It’s time to spread your wings The trend towards adventure travel is set to continue: whatever the term means for you, writes
Lorna Thornber.
Corporate warrior by day, Amazon warrior on holiday: it’s a description many of us can relate to if the continuing trend towards adventurous holidays is anything to go by.
‘‘Nowhere is out of reach for Kiwis as they seek to travel more and further to a destination that will give them adventure and an authentic experience,’’ Flight Centre NZ general manager product Sean Berenson says.
‘‘Exploring the sprawling jungles of the Peruvian Andes is worth putting on the list, as is hiking the W-trek in Patagonia, back-country skiing in Iceland or trekking to Mt Everest base camp." Strenuous physical activity isn’t everyone’s idea of a holiday, of course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of the continuing boon in ‘‘experiential travel’’. Train and event travel are also set to grow in 2018, as are cruises to private islands and pilgrimages to find the best vege food in the world. Here are 10 trends to watch out for in the New Year.
Expedition cruising
Purpose-built expedition trips are giving so-called ordinary folk the chance to become modern-day adventurers. ‘‘Smaller, more exploratory cruising to far-flung destinations has piqued the interest of the more adventurous traveller,’’ Lonely Planet’s Chris Zeiher says. ‘‘These small-ship expeditions offer a more immersive experience for the traveller where smaller vessels can access more precious or protected areas.’’ Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, Arctic Norway, Antarctica, the Amazon and the Kimberley are among the destinations to choose from.
Typically, such cruises will allow passengers to explore by foot, bike, horse, kayak or paddleboard. House of Travel product and channel director Dave Fordyce recommends checking out Lindlbad Expeditions’ National Geographic Quest. One of the newest ships, it’s designed especially to navigate the wildlife-rich inlets and passageways of Alaska, carrying exploration tools such as a SplashCam and hydrophone which allow passengers to look at and listen to what’s going on underwater.
‘Rustic’ accommodation
Who wants to stay somewhere that looks like a sterile version of their own bedroom? Fewer and fewer of us it seems.
Airbnb witnessed a surge in ‘‘nontraditional home’’ bookings in 2017, with nature lodges and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) receiving 700 and 600 per cent more bookings respectively. Stays in yurts and RVs/ campervans were also popular, with bookings up 155 and 133 per cent. ‘‘Travellers are increasingly drawn to homes that are rustic and unique, rather than simply comfortable,’’ the accommodation site says.
Train travel
Exploring the wilds from the comfort of a luxury train carriage is gaining traction as Kiwis are keen to venture into untouched landscapes without having to rough it or navigate treacherous roads.
The Rocky Mountaineer, which takes passengers through otherwise inaccessible terrain in Western Canada, fits the bill perfectly, Fordyce says. Other top-rated, top-class services include the Maharajas’ Express, which travels through north and west India, the Andean Explorer, South Africa’s Blue Train, and the Belmond Hiram Bingham, which operates return day trips to Machu Picchu.
International music festivals
Life’s too short to waste it at mediocre music festivals. If you’re a true music fiend you need to experience the world’s best. Glastonbury in the UK and Coachella in the US are the ones to choose it you want to give your mates ‘‘the ultimate FOMO’’ Berenson says.
Whether you prefer to party to a backdrop of rolling pastures or golden beaches, there’s a festival to suit. Exit Festival, set in a medieval Serbian fortress, and Fuji Rock in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, which requires a cable car trip up a mountain, offer truly one-of-a-kind experiences.
Event travel
It’s not just the musos who are prepared to roam far and wide to indulge their passions – festival and event tourism has taken off in a big way. ‘‘A decade ago this type of travel was an alien term, but as Kiwis seek to experience more from their travel we’ve seen a surge in Kiwis roaming widely for sports, festivals and carnivals,’’ says Berenson. For sports fans, the HSBC Sydney Sevens and Australian Open in Melbourne are well worth the quick trip across the ditch, he suggests.
Visiting a place during a major cultural event can be a great way to immerse yourself in that culture and find out more about the local history. Weird and wonderful festivals are celebrated around the world yearround. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong, which sees festival goers race to reach the top of towers of sweet buns up to 20 metres high, and the baby-jumping festival in Castillo de Murcia, Spain. are two of the more out-there.
Cruises to private islands
Rock stars and Richard Branson aren’t the only ones to holiday on private islands these days.
A growing number of cruise lines offer port excursions to tropical isles inaccessible to the hoi polloi. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye, for one, transports guests to 31-hectare Harvest Caye island in Belize. Featuring a 2.8ha beach lined with loungers, an enormous pool with swim-up bar, a wide array of watersports and eating and shopping precincts, it’s not exactly Robinson Crusoe territory but, for many, it’s paradise nonetheless.
Fordyce recommends keeping an eye out for MCS Cruises’ Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, set to open at the end of 2018. ‘‘Equipped with several sandy beaches, snorkelready coral reefs, and various dining, spa, and entertainment options, it’ll be one to add to the bucket list.’’
Solo travel
Solo travel is hardly considered outthere these days but it appears many are just waking up to its benefits.