As we look ahead to 2025, we're thrilled to share some of the most exciting travel trends on the horizon. From families embracing self-guided holidays to the rise of longer, more immersive adventures, travel is shifting toward experiences offering greater flexibility, deeper connections and unforgettable challenges. Read on to discover the top trends shaping the future of travel in 2025.

As children, we all cherished the thrill of adventure holidays and as parents, there's nothing more rewarding than watching those memories come to life for our own families. Family guided holidays have always been close to our hearts, offering an unparalleled way to immerse your loved ones in exciting adventures and new destinations. However, for families with younger children who may not yet be ready for guided activities, self-guided holidays provide an excellent alternative.

We’re seeing a growing trend of families opting for self-guided adventures, particularly when seeking a more flexible and moderate style of travel. These holidays let families enjoy quality time together without the stress of organising logistics. From planning activities and routes to securing accommodation and managing luggage transfers, everything is taken care of for you. Explore our top recommendations for self-guided adventures for families and start planning your next unforgettable journey today.

While customer demand for rail travel has existed for years, infrastructure improvements and new sleeper services are finally making it more accessible. From Paris (just a matter of hours from London) you can already travel overnight to the beautiful city of Venice but from spring 2025, the European Sleeper will be running a service from Amsterdam all the way through to Spain.

This year Bex, from the KE Office, took the train from the Lake District to Chamonix as she joined our Best of Tour du Mont Blanc trek; feel free to phone the KE office and ask Bex any questions you have about taking this journey.

As fitness holidays continue to grow in popularity, trail running is emerging as a winning and exhilarating way to explore breathtaking landscapes. Combining fitness with adventure, it allows runners to explore some of the world’s most stunning mountain trails, while enjoying both physical and mental health benefits.

The Everest Base Camp Marathon has become a sought-after challenge for adventure seekers and in 2024, we expanded our trail running experiences to the Alps and the Dolomites. We anticipate these experiences will grow in popularity as more runners look for unique and challenging opportunities. KE's David was among the first to take part in one of these incredible journeys - read about his adventure here.

With the release of Paddington 3, who wouldn’t be inspired to head for the Amazon for an unforgettable boat trip or to explore an ancient Inca ruin? There might be fewer rapids on our Amazon Wildlife Boat trip and maybe a few less boulders chasing you through ruins, but it will be no less an amazing adventure equal to the big screen.

In 2024 we sent KE’s Lucy to take on the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu. Lucy (accompanied by Paddington!) had an incredible adventure, staying in luxury lodges and enjoying gourmet food each evening after a day of breathtaking trekking.

Arriving late only to face an early start the next morning can leave you feeling exhausted at the start of your adventure. That’s why, for 2025, more travellers than ever are choosing to add an extra night’s accommodation before and after their trip to fully embrace the experience.

KE's Kerrie recently enjoyed our Self-Guided Madeira holiday and shares her highlights here; she highly recommends adding a few extra nights in Funchal to truly explore this vibrant city. When planning your next adventure, speak with our Adventure Travel Consultants about extending your stay to make the most of every moment.

The number of people travelling with their partners has risen from 40% to nearly 50% in the past year, coining the phrase 'partcations'. Active holidays have been a real driving force behind this where couples of varying fitness and abilities can find common ground and explore a new destination together.

KE’s Alasdair spent a week in Italy on our self-guided walking holiday in Tuscany trip with his wife, you can read his FAQ’s here.

Travellers are increasingly choosing to spend more time exploring a single destination, reducing the number of long-haul flights each year. In 2025, the trend is shifting toward longer, more immersive trips, with many adventurers opting for journeys lasting over two weeks.

Our 30 day Snowman Trek in Bhutan, the ultimate test of endurance and adventure, has become one of our most thrilling and sought-after experiences. It’s not just the longest and toughest trek we offer - it’s a true bucket list challenge. Meanwhile, the 27 day Ultimate Overland Coast to Coast Safari across Southern Africa ignited excitement the moment it launched, providing the very best way to experience the vastness and raw beauty of Southern Africa in a single unforgettable trip.