The big trip boom: where to go in 2025

Planning a big trip this year? You’re in good company. Long-haul travel is booming; we're seeing more travellers swapping short-haul beach breaks for far-flung adventures, booking meaningful, experience-led trips and making travel a top priority. So where’s trending? Let’s get into it.

Long-haul hot list: the top destinations booking right now

1. 1 Maldives – Overwater villas, sugar-white sands, ultimate luxury
2. 2 Thailand – Bustling cities, tropical islands, world-class street food
3. 3 Mauritius – An island dream of ocean life, rugged peaks and Creole charm
4. 4 Sri Lanka – Tea plantations, wildlife safaris and temple hopping
5. 5 Bali – Rice terraces, surf breaks and spa retreats
6. 6 Antigua – Rum punch, reef diving and a beach for every day of the year
7. 7 Vietnam – A fast paced mix of city buzz, bold flavours and breathtaking seascapes
8. 8 Malaysia – Modern skylines, untamed nature and some of Asia’s best beaches
9. 9 USA – Buzzing cities to epic road trips and national parks
10. 10 South Africa – Safari, wine country and breathtaking coastal drives

Other destinations on the rise

India, Tanzania, Australia and the Seychelles are all seeing a surge in bookings since last year. Meanwhile, Caribbean twin-centres are trending, with more travellers pairing all-inclusive favourites with off-the-radar islands. Well-loved combos include Barbados and the Grenadines or splitting a stay across two areas of one island, like our Jamaica two-stop trip.

It’s not where, it’s why

We’re seeing more people come to us with a blank slate; it’s less about the destination and more about the experience. Whether it’s hands-on cooking experiences, seeking out rare wildlife or mindful moments by the ocean, travel is being driven by new passions and a desire to see the world differently.

How we’re travelling

This shift in mindset is redefining how people travel, influencing the types of trips they take and how they plan them. Multi-centre trips are taking off, with more travellers looking for itineraries that pack in adventure but still leave room to unwind. Sri Lanka and Thailand are two of the top picks for 2025, combining street food feasts, wildlife encounters and time on the beach to slow the pace.

Family travel is up 40% from last year, as more parents opt for big, memory-making trips. And people no longer need a traditional milestone to justify a big trip. It’s not just honeymoons and big birthdays – more travellers are celebrating exam results, rekindling a sense of adventure or booking time away together to reset and recharge.

“We’ve had a terrific start to the year with a huge range of long-haul destinations performing well. Value shines through as a common theme. Vietnam is a great example – it’s leading the way in adventure travel, offering a mix of dynamic cities, diverse flavours and stunning beaches, all at an affordable price.” Mark Duguid, Managing Director, Kuoni

5 trending multi-centre holidays

1. Sri Lanka & the Maldives – Start in Sri Lanka exploring jungles, temples and tea plantations, then slow things right down in a dreamy Maldivian villa.
2. Antigua & St Lucia – Start with Antigua’s easy-going beaches before swapping the scene to St Lucia’s lush rainforest and volcanic peaks.
3. Serengeti & Zanzibar – An iconic safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti followed by lazy days on Zanzibar’s tropical beaches.
4. Incredible Indochina – A South-East Asia trio that’s all about contrasts. Read about one of our customer's adventures here.
5. Family Thailand adventure – Explore Chiang Mai’s night markets, get close up with elephants at an award-winning jungle camp then end your trip relaxing on golden sands.

This feature was created on 18th March 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.