Audley Travel, together with travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender, presents its “Luxury Tailormade Travel Trends 2026” report. The research, which included extensive conversations with Audley Travel's global network of experts, in-house survey data and third-party resources, reveals a defining shift in luxury travel: a move away from destination-first planning toward the intentional investment of time.

Port + Beyond the harbour

A cruise has always delivered multiple destinations with ease, travelling in comfort. Audley now reports a rising demand for richer, more comprehensive exploration which takes clients beyond the traditional beach, resort or short city stay of a 'cruise and stay' itinerary. As an example, carefully pairing a cruise around Japan with time exploring the volcanic valleys and hot springs of Hakone, or an Antarctic cruise with a visit to Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina to allow clients to maximise their holiday time. Audley's country specialists report a 36 per cent increase in the number of travellers requesting a trip with two clear parts such as this, a five per cent increase on the previous year.

The key element that distinguishes a Port + itinerary from a regular cruise extension is the strategic integration of experiences, linked together in a way that overcomes the logistical complexity, creating an incredible itinerary that delivers memories to last a lifetime.

Edgebound Exclusivity thrives at travel's outermost edge

Luxury travel isn't just exquisite service in incredible surroundings or travelling to lesser-visited destinations. An increasing proportion of travellers see true luxury travel as having access to something others haven't experienced and an opportunity to do what was once perceived impossible.

These adventure seekers are demanding access to private land, pursuing out-of-bounds properties, off-the-map locations and to be the first aboard new vehicles and vessels. They don't just want rarity, but expertly wrangled itineraries that push at the limits of what is viable.

This wish for experiences that are on the edge of what is possible isn't limited to in-destination activities but instead is a fully immersive experience that genuinely surprises visitors with something new or different. As an example, remote and preserved Cosmoledo Atoll in the Seychelles (which has seen very little human pressure on its environment over the years), allows clients stay in a single eco-camp on an island in a lagoon amid pristine, wade-able sand flats.

Soft expeditioning Light but loaded adventures

Whilst the Antarctic and Arctic have long called adventurous travellers, Audley is now seeing a growing interest in a demand for similar levels of adventure, but in warmer climes and without a need for huge physical endurance.

Soft expeditioning destinations can be fully enjoyed with a trip of around two weeks, and offer warmer temperatures. Destinations on clients' radars include lesser-visited corners of Indonesia, the Pacific, the Amazon and Africa, offering unfamiliar places that deliver a sense of achievement to even the most nervous traveller.

These soft expeditioning destinations also deliver in the addressing the challenge of time scarcity. Audley's country specialists report a rise in enquiries from Millennials who are seeking shorter durations to deliver maximum adventure at the same time as satisfying their curiosity about a destination. A shorter cruise itinerary, paired with land exploration before or after, is ideal for making the most of valuable annual leave.

Women 2 Women Girl power grows up

Nearly three in 10 of Audley's country specialists (28 per cent) report a rise in solo female travellers, and these solo travellers are increasingly requesting female guides as they understand that female perspectives often reveal cultural layers and local stories that otherwise remain unseen. Also, incredibly important to many solo female travellers, working with female guides and business owners means their visit is helping local women to earn their own money.

Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of Audley's country specialists also report a rise in the number of trips being booked by a lead female traveller during 2025 – encompassing solo travel as well as couples, groups of friends and families (56 per cent of UK bookings are made by women).

Multi-spoke itineraries One size fits none

Seventy per cent of Audley's country specialists say their clients ask for curated multi-spoke itineraries as a solution to addressing differing needs and desires, at the same time as protecting the ultimate reason for a family holiday – to share time together. This doesn't mean the family follows multiple different itineraries and only meet for meals, instead the itinerary is designed to satisfy vastly different energy levels, learning styles and personal passions – from contemplative cultural pursuits to adrenaline-fuelled adventures – all within a single, seamless journey that brings the group together for shared memories.

This could mean exploring the temple complex of Angkor in Cambodia's Siem Reap by mountain bike for the younger generation, while grandparents enjoy the same sites via tuk-tuk, all guided by the same expert who tailors the experience to each pace and interest. This isn't one person's itinerary with others tagging along - it's a shared journey that's truly for everyone.

Brain waves Ocean-deep voyages of discovery

As guest lectures on expedition cruises become the norm rather than the exception, a trend is emerging for clients wanting more. Tomorrow's travellers won't be satisfied with knowledge alone: they want experiences that challenge their thinking, reward their curiosity and leave them mentally sharper for having taken part, and cruises are responding with itineraries designed to really make them think. This is far more than simply listening to an onboard speaker, instead guests want to engage in dialogue, test ideas and then step ashore to see theories come to life.

Audley's clients are increasingly asking for encounters that stretch their thinking, whether that's with conservationists in Baja or community leaders in the Pacific. The exclusivity of the access is key, and the feeling that the learning couldn't be found anywhere else.

Concierge curation Long horizon travel, choreographed with purpose

The top one per cent of travellers still want access to incredible experiences, but Audley Private Concierge is seeing a shift with these travellers now demanding a partner to choreograph their journeys over years, not months, ensuring that experiences are carefully sequenced and personally resonant. With this, Audley Private Concierge acts as a Concierge Curator, becoming a strategist for their clients' leisure time, weaving together personal obligations, family commitments, and global events into multi-year travel programmes.

Itineraries are not just about destinations, but about sequence and rhythm – physically demanding adventures scheduled while clients are at their fittest, offset by restorative escapes that provide balance. Once these frameworks are in place, the Concierge Curator continues to support, offering continuity and agility when life inevitably changes course.

Luxury experiences and flexibility remain crucial for these clients, but these must sit within an overarching plan that recognises time as the rarest luxury of all. With this comes a growing trend for long-lead bookings. Audley Private Concierge notes that some clients are now reserving trips 18 to 24 months ahead, creating entire calendars of travel that might span a retirement year, a series of milestone celebrations, or educational journeys timed just before adult children leave for university.

Such behaviour highlights a deeper shift; for wealthy travellers, travel is less a lifestyle accessory than a way of life itself.

The full luxury trends report is available to download at https://globetrender.com/product/audley-travel-luxury-tailormade-travel-trends-2026

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Notes to editors

Sources: Audley's research, extensive conversations with its global network of experts, in-house survey data and MillionaireVue from Savanta research.

About Audley Travel

B Corp certified Audley Travel arranges tailormade trips to over 80 destinations worldwide, all designed by a country specialist who has lived or travelled extensively in the destination they sell. Each trip is designed based on the client's tastes, wishlist and budget.

About Audley Private Concierge

Audley Private Concierge is an exclusive and dedicated invitation-only service that matches clients with their own Private Travel Manager to seamlessly manage all their travel. It is ideal for clients who demand the very best and are passionate travellers seeking authentic and meaningful travel experiences.

About Globetrender

Globetrender is the world's leading travel trend forecasting agency and online magazine dedicated to the future of travel. Founded in 2019 by award-winning travel journalist Jenny Southan, Globetrender delivers cutting-edge insights into how people will be travelling in the 21st century, giving professionals the knowledge they need to future-proof their businesses. Globetrender's trend reports are read by thousands of travel industry professionals, as well as executives from a wide-variety of multinational corporations looking for insights into the future of travel and consumer behaviour. Globetrender publishes two newsletters: free weekly Innovation Briefings and a premium product called VOLT, which explores emerging travel trends in depth. Other services include: Forecasting and Advisory, Public Speaking, Workshops, Retreats and Branded Content. Globetrender also has a podcast called "Blue Sky Thinking”.