The Latest Luxury Hotel Trend Is All About Embracing the Outdoors

Amid the jagged peaks and glacial lakes of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, I could feel the relaxation sweep over my body. Hiking with a guide, I was burning plenty of calories, but just being in the pine forest was filling me with a palpable sense of calm. And while it’s not exactly news that Patagonia is a stunning place to hike, I was surprised by my own enthusiasm for lacing up my boots. After all, I was staying at Explora Torres del Paine, a luxury lodge that’s among the most plush in Chile. I would’ve been content to mellow out in the heated mountain-view pool, but in pushing myself, I’d inadvertently stumbled onto one of the latest trends in travel.

“There’s been a surge in hiking tourism, particularly in remote areas,” says Sebastian Correa, a vice president at Explora. The company, which has hotels in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, has seen so much interest that it has expanded for the first time outside of South America: this summer, Explora will launch guided hikes across southern Iceland.

“People want to immerse themselves in nature to nurture their holistic well-being,” agrees Tom Marchant, cofounder of the travel firm Black Tomato. His company recently introduced a Greenland itinerary that involves summiting Uummannaq, a rugged, nearly 4,000-foot mountain on the country’s western coast. Luxury operator Extraordinary Journeys, meanwhile, has been booking multiday hikes in places such as Namibia and Tanzania, says CEO Elizabeth Gordon.

At the same time, a growing number of high-end hotels are stepping up to serve as hiking hubs. Hawaii’s Sensei Lanai, for example, kicked off a new retreat in 2024: the six-day program consists of daily guided walks in the island’s lush countryside, along with fitness training, yoga, and post-hike spa treatments. In the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Blackberry Mountain has launched a HIIT experience that combines interval training with hiking excursions. And the Ranch, the famed wellness brand that got its start in Malibu, recently opened in New York’s Hudson Valley, with programs that have guests covering as much as 10 miles a day.

In Europe, Rocco Forte Hotels has created what it calls the Great Hikes of Europe. “Each of our properties has developed local routes in response to guest requests,” says spokesperson Natalie Rucellai, whether it’s a four-mile loop in Scotland’s Roslin Glen or a 2½-mile hike through Sicily’s Torre Salsa nature reserve. Hotel staff can arrange for a guide, if needed, as well as transfers to and from the trailhead and a picnic lunch. At Palazzo Fiuggi, a wellness resort an 80-minute drive from Rome, a new “hiking for longevity” program consists of three- or six-night stays that foster community and connection on group forays into the Apennines.

In Bhutan, a country long associated with trekking, Gangtey Lodge has launched new hikes in collaboration with Guides of Bhutan. This growing network of trails goes through rhododendron forests and past monasteries and villages, giving travelers a closer look at places only accessible on foot. And in Sri Lanka, the hotel group Resplendent Ceylon has formalized a network of 14 footpaths that cut through forests and tea fields. “I wanted travelers to slow down and truly connect with the story of Ceylon tea,” says founder Malik Fernando. “We’ve been delighted that a growing number of guests are embracing the journey on foot.” —Mary Holland

Other hotels are embracing the outdoors

These days, buttoned-up Marriott International is looking a little more laid-back. “Something like 82 percent of Marriott Bonvoy members we surveyed are interested in outdoor travel—and at least 70 percent of them took an outdoor trip in the past year,” says Peggy Roe, the company’s chief customer officer.

To meet that demand, Marriott has added two nature-focused brands to its portfolio. The first, Postcard Cabins, operates in 29 destinations across the U.S., all within a couple hours of major metro areas. Formerly known as Getaway, Postcard is a collection of tiny-home-inspired hideaways that offer seclusion without skimping on amenities.

Marriott has also teamed up with Trailborn, which operates a handful of hotels on the doorsteps of some of America’s most scenic spots, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stays with both brands will soon earn Marriott Bonvoy points, and the company has hinted that more outdoorsy properties are on the horizon. “What’s driving people to travel today is their passions,” Roe says, “and the outdoors is a big one.” —Paul Brady

A version of this story first appeared in the May 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headlines “Stepping Up” and “Back to the Land.”