Just like last year, people are eager to get out and see the world in 2023. And many travelers want to do so while pedaling a bike, walking through stunning scenery or paddling down a river. That’s why active travel and adventure tours are a popular choice for visiting bucket list destinations near and far.
“Throughout the pandemic, as people got active through walking, cycling or on their Peloton, more people want to keep that moving even when they’re on holiday,” says Graeme Montgomery, brand manager for luxury travel company Butterfield & Robinson. . “Multi-activity trips (a mix of cycling, walking and other activities) are really popular, as people are looking for well-rounded itineraries that bring adventure, change the pace from day to day and showcase the best of the region. Think rafting in Northern Greece, camel riding in Morocco, horseback riding in Iceland, or kayaking in Uruguay.”
With 2023 set to be another banner year for travel, active and adventure travel travel companies are seeing several trends emerging. Here’s what to expect in the active travel tour space in 2023.
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1. Active and adventure travel will book up fast
Active travel company Backroads has already seen a 60% increase in bookings over nine months for 2023 departures, and the company expects to see the highest number of customers in its 44-year history in 2023. The story is same in many other tourist companies.
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“2023 is going fast,” says Heather Heverling, president of AdventureWomen, which offers more than 50 trips in more than 65 countries designed by and for women. “Guests are eagerly booking adventures and not just for 2023 travel; the excitement of 2024 is exploding, too.”
2. Japan is poised for a big year
Many travelers were excited to return to Europe in 2022. For 2023, Japan is expected to be a hot destination as it welcomes returning visitors after the pandemic. “As Japan has opened up, we’ve seen a flood of interest from people who want to go and visit those super iconic places in Japan,” says Alexandria Sanchez, U.S. consumer marketing manager at G Adventures, which offers a variety of tours. for exploring the Asian country.
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Global tour company Intrepid has relaunched 12 Japan itineraries ranging from seven to 24 days. This includes the Japan Real Food Adventure for sampling the country’s diverse cuisine and the Japan Tour: Hike, Bike and Kayak for travelers who want to see the island actively.
3. Immersive experiences will continue to have strong appeal
A standard coach tour or high-end cruise doesn’t cut it for many travelers. “They really want to get into the country and experience everything it has to offer,” says G Adventures’ Sanchez. “They want to try the food, they want to hear the language, they want to meet the people and see the faces behind the experience they’re having.”
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Travelers can definitely get that kind of immersion on G Adventures tours. And they can take it even further with one of the company’s “local lifestyle” tours that give travelers a real sense of everyday life in destinations around the world.
4. Tour operators will continue to work to help protect the places they visit
As part of its partnership with NatureMetrics and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, adventure tour operator Exodus Travels recently launched 20 Citizen Science Launches where travelers help collect environmental DNA samples for eBioAtlas to monitor biodiversity around the world. The trips take participants to places like the Zambezi Valley and Vietnam, where they will help collect freshwater samples that provide data on the species living in each ecosystem.
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In Intrepid, protecting the planet is a primary focus. The company has more than 40 alternative low-carbon tours where carbon-intensive activities are replaced with more sustainable options such as walking and cycling, and short flights are replaced by train travel or other lower-emission transport. Intrepid Premium Tours offer high-end adventure travel that also includes sustainability. The new 10-day Premium Alaska Tour, for example, includes travel by lower-emission train, wilderness and conservation tours, and a stay at the sustainably built Talkeetna Lodge.
“The luxury tourism market is booming, as is the looming threat of climate change,” says Matt Berna, president of North America for Intrepid. “Creating a more sustainable and high-end travel product has been a key focus for Intrepid … (People are) willing to pay for premium travel that offers an exceptional experience at an excellent value, given also local communities and positively impacting the environment.”
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5. Spreading it is an option but not required
Backpacking and camping can certainly be components of active travel and even family travel adventures. But if you want some physical activity during the day and a comfortable bed at night, you can have that too. Escape Adventures leads a series of biking and hiking tours in the US where travelers spend their nights in a tent. But on his new bike tour in Bentonville, Arkansas, private groups stay at a luxury vacation rental that the company owns. “We offer both ends of the spectrum and a lot in between,” says company co-founder Jared Fisher.
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Travelers can also book active and adventure travel tours where they don’t have to move every minute of the day. Backroads’ Dolce Tempo Tours slow things down a bit, offering easy biking, hiking, and high-adventure travel in places like Switzerland, Napa Valley, Scotland, and US national parks like Yellowstone and Zion.
And while traditional bikes will always have their fans, e-bikes will continue to help travelers of all ages and abilities pedal their way through scenic destinations. “A lot of people out there are still into fitness and don’t want to get on an e-bike,” says Fisher of Escape Adventures. “But they want to ride with their best friend who’s not as fit. So it’s really opening doors all over the place.”
6. Wellness will be on the wish list
G Adventures has seen growing interest in its wellness tours in places like Bali, Costa Rica and Iceland. “People want to have a life-changing experience,” Sanchez says. “They want to learn more about themselves or they’re looking for wellness, active moments, yoga or different things that raise awareness.”
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“Adventure travel, with its focus on nature and being your personal best, is a celebratory means of embracing life’s changes,” says Heverling of AdventureWomen, which offers tours for breast cancer survivors in conjunction with the iRise Foundation Above and tours in Japan that explore. ancient traditions of the country. “At AdventureWomen, it’s less about age or athleticism, but about a mindset… A driving force behind why women are booking is to prioritize ourselves with an emphasis on life experiences. The post-pandemic world reinforces how vital to live boldly.”
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TourScoop.com covers tour groups and tour operators by providing comprehensive tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews, travel news and travel tips, and advice tailored to the self-guided tour traveler. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
