After a stop start year for everyone in 2021, we’re keeping a positive outlook for the year ahead, focusing on the expanding possibilities for travel in 2022 and the trends that will shape our holidays both this year and in the future.
From once-in-a-lifetime adventures making up for lost time to big family escapes so we might reunite with loved ones. Flying less and staying longer to a yearning for remote places immersed in wilderness. Returning to treasured destinations to adding a fresh twist to ‘working from home’.
Read on to discover the trends and predictions that will redefine your future travels.
Seize the Moment
It may be a bucket list experience, pushing beyond your comfort zone or learning a new skill. Perhaps it’s simply a case of making that long held desire a reality. With the hope for a more navigable world in 2022, this will be a year of doing over dreaming. See bears in the wild, watch the aurora dance in the skies overhead, or sleep on ice.
Inspired?
For off-grid adventure and grizzly bear spotting head to Klahoose Wilderness Resort in Canada’s British Columbia. This eco-lodge is located in a remote location on Desolation Sound and is owned by the Klahoose First Nation. Outdoor adventure meets cultural immersion as you hike ancient forests, learn traditions like cedar bark weaving, go grizzly spotting in Toba Inlet, or kayak among marine life.
Make this the year track down the elusive northern lights by putting yourself in the best locations to do so. For instance in Swedish Lapland, you can stay in Abisko National Park and search for aurora under virtually cloudless skies. Or choose some thrilling daytime pursuits such as Nordic skiing, dog sledding or snowmobiling to round off the experience.
Epic Journeys
Having had limited travel options for so long, many of us are hatching plans for that ‘big trip’ – a once-in-a-lifetime adventure packed with experiences that we’ll remember forever. That might well mean travelling for longer (a month or more maybe). And it will certainly involve exploring places we’ve only dared dream about before.
Inspired?
For a truly awe-inspiring adventure take an expedition cruise deep into the Polar regions. New ships and new voyages offer exciting options for exploring remote Arctic archipelagos in 2022 such as the South Greenland Expedition Voyage aboard the sleek and spacious Ultramarine. Alternatively, head south in late 2022 into 2023, and explore the far ends of the earth in Antarctica.
The expected return of long haul travel in 2022 offers plenty of scope for epic journeys across Australia and New Zealand, perfectly crafted by our specialists. How about a coastal extravaganza combining a self-drive from Sydney to Melbourne with our Great Ocean Road Discovery, taking in the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide?
If you’d prefer to stay in the Northern Hemisphere then pair Alaska and the Yukon on an epic two-week self-drive through wilderness and frontier towns.
Slow Travel
The last two years have taught us to appreciate everything that life offers. And our holidays should reflect that too. We will be delving deeper into the places we visit; lingering longer to really immerse ourselves in local life. Wiser to the threats of climate change, we’ll also take fewer flights, opting instead for rail and hiking holidays.
Inspired?
Our new portfolio of rail itineraries ranges from the 14-night Grand Tour of Switzerland to the 21-night Arctic Rail Odyssey, offering flight- and car-free travel. Immerse yourself in Italy’s classic cities or combine Europe’s fascinating tiny countries in a single trip. Perhaps a leisurely twist on a classic journey from London to Paris will tempt you.
Rail travel is also a great way to cover vast distances in two of the world’s largest countries in a more climate-friendly manner. Travel across Canada on the 15 night Trans Canada Rail Adventure, enjoying diverse experiences from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In Australia, epic rail routes like the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide allow you to see more of the country and appreciate its staggering size.
Sticking with the theme of flying less but for longer, our month-long exploration of Iceland truly allows you to go slow and savour. Stay in self-catering properties in the north, east, south and west, getting to know the unique landscapes of each.
Family and Friend Bubbles
Limited contact has been one of the hardest things to bear. We’re desperate to reconnect with loved ones, and we can’t think of a better way to pour the glue back into family bonds than by whisking everyone off on a multi-generational holiday. We’ll be seeking remote family-friendly properties to create the perfect holiday bubble.
Inspired?
Iceland offers a number of options for family or friends bonding depending on the make-up of your group. Our compact Family Explorer self-drive offers whale watching, horse riding, snowmobiling, a superjeep safari and plenty of opportunities to enjoy ‘live’ geography lessons. Perfect for young, sponge-like brains. Meanwhile, the three-bedroom Glacier Lodge and 14-room Skalakot Hotel are perfect for a friend reunion holiday.
