Top travel trends for 2025

In 2024 we saw the rise of travel trends like ‘slow travel’ and taking longer holidays where globetrotters around the world were taking the time for themselves to truly explore and connect with their destinations. While this definitely remains a fact – and how wonderful is that? – we’re predicting a few new trends for 2025.

We’ve consulted with the Contiki experts around the company, as well as our recent research survey results, to compile this list of some of the most important, interesting, and surprising travel trend predictions for 2025!

1 – Train travel

Whether it’s to combat the prices of air fare, or a desire to travel in a more sustainable fashion, train travel is well and truly on the rise. We saw a resurgence in this travel style in 2024, and it seems to be continuing into the new year!

Tasha Hayes, Contiki’s Operation Director & Sustainability Officer, has noted this surge and explains that it is being dubbed as ‘the rail renaissance’. “This trend is expected to continue to grow in 2025, and it is partly due to the advances in rail technology and infrastructure, as well as the expansion of slow travel specialists and the introduction of new European sleeper rail services.”

Train travel offers a new and unique way to see Europe which may be better than air travel as travellers are able to admire the landscapes as they pass through, all while letting someone else do the driving. Natasha Lawrence, Contiki’s Commercial and Product Development Director, expects that train travel also allows travellers more time in their chosen destinations, furthering the existing slow travel trend. 

While Tasha continues to say that “travellers are opting for trains over planes to reduce their carbon footprint,” highlighting an ever-present desire for sustainable travel.

2 – Air travel is becoming cheaper again!

2024 saw an unprecedentedly expensive year for air travel, as airlines were working to combat the deficits of Covid-19. As a result, air travel was not on the cards for many travellers, especially those wishing to travel long haul like between Europe and Australia.

However, it seems this is taking a turn in 2025! Adam Armstrong, Contiki’s CEO, has spotted a decline in prices finally as ‘airlines continue to add more capacity and the market gets more competitive. This means lower airfares for consumers!”

Adam continues to explain that new routes are being added – or rather airlines are returning to routes which were previously cancelled during the pandemic – which allows for more choice and cheaper fares. Looks like worldwide travel is back guys!

3 – A need for connection

Where travel may have once been about relaxing and having fun, it seems that in 2025 travellers will be more and more interested in engaging in deeper encounters with the destinations they are visiting (while also relaxing and having fun!). There’s a real desire for more meaningful interactions, which Parisa Pouramn, Marketing & Communications Manager for TreadRight , explains: “Travellers are already prioritising and seeking out unique, authentic, and bespoke experiences in a destination that get to the beating heart of a place.”

“It’s no longer enough to merely check off all the main tourist attractions, which is why our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences – meaningful experiences with local communities and organisations which aim to leave a lasting positive impact – were designed.”

Results from our research survey show that travellers are much more interested in authentic connection. 13% of respondents cited ‘cultural immersion’ as their main motivation for travel, and 40% chose ‘immersing myself in the local culture and lifestyle’ as a goal while on holiday. Furthermore, travellers are making a real effort to seek out this authenticity and connection, with 62% making the effort to learn basic phrases in local languages to ease their time travelling and facilitate opportunities to chat with locals.

4 – Overtourism and slow travel

Overtourism has been a concern of the travel industry for a while, particularly in Europe, but it seems to have really come to a head in 2025 with popular destinations like Venice taking actions to manage tourism numbers more effectively. 

“The recent Summer Olympics in Paris further highlighted the need for pedestrian-friendly urban spaces with significant traffic restrictions likely to continue,” Tasha adds, noting that overtourism can become a problem in more than one way. 

“I think travellers are becoming more aware of the negative impacts of overtourism, not only to destinations and the local communities that live there, but to the quality of their travel experience as well,” says Parisa. She then goes on to offer ‘slow travel’ as the solution: “Slow travel is an alternative to mass travel that prioritises living like a local and sustainable travel practices like travelling off-season and off the beaten path. This way they not only get an authentic experience, but also get to support a developing tourist economy and ensure that tourism revenue is spread more equitably.”

In terms of slow travel, it seems travellers are really taking their time in their chosen destinations, with the average trip length sitting at 16 days. Just over 2 weeks to really indulge and get to know the world sounds like a great plan to us, which is why we have our amazing detour trips that you can tack onto regular trips and satisfy that travel bug for even longer. 

5 – Curious travellers

Counteracting this rise in overtourism is the curious traveller who is happy to skip popular destinations in favour of the road less travelled. Not only is this a way to combat overtourism, but it’s also a way for travellers to discover new places and support local communities. 

