Why we're embracing 'soft adventures' in 2025

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Why we're embracing 'soft adventures' in 2025 katerinasergeevna

Not all adventures are about conquering mountains, trekking through deserts or diving with sharks.

Enter, the 'soft adventure' – one of the standout travel trends of 2025 – that puts emphasis on pleasure and comfort-seeking, rather than thrill-seeking.

Travel is an adventure in itself, so let's leave the death-defying experiences to the adrenaline hunters and embark on a soft adventure – a trip that combines discovery with comfort and pleasure.

What is a soft adventure?

The latest buzzword in travel, a soft adventure is defined as an experience that combines elements of adventure but with comfort and accessibility.

Who can take a soft adventure?

Soft adventures do not need high levels of fitness, skill or experience, so they can appeal to everyone who likes to explore a destination with a firm focus on pleasure.

Who does the soft adventure appeal to?

Whether it's a gentle hike, a potter around a botanical garden or a wildlife-spotting cruise, soft adventures appeal to the curious traveller who loves to explore new places, comfortably.

Where are the best destinations for a soft adventure?

Gaze up at the Milky Way from the wilds of Northumberland, wind through Alpine valleys onboard a Swiss train, or explore tropical gardens on the Scilly Isles, soft adventures can be found anywhere and everywhere.

Below we round some of the best soft adventures that you can book now...

6 ‘soft adventures’ to try in 2025

Stargazing in Northumberland

milky way core over kielder forest
Mark Bromham - Getty Images

Home to the most pristine dark skies in England, Northumberland National Park is the perfect spot for a celestial soft adventure. This two-night trip is based at the Twice Brewed Inn, a cosy pub near Hadrian's Wall that has its own brewery, taproom and observatory. Navigate the galaxy with local astronomer, Richard Darn at the Kielder Observatory, where you'll see the Milky Way , watch shooting stars, and capture distant galaxies through their powerful telescopes.

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Island hop around the Outer Hebrides

loch eport and ben eaval on the isle of north uist in the outer hebrides, scotland
Michael Roberts

Wildlife spotting is the ultimate soft adventure – and you don't always need to head to the Serengeti to see beautiful animals in nature. In the north of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides is home to a diverse wildlife from puffins and golden eagles to otters and red deer. Hopping between the Isle of Eriskay, Barra and the Isle of Harris, you'll also encounter white-sand beaches, spectacular landscapes and neolithic monuments. Of course, the best Scottish adventures end with a nip of single malt whisky from a local distillery.

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A tropical escape to the Isles of Scilly

st marys harbour at dawn, st marys, isles of scilly, england
AndyRoland

With its white-sand beaches, dancing dolphins and tropical gardens, the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of islands 28 miles off the Cornish coast, feels more Mediterranean than British. A haven for garden enthusiasts, it's perfect for a soft adventure, not least to visit Tresco Abbey Garden, which has been described as 'Kew without the glass'. One of the finest botanical gardens in the British Isles, it has more than 20,000 plant species from across the globe from South African proteas to Chilean bromeliads.

DISCOVER THE ISLES OF SCILLY

Take a train ride through the Swiss Alps

bernina express railway
Markus Thoenen

For many, the best soft adventures involve very little effort. There are few experiences that capture the romance of travel like a train ride through the Swiss Alps. This eight-day Lake Como trip includes a ride on the cherry-red Bernina Express. Beginning in Chur, the iconic journey on the highest railway line in Europe winds through snow-caped alpine valleys, across the Rhône river and the dramatic Landwasser Viaduct before gliding into the pretty mountain town of St Moritz.

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Explore the Golden Triangle of India

guide to india's golden triangle
Adrian Pope - Getty Images

From the chaotic streets of Mumbai and the enigmatic pink forts of Jaipur to the golden beaches of Goa and Kerala, India is a prime destination for a soft adventure. One of the best ways to experience it is on a small-group tour. This incredible 15-day adventure includes the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, a rickshaw ride around Old Delhi and an exclusive early morning viewing of the Taj Mahal. A highlight of this tour is definitely the seven-night luxury river cruise along the Ganges.

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Go truffle hunting in Slovenia

colorful bohinj lake triglav national park, julian alps, slovenia,europe
Anton Petrus - Getty Images

Combining good wines, rare truffles and ancient caves, Slovenia is a great destination for a soft adventure. This six-day trip starts by exploring the quaint cobbled streets of Ljubljana. Then, just an hour away, you'll head to Lake Bled – a glacial lake surrounded by the Julian Alps – followed by a stop in the Triglav National Park, where you can gently hike through pristine forests. Also, don't miss a visit to the Škocjan Caves, which has one of the world’s largest subterranean canyons. As a final adventure, join a truffle-hunting tour in Istria, led by guides and their keen-nosed truffle dogs.

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A Cooking Class and Market Tour in Florence

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

The best rated experience in the world is found in the beautiful Italian city of Florence, according to the Travellers Choice Awards.

The guided tour kicks off with picking fresh ingredients from a local market in Florence before heading back to a rustic Tuscan townhouse where you will use those ingredients to whip up a four-course Italian meal.


Berlin Bike Tour

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Exploring the historic German capital city by bicycle ranks second for travel experiences.

This particular tour takes four and a half hours and covers all the sites including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and Bradenburg Gate.


New York In One Day Tour

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Though it might seem like quite a big feat to see the Big Apple in one day, this tour ranks very highly among TripAdvisor travellers.

Via bus, the tour guide shows visitors Times Square, the Empire State building, the 9/11 memorial, Wall Street, Central Park and more before the tour moves on to a boat which sails down the Hudson passing Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.


Sydney Bridge Climb

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

If you've ever visited the famous Australian city, you can often see what looks like minuscule people climbing the harbour bridge. Well, that is exactly what they're doing.

The Sydney Bridge Climb can take between one and a half to three and a half hours and offers unrivalled views across the city.


Vatican VIP Experience

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

The breathtaking home of the catholic church is unsurprisingly very popular with visitors therefore long queues often line St Peter's Square.

One way to combat this is to pre-book a tour and, according to the Choice awards, one that is particularly popular is the VIP experience which includes breakfast at the Vatican and early access to both the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel.


New Orleans Cooking Class

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

There's so much to see and do in the vibrant Louisiana city but one of the most popular options is to take a cooking class.

This class takes place in a converted warehouse and is led by a chef who demonstrates the fundamentals of classic Creole dishes. The demonstration also comes with plenty of information about the rich history of food in the city and there are plenty of samples after each demo.


Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner in New Zealand

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

This tour takes you to the Maori village of Tamaki located in Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand. The three and a half hour tour includes a haka song and dance by a Rangiatea cultural group and a traditional hangi feast.


Best of Niagara Falls Tour from Ontario

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

As well as a stop at Skylon Tower where you can see the Falls from a sky view, this tour includes boarding a cruise boat to get close to the Falls and truly see them in all their glory. The cruise also takes you along the Niagara River to see the Whirlpool Rapids and is operated by a tour guide. More info here.


Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

This full-day tour takes you from the beautiful British Columbia city of Vancouver to Victoria, Canada by both ferry and bus. The trip gives you free time to explore Victoria before heading to Butchart Gardens which features 55 acres of beautiful floral gardens.


Wild Wicklow Tour from Dublin

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Closer to home is this 'Wild Wicklow' tour which sets off from Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The bus takes visitors through picturesque countryside and seaside towns before stopping at the Wicklow Mountains National Park. In the latter part of the day, a stop is made at the glacial valley of Glendalough where there is a full tour of the ancient site including the Round Tower.


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