The United Nations has chosen 2025 to be the International Year of Cooperatives, giving global recognition to groups of people who practise community-led enterprises and initiatives. Along our travels, and with many of our travel partners, we come across many cooperative movements, from communities that protect ancient trails and ecosystems to conservationists who come together to rewild and regenerate their landscapes. With over 700 tours to choose from, we have kept this ethos of cooperative and collaboration in mind when choosing many of our 25 best places to travel in 2025. Here they are, in reverse order.
25. England
It’s the 250th anniversary of one of England’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen, who was born in 1775 in Hampshire. There are many community celebrations to mark this event in her home county and, in particular at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, which was her last home. Her final resting place is 26km away in Winchester Cathedral, which is at the start of the South Downs Way. This is a 160km National Trail open to walkers and cyclists finishing in the coastal town of Eastbourne on the other side of South Downs National Park. It takes ten days to walk it, so there’s plenty of time to read one of Jane Austen’s classics along the way, such as Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility.
24. Nepal
Sadly it may not make international headlines, but it’s very important to us, and many of the women who have or would like to trek in Nepal, that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the first female ascent of Mount Everest. This was by Junko Tabei, a renowned Japanese woman who conquered the summit on 16 May 1975. She was also the first woman to complete the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents. If you’re jolted into action by Junko’s achievements, although we don’t have treks to Everest, we have holidays in several other areas of Nepal.
23. Japan
For more Japanese inspiration, World Expo 2025 takes place in Osaka between 13 April and 13 October. This is a giant gathering of entrepreneurs and creatives, techies and thinkers, who get together every five years to create new ideas, inspire each other and help resolve global issues. No pressure then. To relieve some of that pressure, you can go hiking in Japan before or after the events, on one of its ancient walking routes: the Kumano Kodo, the Nakasendo or the Shikoku Island 88 Pilgrimage. Because some things don’t change every five years, or every few hundred years. They’re perfect already.
22. Austria
If you go hiking in the Vienna Alps, cycling from Salzburg to Vienna or along the Danube Cycle Path from Passau and Vienna, you can join devotees of Johann Strauss in the Austrian capital. In 2025 they are celebrating 200 years of the waltzes and polkas of the city’s native son Johann Strauss. There will be musical celebrations at the Musikverein, the Wiener Konzerthaus and the world-famous Vienna State Opera, as well as other smaller and unusual venues, such as the Central Cemetery or the middle of the mighty Danube on the island of Donsauinsel. For more information, see all our Austria tours here.
21. Sweden
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail has just been officially launched, although we have been sending adventurers to the region for many years. The official launch recognised its completion and the positive community development that has come out of it. The archipelago is made up of over 24,000 islands and islets stretching out into the Baltic Sea, all within a hiking heartbeat of Stockholm. Hop from one island to another, such as the ones adjoined by small suspension bridges in Stendörren Nature Reserve, or walk up to Tysta Klint, the highest point on Fjärdlång Island for awesome archipelagic views. Choose between our summer Stockholm archipelago tour or our quieter autumn or spring one.
20. Lithuania
We love Lithuania, one of the Baltics’ total beauties. And it turns out that the EU loves it too, as the capital, Vilnius, has been chosen as European Green Capital of 2025. There are so many ways to go green in Lithuania too, none of them too far from its eco-capital. In fact, Vilnius has St. Christopher, the patron saint of travellers on its coat of arms. On our Lithuania tours, you immediately feel that sense of welcome from its closely-knit communities who are proud stewards of their natural heritage, with five national parks peppered across its coast, forest and wetlands. For more information, see all our Lithuanian tours here.
19. Balearic Islands, Spain
Spain’s Balearic Islands have been fighting the impacts of overtourism for several years now, with cruise liners and all-inclusive resorts getting out of control. However, rather than just ban tourism there, we continue to support local communities who choose to thrive on slow and sustainable tourism. We can’t control the cruise ships sadly, but we can direct you to the good stuff. You may also enjoy our blog, Ultimate guide to walking in the Balearics where you can learn more about escaping the madding crowds in the Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca or along the 185km Cami de Cavalls in Menorca.
