Adventure travel Explore specialist has revealed its five top tips for 2020, showing how it is seeing more demand in remote destinations.
As the industry moves into the 2020s, it said destinations such as Benin, Lebanon, Albania, Japan and Botswana are increasingly on the map.
Bookings for Explore’s Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery trip rose 110% year-on-year in 2019, and bookings for 2020 are 90% ahead of those for 2019.
The trip’s popularity reflects a growing trend for “quirky and adventurous” experiences beyond the traditional beach holiday.
The holiday includes a visit to Ganvie, largest stilt village in Africa, to meet a village soothsayer to learn about Voodoo traditions and rituals.
The 14-day holiday costs from £2,750, including flights, accommodation, some meals and an Explore leader.
Since the Foreign Office lifted travel restrictions earlier this year, Explore’s Highlights of Lebanon trip has sold out for 2019 and 60% of 2020 departures are fully booked.
Explore’s Highlights of Lebanon trip starts in Beirut with a walking tour around the capital.
It also visits a working monastery in the Qadisha Valley, Roman ruins at Baalbek (pictured), and a 12th Century castle at Byblos.
Prices for this eight-day trip start from £1,599 including flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, and an Explore leader.
Elsewhere, sales to Albania have grown by 20% on average over the last four years
Explore’s Highlights of Albania tour visits Lake Ohrid, Llogara National Park and Butrint, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Balkans.
It costs from £1,199, including flights, 10 nights’ accommodation, some meals and an Explore leader.
Further afield, Japan has been growing in popularity, thanks in part to this year’s Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.
The Simply Japan tour takes customers from Tokyo to Hiroshima, and costs from £3,855, including flights, accommodation with breakfast and an Explore leader.
Finally, Botswana has seen bookings rise by a third in 2019 as interest in safari trips grows, partly thanks to film releases such as the Lion King remake.
Explore’s 15-day Botswana Wildlife Safari itinerary includes looking for elephants in Chobe National Park and searching for the Big Five in Moremi Game Reserve.
It costs from £3,365, including flights, accommodation, some meals, local guides, boat crew and an Explore leader.