6 adventure travel trends shaping 2026, backed by real booking data

Group Travel Company Much Better Adventures (MBA) has just released new booking data pointing to six major adventure travel trends for 2026. Based on real booking data, they’ve shared six adventure travel trends that will shape travel in 2026 — from micro-expeditions to wildlife excursions. Below, Sam Bruce, Much Better Adventure’s cofounder and CMO, shares his insight on what these six travel trends and behaviors could look like as we approach the new year.

Micro-expeditions go mainstream

Data from the MBA’s trend report shows a surge in “micro-expeditions” to off-grid itineraries such as Kyrgyzstan. MBA saw a 119% increase in travelers to Kyrgyzstan in 2025, with another surge expected for 2026.

“Micro-expeditions hit that sweet spot for people who want big-expedition energy without sacrificing all their annual leave,” says Bruce. “Adventurous travelers want a true sense of discovery when they travel. They want to really immerse themselves in a place that still feels authentic and wild, but they also have a limited amount of paid time off. They’re properly wild, remote, story-worthy experiences that feel big and meaningful, yet they fit into modern life. If you book on a small group adventure, you can explore places like Kyrgyzstan without needing to take months off,” he shares. Per Bruce, destinations like Kyrgyzstan have seen a significant rise in popularity as people realize how much beauty there is to explore there.

Solo, but not isolated

Small group adventures are also trending, offering an excellent option for solo travelers (who account for over 70% of MBA’s upcoming bookings). According to Bruce, this is a direct result of the cultural shift that has taken place over the last decade.

“The stigma around solo travel has almost gone completely, and more people now – especially millennials and Gen Z – are feeling empowered to book experiences on their own terms,” he shares. “There’s only so long you can wait for 10 people in a WhatsApp group to line up their schedules before you want to go and see the world. People realize life’s just too short to hang around waiting for other people to do the things they want to do!”

Additionally, the rise in solo travel and small-group adventures aligns with broader social trends. “A small-group format gives solo travelers independence without isolation. You join like-minded people, and the adventure itself becomes the social glue. We dug into this angle specifically with our community and found 9/10 people would recommend joining one of our trips to make new friends, and 75% have met people on our trips they now consider friends,” he shares.

Adventure without compromise

The time for ‘roughing it’ is fading—and data suggests travelers want adventurous days and comfortable nights. “Adventure is always at the heart of our experiences – big natural landscapes, rewarding activities, local expertise, and real immersion. The difference with our Premium Collection is simply what you come back to at night. By partnering with locally owned boutique stays and keeping our groups small, we can offer that sought-after comfort without diluting the cultural and environmental authenticity people come for in the first place.”

“Our premium offerings really came from listening to what our community wanted. It’s a natural extension of our current offering – a collection for people who still want a serious, year-defining adventure, but know themselves well enough to say ‘Do you know what, I’d also quite like a hot shower and a comfy bed at the end of the day,” says Bruce.

E-biking unlocks endurance

E-biking has become a gateway to adventure travel. MBA’s most popular e-bike trip of 2025 was Hike, E-Bike, and Wine in Italy’s Prosecco Hills. 2026 bookings are led by the Cycle the Jordan Trail to Petra and E-Bike Costa Rica from Coast to Coast. Bruce explains that e-biking offers an excellent experience for mixed-fitness groups, couples, and “adventure-curious” travelers who want to jump into trips they wouldn’t have otherwise joined.

“E-bikes open up routes and experiences that might have previously felt intimidating or off-limits before, including those that go over mountain passes or have a lot of incline involved,” he shares.

Local flavors over fine dining

Food-led trips have grown by 236% in 2025 for Much Better Adventures.“Food is a shortcut to understanding a place’s culture. Trying local dishes when you travel isn’t just about fun quirks and new flavours, it’s actually about unlocking the essence of the destination,” says Bruce.

“Anthony Bourdain said it well when he called food ‘an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, personal history, of a province, region, a tribe, and an extension of your grandmother’. Our travelers want adventure and views, but they also want to connect with the people and the place. Building trips around food does that beautifully,” he shares.

Wildlife watching

Booking data also shows a rising interest in conservation and wildlife experience (MBA saw a 25% increase in wildlife watching bookings in 2025).

“People are tired of passive wildlife tourism,” Bruce shares. “They want to feel part of something that protects the places they visit. People want to understand ecosystems, meet the experts protecting them, and know that their presence contributes to their conservation rather than harms them. That’s when tourism is at its best – when it brings value to a local community, empowering them to protect and look after the place where they live. The thrill is still there, but grounded in a deeper purpose.”