18. The Netherlands
Getting to the Netherlands is easy cheesy by train, with Amsterdam now accessible directly on Eurostar from the UK, taking just under four hours from London. However, for the last six months, you haven’t been able to travel directly back to the UK from Amsterdam, because they have been upgrading all the passport control and customs facilities in Amsterdam. These are due to be completed in February 2025, so it should all be seamless after that. Then you can easily take a train at the start and finish of our Amsterdam to Paris cycling tour, or our Cycling from Amsterdam to Bruges holiday. In terms of your carbon footprint, a return flight from London to Amsterdam emits 113.13kg of CO2 compared with just 5.1kg when travelling by train.
17. Morocco
Not only is Morocco one of our most popular destinations for committed trekkers, but it was also our chosen company retreat in 2024, because we all love it so much. What we also love is that United Airlines has just introduced a new direct flight from New York to Marrakech, from Newark Airport. It’s the first airline to offer direct services to Marrakech, and so we hope that it encourages more of our American adventurers to explore the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and beyond. Just to put this magnificent country into context, the Atlas Mountains spread for 2,000km across the top of Morocco, and they’re only about 1.5h from Marrakech. So, get ready to marvel.
16. Switzerland
Also famous for its mountains, but less so for its flamboyance, 2025 is Switzerland’s year for queer, straight, binary and non-binary fun, hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel in May. Just come as you are, and add the sound of music to your adventures before and after in the likes of the High Passes of Valais, the Bernese Oberland or along the country’s camino, the Way of St. James. You can also enjoy the ride by adding a cycling holiday into your musical mix, cycling around Lake Constance or on the high roads of the Valais. They all get douze points for daring to adventure.
15. Tour du Mont Blanc
We have an array of adventures along the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) trail but, in 2025, we bring you our two new guided versions. They both start in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and finish in Chamonix, over eight or nine days. They don’t cover the whole route, but you do get to trek between the top spots including Aiguille du Midi, Grand Col Ferret, Mer de Glace and so much more. Choose between our traditional guided version, staying mostly in mountain huts in glorious remote spots, or our comfort version, where you dip back into valleys to spend the night in hotels. As this is a small group tour, with a maximum 12 people, there are set dates between July and September. Please note that, as of September 2026, these guided tours are no longer available on TNA.
14. Mainland Spain
Although we recommend train travel to many of our UK and European destinations, the trains in Spain are definitely getting speedier. There’s a superb high-speed route between Paris and Barcelona, for example, which takes just 6h 45mins, meaning you can also travel from London to the Catalan capital in the same day by train. There’s a very speedy 3h connection between Madrid and Oviedo which, until recently, took at least an hour longer than that. In December 2024, the budget train provider, iryo, also launched a once a day service between Barcelona and Málaga, stopping at Córdoba, Madrid and Zaragoza, and taking around 5h. You can get cheap tickets if you book in advance, although they only release their tickets between three to six months ahead of travel. One of the best ways to get them is to set up a booking alert with the international train booking platform Rail Europe, so that you will be informed when booking opens and you can grab those cheap seats quickly. They also keep you on the ball about all the special offers between Paris and Barcelona, of which there are usually several throughout the year. For more information, see all our Spanish holidays that are accessible by rail.
13. Tyrol, Austria and Italy
Our natural adventurers are always keen to seek out alternatives to downhill skiing, staying away from mountainous mass tourism and seeking out smaller communities. This winter treat of a holiday delves into Italy’s Dolomites and then continues along a borderland trail into Austrian Tyrol, with three days and nights spent in each country. Starting off in the sublime shadow of the Drei Zinnen, exploring the white plains of Monguelfo and Valle di Casies, you then slide your way into Austria and base yourself in the quiet mountain community of Sillian for three nights. From Sillian, you have access to a network of forested and meadow trails in the Lesachtal and Villgratental Valleys as well as a gentle descent and river trail to Lienz.
