Kiwis are seeking to travel more and further than ever before.

Corporate warrior by day, Amazon warrior on holiday: it's a description many of us can relate to if the continuing trend towards adventurous holidays is anything to go by.

"Nowhere is out of reach for Kiwis as they seek to travel more and further to a destination that will give them adventure and an authentic experience," Flight Centre NZ general manager product Sean Berenson says.

"Exploring the sprawling jungles of the Peruvian Andes is worth putting on the list, as is hiking the W-trek in Patagonia, back-country skiing in Iceland or trekking to Mt Everest base camp."Strenuous physical activity isn't everyone's idea of a holiday, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of the continuing boon in "experiential travel". Train and event travel are also set to grow in 2018, as are cruises to private islands and pilgrimages to find the best vege food in the world. Here are 10 trends to watch out for in the New Year.

National Geographic Traveller Expedition cruises are ideal for lovers of nature, wildlife and adventure.

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Expedition cruising

Purpose-built expedition trips are giving so-called ordinary folk the chance to become modern-day adventurers. "Smaller, more exploratory cruising to far-flung destinations has piqued the interest of the more adventurous traveller," Lonely Planet's Chris Zeiher says. "These small-ship expeditions offer a more immersive experience for the traveller where smaller vessels can access more precious or protected areas." Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, Arctic Norway, Antarctica, the Amazon and the Kimberley are among the destinations to choose from.

123RF Why stay in a bland hotel room when you could rest your head in a yurt?

Typically, such cruises will allow passengers to explore by foot, bike, horse, kayak or paddleboard. House of Travel's Dave Fordyce recommends checking out Lindlbad Expeditions' National Geographic Quest. One of the newest ships, it's designed especially to navigate the wildlife-rich inlets and passageways of Alaska, carrying exploration tools such as a SplashCam and hydrophone which allow passengers to look at and listen to what's going on underwater.

"Rustic" accommodation

Who wants to stay somewhere that looks like a sterile version of their own bedroom? Fewer and fewer of us it seems.

Rocky Mountaineer The Rocky Mountaineer takes passengers through otherwise inaccessible terrain.

Airbnb witnessed a surge in "non-traditional home" bookings in 2017, with nature lodges and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) receiving 700 and 600 per cent more bookings respectively. Stays in yurts and RVs/campervans were also popular, with bookings up 155 and 133 per cent. "Travellers are increasingly drawn to homes that are rustic and unique, rather than simply comfortable," the accommodation site says.

Train travel

Exploring the wilds from the comfort of a luxury train carriage is gaining traction as Kiwis are keen to venture into untouched landscapes without having to rough it or navigate treacherous roads.

Frazer Harrison Coachella should be on any music lover's bucket list.

The Rocky Mountaineer, which takes passengers through otherwise inaccessible terrain in Western Canada, fits the bill perfectly, House of Travel product and channel director Dave Fordyce says. Other top-rated, top-class services include the Maharajas' Express, which travels through north and west India, the Andean Explorer, South Africa's Blue Train, and the Belmond Hiram Bingham, which operates return day trips to Machu Picchu.

International music festivals

Life's too short to waste it at mediocre music festivals. If you're a true music fiend you need to experience the world's best. Glastonbury in the UK and Coachella in the US are the ones to choose it you want to give your mates "the ultimate FOMO" Berenson says.

Robert Prezioso Catching the Aussie Open in Melbourne is an easy treat.

Whether you prefer to party to a backdrop of rolling pastures, golden beaches or 24/7 sunshine, there's a festival to suit. Exit Festival, set in a medieval Serbian fortress, and Fuji Rock in Japan's Niigata Prefecture, which requires a cable car trip up a mountain, offer truly one-of-a-kind experiences.

Event travel

It's not just the musos who are prepared to roam far and wide to indulge their passions – festival and event tourism has taken off in a big way. "A decade ago this type of travel was an alien term, but as Kiwis seek to experience more from their travel we've seen a surge in Kiwis roaming widely for sports, festivals and carnivals," says Berenson. For sports fans, the HSBC Sydney Sevens and Australian Open in Melbourne are well worth the quick trip across the ditch, he suggests.

