50% of Aussies want to book a run holiday

Forget beach breaks – Aussies are chasing a runner’s high instead.

Combine the rising trend of marathons and run clubs with some of the world’s most scenic landscapes, and it’s easy to see why people are lacing up their trainers and making tracks across the globe.

In fact, more Aussie travellers are choosing their holiday destinations based entirely on running routes. A recent report by Skyscanner revealed 50 per cent of 2000 surveyed respondents plan to engage in a running trip this year. Whether you’re a seasoned pavement pounder or just keen to get started, here’s how, why, and most importantly, where you should race off to next.

What’s the big deal around running holidays?

In recent years, we’ve seen trends like wellness, personal improvement and fitness permeate the travel zeitgeist, as people move towards more meaningful holidays that don’t just provide lifelong memories, but long-lasting effects as well. Running is one such travel trend that has gained momentum, with a whopping 92 per cent of Australians surveyed either participating or hoping to participate in an endurance event.

It makes sense too – one of the best ways to truly experience a destination is on foot. It allows you to slow down and connect with your surroundings, to travel off the beaten path and fully immerse yourself in the natural landscape.

In fact, the ability to explore new places is the main motivation behind a running holiday for 45 per cent of respondents, and 81 per cent plan to extend their stay beyond ‘run travel’ to check out the destination further.

It’s a new era of intrepid on-foot exploration that’s seeing us ditch the rental car and hire walking poles instead. We’re veering off the main road to explore paths no vehicle could reach – and being rewarded with unforgettable experiences and a serious fitness boost.

Here’s how to get started

If your interest has been piqued, you’re not alone – one in two Australians are planning to jump on the trend this year. But it can be difficult to know where to start.

Don’t worry though, Skyscanner has done all the hard work for you. The Scotland-based search aggregator and travel agency has teamed up with some of the world’s most respected runners to guide you through your next running holiday.

Aussie athletic icons Lachlan and Stefan Lamble – the first brothers to run across Australia – joined RUNderful CEO An Jung-eun, the youngest Korean to complete the world’s top seven marathons, to curate a list of their top global running destinations.

The Runner’s Map is exclusive to Skyscanner and details each location, outlines difficulty levels, recommends nearby hotels and even suggests other interesting things to do in the area. The list is also sprinkled with helpful tips, from storing a run route offline in advance in case you end up without coverage, to running at sunrise or sunset when visiting a hot climate to avoid extreme conditions.

Where should I book my running holiday?

According to Skyscanner’s list, these incredible running routes are worth ticking off first! Let us break down the top five for you.

1. Jeju Olle Trail Route 20

Jeju Island, Japan — Jeju Island is one of South Korea’s hidden gems. (Image: Getty Images/ChrisinThai)

Where: Jeju Island, South Korea
For: A gentle introduction to running
Details: A four-kilometre (eight-kilometre return) seaside track from Gimnyeong Beach to Woljeongri Beach. Known for its ocean sunsets, it’s an easy track on a secluded and charming island, dear to Jung-eun’s heart.

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2. Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty

Where: Adelaide Hills, Australia
For: Panoramic views and national parks
Details: Recommended by the Lamble brothers, the 7.8-kilometre return circuit can be completed in under three hours. It can easily be added onto a longer route, or completed before a trip to the region’s award-winning wineries.

3. The London Marathon

Where: London, England
For: Sightseeing on the go
Details: The annual 42-kilometre London Marathon is another of Jung-eun’s favourite running routes and winds through some of the city’s most iconic boroughs. If you can’t make the marathon, enjoy a jog along the River Thames instead.

4. The Bali Hope-Ultra

Buleleng Province in Bali — The marathon begins in Bali’s northern province. (Image: Getty Images/Cnora)

Where: Bali, Indonesia
For: Seasoned runners looking for a challenge
Details: An overnight marathon that goes coast to coast and covers 84.9 kilometres from Buleleng to Canggu. While you have to pay to participate, the fee includes accommodation, meals, personalised training and more.

5. Ala Moana Beach Park to Waikiki Beach

Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
For: A scenic jog between errands
Details: An achievable six-kilometre trail that showcases some of Honolulu’s best beaches. It’s an easy morning run and well worth fitting in, even if you’ve only got 48 hours in town.

The top 10 list is rounded out by:

Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver, Canada
Naka-meguro Station to Gotanda Station in Tokyo, Japan
Gardena and Funes valleys in the Dolomites, Italy
Central Park loop in New York, USA
Gardens by the Bay to Marina Barrage to Merlion Park in Singapore

Why travellers are increasingly dreaming of a white Christmas – and the best places to experience one for yourself.

If the Euro summer has long been Australians’ defining holiday, the white Christmas may well be emerging as its frosty successor.

Booking data from APT Travel Group has revealed that Australians are planning long-haul travel further in advance and increasingly swapping summer at home for a white Christmas abroad.

Why more travellers are booking a white Christmas

tallinn winter — Find festive spirit in abundance in Tallinn, Estonia. (Credit: Unsplash/Dmitry Sumin)

Part of the shift is practical. With the Australian Government recently downgrading its travel warning for parts of the Middle East, travellers’ confidence in long-haul travel is returning as key transit hubs for Australians travelling to Europe reopen.

But accessibility alone isn’t the reason we’re seeing an incline in festive winter holiday bookings.

