Travel Dispatch: Hiking South Africa’s Highest Mountains

January 17, 2026

A wide vista of steep green mountain valleys under a blue sky with white clouds. Rugged rock faces rise on either side of a deep gorge.

Tugela Gorge, in South Africa’s Royal Natal National Park. Ihsaan Haffejee for The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

Stephen here, one of the editors of the Travel section, filling in while Amy’s on vacation.

Have you spent some time with our list of 52 Places to Go in 2026? If so, we tallied up the destinations that you, our readers, “saved” the most. Check out the rankings and see if you agree with others’ top choices.

This week, hit the hiking trails in South Africa on a colorful tour of the Drakensberg, the country’s highest mountain range. Or explore another side to skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where, within an hour of Jackson, the valley’s central town, lie nearly 200 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Or take a jaunt via our 36 Hours column to Sapporo, Japan, the snowy capital of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the nation’s four main islands, and a quieter alternative to overcrowded cities like Kyoto.

For many of us, stomach problems can complicate, or even ruin, an otherwise enjoyable trip. We’re here to help: Here are some tips to significantly reduce your risk of gastrointestinal distress while traveling.

You may have heard last month that President Trump nixed Martin Luther King’s Birthday — celebrated this coming Monday — from the list of free-entry days at U.S. national parks. On Friday, as a rebuke to the president, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced plans for a day of free entry at more than 200 state parks.

And WestJet, Canada’s second-largest carrier, backpedaled on a new budget seating plan after videos of crammed passengers went viral on social media.

Finally, are you — or is anyone you know — feeling hesitant to visit the United States for the World Cup, given the hurdles imposed by travel bans, visa delays and high ticket prices? If so, we want to hear from you.

Happy travels,
Stephen Hiltner

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

Waterfalls and Wildflowers: Hiking South Africa’s Highest Mountains

About 200 miles from Johannesburg, the Drakensberg region offers a breathtaking landscape of stark ridges and green valleys.

By Tim Neville and Ihsaan Haffejee

Two people cross-country ski on a snowy trail. A yellow dog and another person on a bicycle are visible farther along the path.

In Jackson Hole, a Different Kind of Skiing

A Wyoming valley known for its adventurous downhill skiing also has plenty of opportunities for exploring the area on cross-country skis.

By Cindy Hirschfeld and Ryan Dorgan

A person poses for a photo with their arms raised on a viewing platform over a city at nighttime.

Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours in Sapporo, Japan

The snowy capital of the island of Hokkaido offers a quieter alternative to Japan’s congested “Golden Route” of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

By River Akira Davis, Kiuko Notoya and Hiroko Masuike

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

A white and teal airplane seen against a blue sky with snow-capped mountains. “WestJet” is visible on its side.

Jeff Mcintosh/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press

Economy Seats With Less Legroom? This Time, the Budget Move Won’t Fly.

WestJet, Canada’s second-largest carrier, backpedaled on a new seating plan after videos of crammed travelers went viral on social media.

By Christine Chung

Lionel Messi, wearing a blue and white striped jersey, watches a goalkeeper in yellow dive for a soccer ball near a goal net. The action takes place on a green field.

Antonin Thuillier/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Hesitant to Visit the U.S. for the World Cup? We Want to Hear From You.

International soccer fans face hurdles like travel bans, long visa delays and high ticket prices for U.S. matches. Will they be enough to keep you away?

By Gabe Castro-Root

An illustration of three people in front of a scene of street food vendors standing at carts with umbrellas. The traveler in the foreground is drinking from a bottle of water. The traveler behind her is happily eating a sandwich. The traveler in the background, seen between the other two people, is holding his stomach with one hand and gripping a medicine bottle with a cross on it in the other.

Weston Wei

travel 101

How to Avoid Stomach Trouble When You Travel

Some people have guts of steel, while others are … a little more sensitive. Here are tips for preventing stomach discomfort and motion sickness on trips.

By Ruffin Prevost

At sunset, a stone fortress within circular walls juts out into the sea. In the background is a bay dotted with boats and a coast with scattered small buildings. Beyond them are hazy mountains.

Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

California Will Waive State Park Entry Fees on M.L.K. Day

Gov. Gavin Newsom framed the move as a rebuke to President Trump, who recently cut the holiday from the list of free-entry days at U.S. national parks.

By Gabe Castro-Root

Feedback, thoughts, tips? Email the Travel desk at travel@nytimes.com.

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