London-based Rough Guides, known for its tailor-made travel for over 40 plus years, has released its 2026 list of top destinations for the avid traveller. In their travel book, Kerala ranks 16th of the 26 best places globally, throwing the spotlight on why God’s Own Country is a must-visit location on the world map.

Kerala was also named earlier by Lonely Planet and Booking.com as one of the best tourist destinations.

The destinations selected by Rough Guides were based on more than 30,000 tailor-made trip enquiries collected from the company’s own travel experts. The overall analysis pointed to Kerala being listed among five other destinations in Asia, including Bali and Tokyo in the third and fourth places, respectively, and Hanoi and Bangkok ranking ninth and tenth.

Marrakech and Crete stood in the first and second spots, topping the Rough Guides’ list.

The vast stretch of ocean and beaches, along with rivers and lakes, come as a package in addition to hills big and small. The forests of Kerala and the rural landscape blending into the urban make the southern State of India enthralling to any foreign traveller interested in India.

According to Rough Guides, the easy shift from waterways to mountains is one reason travellers picked the state as one of the best places to travel in 2026, especially for slow, relaxed trips.

The book adds that Kerala is a must-see for its backwaters. It says: “Despite its size, Kerala packs a wide range of landscapes. A tourist can go from the coast to the mountains in a few hours, with stops along the way for wildlife reserves, spice plantations and ayurvedic retreats. Watch longboats during the Onam festival in Alappuzha, wake early for a guided hike in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, sign up for a kalaripayattu lesson in Kozhikode, sleep in a treehouse in Thenmala’s forest and listen for hornbills overhead, stay up all night for a theyyam ritual in the north, walk the Fort Kochi shore at dusk, watch the fishing nets drop, and find a place nearby that will grill your fish while you wait.” – editor@nrifocus.com