‘touch Grass’ Travel Poised To Boom, Airbnb Predicts

As burnout lingers, travelers are turning to nature for a mental reset, creating an opening for fitness and wellness brands as demand rises for outdoor experiences

For a while, wellness travel meant disconnecting, with massage and treatments booked and a great novel packed into a suitcase.

In 2026, Airbnb predicts more travelers will do something else entirely: head outdoors, with national parks in the spotlight. In its 2026 Travel Predictions report, Airbnb points to a growing interest in national parks across the globe, with U.S. parks especially prominent.

The bigger shift is subtle but meaningful, with travel becoming more participatory and less passive. Airbnb’s forecast suggests travelers want restorative trips embedded in nature and experiences, often with a social current running through them.

And nowhere is that shift more visible than among Gen Z.

Gen Z Is Compressing Travel Into Short, High-Energy Trips

The same young consumers fueling the rise of high-value, low-priced gyms for their affordable pricing and flexibility appear to be bringing that mindset to travel, redefining “quick trips” through one to two-day international getaways that are growing faster than extended vacations.

It’s a trend fueled by viral TikTok day-trip content, Airbnb says, where young travelers are eager for high-energy, culture-rich escapes.

credit: Airbnb

Instead of sleepy beach towns, Airbnb predicts young travelers will favor vibrant cities filled with music, dance, historic sites and local, late-night food scenes. Airbnb’s trending cities list includes Buenos Aires, Busan, Mexico City and San Juan, along with Ko Samui and Marrakesh.

Nature Travel Becomes a Collective Reset

But Airbnb’s strongest wellness-adjacent signal may be its national parks data.

Airbnb reports that searches for stays near a national park are up 35% in the U.S., and that nature and outdoor experiences are the top-booked experience category.

The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the top trending destinations globally in 2026, with searches trending over 135% among solo travelers.

credit: Airbnb

The pull toward restorative wilderness trips also looks increasingly social.

Airbnb points to the “touch grass” movement, noting the hashtag has more than 85,000 posts on TikTok, alongside increased interest in global destinations near national parks, including areas near Samaria Gorge National Park in Crete, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in Goa, Gennargentu National Park in Sardinia and Ujung Kulon National Park near Jakarta.

Solo Travel, Minus the Isolation

Solo travel is also on the rise, which Airbnb describes as a renaissance driven by online conversations that prioritize self-discovery, leading to destinations such as Idyllwild, La Altagracia and Tromsø seeing triple-digit growth. 

Like many travelers, solo flyers are drawn to scenic escapes, but despite the name, they’re often seeking experiences built around shared participation. Such travelers are on board for activities like surf lessons and seaside yoga, canyon hikes, forest bathing, contrast therapy like saunas and cold plunges, Nordic spas and aurora-lit evenings.

What This Means for Fitness & Wellness Brands

Taken together, Airbnb’s 2026 forecast suggests travel may be less about escape and more about integration, a space where fitness and wellness brands fit perfectly.

And from the looks of it, it’s often happening outside traditional gym or spa settings when people travel, opening the door for more creative approaches that align with 2026 travel trends.

Gen Z’s preference for quick-hit trips would likely favor experiences that are flexible and easy to drop into, such as portable workouts, pop-up classes or outdoor training that fit a one or two-day itinerary. It’s a space Runningman has mastered through its annual event celebrating wellness, featuring a go-at-your-own-pace race, live musical guests and exhilarating brand activations.

credit: Runningman

Nature-driven travel opens a different lane. As demand rises for park-adjacent stays and outdoor experiences, wellness brands have an opportunity to meet travelers in wilderness gateways with recovery tools, guided movement, contrast therapy concepts and nature-forward programming (such as mushroom foraging) that complements hiking and trail running.

Solo travel adds another layer. While these trips are meant for self-discovery, many of the experiences that accompany them are inherently communal, creating space for guided programming where travelers can learn something new, from Ayurvedic practices and restorative spa rituals to sound baths, appealing to those who want connection without committing to a full-blown group retreat.

Brands Redefine Travel

Some fitness brands are already pushing beyond pop-ups and partnerships, turning their training model into a “fitcation.”

Hyrox, for example, is taking its hybrid racing community to sea with the launch of the Hyrox Cruise, an adult-only fitness trip set for October 2026 that combines onboard training sessions, clinics and brand-led programming with stops in Marseille and Barcelona. The cruise marks the debut of Hyrox Experiences, a new travel category for the brand that also points to future camps and retreat offerings.

Dance fitness leader Zumba is also bringing its community offshore, reviving its Zumba Cruise in March 2026 after a seven-year hiatus. The five-day trip will turn the Norwegian Pearl into a floating dance and wellness festival, complete with daily workouts, specialty classes, themed dance parties and spa-based recovery. 

credit: Zumba

For its part, Airbnb isn’t just tracking the trend but building into it. This year, the booking platform added fitness and wellness services and experiences, giving travelers the ability to book personal trainers, massages, spa treatments, outdoor excursions and athlete-led activities alongside their stays.

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