CamperDays sees surge in European ‘runcation’ tourism

Travel operator CamperDays reports a rapid rise in demand for active‑travel holidays, dubbing them “runcations”. Search data show a 5,000 % increase in queries for active tourism in the past month and a 20 % rise in trail‑running searches compared with the same period last year.

CEO Max Schmidt said the trend reflects travelers preferring movement‑focused vacations over traditional “fly‑and‑flop” beach breaks, with participants often mixing running, sightseeing and leisurely pauses for coffee or photos. Schmidt highlighted several premier European destinations, including Chamonix in France, the Dolomites in Italy, and coastal routes on Madeira, noting that the trail networks cater to both beginners and experienced runners.

The growing “runcation” market points to a broader shift toward nature‑based, low‑impact tourism across Europe.