As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to imagine your ideal getaway—whether it’s an adventurous trip of a lifetime, an active challenge to accomplish, or a fun escape with friends and family. Now is the best moment to plan your vacation before the busyness of everyday life takes over. Exploring the great outdoors in stunning destinations is always popular, but keep reading to discover what we think are the top travel trends in active travel that will inspire your wanderlust list this year.
Personalized and Experiential Journeys
Travelers are seeking more customized experiences that align with their personal interests and include more than just seeing the sights.
Private tour itineraries allow you to create the personal experience you are seeking, and in 2025 Zephyr has launched the option for Self-Guided tours that allow you to travel at your own pace and experience a destination in a tangible way.
Emerging and Offbeat Destinations
There’s a growing interest in exploring lesser-known and less-touristed locations, offering more authentic and unique cultural experiences away from traditional tourist hotspots.
From the dramatic landscapes of Bolivia on an Exploratory Tour to a stunning multisport adventure to Croatia, Montenegro, & Albania, to a hike across the Country of Liechtenstein, there are easy and fascinating options to get you traveling away from the crowds.
Women-Powered Travel
The rising popularity of women-focused travel highlights a growing trend of women pursuing personal growth, community, and self-discovery while traveling. This type of travel is intentional and empowering, as it offers a safe and supportive environment for women to explore new destinations.
Taking the trend one step further is a vacation itinerary in Montana that includes hiking skills and techniques for women so you can come away from your tour even more prepared and empowered to hike well. Or, a small-group hiking adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park, ideal for solo female travelers who want to get out and explore with the camaraderie of a few like-minded women.
Slower & Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel
There is a growing trend towards ‘soft travel,’ which emphasizes simplicity and ease. This approach encourages travelers to engage more deeply with their destinations and to travel at a more relaxed pace. It also involves discovering lesser-known places that aren’t typically considered travel hotspots. By taking the time to explore these hidden gems, travelers can have unexpectedly wonderful experiences.
This year the focus of the Zephyr Inline Skating tours has led to following this trend. We chose the rural and lesser-known Flaeming Skate Region of Germany—with small cities and even smaller villages dotting the skating and biking routes—but with 230 km of car-free, paths in a series of eight connected loops.
Or, think outside the midwestern box and head to perhaps the best skating locale in the U.S. on the Iowa Inline Skating Adventure, with hundreds of miles of concrete, flat, interconnected paths, farmland solitude, a great variety of Americana, and an exciting capital city to explore.
What kind of travel trends are on your radar this year? We sure hope being active and prioritizing adventures makes the list!