12. North Macedonia
Not only is North Macedonia one of the youngest tourism destinations on Europe’s adventure map, it’s also hosting the 2025 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). As a country in its nascence when it comes to tourism, you feel this young energy and enthusiasm everywhere you go, whether you’re hiking along the Via Dinarica in the Šar Mountains or Mavrovo National Park. Matka Canyon is often a fitting finale on an adventure there, as it’s just 17km from the capital city, Skopje, where the games are being held, but where you can soak up the youthful energy at all times.
11. Georgia
After a 12 year break, British Airways is bringing back its service between Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and London’s Heathrow Airport from 30 March 2025, flying four times per week. This is great news for our British adventurers who want to explore the Caucasus Mountains, a wealth of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the most remote and ravishing long-distance trails. Walk through high mountain, flower-filled meadows, be welcomed in ancient Svanetian villages, seek solace at an array of rural Orthodox churches, and be taken into the heart of the country’s culture in rural inns with traditional food and, also gorgeous, Georgian wine. All of our tours start in the ancient and architecturally fascinating capital of Tbilisi, so all in all, Georgia is feeling closer. For more information, see all our Georgia tours.
10. The Rhône Valley, France
The Via Rhôna cycle path is a newbie way to navigate this great river, covering 815km between Switzerland and France. You can do the whole thing over 17 days, between Geneva and Sête, oe the mountains to the Med. Or you can break it up into sections, or take on two at a time. Apart from when you take on the complete trail, the longest section, over 13 days, starts in Geneva and takes you all the way to the ancient town of Orange in France, stopping at Lyon en route. You can also opt to just go as far as Lyon, although you still spend a whole week rocking the Rhône. You can then come back another time and spend eight days cycling from Lyon to Orange. Last but not least, we’ve got a chilled, six day adventure cycling from Orange to Sête which is the perfectly Provençal part.
9. Normandy and Brittany, France
Cyclists in France will also have a keen eye on Lille in 2025, as this is where the Tour de France starts, and then heads into Normandy and Brittany, which don’t always feature on the iconic route. Given that Lille is just one hour from London by train, there will be many keen cyclists heading to the Grand Départ. They can easily travel by train to Brittany or Normandy for a cycling adventure before or after the big day.
8. Colombia
Coming back to the theme of cooperatives and tightly-knit communities, this is the year to wake up and smell the coffee. Colombian coffee to be precise, as we’ve just launched our first new walking holiday there. Just like its celebrated crop, Colombia is vibrant, sweet and, in terms of tourism, ripe for the picking. It also has a kick like no other country in terms of natural adventures. With the support of expert guides, explore ancient, lost and now thankfully refound cities. You have the Caribbean one day and the Coffee Triangle on another. And then you have the buzziness of Bogotá thrown into the mix. It’s a vast, stimulating country which, like its coffee, should be sipped slowly, enjoyed sustainably and shared with good people along the way.
7. Slovenia
The trend for slow, sustainable corporate breaks is growing and one that we are more than happy to cater for. One of our top suggestions is Slovenia, which is well equipped to combine adventure with ventures. This seven day, small group walking tour, for example, is fully guided, and explores some of western Slovenia’s natural highlights. Treks include the glacial valleys and lakes of Triglav National Park, the iconic Lakes Bled and Bohinj, the alpine town of Bovec as well as the medieval coastal town of Piran. Stay in three star hotels, with transfers between each, all with meeting room facilities, and get your team trip off to a capital start with two nights in Ljubljana.
6. Germany
A new direct Paris to Berlin train was launched in December 2024, making this the first time you can travel between both capital cities without connections. It takes just over eight hours and stops at Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt, travelling on a high-speed, super comfortable InterCity Express (ICE) train, operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national rail operator. You leave Paris Gare de l’Est at 09.55 and arrive in Berlin at 18.03. If you’re travelling in the other direction, you leave Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof (Hbf) at 11.54 and arrive in Paris in time for dinner, at 19.55. Many of our German hiking and cycling adventures are already accessible by rail, but now your wanderlust is made even easier. You may also be interested in our blog about Germany’s train Deutschland-Ticket, and holidays where you can make the most of it.
