Walking holidays used to carry a whiff of elitism — the assumption that you needed summit-level fitness or years of trail experience to sign up. That idea is fading fast, and the booking numbers prove it. Intrepid Travel says walking and trekking is now its fastest-growing trip category, up 16% year over year, while demand for its five most popular adventure itineraries has climbed 64%.
The standouts are striking. Colombia's Lost City Trek, a four-to-five-day jungle hike to the ruins of Ciudad Perdida in the Sierra Nevada, is up 111%. Kilimanjaro trips, which take trekkers up Africa's highest peak via routes like Machame and Lemosho, have grown more than 60%. That's not a niche pushing the numbers — it's a broad shift toward holidays that involve earning the view.
Why the surge? Intrepid surveyed 8,000 consumers across the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia, and the answers point to two things. Around 82% said travelling with a local guide helps them connect more deeply with a destination than going it alone, and 83% said it matters that their trip has a positive impact on the places they visit. On a trek, the guide isn't window dressing — they explain the history of the trail, translate conversations in villages along the way, and steer money toward local businesses in gateway towns near national parks.
The other big driver is accessibility. Small-group walking trips lower the barrier for first-timers, and for solo travellers they remove the logistics headache of permits, porters and remote transport. Intrepid's Women's Expeditions grew 32% in 2025, and 77% of the travellers on those trips were flying solo — a reminder that organised adventures are becoming a default choice for people who don't want to hike alone.
There's a caveat worth noting. As more boots hit popular trails, the pressure on fragile routes and rural communities grows too. Intrepid's North America president Leigh Barnes argues the industry has a responsibility to develop these trips carefully so the landscapes and villages that make them special keep thriving — which, practically, means choosing operators who employ local guides and cap group sizes.
For anyone toying with an active holiday, the takeaway is simple: you no longer need to be an ultramarathon type. Walking and trekking trips now span everything from gentle village rambles to high-altitude summits, so you can match the trip to your fitness and interests rather than the other way round. If the Lost City's growth spurt is anything to go by, booking early is a good idea too.
