There’s a shift happening in how people are choosing their holidays.
Not just where they go — but how they want to experience it.
Some of it is practical. Some of it is emotional. And some of it is simply a reaction to how travel has felt in recent years.
Here are the trends I’m seeing — and what they actually look like when you start planning a trip.
1. Micro-dosing the big retirement trip
For a long time, there was an idea of the big trip. The one you saved for. The one you did once.
That’s changing.
Instead of waiting, people are starting to break that idea up — taking parts of it now, in ways that fit their lives better.
That might look like:
- a two-week Japan trip focused on one region — travelling by train and actually having time to notice the details
- a return to a country you’ve always loved, but exploring it more deeply
- building a series of trips over time instead of one “all or nothing” journey
Trips with InsideJapan Tours or Wide Eyed Tours naturally lend themselves to this — slower, more focused, and built around depth rather than distance.
It’s less about doing it all.
More about starting sooner.
2. Out of season, on purpose
Peak season doesn’t appeal in quite the same way anymore.
More people are choosing to travel:
- just before or after the busiest months
- when places feel calmer
- when the experience is easier, not just cheaper
A walking holiday in Italy in October — warm days, quieter trails, and space to enjoy it.
Greece in May.
Northern Spain instead of the usual hotspots.
Companies like Exodus Adventure Travels and Explore Worldwide offer a lot of these shoulder-season trips — where the destination feels the same, but the experience is completely different.
It’s not about avoiding somewhere.
It’s about choosing a better moment to be there.
3. Wellness that feels like connection
Wellness isn’t just spas and yoga anymore.
There’s a growing pull towards:
- shared experiences
- small groups
- feeling connected — to people as much as places
That might be:
- a small group cultural trip
- a guided journey where conversations matter as much as the itinerary
- travelling solo, but not alone
Trips with Intrepid Travel and Explore Worldwide often sit here — structured, but still social in a natural way.
For a lot of people, this is the part they didn’t realise they were missing.
4. When the journey becomes the point
Rail travel is having a moment — but not in a nostalgic way.
It’s becoming part of the experience again.
Not just getting somewhere, but:
- watching landscapes shift outside the window as you travel
- travelling at a different pace
- enjoying the in-between, not just the destination
That might mean:
- trains across Japan
- routes through Switzerland or the Alps
- linking cities across Europe without flying
This is where slower, more considered travel really comes to life.
And once people experience it, they often don’t want to go back to rushing.
5. Places that aren’t everywhere (yet)
There’s a quiet move away from the obvious.
Not because people don’t want to go to popular places — but because they don’t want the experience that comes with them anymore.
Instead:
- lesser-known regions
- quieter alternatives
- places where you’re not constantly working around crowds
This could be:
- Northern Portugal instead of the Algarve
- Albania or Montenegro instead of Croatia
- inland or rural areas rather than cities
Operators like Explore Worldwide and Exodus Adventure Travels are already building itineraries around this shift.
It’s not about being different for the sake of it.
It’s about wanting a better experience.
6. Trips built around a moment
Some trips are now built around a specific event or experience.
Not a destination — but a reason.
That might be:
- a solar eclipse
- wildlife migration
- cherry blossom season
- a festival or cultural moment
These trips tend to feel more purposeful — and often more memorable.
They give a sense of: “I was there at that exact time”
And that’s something people are starting to value more.
7. “Now or never” trips with family
There’s a noticeable shift towards:
- multi-generational travel
- milestone trips
- doing something while you still can
Not in a dramatic way — a quiet awareness that timing matters.
That might be:
- travelling with older parents
- a “last chance” type of adventure
- bringing everyone together for something meaningful
These trips often sit somewhere between structured and tailored — depending on the group.
8. Travelling through a place, not just visiting it
More people want to feel like they’ve travelled through somewhere.
Not just arrived, stayed, and left.
That could be:
- cycling between villages
- walking routes over several days
- road trips or rail journeys
This is where companies like Exodus Adventure Travels really stand out — trips where the movement itself is part of the experience.
It changes how a place feels.
You notice more.
You remember more.
So what does all of this mean?
There isn’t one “right” way to travel anymore.
There are simply more ways to do it well.
And often, the hardest part isn’t choosing where to go —
it’s understanding that how you travel matters just as much as where you go.
If you’re starting to think about your next trip, it might be worth beginning there.
And if you’re exploring different ways to travel more thoughtfully, I’ve shared some of the companies I work with here.
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