Latest booking data for the first two months of 2025 clearly shows the British love affair with Spain is in full force, with holidaymakers increasingly opting to explore off the beaten track.

Leading independent tour operators are reporting healthy growth in their bookings for experience and adventure holidays with self-guided cycling and hiking itineraries and foodie breaks to Bilbao and Seville in high demand.

Head of marketing at city break specialist, Kirker Holidays, Patrick Millar announced:

“In the first two months of 2025, Kirker´s bookings to Spain are up by more than 10% compared to last year, with a particular surge in demand for cultural cities and smaller destinations off the more well-trodden tourist trail.

The most dramatic increases are in Madrid, where we have seen a 66% increase this year and Bilbao, where bookings have more than tripled compared to a year ago. Both city breaks include our newly launched gastronomic walking tours.

Also much in demand are the smaller cities of Avila, Salamanca and Toledo, where visitors are increasingly opting for our boutique properties and Paradores which have seen more than a 25% increase in bookings to date.”

The outlook for Spain from Macs Adventure for 2025 is also positive.  Graham Horner, chief growth officer commented:

“Spain is always a popular destination for a self-guided active walking or cycling holiday, with its combination of diverse landscapes ranging from exhilarating coastal trails to beautiful mountain ranges and pretty hilltop villages, all topped off with delicious regional cuisine and local wines.

For walking holidays, the Camino continues to be our best-selling route in Spain, but this year we are also seeing more interest in lesser known itineraries, including Walking the Catalan Coast in Style and Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema. 

Another success is our Spanish self-guided cycling product, with sales up nearly 63% year on year.  Our top three cycling itineraries in Spain are Cycling Paradores of Extremadura and Cycle Andalucia, Seville to Cadiz and Cycling the Camino Frances: Leon to Santiago. The option of e-bikes on all our cycling itineraries adds to the appeal as they open up new routes for cyclists whatever their ability level.”

Active holidays expert, Headwater, has also seen healthy growth for their cycling and walking itineraries to Spain for 2025. Spain product manager Sara Hughes outlined:

“Overall, we have seen a 12% increase in bookings to Spain this year to date, with strong demand for our Camino trips, our cycling holidays in Mallorca and Andalucia and walking in Andalucia and Catalonia.

Fuerteventura, El Hierro, and Tenerife have emerged as the most popular Canary Islands for off-the-beaten-track walking holidays and with availability already limited, enquiries are coming in for Autumn/Winter 2025 and Spring 2026.

Interest in Winter Sun walking trips away from popular tourist resorts remains strong, as travellers seek authentic, nature-focused escapes in the Canaries' stunning landscapes”.

Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, welcomed the positive picture for Spain´s discerning traveller market:

“We are delighted that more and more British holidaymakers are choosing to discover the diversity of experiences and landscapes which Spain holds, venturing into the valleys and mountains of Extremadura and along the rugged coast lines of Asturias and the Basque Country.

We look forward to welcoming more British tourists as they stay longer and explore further afield helping us develop a more sustainable tourism for the future.”

For further Spain information and press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor at the Spanish Tourist Office on 0207 317 2020 or Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or visit www.spain.info

For bookings with Kirker Holidays visit www.kirkerholidays.com or call 0207 593 2288

For bookings with Macs Adventure visit www.macsadventure.com or call 0141 530 5452

For bookings with Headwater visit www.headwater.com or call 01606 218266