Wellness tourism is among the fastest-growing sectors of the travel industry, expected to reach over $1.4 trillion by 2027, according to the Global Wellness Institute. And boutique hotels, community co-lives, and wellness centers are welcoming more mindful travelers interested in ritualistic retreat-like experiences, such as circling up for full moon ceremonies, soaking in social saunas, and bathing in the soothing sounds of singing bowls beneath star-swathed skies.
According to the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA)’s 2026 Travel Trends Survey, travelers are looking to recalibrate, not retreat.
“Compared to 2025, there’s a subtle but meaningful shift toward quality over quantity,” Kristi Gole, executive vice president of strategy at GHA told Skift. “While slightly more leisure trips are planned on average, travel is becoming significantly more intentional, personal, and experiential… So rather than chasing more trips, travelers are curating better ones—authentic, restorative, and aligned with their values.”
She also added that travelers are no longer just curious to explore destinations; they want to explore the depths of themselves.
“Travel will be increasingly defined by personal value creation—experiences that enrich a person’s mind, time, connection, and soul—with the biggest emphasis being on creating a feeling of inner peace,” she explained.
Here are three wellness travel trends we’re likely to see rise like the moon in 2026, according to recent research.
1. Ritualistic Retreats
According to the Condé Nast Traveler, once “woo-woo” experiences like full moon ceremonies and chakra-aligning singing bowl sound baths have emerged as popular spa offerings. Travelers are also seemingly more interested in more social spa settings, such as saunas and cozy corners of community spaces.
“After submitting ourselves to vagus nerve stimulators, red light therapy, and vitamin shots, we’re returning to more spiritual wellness practices that often take place outdoors and with others,” Jen Murphy writes for Condé Nast Traveler.
In fact, according to Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Predictions, many travelers actively seek experiences that align with astrological cues. Nearly four in 10 (39%) say they consider lunar influences when planning their getaways, even timing trips with moon phases or solstices to visit energy-rich sites, in particular. More than half of Gen Z travelers (53%) and nearly half of Millennials (46%) say they feel especially attuned to this sense of spiritual exploration.
2. Nature Immersion
In 2026, travelers will be spending more intentional time in nature, not necessarily just more time in nature.
According to Airbnb’s 2026 Travel Predictions, travelers are stepping away from their screens and “touching grass” more. In fact, the social movement to “touch grass” has tens of thousands of posts with the #touchgrass hashtag on TikTok.
Interest in U.S. national parks, where travelers can indeed touch grass, has surged 35 percent for 2026, and Airbnb bookings for nature and outdoor experiences are outpacing all other categories.
The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the top trending destinations globally for the new year. Searches are trending over 135 percent with solo travelers, in particular.
3. Skincare-Specific Travel
According to Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Predictions, nearly 80% of travelers are open to “glow-cations” in the upcoming year. They’re seeking skin-specific treatments tailored to their personal skincare needs. And nearly six in 10 (59%) would even use AI to help them identify destinations aligned with their personal skincare needs.
“The appetite for personalization runs deeper than ever, with nearly three-quarters (72%) open to personalized hydration stations that adapt to local climate and activity, while 64% are intrigued by smart mirrors analyzing pores and hydration to provide real-time skincare advice,” Booking.com’s research purports. “Sleep optimization is also central, with 75% interested in enhancement suites designed with circadian lighting and soundscapes to improve rest, a vital factor in skin repair and regeneration.”
Travelers going on “glow-cations” are exploring everything from ancient thermal rituals to cutting-edge DNA and microbiome testing.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.