According to our research survey, only 3% of travellers expressed a preference for travelling to tried and true favourite spots again, and 88% said they would absolutely travel to a ‘dupe destination’ (like Bordeaux instead of Paris) if it means seeing fewer crowds and discovering new destinations.

Natasha commented that new and unique destinations, like the Philippines and Albania, have been some of the fastest selling trips for Contiki. Indeed, according to Tasha, Contiki is “adapting by introducing new itineraries and offering experiences that balance visits to iconic sites with lesser known locations as well.”

Additionally, previously ‘overlooked’ countries seem to be rising in interest and popularity, especially within the US market. According to SEO insights by Laura Condrut, TTC’s SEO Manager, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Belize, Madagascar, and Kyrgyzstan are rising in searches surrounding ‘guided tours’, marking a desire to discover these corners of the world!

6 – Keeping active

Where 2024 may have been about cultural and relaxing holidays, it seems like 2025 has more sweat in store. Tasha notes that ‘the demand for hiking and activity-based trips has surged,’ with travellers expressing a desire to get their adrenaline pumping! 

Contiki trips like Active New Zealand and Active Alps have become popular items, according to Natasha, and this has inspired a boost in more activity-led itineraries. 

Tasha adds: “As interest in this travel style grows, we’re actively exploring new destinations to add to our portfolio, aiming to blend challenging activities with Contiki’s signature social travel experience. This approach caters to the increasing desire for immersive, physically engaging journeys that foster connections among like-minded travellers.” So, if you’re interested in active holidays, just know we’ve got you covered.

7 – Out of office

‘Bleisure’ travel was a significant trend in 2024 which saw travellers blending travel and work together in a digital-nomad-style, but it seems this trend is on the way out in 2025. According to our recent research survey, only 9% of travellers prioritise their career over worldly experiences, and most aren’t interested in working at all while they’re out on their adventures – fair enough!

70% of travellers disconnect from work completely when they’re on holiday, preferring to leave any work tasks behind to return to later, and a low but significant 17% of travellers prioritise personal growth through travel instead, and are even willing to sacrifice career opportunities to do so.

8 – Mindful travel choices

A global movement that encompasses not only travel, 2023 and 2024 – and continuing into 2025 – have seen a massive push towards more sustainable life choices. Parisa notes that “travellers, especially younger ones, are becoming increasingly aware of the harmful overconsumption habits that plague tourism.”

Our recent research survey shows that 93% of travellers consider sustainability to be an important aspect of their travels and they try to make responsible choices wherever possible. ‘Having a positive impact on the economy of the community I’m visiting’ was the most recognisable sustainability goal, with 46% of travellers saying this is what came to mind first when they thought of sustainable travel. 

“I’ve seen a lot of content from travel creators that encourage people to refrain from buying a whole new wardrobe for a trip, for example, and how detrimental consumerism can be,” Parisa adds, expanding on how this kind of consciousness is spreading amongst Gen-Z and younger audiences.

9 – Pop culture inspired holidays

It’s no surprise that the magic of Hollywood has inspired many. You may be inspired by a movie to change your career or your entire life path, or, like many of our travellers, you may be inspired to visit certain corners of the world. 

Adam Armstrong notes a significant interest in jet-setting holidays based around TV shows and filming locations which has been rising over the years, especially with popular shows such as The White Lotus and Game of Thrones sending globetrotters to Sicily and Croatia respectively.

This is supported by evidence found in our recent research survey in which 67% of travellers had been influenced by films and TV shows to go travelling abroad. Popular sources of influence include Emily in Paris, Mamma Mia, The Lord of the Rings, as well as the previously mentioned Game of Thrones. 

10 – Solo travel and last-minute departures

Continuing on from 2024, solo travel is definitely here to stay in 2025. Adam Armstrong notes that the desire to travel within Gen-Zs and Millennials is still very strong – so strong even that “if your friends or family don’t want to go, then Gen-Z will increasingly just go by themselves.” He posits that this attitude comes from a ‘If not now, when?’ attitude found in younger generations, which we can definitely vouch for.

Our research survey revealed that increasingly, travellers aren’t all that fussed by travelling with friends (though that’s not to say holidays amongst friends aren’t still happening!). 69% of travellers stated they were interested in meeting new people while they travel and making new friends abroad.

Following on from this, the waiting time between booking and travelling seems to be getting shorter and shorter with 73% of travellers stating that they would book a trip departing in 10 days. Adam reasons that this trend of last-minute travel “started as we came out of Covid, but it really strengthened in 2024,” and will continue beyond. After being inside for so long, it makes sense that people are eager to get out there and won’t let much stop them!