As the latest series of the BBC’s Race Across the World draws to a close, small-group adventure operator Explore Worldwide says it has led to a strong rise in demand for the destinations featured, especially the Stans.
The show has seen five teams of two race from 7,400 miles over land from Palermo to the finishing line in Mongolia, navigating their way through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Georgia and three of the five Stans: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
As the series has unfolded, Explore said it has seen a surge in interest for trips inspired by the route, which has taken the contestants from bustling cities to some of the remotest regions of the world.
It says interest in its ‘Three Stans’ itinerary has risen 237% year-on-year, while searches for its ‘Five Stans of the Silk Road’ trip are up 39%.
Enquiries for its ‘Highlights of Albania’ trip are up 30%, while it has seen an 3% increase in interest in its ‘Amalfi Coast Walking itinerary’.
Managing Director Michael Edwards said: “We love seeing how Race Across the World captures people’s imagination and inspires them to consider destinations they may never have thought of before.
“Many of the countries featured in this year’s route have been long-standing favourites among our travellers, particularly those across the Silk Road. The continued interest we’re seeing shows that viewers are eager to turn inspiration from their TV screens into real-world adventures.
“Some of the destinations were already proving to be popular with our customers in 2026, with bookings in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan up 71% and 49% year-on-year, respectively, and that was before the show had even aired, so we are delighted to see such beautiful locations showcased on such a popular platform.”
The only question now is who will win the race? The final airs tonight (21 May) on BBC One at 8pm.
