I wrote a blog back in 2022 called Catch 22.

I thought it was quite clever as the term ‘Catch 22’ was coined in the book by Joseph Heller and later a movie of the same name about World War 2…..

A dictionary definition of the term is ‘a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.’

It was an interesting thought for 2022 and oddly again for 2026 when it comes to travel trends……

Here are a few (according to me!):

The BIG thing

A friend contacted me this week. She is having a significant birthday this year and her only child is leaving home in September to go to university, so she wanted to do something…BIG.

I mean really BIG.

Something that would take her out of the comfort zone. Something she had always wanted to do but for various reasons couldn’t (time and/or money) or just thought it was a nice but generally crazy idea.

Catch 22.

The Inca Trail as well as more extreme/ challenging trips like Everest Base Camp and summiting Mt Kilimanjaro have seen bookings surge.

Likewise, the Camino de Santiago for its spiritual reset.

The rise of rail

Who doesn’t like a train trip?

Well, obviously if you are regular train commuter you might not be that keen.

For the rest of us, it’s a bit of a novelty. And it helps reduce your carbon footprint.

I’ve noticed that a number of tour operators are now offering extensive rail holidays. No longer the regular London to Paris / Brussels or ‘anywhere the EuroStar goes’ jaunts but further afield to more exotic destinations, for example: London to Istanbul, London to Marrakech, London to Athens.

Just remember: the return trip might involve air travel though unless you factor in the return rail journey into your holiday time.

All aboard!

Adventure and escorted group tours

Want to have an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience, meet new like minded people, have expert tour leaders and all your travel logistics sorted for?

There has been a significant rise in the popularity of these types of tours. Size of groups ranges from 12 to 24 depending what type of tour you select.

We have been on several of these types of holidays and they have been fantastic experiences and we have made life long friends 🙂

Travelling with a purpose

This is something I have been looking into personally with great interest: the combination of a holiday with something else. For the greater good of others and/or the planet.

For a long time these trips has been associated with GAP year students but there is a now a drive to make this achievable for anyone and everyone!

Things like wildlife research and environmental conservation, climate change investigations and of course, archaeological and paleontological digs (my favourite).

What’s on your bucket list?

Opinions expressed are our own based on personal experience

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