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

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

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