CN Traveler predicts that this year, travellers will be seeking out transformative retreats that will help them become their best selves. Many 2023 travellers will go on these holistic retreats to overcome grief, find purpose and move their bodies, according to the same source.

CN Traveler suggests planning retreats with Healing Holidays, a travel agency dedicated to wellness holidays, to find a trip that fits your personal goals. Town & Country Magazine recently published a list of the best wellness retreats to try, including Nayara Springs, a rainforest retreat in Costa Rica and Inns of Aurora in New York, a four-day recharge trip geared toward solo travellers.

The magazine also name checked Sensei Lanai, a wellness-focused Four Seasons Resort on the island of Lanai in Hawaii, which has a variety of curated retreats and well-being programmes that include yoga, meditation, saunas and golf.

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2. Sustainable travel will be on the rise, making train travel more popular

Some ways to travel more sustainably include seeking out hidden gems, packing light, staying in locally owned accommodation, and opting for train travel over flights.

“It’s about asking, ‘How can you make little decisions that add up over time and have a positive impact on the world?’” Kelley Louise, the executive director and founder of Impact Travel Alliance, a non-profit centred on helping travellers to help improve the world, said.

From September 2020 to September 2022, Pinterest pins for “train trip aesthetic” increased by 205 per cent, “train travel aesthetic” increased by 40 per cent, and “interrailing Europe aesthetic” increased by 105 per cent, according to the data.

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3. More travellers are expected to go solo

According to Ohio University’s Office of Global Opportunities, solo travel has unique benefits, such as not having to plan around anyone else’s schedule, meeting new people, and growing outside your comfort zone.

According to an August 2022 report from WTM Global Hub, Google searches for solo travel have quadrupled since 2020. Solo travel was already on the rise in 2022, according to Travel Pulse, and interest in adventuring alone is expected to continue to increase this year. According to Kayak, searches for single-traveller flights are 36 per cent higher for 2023 travel than for 2022 travel.

Data collected by travel company Go Ahead Tours shows that the top trending destinations for solo travellers are Spain, Italy, Greece, New Zealand and Australia.

4. More travellers are considering booking travel advisers for their next holiday

Virtuoso’s recent survey found that 76 per cent of travellers are willing to spend more money on travel advisers to make their trips easier in 2023, including millennials and Gen Zers.

Working with a travel adviser can save tourists time and energy, according to Travel Pulse, as these advisers can handle transport logistics, check pandemic-era entry requirements for different countries, and contact hotels, resorts and cruise lines.

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5. More people are considering travelling during off-seasons

Off-season travel is all about avoiding big crowds during peak travel times for tourist destinations, like holidays and summertime.

After a bustling year of travel in 2022, where tourists crowded the streets of several European cities, most Virtuoso travellers say they are willing to travel during the off season, Forbes reported.

But Forbes Advisor reports that because of the rise in off-season travel interest for 2023, destinations may not be as quiet or as empty as they used to feel during past off-seasons.