It is officially 2025, and we are all gearing up for fresh adventures and exciting new experiences.
Whether you're looking for travel ideas, insight on the best way to travel in 2025, or simply need practical travel tips, these travel trends promise to make your trips unforgettable. So, pack your bags, and let’s dive into the top travel trends of 2025!
Noctourism: Exploring the night
What is "noctourism", you ask? From stargazing in remote deserts to nocturnal wildlife safaris, the world is alive after dark and noctourism helps travelers explore the magic of nighttime experiences.
In 2025, you can experience this trend in destinations like Norway, which offers exceptional opportunities to views the Northern Lights, Hawaii for midnight beach yoga under the stars, or Bali for full-moon forest treks. For urban enthusiasts, cities like Tokyo are revamping their nightlife with cultural evening tours and illuminated festivals.
Noctourism lets you avoid daytime crowds and experience a destination in a whole new light (pun intended).
Wellness tourism: Traveling for health and relaxation
Wellness tourism isn’t new — it is a booming industry as travelers increasingly are prioritizing mental and physical well-being when planning their trips. Whether it’s yoga retreats in India, thermal spas in Iceland, or meditation escapes in Bali, destinations are catering to the growing demand for rejuvenating experiences.
In 2025, wellness travel extends beyond luxury spas to include nature therapy—forest bathing in Japan anyone?—digital detoxes, and fitness-focused vacations. Austria’s Alpine resorts offer restorative mountain escapes, while Costa Rica’s eco-retreats blend adventure with relaxation.
If you are looking to focus more on resetting your brain and body then seeing the sights, wellness tourism is your best way to travel in 2025.
Heritage and cultural travel: Connecting with your roots
Heritage travel is more than a trend—it’s a journey into discovering your roots, history, culture, and identity.
Destinations like Ireland and Scotland are seeing a surge in travelers who are tracing their ancestry, based on information they’ve learned through DNA testing. In Japan, travelers immerse themselves in tea ceremonies and traditional craftsmanship. Meanwhile, Peru’s Sacred Valley offers insights into ancient Incan traditions.
For those eager to dive deep into learning about new cultures, UNESCO sites and local festivals around the world are must-visits.
This travel trend invites you to explore your history while celebrating the customs that define who you are.
Adventure and adrenaline experiences: Doing something you’ve never done before
If heart-pounding thrills are your idea of the perfect getaway, adventure travel is for you.
The travel options in this category are endless: dive with sharks in South Africa, climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, or zip-line through Costa Rica’s rainforests. 2025 is also the year to try niche activities like sandboarding in Namibia or glacier hiking in Iceland.
Destinations like Switzerland are combining adventure with sustainability through eco-friendly skiing and mountain biking.
According to this article, “The more novelty we experience, the more we feel that we're taking in, and the slower time feels. Time feels slow and dense when, say, we’re on vacation in a foreign land, and everything we experience feels new.” There is nothing more novel than a new adventure!
Sustainable and eco-friendly travel: Leave no trace
Environmental awareness is reshaping 2025 travel, with eco-friendly practices becoming a priority for those of us planning our trips.
Travelers are seeking destinations that prioritize conservation, such as the Galápagos Islands or Bhutan, which is famously carbon negative. Hotels are adopting green initiatives, from solar power to plastic-free amenities. In Europe, travelers are opting for train journeys over flights to reduce their carbon footprint.
The best way to travel in 2025 sustainably? Research your destination’s green certifications and support businesses committed to preserving the planet.
Lean more about how to travel sustainably here.
Exploring emerging destinations: Discover hidden gems
Travelers in 2025 are venturing beyond popular hotspots to explore lesser-visited destinations.
Slovakia is emerging as a hub for nature enthusiasts with its stunning national parks and medieval towns. The Dominican Republic, often overshadowed by other Caribbean islands, offers vibrant culture and pristine beaches. In Africa, Nigeria’s bustling cities and national parks are gaining international attention. Sri Lanka, recovering from a recent crises, invites visitors to its golden beaches and ancient ruins.
Try a destination you’ve never considered before, while supporting communities off the beaten path.
Tech and travel: Smart trips
Technology is revolutionizing the way we explore the world.
In 2025, AI-powered travel tools are providing hyper-personalized itineraries, language translation, and even virtual reality previews of destinations. Smart luggage with built-in GPS and charging ports are now a thing, and destinations like Singapore are leading the way with tech-driven attractions, from augmented reality museums to autonomous transport.
For those looking for sensory-friendly options, apps are offering tools to manage overstimulation when on planes, trains, etc. or when exploring crowded tourists sites, ensuring a comfortable experience.
There will be no lack of options in 2025 for tech-savvy adventurers.
Ready, set, explore 2025!
From exploring the world after dark to embracing technology and eco-consciousness, the travel trends of 2025 offer something for every kind of adventurer — get out there!
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
Tourists make the perfect mark for a scam artist. We are disoriented, don't know the language, are wide eyed, and are distracted by the new world that we have found ourselves in.
I have been approached by people all over the world who, while they seem kind, are actually out to relieve me of my wallet or other valuables.