5. Finland
Rewilding and nature positive tourism are two of terms you will start to hear more and more about in 2025 in the world of tourism. Finland is one of those countries that strives to protect its biodiverse habitats and keep them truly wild. That way not only wildlife, but also keen wild travellers, can benefit from them. The idea behind nature positive tourism is that you are not only having an adventure in nature, but you are actively supporting the conservation and protection of it. On our Winter wildlife adventure in Finland’s Wild Taiga region, you travel with and support local wildlife guides and visit a bear centre. At the latter, you not only get to stay in luxury cabins, but also go on nighttime wildlife watching sessions for bears, wolverines, elk and much more.
4. Scotland
Scotland is leading the way in the rewilding movement, which refers to the act of bringing our landscapes, seascapes and wildlife habitats back to a place that predates human intervention. This is so that they can, ultimately, take care of themselves. One of the leading organisations for rewilding in Scotland is the award-winning Trees for Life, based in their Rewilding Centre in Dundreggan, about 10km from Invermoriston on the Great Glen Way. Read more in our blog on rewilding, and don’t miss a quick diversion to the centre. It changes the way you think about trees and landscapes forever.
3. Bali
Our brand new trip in Bali is not only an adventure into some of the Indonesian island’s most exquisite cultural and natural heritage but also a total immersion into local communities. Our ten day, privately-guided tour takes you through the highlands and rainforest, as well as several traditional villages of Bali. Go trekking alongside working rice paddies, fruit and spice plantations and through remote rainforest trails. Stay in locally-owned villas and eco resorts in the Tabanan region, all of which encapsulate and endear you to the Balinese culture of welcoming newcomers. In terms of responsible and community-led tourism, this tour in Bali has it in the bag.
2. Ireland
Another community-led natural adventure, but in a very different part of the world, is on Sheep’s Head, a sublime and spindly peninsula in south-west Ireland. The 150km Sheep’s Head Way is not only exquisite but also a celebration of community tourism. When you follow the hand-painted wooden waymarker posts, with their yellow walker clearly visible, it’s worth remembering that, in the early 1990s, a small group of four local farmers and landowners started to walk the land every Sunday, to work out the best possible paths that visitors could follow, thus creating the Sheep’s Head Way, their way. Throughout your walking holiday here, you get to celebrate and stay with a local community that’s fully committed to responsible tourism on its prettiest of patches.
1. Greece
Our top choice for a cooperative venture in tourism for 2025 is the Menalon Trail in Greece. This 75km trail takes you through the aptly named Arcadia region on the Peloponnese because, as well as being a place name, the word arcadia is defined as an image or idea of life in the countryside that is believed to be perfect. It covers the western Menalon massif and Mylaon Valley, traverses walnut and olive groves and leads you to ancient architecture such as the Old Philosophou Monastery. There is also an option to climb up to the summit of Mount Pliovouni, the highest peak of the trail, at 1,643m. This is Hellenic heritage at its most heavenly, created and cared for voluntarily by local communities. All credit to them, the Menalon Trail is recognised by the European Ramblers Association as having ‘leading quality’ status, and it’s well signposted and maintained.
We hope that our 25 for 2025 have given you food for thought, and don’t hesitate to contact us for more inspiration or information. In the meantime, wishing you a happy new year from everyone at The Natural Adventure. And, most of all, a peaceful one.
Walking in Peloponnese: Menalon Trail
The Sheep’s Head Way
Hiking Hidden Bali
Walking the Great Glen Way
Winter Wildlife Adventure in Finland
Walking in Bavaria and Austria: Lake Königssee to Lake Chiemsee
The Highlights of Western Slovenia on Foot
Walking to the Lost City of Colombia, Coffee Triangle and Caribbean
Walking in Normandy: Côte Fleurie (Centre-based)
