It’s that magical time of year when we dust off the crystal ball, crunch our booking data, and track the latest trends to serve up the best travel destinations that are — or should be — at the top of your wishlist for 2025. With bookings rocketing through October and November and 200 new trips launching to exciting new places, it’s clear that 2025 is going to be a big year for travel. And in keeping with our commitment to community tourism, many of our Where to Travel destinations include brand new itineraries bringing travellers to remote communities that haven’t yet had the chance to benefit from our kind of traveller.
1. Pakistan
A brand new destination for us in 2025, Pakistan catapulted onto traveller’s radar in recent months with its incredible hiking, untouched landscapes, and deep history. Working hand in hand with local communities, we launched three new trips in Pakistan, focused on bringing tourism to the ancient Thallay La Trail.
Having been the only link between the ancient kingdoms of Khaplu and Shigar for centuries, the trail was vital for the trading and survival of these communities throughout history. With the introduction of modern day roads, the trail was deemed redundant, used only by a handful of hikers each year, leaving many communities cut off from sustainable income.
Celebrating the ancient history of the trail, our new trips offer travellers the unique opportunity to spend the night in original castles and forts of Khaplu and Shigar while hiking through mountain passes, past glaciers, and through communities eager to share their culture and customs.
Get ahead of the trend: Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains
Tread fresh ground as you hike alongside the villagers of the Thallay Valley through meadows and mountain passes, spend nights in Bukhma campsites, enjoy hearty home-cooked meals under the stars, relax in the historic Shigar Fort, and join locals for a game of cricket.
2. Bosnia
Rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, delicious food, and a refreshing lack of crowds: this is just the start of compelling reasons to visit Bosnia. Add in the fact that you can make a real impact in helping boost this nation’s recovery just by visiting, and it’s clear why Bosnia should be high on Where to Travel lists.
And thanks to a new visa-free travel policy, passport holders from 50+ nations no longer need a visa to enter Bosnia, making it easier than ever to visit. This year, we worked with the Resilience Council and USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) to introduce new trips designed to create jobs, raise awareness about the region’s rich history, and encourage cultural exchange — a prime example of small group travel supporting local people and helping a nation’s recovery.
Get ahead of the trend: Bosnia & Herzegovina Uncovered
Our brand new trip includes visits to a female-run apiary, local cheese farms, and UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as hikes to ancient fortresses, visiting Tito’s Bunker to explore the underground complex from the Cold War era, and a graffiti art tour in Sarajevo.
3. Tibet
There’s no place like Tibet — a spiritual haven with breathtaking landscapes, ancient monasteries, and the warm hospitality of its people. While travellers must join a group tour or book a guide to visit, China’s recent easing of visa restrictions makes it easier to explore this extraordinary region.
Now is the perfect time to get immersed in traditional Tibetan life, take in stunning views of Mount Everest, and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage site Potala Palace as we return to Tibet for the first time since 2020.
Get ahead of the trend: Essential Tibet
Our 12-day trip explores the best of the Himalayas from Chengdu to Kathmandu. You’ll discover sacred temples, camp in yak hair tents at the base of Mt Everest, and learn how to make Tibetan momos on a journey with incredible vistas at every turn.
4. Thailand
This fan favourite is tops for good reason: incredible food, warm hospitality, beaches, mountains, cities, and a vibrant art scene. Thailand is no “undiscovered” secret, but its ongoing allure lies in the fact that the second, third, and even tenth-time visitor discovers something new and surprising. Hit TV series, The White Lotus, returns for a third time to screens in 2025 and sees everyone’s favourite hotel opening its doors in Koh Samui, while Jurassic World Rebirth hits the big screens with dramatic scenes filmed in Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
Get ahead of the trend on: Thailand Island Hopping – East Coast
Experience these filming locations in the flesh on our new eight-day trip launching in spring 2025. You’ll get to meet local families, snorkel in crystal clear waters, and enjoy a more serene everyday side to these party islands.
5. Morocco
With our launch of remote active adventures and booming booking stats, Morocco is hot hot hot. Whether it’s winter sun, a long weekend from Europe, or an adventure with beach, desert and mountains all in one — there’s a long list of why travellers are opting for this North African gem.
To get you there, we’ve launched 13 new trips in Morocco for 2025, from four-day Marrakech city breaks to High Atlas Mountain hikes that step away from the usual hiking trails to visit rural communities, desert gorges, and the Berber oasis of Amtoudi.
Our new Geluxe collection offering upgraded active experiences for more mature travellers has seen Morocco take top spot on the most popular destination list. Plus, solo travellers who may have been nervous about Morocco in the past can opt for our new Solo-ish Adventures, a collection of trips designed for solo travellers, led exclusively by female Chief Experience Officers (tour leaders).