CHRIS SKELTON/STUFF More cruises are incorporating time on private islands.

Visiting a place during a major cultural event can be a great way to immerse yourself in that culture and find out more about the local history. Weird and wonderful festivals are celebrated around the world year-round. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong, which sees festival goers race to reach the top of towers of sweet buns up to 20 metres high, and the baby-jumping festival in Castillo de Murcia, Spain. are two of the more out-there.

Cruises to private islands

Rockstars and Richard Branson aren't the only ones to holiday on private islands these days. A growing number of cruise lines offer port excursions to tropical isles inaccessible to the hoi polloi. Norwegian Cruise Line's Harvest Caye, for one, transports guests to 31 hectare Harvest Caye island in Belize. Featuring a 2.8habeach lined with loungers, an enormous pool with swim-up bar, a wide array of watersports and eating and shopping precincts, it's not exactly Robinson Crusoe territory but, for many, it's paradise nonetheless.

THE DOMINION POST More Kiwis, particularly women, are waking up to the benefits of solo travel.

Fordyce recommends keeping an eye out for MCS Cruises' Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, set to open at the end of 2018. "Equipped with several sandy beaches, snorkel-ready coral reefs, and various dining, spa, and entertainment options, it'll be one to add to the bucket list."

Solo travel

Solo travel is hardly considered out-there these days but it appears many are just waking up to its benefits. "Feedback from a lot of customers is that travelling solo gives them the chance to indulge themselves fully. Many who have previously never travelled alone often describe their first solo trip as invigorating and character building," Berenson says.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Vegos are willing to travel far and wide to find the perfect veggie meal.

More women are choosing to travel alone, with many opting for active trips which allow them to meet new people and push themselves in the great outdoors. REI Adventures has designed a series of adventurous trips targeted at women. Options include hiking tours through the Southern Alps, mountain biking in the Grand Canyon and scaling California's Mt Shasta.

Vege travel

No longer are vegan and vegetarian travellers content to skip the meat and have a double serve of salad and fries when they hit the road: they want to go places that embrace and excel at meat-free eating, Zeiher says. Amsterdam should be high on any vegetarian traveller's list – Holidu recently named it the most vegan-friendly city in Europe for its plethora of plant-based cafes and restaurants. Italy is another top European spot for the meat-free, with vegetables playing the starring role in many traditional dishes. Think plates heaped with grilled and sauteed vegetable concoctions, risottos, salads, pasta dishes and Neapolitan pizza.

123RF More grown-up "children" are choosing to holiday with their parents.

Home to about 500 million vegetarians, India is another vego paradise and Gajarat, South India and Mumbai provide some of the tastiest options. Closer to home, you can typically find plenty of tasty vego treats among the street food stalls of Southeast Asia. Even barbecue-mad Australia boasts some amazing dining experiences – Zeiher recommends The Beet Retreat in Victoria's Yarra Valley, which offers vegan accommodation in the heart of wine country.

Cross-generational travel

Banish all memories of excruciatingly long car rides en route to a basic bach – cross-generational travel has come of age. Zeiher puts the rising number of grown-up "children" taking trips with their parents down to our ageing population and increasing lifespans.

MATTHEW CATTIN/FAIRFAX NZ Staycations never go out of style.

"The rise of booking platforms such as Airbnb have also made intergenerational travel far easier internationally scale, providing access to a wider variety of accommodation options that can house greater numbers," he says.

Staycations

For all the wealth of travel options out there, many Kiwis prefer to holiday in their own backyard, some because they're looking to recreate summer vacations of old and others because they like supporting the local economy. "Within New Zealand there are so many places to take the kids and we're seeing Rotorua, Taupo and Napier as some of the top family destinations," says Finch.

A recent Wotif report found that 55 per cent of travellers feel it is important to holiday domestically to support farmers, producers, artists, crafts people and the local economy. Wherever we head though, it seems the main aim for most of us on holiday is to plug out of our everyday lives. "Most Kiwi travellers (87 per cent) look at holidays as an opportunity to disconnect and 75 per cent see holidays as a time to recharge," Finch says.