After a year of limited travel, holidaymakers and adventure-seekers are itching to get away. This pent-up demand has led Kraken Travel to already record its best-ever year of bookings – in just the first three months of 2021.
Bookings at the adventure travel company, which specialises in sailing, have increased 12-fold over 2019 levels, the last year when we could travel at leisure. More than half of these bookings are from new customers, including families choosing whole boat charters so they can maintain their group bubble, while 10 per cent have booked some of Kraken’s ‘bucket list trips’, which include the Rolex Fastnet Race on board a Volvo 65.
“After a year of uncertainty for the travel industry, we are starting to turn a corner,” said Henry Burkitt, founder and CEO of Kraken Travel. “We have also seen 40 per cent of customers, who requested cash refunds last year, already re-book with us for this summer.”
Kraken Travel offers a range of sailing adventures for all the family and abilities, from one-day taster sails to professional races and bespoke charters. The company has yachts moored around the world and can tailor each experience to the customer’s individual needs. Some adventures are also combined with other activities, including skiing, hiking and paddle-boarding, enabling customers to enjoy a trip both on and off the water.
Weekend trips start from as little as £250, while a whole boat sleeping 12 can be chartered from £1,600 a week. Each adventure is led by a professional crew and expert guide if booking a multi-activity trip, such as sailing and skiing in Norway.