Get ahead of the trend: Southern Morocco: Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains & the Sahara
Part of the Geluxe Collection, you’ll enjoy incredible hiking, food experiences, and OMG Stays, including a desert camp with air conditioned tents, king-sized beds, and beautiful seating areas to relax under the Moroccan stars.
6. Philippines
While tourism to the Philippines has been slower to recover compared to its neighbours, the expansion of international flights is expected to bring pre-pandemic traveller numbers back to the islands. We’ll be right there with them by offering young, solo, and culture-seeking travellers the opportunity to explore these unique islands with nine new trips focused on meaningful connection with local communities.
Often celebrated as a backpacker haven, our new trips showcase the incredible nature, jungles, people and culture that make the Philippines an incredible destination for all travellers. Beyond the picture-perfect beaches, our experiences include visiting the new G Adventures-supported Dumagat Indigenous community partnership, where you’ll learn about Indigenous food, culture, and natural medicine, as well as trekking to waterfalls and, on Roamies itineraries, even spend the night with the community.
Get ahead of the trend: Best of the Philippines
Highlights include exploring Manila’s food scene with a walking tour through Chinatown and trekking with Indigenous communities to learn about traditional cooking techniques. You’ll also spend the day island hopping around El Nido looking for turtles, rays and eels, visit secret coves, and watch fireflies illuminate the night sky in the mangroves of Puerta Princesa.
7. South Africa
Southern Africa is emerging as a must-visit destination for travellers seeking incredible value, especially for those with a passion for wildlife. Recent data shows a growing trend among older travellers seeking affordable safari experiences. To meet this demand, we made our fully refurbished fleet of Lando overland vehicles available to all age groups in 2025. Previously exclusive to our youth tours, the Landos offer a comfortable and inexpensive way to explore the region’s wildlife-packed savannahs.
Get ahead of the trend: Southern Africa Overland Safari
Explore the wilderness of South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe from the vantage of an overland safari vehicle. Highlights include spotting the “big five” in Kruger National Park, exploring the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro boat, and a visit to one of the largest waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls, with a traditional lunch at the Lusumpuko Women’s Club, a partnership that supports local women.
8. Greece
Although Greece remains a perennial favourite among travellers, exploring its quieter islands is on the rise. Smaller islands like Paros, Antiparos, and Naxos are stepping into the spotlight as a tranquil alternative to their busier neighbours. As we (and many of our travellers) already know, one of the best ways to avoid the crowds, support local communities, and bypass increasing tourist taxes is to get on a small boat. With numbers up 31% since 2022, we introduced five snazzy custom-built yachts for the 2025 sailing season set for lesser-known islands with flexible itineraries tailored to the group’s pace.
Get ahead of the trend: Sailing Greece – Santorini to Mykonos
Pack your swimming gear and comfy boat shoes as you’ve got time for hiking, snorkelling, and relaxing around the southern Cyclades including Sifnos, Ios, Antiparos, Paros and Naxos. On-shore experiences include exploring ancient archaeological sites and tucking into taverna-lined harbours to scarf fresh seafood.
9. Portugal
Defending its place on the Where to Travel list for a second year running, traveller interest in Portugal shows no signs of slowing down with 50% growth for us in the past two years. While beaches, charming streets, and a buzzing culinary scene may be the first thing that comes to mind for Portugal, you’ll find the lesser-visited mountain villages close to the Spanish border are one of Portugal’s best kept secrets. Our new Geluxe collection gets you off the tourist trail and into the historic Schist villages, which are like portals back in time with stone-crafted houses, castle ruins, and historic hiking trails connecting the villages.
Get ahead of the trend: Portugal: Village Walks & the Douro Valley
Part of the active upgraded Geluxe collection, you’ll enjoy daily hikes between ancient villages and an OMG stay in a mountaintop Casa with views from your outdoor Nordic bath and firepit.
10. Japan
With the World Expo 2025 taking place in Osaka next year, eyes are on Japan as they tackle questions around how to better preserve and protect wellbeing and the environment. Having seen bookings for Japan sky rocket 150% over the past two years, we super-charged our Japan offering with 12 new trips closely aligned with the World Expo theme of physical activity, active experiences, and lesser-visited, remote regions.
From trekking the rugged peaks of Hokkaido’s Shiretoko National Park, you can get your hands dirty digging your own onsen (hot spring bath), stay in a traditional ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and hike through primeval forest areas. You’ll also visit often-overlooked islands in the south where sea kayaking, days aboard a sabani (traditional Okinawan sailboat), and hiking waterfalls are all on the agenda.
Get ahead of the trend: Active Japan: Hokkaido Highlights & Okinawa Island Hopping
Highlights include hiking Mt Fuji, visits to popular Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as hikes in northern national parks and time on the tropical southern islands.
Editor’s note: All travel data is based on bookings made between Jan 1 and Nov 20, 2024 for travel during 2025, compared to bookings made between Jan 1 and Nov 20, 2022 for travel during 2023.
