Do your travel plans spark ‘pure joy’? — ‘passion plans’ replace the ‘bucket list’ trip

Meaningful travel is fast becoming the latest trend as identified by tailor-made specialists, Audley Travel

Travellers are drawing lines through their traditional, ‘Bucket Lists’ in favour of more personal travel experiences known as ‘Passion Plans’. At a time when choice can be overwhelming and authenticity is key, ‘big’ experience-seekers are choosing more meaningful trip itineraries, that appeal on a deeper level to their passion points as they look to receive a stronger connection to the world — a trend noted by tailor-made trip specialists, Audley Travel.

Particularly for seasoned travellers, the ‘Passion Plan’ technique of choosing a trip aims to streamline choice. With experts advising holiday planners to take considered time and answer a few, simple questions that focus on what elements spark excitement or joy and match their interests, then follow their gut reaction when booking a trip. To help focus this process the most popular six themes have been identified by Audley specialists as wellness, wildlife, food and wine, road-trips, cruise and beach stays.

The three simple questions travellers are recommended to ask themselves are:

• When are you at your happiest?
• What excites you?
• How do you want to feel on your trip?

Mark Hanson, Managing Director, Audley Travel says, “Trip planning can be a big undertaking and we’re seeing more clients wanting their trips to work harder, on a deeper level. So when travellers come to us looking for advice, or when they feel spoilt for choice, our specialists have devised a simple set of questions to try to drill down to the real, individual reason for travel — does the idea of the trip spark genuine excitement?

“By listening to our clients and designing this menu of themes to help focus plans, our hope is to help experience seekers to get a much more meaningful, bespoke experience from a destination than the traditional, bucket list itineraries.”

Audley has crafted a series of trips to suit each passion theme, from spotting marine iguanas in the Galapagos, to a private wine tasting tour in Tuscany:

PASSION — WELLNESS

North India Uncovered

Get off the beaten track in north India, on a wellness trail between Delhi and Varanasi that takes in some of India’s most spiritual sights and most historical, sacred buildings.
Trip highlights — Explore the Taj Mahal at sunrise, discover Hindu and Jain temples, forts and palaces, attend the evening pooja and aarti ceremony in Varanasi, the most holy of Indian cities.
A 12-night tailor-made wellness trip to north India starts from £3,245pp

PASSION — WILDLIFE

Wildlife of Ecuador: The Amazon and Galapagos

Combine a trip to the Amazon with a visit to the Galapagos with an itinerary that offers the chance to see everything from howler monkeys to marine iguanas.
Trip highlights — Carefully step past sleeping sea lions on a pristine beach, see Galapagos giant tortoises at close quarters, spot marine iguanas, land iguanas and a feast of fearless birdlife.
A 12-day tailor-made wildlife trip to Ecuador starts from £6,870pp

PASSION — FOOD AND WINE

A Grand Tour of Italy’s Cuisines

From the chic bacaro wine bars of Venice to the craggy shores of Sorrento, take a grand tour of Italy with a pure focus on its fabulous food and wine
Trip highlights — Explore the vineyards of Tuscany on a private wine tasting tour with your own driver, hunt for truffles with an expert guide and their truffle dog, explore Venice’s traditional bacaro wine bars.
A 16-night tailor-made culinary trip across Italy trip starts from £6,855pp

PASSION — ROAD TRIPS

Best of Canada’s Maritime Provinces

Trace the history of Canada’s first European settlers as you tour the historic forts, fishing villages and coastlines of the Maritime Provinces, enjoy live music and fresh seafood
Trip highlights — Witness the world’s highest tides at the Bay of Fundy, drive the coastal Cabot Trail on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, dine on fresh seafood as you drive through fishing villages untouched by time.
A 19-day tailor-made self-drive trip through Atlantic Canada starts from £3,605pp

PASSION — CRUISE

Explore the Antarctic

Experience the wilderness of the Great White Continent in the company of expert polar leaders and guides.
Trip highlights — Travel on board the Greg Mortimer, a new cutting-edge vessel, wonder among thousand strong penguin colonies, explore the Antarctic Peninsula's landscapes through Zodiac boat sailings, kayaking and walks.
A 15-day tailor-made trip to Antarctica starts from £10,295pp

PASSION — BEACH STAYS

Cultural Kandy and Maldives Escape

Go hiking through forest glades and rolling tea plantations, and explore the historical treasures of Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, before flying off to a Maldivian island retreat.
Trip highlights — Discover the secrets behind the finest black Ceylon teas, follow pilgrims to Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, explore shipwrecks and snorkel alongside turtles in Baros, the Maldives.
A 12-day tailor-made trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives starts from £3,245pp