The most exciting travel trends for 2025

Pack your bags and tear up the rulebook – 2025's travel trends are all about breaking the rules and doing things your own way.

From nocturnal adventures to guys finally getting their spa day, here's what's shaking up the travel scene this year.

Long-haul wanderlust

Travellers are ready to colour in the far corners of their maps in 2025, with adventurers setting their sights way beyond the usual European hotspots.

While Europe's still the go-to for many, it's the far-flung destinations that are seeing the real boom.

Research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) shows a whopping 34.2% of travellers are planning to venture to long-haul destinations beyond Europe and North America – up significantly from 28.2% last year.

Asia is leading this distant-destination revolution, with an impressive 11% of travellers planning trips there – up from 8.9% last year. Japan, Thailand, India and China are all topping wish lists.

Africa's seeing a surge too, with travel intentions rising from 5.1% to 7%, as South Africa and Kenya draw increasing numbers of adventurous travellers.

Meanwhile, Australia is climbing the ranks, securing its spot as the ninth most popular destination for 2025, helping drive Oceania's travel intentions up to 6% from 4.3% last year.

Soft travel

Remember after all those lockdowns, when holidays felt like a mad dash to see everything? Well, 2025 is putting the brakes on all that.

According to Hilton's 2025 Trends Report, more than one in five travellers are planning trips specifically for self-discovery and mental health.

'Soft travel' is the new buzzword. It's exactly what it sounds like: taking it easy, prioritising peace and quiet, actually coming back from your holiday feeling refreshed. Novel concept, right?

Night tourism

'Noctourism' isn't just a fancy word for bar-hopping – it's about experiencing destinations after sunset, whether that's stargazing in remote locations or exploring cities when they're beautifully lit up and the day-trippers have gone home.

According to Vrbo's research, the northern lights tops the list of attractions that British travellers want to see, with many seeking out prime viewing spots in places like Iceland's Reykjavík region and Denmark's Wadden Sea National Park.

And the numbers from ABTA back it up too, with their data showing northern lights trips have exploded in popularity, with 18.4% of people planning this type of trip for winter 2024-25, compared to just 6% in 2019.

Men's wellness retreats

Men's wellness retreats are having a moment – and it's about time. Forget the old-school boys' trips centred around pub crawls – modern blokes are swapping beer for meditation sessions and spa treatments.

Transport booking site Omio reports that 30% of men are planning solo trips in 2025, with many focusing on wellness and self-discovery, showing that self-care isn't just for the girls anymore.

The 'Great Sleep Split'

Here's a trend that's raising eyebrows: couples are booking separate beds – or even separate rooms – on holiday. Dubbed 'sleep divorce', the trend is all about maximising those precious holiday Z's.

Hilton found that 33% of couples now prefer sleeping apart while travelling, proving that absence really does make the heart grow fonder... or at least better rested.

Getting lost (on purpose)

Sick of following the crowd? You're not alone. Byway reports that 68% of their bookings were for non-hotspot destinations, with travellers actively avoiding over touristed hotspots.

More people are embracing spontaneity, too. Hilton's research shows that 76% of Brits are eager to add more unexpected adventures to their travels.

In fact, some adventurous souls are taking this freestyle approach to the extreme, with 17% arriving at their destination having only booked their first night's accommodation and 14% landing without booking anywhere to stay at all.

Even when they do have a place to rest their head, more than half of travellers are skipping pre-booked experiences and restaurants, preferring to get their recommendations from locals when they arrive.

JOMO

Forget trying to do it all – 2025 is embracing JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out).

More of us are seeking out quiet beach houses and peaceful mountain retreats, with two-thirds of travellers saying these escapes help them leave their stress at home, according to Expedia.

This shift towards relaxation is showing up in winter travel too, with ABTA reporting a notable rise in winter wellness and spa breaks as people choose peaceful retreats over packed itineraries.

Sometimes the best itinerary is no itinerary at all.

Harmonious holidays

Getting back to nature always rates high on travellers’ motivations but in 2025, it’s not just about where, but when.

According to Expedia, travellers are all about floral phenomena this year, influenced in part by the increase in hobby gardening, and by the desire to feel at one with nature.

It means we’ll be following the seasons to see cherry blossoms in Japan, summer sunflowers in Tuscany and filter-free autumn colours in the Forest of Dean.

Byway reckons we’ll even be tempted away from our winter sun breaks in favour of cold-weather winners like the Swiss Alps. Winter-esting.