The top travel trends for 2024

The dining facilities aboard the Eastern and Oriental Express (Belmond)

Before the boom in affordable air travel, trains were synonymous with travel adventures, but then they were relegated to the horrors of packed commuter journeys. Fortunately, we have regained our love of rail travel and a resurgence of night trains, intercontinental trains and luxury trains is underway.

Night trains include the Austrian Railways Nightjet sleeper trains linking Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam. Then there’s the European Sleeper between Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague and a ‘Canopus’ sleeper service running from Prague to Zurich via Dresden, Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main and Basel.

On the luxury front, The Eastern and Oriental Express (E&O), the launch of which was announced in the very first issue of Wanderlust, over 30 years ago, is restarting having paused when the pandemic hit. Italy has announced a raft of new rail services too, including the luxurious Orient Express La Dolce Vita. And in Mexico, the much anticipated Maya Train through the Yucatan Peninsula is finally launching in the spring, .

Tour operators are responding to a desire for flight-free options with epic and imaginative itineraries; for instance, we love Discover the World’s Arctic Rail Odyssey.

Travelling in autumn has become increasingly popular (Shutterstock)

Wanderlust readers have long travelled year-round, but it’s as if the rest of the world is catching up with off-season trips booming. A recent ABTA survey showed a move towards travel in the European ‘shoulder’ seasons, with May, June and October the most popular months rather than the traditional summer peak. Avoiding crowds and high season prices, and the impact of climate change will all be factors feeding into this and it is a trend that is sure to continue.

It’s good news for destinations as it is far more sustainable, helping businesses and livelihoods. And it’s good news for us travellers too, with places and activities open for business rather than having to close.

More women are opting to solo travel (Alamy)

Solo travel has always mattered to Wanderlust – we have written the book to prove it. In a major guide to the topic in our Aug/Sep 2023 issue we reported that Google Trends showed that searches for the phrase were up 761%. This is borne out by many travel companies now reporting a spike in bookings from solo travellers; some tour operators offering small group tours state that over half their bookings are from solos, while self-guided walking holiday specialist Macs Adventure say they have had a 30% increase year on year and accommodation engine Booking.com reported that 60% of its bookings in the previous year were solo.

It is noticeable that the word ‘solo’ is now widely used at last rather than ‘single’. As travel industry news site Skift reports, the surge on solo travel is led by older, married women who want to get out and explore the world, and are doing it without their spouses.

Expect a corresponding increase in exciting and innovative solo-friendly holidays from tour operators in 2024 as they tap into this burgeoning market.

The Wadi Rum is often used by filmmakers to depict an otherworldly setting (Alamy)

If we could only name one booming trend in travel, it would have to be set jetting. If you don’t know already, set jetting is when movie and TV buffs are inspired to visit a destination after seeing the locations and landmarks on the big (or small) screen.

This year will see the release of big movie and TV show sequels. Dune: Part Two will surely encourage more travellers to visit the otherworldly Wadi Rum, a protected desert area in Jordan. The long-awaited Gladiator 2 will also hit cinema screens later in 2024, and expects to highlight destinations including Morocco and Malta. Meanwhile on streaming platforms, the second series of Squid Games, rumoured for release near the end of the year, is guaranteed to heighten the current buzz around the South Korea, whereas the third instalment of Bridgerton will continue to encourage viewers to visit some of the UK’s historic highlights in Bath and Greenwich, London.

A luxury bush game reserve stay in South Africa (Shutterstock)

Our passion for wild yet comfortable sleeps is growing. Stays in treehouses, first a trend a decade ago, shows no sign of abating with new properties launching all the time, ranging from the simply rustic to architect designed. But it’s not just treehouses that we love. While cabin stays have long been popular in North America, we’re just catching up in the UK with Google searches showing a huge increase in cabin-related searches including ‘log cabin with hot tub’. Yes, while being surrounded by all that wood is good for the soul, if the cabins come equipped with a log-burning stove, outdoor bath, hot tub or sauna, then all the better.

Meanwhile, some African safari camps offer ‘star beds’. Essentially these open-air bedrooms come with a soundtrack of the exhilarating sounds of the African bush while you hunker down in a mosquito-net encased comfortable bed. And you can indulge in a spot of stargazing of course…

Astrotourism is a growing trend (Shutterstock)

We’re currently going through a period of intense solar activity with 2024 into 2025 expected to be the peak when we will have the most impressive aurora borealis in over a decade. As it was, 2023 was exceptional, with the aurora being seen as far south in the UK as Cornwall. You’ll still need clear skies, and it helps if you’re away from too much light, but this is the year to go hunting the planet’s most dazzling display.

And it’s not just the northern lights which are fascinating us. Interest in stargazing is at an all time high with several apps available to help us identify the constellations. The dark sky movement is gaining momentum with Dark Sky International having to date certified over 200 places globally which meets its criteria. Many countries have their own way of designating areas away from light pollution too.

Travelling to experience a solar eclipse has also caught our imagination. The big one for 2024 has been dubbed the Great North Amercan Eclipse and It will be the only total solar eclipse in the 21st century where totality will be visible in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Iceland’s volcano have seen a lot of activity recently (Shutterstock)

With volcanoes in the news so much recently, It may feel as if the number of eruptions is increasing globally, but the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Volcanism Program refutes this. What has happened though is that reporting on volcanic activity has increased, and also spectacular drone footage on social media now showcases the full power of eruptions like never before. It’s therefore not surprising that there has been an increase in interest in visiting volcanoes, whether erupting or not. Although, it should of course be stressed that you should only visit an active volcano if you’re not putting yourself or others at risk.

Iceland is the obvious destination benefiting from the interest in lava-chasing and leads the way on Google searches. The Land of Fire and Ice has even capitalised on this by designating a new Volcanic Way route – a 700 km trip on paved roads, focussing on volcanoes and the communities that live in surrounding villages. As well as taking in eight major volcanoes, it features hot springs, lava fields, black sand beaches, volcanic islands, basalt columns and lava beaches.

Other destinations to consider for a spot of volcanic drama include Lanzarote and La Palma, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, Mount Bromo in Java, Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park, and the Avenue of Volcanoes in Ecuador.

Walking in nature is one way to reset (Shutterstock)

In a world that’s getting ever faster, with noise and light pollution, and so much bad news bombarding us daily, it’s no surprise that more people are looking for an escape that allows them to reset, rewind and rejuvenate. Whether longing for a complete digital detox, craving some headspace, or simply dreaming of tranquillity, we’ve become more aware of how important our wellbeing is.

A reset retreat doesn’t always have to be a full-on detox complete with yoga classes and guided meditation. It could be somewhere we can curl up in front of a log fire with a good book, or a quiet and magical place outdoors where we can sit luxuriating in nature. And “quiet” is the word as so many of us crave some silence in our life. This is a year for wellbeing and wellness, in whatever way you like. And breathe…