With over forty years of adventure expertise, Explore Worldwide reveals the key travel shifts set to shape how and why we’ll travel in 2026.
Built on a spirit of curiosity and responsible discovery, Explore draws on real-time booking data, traveller insights and input from its network of global experts to reveal what’s next for meaningful travel.
Today’s travellers are no longer chasing bucket lists, they’re seeking stories, connection and purpose. They want to journey further, stay longer and engage more deeply with local cultures. Explore Worldwide continues to lead this movement with experiences designed to inspire and enrich, while caring for the planet and its people.
- The Micro-Retirement Moment
With traditional retirement feeling increasingly out of reach, more travellers are seizing the moment and taking their ‘big trip’ mid-career instead. From multi-week treks in Patagonia to slow journeys through Vietnam, the bucket list can’t wait. Explore’s Find Your Perfect Radical Sabbatical tool helps travellers match their life stage to the ideal adventure. With 39% of Australians considering extended time off work and 41% citing travel as their main motivator, the mid-life sabbatical is on the rise.
Ben Ittensohn, Regional Director of Explore Worldwide AUNZ, said: “People’s relationship with work is changing, Micro retirement isn’t really about age or a specific stage of life. It’s a response to burnout, long hours, and a culture that waits too long for life to begin.
“With careers potentially stretching into our 70s, priorities and perspectives change. People are beginning to ask themselves: ‘Why wait? Life’s too short to not see the world.’”
- Off-Peak Time-Tripping
2026 is set to be the year of hidden seasons and quieter horizons, as travellers increasingly embrace the magic of the off-peak. Choosing shoulder months means lower costs, fewer crowds and a deeper connection with local life, whether it’s autumn in Japan, spring in Morocco or a summer safari in Zimbabwe’s serene, lesser-visited months. The new golden rule of travel? Go when everyone else stays home.
3.Wellness Through Community
Wellness travel is evolving. In the rush of daily life, travellers are seeking connection; with local people, fellow travellers, and the places they visit. Cooking with a host family in Peru, gaining a digital detox in Mongolia, or engaging in a local cultural exchange: these are the kinds of experiences travellers are seeking.
- The Rail Revival
Overland travel continues to gain pace, with more travellers choosing epic rail journeys over short-haul flights. In 2026, train travel is being embraced not just as a greener option, but as part of the adventure itself, whether crossing the Alps or journeying through the heart of the Balkans. Globally, Explore has seen a 25% year-on-year increase in rail journey bookings this year, with a 77% spike in the past 12 weeks alone.
Ben said: “We’re seeing phenomenal growth in rail-based adventures, which is a clear reflection of the wider trend towards more sustainable and experiential forms of travel.
“Travellers want to slow down and take in more of the journey itself, and rail provides that sense of adventure and connection to the landscape that flights simply can’t offer.”
5.The Rise of Non-Viral Destinations
As one of the standout trends, 2026 sees travellers turning away from the crowded, viral hotspots, and instead embracing destinations that feel fresh, undiscovered and soul-reinventing.
In response to overtourism in hotspots like Venice and Barcelona, 2026 travellers are seeking lesser-known corners of popular countries.
Ben said: “We’re seeing destinations like Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, northern Laos, and inland Croatia are attracting interest, with Laos up 160% year-on-year, Mongolia 60%, Nicaragua 32%, and Zimbabwe 29%.
“These are all examples of places which offer authentic, responsible travel experiences and form part of a wider movement away from the well-trodden path, towards journeys that feel more personal and connected.”
- The Solar Eclipse
Astrotourism will take centre stage in 2026, as a total solar eclipse sweeps across mainland Europe for the first time in nearly 30 years, driving huge demand for trips that blend celestial spectacle with cultural discovery. For travellers used to busy urban lives, watching the midday sky fall into darkness is both humbling and transformative. Explore has led eclipse tours for more than 25 years, combining science, wonder and adventure long before astrotourism became mainstream. Its 2026 tours are almost sold out, with only a few spots left in Iceland, and new departures for the 2027 eclipse in North Africa are already on the horizon.
“Our eclipse tours have proven to be incredibly popular globally this year,” said Ben.
“They went on sale in May and sold out by mid-July, which is a clear indication of how sought-after these moments are.
“Travellers know how rare opportunities like this can be, especially when the timing overlaps with school holidays, when flights and accommodation are already in high demand.”
- Family Milestones
As children grow up and independence beckons, parents are increasingly seeking one final, unforgettable adventure together before their kids leave home. From African safaris to Borneo jungles, these milestone trips celebrate endings and new beginnings alike. At the same time, ‘Family Holidays 2.0’ are on the rise, with parents inviting their adult children to join them on shared adventures, rediscovering family travel as equals and creating lasting memories together.
8.Pedal Power
Explore’s cycling holidays are up 24% year-on-year heading into 2026, reflecting travellers’ growing appetite for active, fresh-air adventures that move at a slower pace. As Product Manager James Adkin explains, these trips aren’t for the lycra-clad, it’s the leisurely and moderate itineraries that are thriving. Travellers want to soak up culture, cuisine and scenery on two wheels, with the exercise simply a happy by-product of exploring the world outdoors.
“One of our own team members, Kyran Rose, recently joined our Cycle the Dalmatian Coast trip and said it was the best trip she’d ever done, from the spectacular coastal rides to the island-hopping and food stops. It’s challenging in parts but the sense of reward at the end of each day was incredible. Stories like Kyran’s remind us that adventure travel isn’t just about the destination, it’s about perspective, connection, and the shared joy of discovery.” said Ben.
Where We’re Travelling…
Algeria
Explore’s 2026 trips to Algeria flew off the shelves as soon as this new destination was launched earlier this year. A desert nation unlike any other, it offers incredible Roman ruins, vast sands, and fascinating culture.
Costa Rica
2025 has been a big year for Central America, and demand just continues to grow for this colourful country Explore’s bookings are up year-on-year, and with an Upgraded Costa Rica tour, this is a destination just getting started.
Italy, Reimagined
Amalfi coast has been one of our bestselling tours for years. But a more hidden side to Italy is on the up with a Taste of Puglia booking up 25%, while Walking Dolomites up 19%. A new walking holiday in the Dolomites centres itself in the Val di Fassa and promises leisurely and moderate walking amongst breathtaking scenery, sumptuous food and time to relax in the 4-star spa hotel.
