The 2025 travel trend we've been following for years
From train-bragging and cool-cationing to bootiquing, the travel trends that have emerged over the past few years have given us plenty of inspiration for our upcoming holidays. But as our pace of life becomes ever more frenetic, and the world increasingly centred around technology and innovation, it seems that more and more tourists are turning to nature to provide the ultimate break from it all.
Travel app Skyscanner surveyed thousands of UK users to predict the top travel trends for the year ahead, and according to the research, botanical tourism is on the rise. You heard it here first: 2025 is officially set to be the year of 'horti-culture'.
What is horti-culture?
Horti-culture means placing gardening and a return to nature at the forefront of travel plans – and you've probably already been doing it for years.
Ever centred an entire holiday around visiting a famous garden? Planned a trip during spring specifically to see the flowers in bloom? Sought out a stay somewhere totally off-grid to feel truly at one with nature? If you answered yes to any of the above, you can now officially call yourself a horti-culturalist.
And you're not alone. It's no secret that nature can provide the perfect break from an ever-evolving technological world, given its calming, grounding influence and immense beauty. Skyscanner reports that 62% of UK travellers enjoy visiting gardens during their holidays, while 46% of say gardening tops their list of leisure activities – and the cherry blossom season, autumnal colours and sunflower fields in bloom are top of the list for floral phenomena to see in 2025. It's little wonder, then, that this travel trend is quite literally blooming right now.
The best horti-culture trips to book in 2025
If all this talk of horti-culture has you dreaming about your next nature-filled getaway, then you've come to the right place. Here at Country Living, we've long been keen gardeners and au fait with the healing powers of the great outdoors, so we've put together a whole host of horti-culture-themed trips to book for the year ahead.
Loire Valley and Normandy tour
Join Country Living on a seven-day, no-fly tour that showcases the best of the Loire Valley region and beyond, visiting cathedrals, opulent châteaux, charming villages and glorious gardens as well as sampling the finest local wine and cuisine. The highlight? A trip further north in Normandy to Claude Monet's house and world-famous gardens at Giverny to see the beautiful Japanese water garden that inspired some of his most famous paintings.
Holland tulips cruise
If you've always dreamed of seeing spring in the Netherlands, this four-day tour is the perfect opportunity. After taking in the culture of Amsterdam, you'll embark on a relaxing cruise along the canals, stopping off at various traditional villages as well as the Keukenhof Gardens to see millions of colourful tulips in bloom.
Italian lakes and gardens
Northern Italy is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, dotted with lush gardens, elegant villas and awe-inspiring lakes. Join presenter and gardening expert Christine Walkden on a guided tour of the best of the region with Country Living's exclusive eight-day trip, that includes visits to the Borromean Islands as well as the private garden of the President of the Italian Camellia Society, with a collection of more 500 plants.
Isles of Scilly tour
Explore the unspoilt natural beauty of the Isles of Scilly with a six-day tour of what is widely considered as the UK's most idyllic archipelago. Beyond spotting wildlife including porpoises, dolphins and seals and enjoying a talk from the head of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, you'll visit famous locations including the glorious 19th-century Tresco Abbey Garden, home to thousands of plants from more than 80 countries.
Madeira Flower Festival
Madeira is the ultimate plant-lover's paradise, boasting lush horticulture, stunning species including orchids and purple-blossomed jacaranda trees, as well as an UNESCO-listed laurel forest. The best time to visit? During the annual flower festival, that celebrates the beauty of nature and the arrival of spring. The eight-day Country Living trip centres around this very event, showing the region at its most colourful and exuberant, while also including trips to Madeira's most impressive gardens.
You Might Also Like