This year, Australia has experienced a particularly patchy start to the snow season, reminding travellers of how unpredictable winter has become and leading them to look overseas for their next wintry escape. At the same time, rising global temperatures are making reliable snowfall less certain across many parts of the world. Ironically, the rarer a classic white Christmas becomes, the more alluring it feels.

finland snow — Travellers are increasingly looking overseas for guaranteed snowy escapes. (Credit: Unsplash/Joni Kuusisto)

Behavioural psychologists have long observed what they call the ‘scarcity effect’: we tend to assign greater value and desirability to experiences that feel limited or increasingly out of reach. A white Christmas – once an annual tradition for many – has evolved into a bucket-list experience.

It’s also a novel antidote to the Australian festive season. Rather than scorching pavements and beachside barbecues, travellers want to experience the Christmas they’ve spent their whole lives watching in films: snow-dusted pines, chestnuts roasting over an open fire and streets glowing beneath tinsel garlands and fairy lights. Nostalgia sells, but even more so when we feel like it might not always be available to experience.

For decades, Australians have sought to escape winter in search of a European summer. Now, the pendulum is swinging the other way. Below are the top places to have yourself a very Merry Christmas in the snow.

The best places to have a white Christmas

Finland

best places for white christmas — Finland is one of the best destinations for a white Christmas. Credit: APT)

When you’re set on experiencing a blanket-white Christmas, your best bet is to go north. Thanks to its chilly temperatures and geographical proximity to the Arctic Circle (nearly one third of the country’s landmass lies within the Arctic region), travellers are guaranteed to see snow during Finland’s winter months. Plus, the possibility of witnessing the northern lights ribboning across the sky makes the experience all the more magical.

Tallinn, Estonia

tallinn old town — The city of Tallinn has a UNESCO-listed medieval town. (Credit: Unsplash/Ilya Orehov)

While places like Finland and Norway are coveted Christmas destinations, they certainly aren’t easy on the wallet. Estonia’s charming medieval capital of Tallinn is one of the best places to have a white Christmas on a budget, boasting Gothic spires, an intimate atmosphere and toasty market stalls selling everything from handicrafts to sugar-coated almonds. While snow over the Christmas period isn’t guaranteed these days, the country is further north and generally colder than Western European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

Canada

whistler christmas — Explore the Christmas lights of Whistler. (Credit: APT)

With its festive spirit, friendly locals and picturesque landscapes, Canada is a top contender for the best place for a white Christmas. Victoria in British Columbia has just about every Christmas tradition covered in one town: a main street of snow-frosted stores, a gingerbread competition, a visit to see the reindeer and horse-drawn trolley rides; while Alberta will see you embracing cosy holiday traditions with the spectacular Canadian Rockies as your backdrop.

If you can’t choose just one destination, the Twelve Days of Christmas tour by APT includes Christmas in Banff, sleigh rides at Lake Louise, Vancouver’s Canyon Lights and the Canadian Rockies. “It’s a relaxed, accessible way to get a proper white Christmas, snow guaranteed rather than hoped for,” says Sarah Latimore, international GM Product & Operations at APT.

New York, USA

new york winter — Central Park dusted with snow is all but magical. (Credit: Unsplash/Caitlyn Wilson)

Yes, films have been romanticising Christmas in New York for decades, but there’s a reason: the cool shift transforms the grand metropolis into what feels like a cinematic village where families glide over ice skating rinks in Central Park, dazzling displays illuminate the streets and carollers sing outside cosy bars with crackling fireplaces.

Germany

Browse bountiful Christmas markets in Regensburg. (Credit: APT)

Germany does Christmas with all the trimmings, especially the Christmas markets; there are hundreds (if not thousands) to choose between in picture-postcard historical towns across the country. Dresden has one of the oldest markets in the country, while Regensburg offers four fairy-light festooned markets within its UNESCO-listed medieval old town.

London, UK

london snow — Cosy up in London for the winter. (Credit: Unsplash/Zhang Kaiyv)

London is a prime place to celebrate a white Christmas with little people: Hamleys alone is worth getting on a plane for! Not only do many hotels offer holiday packages for families, but the sight of latticed snowflakes drifting from the sky on a rugged-up stroll along the Thames is nothing short of enchanting.

Prague, Czech Republic

prague snow — Escape to the charming city of Prague. (Credit: Unsplash/Lukas Konvica)

Offering Gothic architecture, charming cobbled streets and spiced pastries in spades, Prague is among the best places to spend a white Christmas. Come Advent season, when a dusting of snow may cover its ancient castle, and the smell of roasting ham rises from the market stalls, it becomes utterly unforgettable.

Niseko, Japan

niskeo skiing — Hit the slopes for a Christmas spent skiing in Niseko. (Credit: Unsplash/Kristian Klausen)

You don’t need to fly all the way to Europe to enjoy a wintry Christmas abroad. On Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko is a wonderland for travellers wishing to spend the Christmas season carving up the ski slopes. Promising festive events such as fireworks and giant illuminated trees, as well as plenty of the fluffy white stuff, this ski resort town doesn’t disappoint.

Is Europe or Canada better for a white Christmas?

Europe and Canada are the two most popular destinations among Australian travellers booking wintry Christmas escapes. But which is right for you? Sarah Latimore, international GM Product & Operations at APT, says the answer hinges on your travel interests and preferences.

“Europe suits travellers who want depth, variety and a bit of indulgence, moving through centuries-old Christmas market traditions city by city,” Latimore says.

“Canada is for travellers chasing that classic, snow globe white Christmas. Think twinkling lights and decorations through Whistler and Banff, evenings by an open fire in a Fairmont hotel, and the kind of moments that define the season: dog sledding, sleigh rides, snow underfoot rather than sand.

“Neither is the ‘right’ choice universally; it comes down to matching the traveller. Someone chasing romance and heritage will lean Europe. Someone chasing a classic, white Christmas will lean Canada.”

50% of Aussies want to book a run holiday – here’s where to go