Thinking long haul, maybe forming a motorhome convoy touring round New Zealand is the choice for you. Separate vehicles offer space when needed, but the joy of exploring New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes can be shared. Take our New Zealand by Motorhome itinerary as the starting point and let our specialists tailor to your exact needs.
If you really want to push the boat out, take the brood on a voyage of discovery Around Spitsbergen in summer 2023 on board the new ship Janssonius. Featuring a Science Base Camp for explorers of all ages, hands on workshops and research projects make it ideal for families.
Connect With Nature
Many of us will be craving space, tranquillity and the chance to disconnect from technology having renewed our appreciation for the simpler things in life. Not that our natural world is simple. It’s intricate and fascinating and totally addictive. We’ll be drawn to holiday destinations where we feel wrapped in wilderness, where social distancing comes naturally. From a sustainable perspective, we’ve woken up to the fact that our actions impact the natural world, but conservation projects and local livelihoods rely on ecotourism.
Inspired?
A new direct flight from London to Québec City from May 2022 makes accessing the wilderness of the St Lawrence River and Gaspé Peninsula easier. Take a wildlife and wilderness self-drive for spectacular scenery, abundant bird life and the chance to see beluga whales – the perfect respite to everyday life.
To put a spring in your step, our expert-guided walking holidays include a 9-night Hiking in South Greenland adventure. Discover dramatic peaks and ice-strewn fjords in one of the most remote places on the planet. Staying in hotel accommodation each night, you don’t have to give up creature comforts entirely. If you prefer independence, opt for a hike and drive adventure on Senja Island in northern Norway. Follow recommended trails around the island at your own pace.
For a more explicit focus on wellness, head to Arctic Bath Hotel in Swedish Lapland for an invigorating dip in the natural, open-air pool before heading for a sauna, hot bath or massage.
Work Away
For many of us, working from home has become part of everyday life – but that doesn’t mean it has to be ordinary or mundane. Embracing new opportunities for flexible working. Just imagine combining work and play at handpicked properties in remote corners of Nordic Europe…
Inspired?
Relocate the ‘working from home’ concept to a temporary home office in Sweden, Finland, Norway or Iceland. Stay in self-catering accommodation with good Wi-Fi for work and stunning scenery on your doorstep for when not at work. Plus, the longer the stay the bigger the savings can be.
Our recommended properties in Iceland include the exclusive Glacier Lodge offering incredible views of the Snaefellsjokull volcano in West Iceland. Among the Scandinavia properties available, find your creative workspace at Brandon Lodge in Swedish Lapland, ideally located between forest and sea. In Finland, Work Away at a stylish Rukan Salonki log-pole villa for a desk overlooking Lapland’s taiga forest. Or in Norway choose a traditional fisherman’s cabin with a modern make-over for views of the Lofoten Islands mountainous landscapes.
Places We Know and Love
There’s something comforting about returning to familiar places – particularly after the uncertainty and upset of what we’ve been through. Many of us will seek the reassurance of ‘old favourites’, but with a new twist. We’ll revisit memorable hotels at a different time of year, or return to best-loved places, but explore by train, or on foot…
Inspired?
If you’ve already experienced the magic of Iceland during winter, you’ll love it even more under long hours of daylight in the summer, perhaps exploring off the beaten track on our Iceland Backroads holiday. And if you’re pining for the Norwegian Fjords, our Norwegian Fjord Odyssey is a leisurely self-drive alternative to cruising.
Learn From Experts
As we spread our wings and enjoy the freedom of travel once more, we’ll be keen to make each trip really count. Travelling with an expert guide on a small-group escorted tour, you’ll not only benefit from their first-hand knowledge as they bring the destination to life, but you will also discover hidden gems not always found in guidebooks. The shared experience also offers an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people and perhaps make new friends.
Inspired?
Award-winning guides Cathy Harlow and Alexa Kershaw lead our 4-night Orcas and Aurora whale-watching tour in Iceland, as well as small-group, guided walking holidays in Greenland and Iceland.
Trust the Experts to Plan Your Holiday
Recent times have shown just how crucial it is to book your holiday with an operator you can trust; a company you can rely on 100% to look after you and your money, no matter what. At Discover the World, we’ll do just that.
Browse our itineraries using our Holiday Finder and then get in touch with our experts to create your perfect holiday.
Call our Travel Specialists on 01737 214 250, arrange a video meeting to discuss your plans or send an enquiry.
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