the Amazon rainforest, as shown by Sebastião Salgado in his photography collection Amazonia?

The quintessential ‘Indigenous novel’ is Ceremony, by Leslie Marmon Silko. This novel follows a war veteran of Native-American descent who finds healing in traditional Laguna rituals and ceremonies. This shows a possible future for wellness tourism, beyond the typical gym and spa. Taking part in new experiences, challenging yourself and being open to different worldviews all foster long-lasting personal growth. We can advise how to respectfully take part, within the communities that are open to tourists.

An alternative inspiration is to trace your own roots and discover the traditions and ceremonies of that culture and heritage. We can tailor-make Ancestry Travel holidays across the world and introduce you to historians who bring alive times gone by.  

Storytelling

Indigenous people around the world are the original storytellers. Often stories are lost to time, as not all are written down, and many languages are being lost. It is yet another hurdle for Indigenous people to reach the publishing industry, let alone reach commercial success.  For this reason, we must embrace the few chances to read from Indigenous voices that we get.

For this same reason we should travel beyond our comfort zones and speak to people of all different backgrounds. Share stories and become part of each other’s story.

Let your next tale start at Travellers’ Tales, where each journey is one worthy of being written and celebrated.