TRENDING IN TRAVEL

Words you’ll be hearing more of when researching your trips for the year ahead

BIKEPACKING

The portmanteau of 2017 is set to be bikepacking, and it’s exactly as it sounds. You strap a bag to your bike and head off into the wild for a cycling and camping adventure. Fitting, considering this year celebrates the bicentenary of the invention of the bike. The wheels on this trend are starting to spin as new ultra-light equipment comes on to the market from the likes of Alpkit alpkit.com and cycling journalist Laurence McJannet releases his book, Bikepacking: Mountain Bike Camping Adventures on the Wild Trails of Britain (Wild Things, £16.99). We love it as you can really get stuck into nature on remote and ancient tracks. Top places in the UK to try it out include the Isle of Mull and Herefordshire’s Malvern Hills.

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

The United Nations announced that 2017 would be the International Year of Sustainable Travel. Confusingly defined as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’, we prefer a more simple understanding: travel that helps the local community and does not spoil it. Be that by buying local handicrafts over imports, or familiarising yourself with local political issues and cultural sensitivities, it’s a question of asking yourself who will benefit from each penny you spend and if your actions will impact those around you and the environment.

HYGGE

It’s official… hygge (that’s hu-gah, to you and I) hype has hit and all eyes are on Denmark. There’s a reason the Danes are the happiest of all nations, and their concept of celebrating what is essentially the ultimate feeling of cosiness found in the everyday is sweeping the world. As well as new tours to the country, expect an increased market for travelling with friends, a focus on intimate settings and moves away from technology. Travellers will bed down in the world’s smallest hotels, dine in candlelit restaurants, don woolly scarves and experience coffee and cake rituals across the globe. This is about the joys of uncomplicated travel for a hyggelit (cosy-like) time.

ETHICAL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

Spotting animals you’ve never witnessed can be the most spectacular event of a holiday. Unfortunately, not all are treated fairly, so choose a responsible tour operator like Intrepid Travel intrepidtravel.com when booking. Managing director Michael Edwards has plenty of tips. ‘Investigate the venues you plan to visit and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their animal welfare policy,’ he says. ‘Make positive choices: say no to animal “selfies”, poor-welfare zoos and marine parks.’ He also advocates trips to see animals in the and genuine sanctuaries. We rate gorilla treks like Go2Africa in Uganda where funding goes to conservation. go2africa.com

SUPPORTING DESTINATIONS

Sometimes people need a bit of help, whether it be a tip for a restaurant, the best airline for travelling with children or a fail-safe recipe. This year, we’ll be supporting destinations we’ve relied on for years that are going through troubles of their own. Of course, safety is key. Always consult government advice, but you’ll find the character and charm of countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey haven’t changed and those relying on tourism will be more welcoming than ever. Treasures are ripe for the picking in the souks of Luxor, the pyramids of Giza continue to astound and beauty abounds in Istanbul’s mosques. It’s only through the support that tourism brings that will help these destinations flourish again. gov.uk