After a Euro summer of overtourism protests, heatwaves, wildfires and slumping exchange rates, Australian and New Zealand travellers are savvier than ever about when to visit Europe as Explore Worldwide‘s Ben Ittensohn tells Karryon that almost seven in 10 bookings are now for off-peak travel.
The small-group adventure company reports that 69 per cent of Europe 2025 bookings are now outside the traditional June–August peak, up seven per cent year-on-year.
This shift speaks to a broader behavioural change, driven by value, flexibility and the desire for more meaningful travel experiences.
Travellers encounter fewer crowds, cheaper flights and accommodation and seasonal experiences when travelling in off-peak months, not to mention avoiding the chaos and temps of Europe’s high season.
Explore Worldwide Regional Director for Australia & New Zealand Ben Ittensohn said September and May remain the tour operator’s most popular months overall for travel to Europe, but October and April show the most growth this year.
“We’re certainly seeing a shift in off-peak, shoulder season bookings. Travellers are realising that shoulder seasons bring fewer crowds, better value and more genuine connections to the people and the places we visit,” he said.
Italy, Turkey and Greece have seen significant growth in off-peak bookings with 69 per cent of travellers choosing shoulder seasons to travel to Europe.
Turkey off-peak bookings are up 27 per cent YOY, while peak season is down 14 per cent. Italy off-peak bookings are up 14 per cent (peak down –15%) and Greece off-peak bookings are up 14 per cent (peak down –19%).
In response, Explore introduced later departures for Greece and Turkey in 2025, extended the season for Hiking Turkey’s Lycian Way walking trip and adding off-season departures in March, October and November for its Amalfi Coast Walking trip in Italy.
“We developed a version of our bestselling Amalfi Coast Walking tour to run off-season, showcasing the Amalfi Coast without the summer crowds, offering the same stunning highlights alongside perfect walking weather,” Ittensohn said.
“Travellers are choosing shoulder seasons and travelling differently. They want to avoid overcrowded cities and do a region slightly differently – and what better way to see a new destination or country than walking or cycling?”
Coolcations are heating up
Explore is also capitalising on the ‘coolcations’ trend, introducing new trips in Finland and Sweden and the Faroe Islands, which lie between Scotland and Iceland, in 2025.
Bookings for Northern Europe, which encompasses Iceland, Scandinavia, the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Scotland’s Orkney Islands, are up a whopping 137 per cent YOY among Aussies and Kiwis.
In response, Explore debuted the brand-new, 10-day Walking in Finland & Sweden trip and the eight-day Walking in the Faroe Islands itinerary this year.
“We listed coolcations as one of our travel trends for 2025 and all of our trips in cooler climates are perfectly placed to meet this demand,” Ittensohn said.
“Australian travellers are escaping the heat for milder temperatures and unique destinations, and we’re developing new product at pace to keep up.”
Active – but make it luxe
Explore’s active range (cycling, trekking and walking) is up 35 per cent YOY, reflecting the trend towards shoulder season travel and different travel experiences.
Cycling tours are up 31 per cent, while walking and trekking trips are up 11 per cent in 2025 compared with last year.
“The product does lend itself to shoulder season travel – it’s a very different experience cycling in Puglia in April instead of August,” Ittensohn said. “It’s still beautiful, but a cooler time to travel with fewer crowds, more wildflowers, and the cycling parts will be less busy.”
“A few years ago, I did our Hiking Turkey’s Lycian Way trip in September and it was still hot, mid-30s. Now we’re running the trip season into mid-November. It’s still a beautiful time to see Turkey and a much more comfortable time to hike.”
Aussie and Kiwi travellers have also embraced the newish Explore Upgraded product range with significant growth in the ANZ region outpacing more mature global markets, such as North America and the UK, for the touring brand.
The Explore Upgraded range, offering 4- or 5-star accommodation and more inclusions, started with 18 trips and expanded to 28 trips in 2025.
Explore’s core Australian customer is aged 40 to 60 with the average age closer to 60 years. Almost two in three (63%) are solo travellers and 60 per cent are female.
Ittensohn said the Explore Worldwide product team is combining Upgraded trips with walking trips as both segments rise in popularity.
“They’re a really mature, experienced traveller who wants to explore regions differently. It’s a real sign of travellers seeking slightly more comfort and are willing to pay a little bit more of a premium for that extra level of comfort at the end of the day,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Upgraded product range is twice the size in the next few years.”
For more info and inspo, check out Explore Worldwide’s Europe 2026 Earlybird Sale.
