With People Aiming to Live Longer, Longevity Travel Is Trending

​Multiple travel and lifestyle publications report that longevity travel is among the latest vacationing trends. A Booking.com survey reported that 52 percent of travelers will pay for trips designed to extend life and improve wellness in 2025. Keep reading to discover the types of longevity trips travelers are planning this year.

Longevity travel includes a variety of experiences, such as holistic wellness retreats offering spa therapy, detox programs, acupuncture, and other alternative healing practices. It also covers destinations within the Blue Zones, like Okinawa, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy, where residents are known for their healthy lifestyles. Categories of longevity travel further expand to adventure and fitness travel, including activities like hiking, yoga, and immersive nature experiences. Additionally, mindfulness and mental health retreats, along with nutritional wellness trips involving meditation, digital detox, organic foods, culinary tourism, and plant-based diets, are also popular.

So, where are travelers going, and what are they doing on these trips? Travelers to Australia can stay in Gwinganna, Queensland’s Longevity Project, a four-night retreat, or at NSW’s Elysia’s Wellness Retreat, which hosts a Biohacking Longevity Retreat. At the Longevity Project, the retreat focuses on lifestyle factors and genetics as part of extending life. Visitors learn how to retard the aging process and the difference between chronological and biological age. They also return home with an action plan.   

Biohacking, especially, has risen in popularity as more travelers recognize the importance of self-care in extending their lives. Elysia’s biohacking retreat teaches visitors the factors that extend life, such as nutrition, physical training, stress management, sleep, and hydration. Visitors also undergo an assessment that determines their biological age.

In Bali, travelers to COMO Shambhala Estate get a mix of learning about the ethics of lasting health, ancient traditions, and modern science. The focus is on proactively cultivating wellness in life instead of treating ailments as they arise.  

The Blue Zones are called so because they are locations where people have the longest life spans. These places include not only Okinawa and Sardinia but also encompass Ikaria (Aegean island), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Loma Linda (Southern California community).

Retreats in these regions emphasize activities that encourage visitors to stay naturally active, such as walking and gardening. The diets are plant-based, with a focus on seasonal fruits and vegetables, and visitors have the opportunity to learn about local foods and dishes. Additionally, spending quality time with friends and family is a central part of these retreats. One retreat on Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula helps guests cultivate and maintain adult relationships. These retreats prioritize slowing down, incorporating mindfulness, movement sessions, and even cooking classes.

Other locations on the longevity travel radar are Tuscany (Italy), Thailand, and Switzerland. In Tuscany, travelers will encounter communities where organic farm-to-table nutrition is a priority. They expect to experience Mediterranean cuisine that optimizes health. Visitors to Thailand will encounter resorts and retreats that cater to those interested in holistic healing, meditation, and detoxing. Switzerland is home to leading medical wellness and luxury spa experiences.

Experts predict that the longevity travel trend is likely here to stay. Health-conscious travelers are driving the shift, increasingly seeking accommodations and experiences that align with sustainability goals. As demand for longevity travel grows, travelers can expect more personalized retreat experiences and mindful travel itineraries. Importantly, many of the locations featured in this article highlight that longevity travel can be affordable, simple, and easy to organize.

Artemizia Walker-Chinoy

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