Active and adventure travel is booming. Explore Worldwide has announced that it has already exceeded its 2018-19 final results -- just six months into its financial year.

The milestone comes after a record-breaking January for the company, which included the biggest day of sales in its 40-year history during its Big Blue Sale campaign.

In the first full year unaffected by COVID since 2019, Explore will not only return to pre-pandemic levels but greatly exceed them, the company says.

“We knew 2023 was going to be a big year for Explore with a lot of pent up demand,” says Managing Director Michael Edwards.

“We also know that being the operator people could trust throughout the pandemic has stood us in good stead. With the world now fully opened up, and an enhanced appreciation for freedom and travel, there really is no better time to seize the day and book that once in a lifetime trip.”

Explore says the greatest gains have been in its walking trips, up 41%, and its European tours, up a huge 67%.

The company is seeing more support from the travel trade. 16% of Explore’s bookings are now through travel agents, as compared to 11% in 2019, resulting in a 73% increase in trade revenue.