Sweat Jetting Is Changing the Way People Go on Vacation
Vacations don’t have to be spent lounging by the pool or on the beach. If you’re an avid fan of movement, there are so many ways to bring that to your next getaway. The trip of your dreams can involve exploring a destination through running, cycling, or yoga.
This mindset is part of a popular travel trend called sweat jetting, where working out is a central part of the trip, according to a 2026 Trendcast report on Tripadvisor. The trend is now making the activity, competition, or course itself the focus of the getaway. Read ahead to discover why sometimes the best way to recharge is to get moving.
Turning Fitness Into the Destination
As part of the trend, travelers are basing their itineraries around races, cycling, climbing, and other challenges. In fact, according to the report, 21 percent of global travelers planned to take a fitness-focused vacation in the following 12 months, an 11 percent increase year over year.
Fitness vacations, including cycling trips and yoga retreats, were among the fastest-growing trip types, seeing a 10 percent increase year over year. The trend also shows people flocking to destinations for competitions, including the Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon, and the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France. Active travelers may also head outdoors for breathtaking and demanding experiences in places such as Chamonix and Patagonia.
A Trip for Those Seeking a Challenge
The beauty of sweat jetting is there’s something for everyone. Josue De Paz made a journey of almost 26 hours to Australia to run the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon, Vogue reports.
“The race itself was an absolute stunner, running over bridges, commercial areas and residential areas, giving me the best tour of Sydney that I bet not many people get to see,” De Paz, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit Honor Your Dreams in New York City, tells Vogue.
In Thailand, sweatjetters can participate in high-intensity fitness camps. Visitors may stay for just a few days or several months. There, intensive workouts are combined with a social atmosphere near the beach.
Finding the Balance
Sweatjetters can also choose calmer trips while getting their workout in. For a gentler approach, yoga and mindfulness teacher Emma Sothern of Om with Em hosts retreats in Hoi An, Vietnam, that focus on a different kind of physical experience.
“Mornings include gentle flow yoga classes to wake up the mind and body, afternoons are dedicated to pool time and rest, with a couple of optional cultural excursions or workshops, and evenings are all about unwinding and slowing right down,” says Sothern.
According to Country and Town House, sweat jetting has gained momentum in recent years and is expected to remain popular in 2027. The trend also shows that traveling for fitness competitions is no longer just for elite athletes.
Whether you’re a serious competitor or a casual sports enthusiast, sweat jetting has so much to offer. After all, exploring new places can be even more rewarding when you discover what your body is capable of along the way.
