Active travel company Backroads has announced its Top Adventure Travel Trends for 2026, based on early guest bookings and insights from its worldwide team in more than 60 countries across 550 itineraries worldwide.
Decades of proprietary guest data and on-the-ground research reveal that travellers, now more than ever, are prioritising meaningful, wellness-focused adventures and authentic connections with off-the-beaten-path destinations and communities.
Adventure travel is now one of the fastest-growing segments in tourism, with global adventure travel projected to surpass $2tn by 2032, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. At the same time, wellness-driven trips are accelerating worldwide as travellers seek meaningful, restorative, experience-rich vacations over passive leisure.
So, what are the trends?
Women and solo travellers on the rise
Across travel, adventures designed for women are surging as friends, family and solo travellers seek connection, immersive confidence-boosting experiences and a sense of community. Backroads bookings reflect this shift, with demand for its Women’s Adventures projected to grow 100% in 2026. The solo travel market is expected to grow 14% over the next five years, with women over 50 a major driver of this momentum.
What’s Trending? Backroads England’s Cotswolds, Peru, Canadian Rockies Trips.
Family togetherness across the globe
Prioritising real-world experiences over screen time, modern families are seeking active vacations that spark connection and create lasting memories. Making the most of school breaks throughout the year, parents and grandparents with kids of all ages are booking adventure travel in record numbers.
What’s Trending? Backroads Trips for Families with Kids & Teens, Teens & 20s and 20s & Beyond: Brittany & Normandy, Croatia and Iceland.
Young professionals seeking adventure
Millennial and Gen X travellers are fuelling strong growth in adventure travel, driven by a clear desire for active exploration balanced with comfort, camaraderie and iconic destinations. This cohort is also poised to benefit from an unprecedented $27tn wealth transfer by 2045, expanding opportunities to prioritize meaningful, experience-driven travel.
What’s Trending? Backroads 30s & 40s Trips (small-group luxury trips designed for active and adventure-seeking Gen X and Millennial travellers): Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking, Dolomites Hut-to-Hut Hiking and Santorini & Crete Multi-Adventure.
Nostalgia for human-powered travel
From acoustic (non-electric-assist) biking for traditional cyclists eager to cover the miles using their own muscle power to hiking epic mountains, travellers are slowing down and rediscovering the rewards of moving with their own strength. By staying longer in one region or embracing human-powered adventure in small groups, guests are able to dive deeper into local culture and landscapes.
What’s Trending? Backroads Unplugged (non-electric-assist) Bike Tours in Croatia, Portugal’s Algarve, Tuscany and Nova Scotia; Argentina and Chile’s Patagonia Hiking & Walking Tours.
Frontier islands: rugged archipelagos as the new darling
Moving beyond classic island escapes, travellers are gravitating toward rugged, culture-rich archipelagos, places defined by dramatic cliffs, volcanic ridges, fishing villages and wide-open trails. These “frontier islands” appeal to active travellers seeking big scenery, epic hiking, cooler climates and a sense of remoteness that traditional beach islands can’t deliver.
What’s Trending? Backroads Canary Islands, Cyprus, Denmark Islands, Lofoten Islands and Portugal’s Azores Trips.
Trip stacking, on and off-season
Travellers are increasingly “stacking” their journeys by booking back-to-back trips or even three-stop itineraries to maximise a single long-haul flight. This reflects a growing shift toward sustainable, efficient travel, where guests make the most of every mile and every moment away. Off-season exploration is also on the rise, with more travellers heading out earlier in spring, later in fall and throughout the winter for a fresh take on familiar places. Backroads has seen a more than 6% increase in guests booking consecutive trips since the pandemic, with continued growth projected on the horizon.
What’s Trending? Backroads Norway, Japan and Spain Trips.
Active culinary travel takes off
Blending outdoor activity with regional food and wine experiences is a travel style that continues to grow as travellers seek culturally rich, experiential trips. From cooking classes and local farmers market visits to stays at Relais & Châteaux properties, Backroads Active Culinary Trips that unite adventure, flavour and luxury are gaining momentum across key regions.
What’s Trending? Backroads Basque Country, Tuscany and Provence Trips.
Sleeping in huts and mountain lodges is in
Travellers are increasingly choosing mountain lodges and huts and historic hideaways, especially in off-the-beaten-path destinations. Bookings for these laid-back, comfortable stays are surpassing expectations and up more than 170% since 2024, as guests seek accommodations that capture the essence of a place and seamlessly blend activity, discovery, relaxation, sustainability and wellness. Travellers can find these authentic stays on many Backroads trips including Hut-to-Hut and Lodge-to-Lodge offerings.
What’s Trending? Backroads Dolomites Hut-to-Hut, French & Italian Alps Lodge-to-Lodge and Pyrenees Lodge-to-Lodge Trips.
“We’re seeing a clear trend of guests using travel as a way to connect with like-minded travellers, with local communities, with the environment and, ultimately, with themselves,” said Tom Hale, Backroads founder, president and CEO.
“Active travel is becoming part of the rhythm of their lives, and they like creating that rhythm on their own terms, now and into the future.”
