The future of travel: The hottest trend for 2025 you should know about

It's that time of the year - everyone's talking about the latest travel trends and must-visit locations for 2025. Explore has received a number of hot lists from leading tourism operators and - while destinations vary vastly from one crystal ball to another - one thing is for sure: everyone is looking for lesser-known places to visit.

Take, for instance, Intrepid's "Not Hot List", which highlights Sainshand in Mongolia and the Adirondack Mountains in New York as some of the best places to see in the new year. Parts of Mongolia, particularly in the country's western reaches, are on the radar of World Expeditions, too, which has also highlighted Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

We have to admit, though, some of the locations are a bit too left-field - both Intrepid and World Expeditions are recommending Pakistan, even though Smartraveller's advice ranges from "do not travel" to "reconsider your need to travel". But other than that anomaly, the lists are replete with surprises - from the little-known wildlife haven of Guyana in South America to off-the-beaten-track hikes such as the Hakone Hachiri Trail in Japan.

And it's not just mere predictions; reports based on actual bookings reflect a trend towards lesser-explored destinations, too. American Express has analysed the travel bookings its card holders are making globally, and released its 2025 Trending Destinations list. Entries range from Brisbane at number one to Brittany in France and the wine region of Franschhoek in South Africa at number two and three.

Based on traveller bookings and latest insights, Expedia has done a similar recce of its Australian customers, with its "Detour Destinations" list highlighting places such as Reims in France, Brescia in Italy and Cozumel in Mexico. Which lesser-known location will you visit in the new year?

You may have never heard of Tipperary cattle station in the Northern Territory or of the town of Mallala in South Australia, but it's likely you'll "see" them in the days to come. Netflix's new drama series, Territory, will premiere on October 24 and its biggest stars - other than Australian actress Anna Torv - will be the above outback locations, where the series has been extensively filmed.

Other shooting locations for the series - dubbed "explosive Down Under drama" by the streaming giant - include the capital cities of Adelaide and Darwin, as well as stunning waterfalls and waterholes of Litchfield National Park and crystal-clear swimming pools of Berry Springs in the NT. The trailer reveals epic landscapes and sweeping aerial shots, so keep an eye on your TV and - if inspiration strikes - book a trip to some of these locations before the word, well and truly, gets out.

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Travel operators are pushing the envelope when it comes to immersive journeys and Renaissance Tours' international itineraries for 2025 are a case in point.

Just-released itineraries range from an exploration of the cultural triangle of Dambulla, Sigiriya and Kandy in Sri Lanka over 16 days with former arts editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Joyce Morgan, as your guide, to the 10-day Broadway Magic - a tour of New York City's theatre scene, led by musical director Anne-Maree McDonald. And the best bit? Groups can be as small as 12 people. renaissancetours.com.au