Travel trend report 2025: Silent travel

Take a look at this third article in a series travel trends for the next year i’m exploring the idea of silent journey-trips that offer a real disconnect from the noise of city life.

In its trend forecasts for 2025, flight-free specialist says Byway travelhighlights ‘quietcations’ as an emerging form of travel. “It’s time to turn down the volume,” says Cat Jones, CEO and founder of Byway. “In 2024 we saw the rise of ‘sleeper tourism’, with travelers prioritizing a restful holiday over busy routes. We also saw an increase in travel outside of tourist hotspots (68% of nights booked in 2024 were in non-hotspots). 2025 will be for free time that actually helps you slow down, reset and recharge from the hustle and bustle of life.

She continues: “So skip the airport chaos: take the quiet carriage somewhere away from the hustle and bustle. Taking the train means more legroom and fewer luggage restrictions, so you can unwind with a book to lose yourself in, or a journal to scribble your thoughts in. And the destination? Quiet places where you can ditch the earplugs and get lost in the sounds of nature instead stargazing in a Dark Sky Reserve in Snowdonia, wild swimming in the waters of the Highlands or forest bathing in ancient forest.”

Luxury tour operator Black Tomato also reports a sharp increase in the number of travelers seeking destinations that offer the very rare luxury of true, unobstructed silence. “We’ve seen record numbers of travelers leaving their respective cities for longer, often month-long, intentional resets to gain a holistic sense of calm. Furthermore, customers seek to have silent experiences with others, unlike solo ventures. Think of trips to the Slovenian Alps, Lake Tekapo in New Zealand, the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco or the salt flats of Bolivia. Likewise, you can find silence in closer places, such as the beautiful National Parks of the United States, where communication with nature reaches new heights.”

Available to book with The Ultimate travel organization (UTC) is the Guyana experience—a 20-day trip to the pristine South American country that immerses you in nature and lets travelers escape the noise of modern life. Included in the itinerary is a leisurely cruise down the Rupununi River into rural Guyana to meet the Macushi people. Guided night safaris through the Iwokrama Forest are also planned, along with visits to tropical rainforests and towering natural waterfalls.

“With modern life accelerating and technology at our fingertips 24/7, many travelers are choosing vacation destinations where they can relax, get back to nature and disconnect from technology,” says the Ultimate Travel Company. “UTC has noticed that tourists are gravitating towards destinations with pristine, unrefined landscapes, with activities more focused on getting back to nature, mindfulness and rejuvenation.”

In response to demand, some hotels are launching targeted ‘rest retreats’ and silent experiences. InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resortoffers for example Silent immersion packages for individuals who want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Seema Rana, the resort’s Wellness Mentor, explains more: “In our fast-paced world, characterized by fierce competition and a relentless pursuit of material success, the meaning of peace has become increasingly clear. Amid the escalating stress and anxiety levels we encounter in today’s society, the pursuit of silence and solitude serves as a powerful medicine. It allows travelers to relax and achieve inner peace. Silence provides the mind with a valuable opportunity to disconnect from external distractions and cultivate inner peace. This state of calm allows individuals to reflect on their thoughts and emotions in a focused manner.”

Some of the benefits that come from participating in a silent retreat, Seema says, include: an improvement in sleep quality; better self-awareness; stress relief (silence lowers cortisol and adrenaline, allowing the brain to reset); mindfulness (silence helps individuals ground themselves in the present moment); lowers blood pressure and increases creativity.

In the meantime, Greydon Housea 20-room boutique hotel in Nantucket, now offering a Silent Travel package to guests, including a rotating selection of curated books; art supplies for creativity and a journal with prompts for effective journal writing. The hotel is located in historic downtown Nantucket. The design of the hotel, by Roman and Williamsand works of art by, among others Julian Schnabel And Terry Wintersreflects the island’s storied past.

Of course, some destinations in the world, such as the Swiss Alpine region, offer access to tranquility due to their serene geographical location. Bürgenstock Resort Perched above Lake Lucerne, it offers guests natural, tranquil experiences on their doorstep. “We have seen a growing desire among guests for experiences that bring tranquility and conscious reflection,” said Chris Franzen, director of the resort. “Located above Lake Lucerne, our setting offers an escape where silence becomes a luxury – whether you’re hiking serene Alpine trails, meditating overlooking the lake, or unwinding in our spa. Guests are drawn here by the tranquility and find solace in the quiet beauty of nature, far from the pace of city life.”

Capitalizing on the trend is the new fashion for any luxury travel company, Travel fairerdescribes as ‘noctotourism’. Jay Stevens, CEO, says: “Night tourism will transform travel by 2025, as night owls increasingly seek out unique experiences in the dark, which inevitably require sitting still or being silent. We have seen a significant increase in requests for experiences such as night diving in the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea in Egypt, night wildlife safaris in Zambia and Kenya, hunting the Northern Lights in Norway and Iceland and stargazing in Argentina.”

Finally, HKSworld leaders in architecture and hospitality strategy, puts his own spin on the trend by calling it ‘The Benefits of Boredom’. “It’s a trend that underlines the appeal of slow, luxury travel and ‘information fasting’,” says Ben Martin, director of HKS Advisory Services. “Experiences like relaxing train rides and prioritizing sleep regain natural rhythms that have been disrupted since Edison’s light bulb. By embracing simplicity and neuroaesthetics, travelers find recovery in intentional “boredom.” As we know, intentional boredom is often the most conducive to creative inspiration and vital for brain health. By embracing silent retreats and minimizing overstimulation, travelers combat psychosocial stress, which is especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals.”

(The latter is another trending item in itself, already covered in my Travel trend report no. 2 on soft travel).