Review 2025 | Eurohike HikingBlog

Verena, Thomas, 2020 profoundly changed the travel industry. What developments emerged immediately afterward, and are there any that continue to have an impact today?

Verena: One thing has changed fundamentally: until 2019, the travel industry was quite predictable. We could plan with confidence. Simply put, if you diligently did your “homework,” you were rewarded with solid results. 2019 was the best year in Eurofun Touristik’s history up to that point, so we had also expected a strong 2020—but then everything changed. This unprecedented global crisis brought enormous uncertainty and made it necessary to rethink processes entirely, for example by rapidly switching to remote work. The topic had already been on the radar before, but the circumstances forced us to respond quickly to the new realities.

Thomas: And yet, 2022 turned out to be surprisingly strong, even though travel still wasn’t completely unrestricted. 2023 built on that momentum: we were able to expand the team, bring in experts, and broaden our product portfolio.

Today, however, it’s clear: planning in the way we were used to is no longer possible. The market is more volatile, the competitive landscape has changed significantly, and geopolitical as well as economic factors—like the current situation in Germany—pose additional challenges. Preferred destinations shift more often, making flexibility more important than ever.

Two people Verena Sonnenberg und Thomas Schmid standing in a green meadow with forest in the background. Both wear blue outdoor shirts and smile at the camera.

Has guest travel behavior changed? And if so, how?

Thomas: Definitely. The demand for active vacations remains strong. Guests no longer want to do just one or two bike tours or hikes during a standard vacation—they want to stay active, see more of the country, and increasingly experience the everyday life of locals. Also interesting: during this challenging period, we reached new target groups, and for hiking in particular, our guests are noticeably younger.

We are also seeing strong interest in year-round destinations such as Portugal, where we have significantly expanded our portfolio. Last season, we added six new cycling tours and seven new hiking tours. We also saw an increase of around 30% in guest numbers. Northern destinations in Scandinavia, which offer more pleasant temperatures in summer, are also in increasing demand.

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How have the past few years influenced Eurofun Touristik’s strategic direction?

Verena: 2020 acted as a catalyst for change across many areas. We’ve been continuously expanding our product portfolio while placing an even stronger emphasis on service and quality to better meet our guests’ needs. This commitment touches every part of the company: from carefully selecting hotels, to developing the Eurobike & Eurohike on Tour app and digital travel documents, to providing personal support before and during the travel experience. Personalised service for our guests – this is a top priority at Eurofun and is at the heart of everything we do.

Our high level of customer satisfaction shows that our close relationship with guests and the continuous training of our team are paying off: 87% of our guests gave positive feedback on their trip in 2025. We are also particularly pleased with the high return rate of our branch office employees: 95% of them continued to actively support us in providing personal guest care on site in 2025.

A major milestone for us was our rebranding: after 30 years, it was time to refresh our image. We’ve become younger and more modern, moved away from the classic catalog, and are now focusing more on inspiring content and digital solutions. With our digital travel documents, guests always have the latest information and can easily send real-time updates about closures or other changes.

Another popular service is our online travel consultation with our travel specialists. Guests can simply book online a time and comfortably explore their desired travel experience from home, via phone or video call. Our smart booking form also makes reservations faster and more convenient.

‘All our activities are consistently focused on the guest. Innovation and further development are always carried out with the aim of optimising quality for our guests.’

Verena Sonnenberg

managing director Eurofun Touristik

Unpredictable events are also a reality in tourism. How has Eurofun Touristik learned to deal with such situations, manage risks and still remain capable of making decisions and taking action?

Thomas: Safety considerations have become far more prominent since then. With the increase in natural disasters across Europe and rising political uncertainties, we now need to respond faster than ever.

To address this, we established an emergency management system. Our specialists continuously monitor developments in our travel destinations, and thanks to our extensive network of regional offices, we can act flexibly on the ground—from arranging transportation to making last-minute route adjustments. Speed and timely access to information are now critical to our success.

The system has already been used during regional flooding events. Continuous heavy rainfall—and snow in the mountains—caused rivers to overflow rapidly, resulting in significant damage.In situations like this, quick response is essential. Thanks to intensive training in advance, our teams on site were able to react quickly and, within a very short time, organise passenger transport with our own buses and drivers, among other things, and thus safely evacuate guests from the affected regions and neighbouring areas.

Complete-Safety-Travel with Eurohike

Employee at an information meeting with two guests on site

Thomas and family taking a selfie on the Alpe Adria cycle route near Tarvis, with forested mountains and alpine village in the background.

Verena with blue backpack and sunglasses at Monte Quarin viewpoint overlooking a white church tower and the Friuli plains.

Two cyclists with helmets standing beside a stone monument with sun carving, overlooking the calm Adriatic Sea in Grado under clear blue sky.

Verena with yellow panniers riding past colorful flowers along a river path. Wooden covered bridge and Alpine mountains in background.

Selfie of a smiling Thomas in rain gear with three family members behind him on a rocky mountain trail, surrounded by green vegetation.

Verena with blue backpack viewing Mallorca's Llevant coast from hilltop. Turquoise sea, green hills, and blue sky visible in panorama.

What role does sustainability play at the company?

Verena: It plays a central role. For us, sustainability isn’t just a goal in itself or a marketing exercise—it’s a guiding principle for the future. Travelife, the internationally recognised training and certification programme, supports us in achieving our sustainability goals in all areas in a structured manner. For certification in June 2025, for example, we had to meet over 260 criteria from a wide range of areas, from environmental protection and energy-saving measures to emissions management and consumer protection. These standards shape our daily operations and influence every part of the company. We focus on long-term, authentic solutions rather than chasing short-term accolades

This mindset led us to launch our new product line, “Mindful Travel.” Cycling and hiking tours are already among the most eco-friendly ways to travel, but with this category, we’re going further. Accommodations are especially sustainable, meeting the highest standards in resource conservation, while the tours themselves feature convenient access to public transportation and routes that avoid the typical tourist hotspots.

What is particularly important to us: We make sure our footprint is as small as possible.

Three hikers with backpacks walking on a mountain path near Gosausee with snow-capped peaks, green forests, and a lake in the background.

‘For us, sustainability means acting consciously – for nature, for the regions we operate in, and for our guests. We are delighted to be making a positive impact with both small and large steps.’

Thomas Schmid

managing director Eurofun Touristik

Sustainability and comfort are not mutually exclusive: how is Eurofun Touristik responding to the growing interest in e-bikes?

Thomas: We aim to make active travel accessible to everyone. Since fitness levels vary, e-bikes allow all guests to enjoy the cycling experience fully. This trend remains strong and shows no signs of slowing down. With demand for e-bikes steadily increasing, we continue to invest in modern, high-quality models from our partner KTM to stay at the forefront. By 2025, e-bikes already accounted for 65% of our rental fleet.

The introduction of new bike types, such as the Rental-PLUS and gravel bikes, has also been very well received. Younger guests, in particular, appreciate the sporty options and the expansion of our performance-oriented product line.

Aber auch die Einführung von neuen Leihradtypen wie dem Leihrad-PLUS und dem Gravelbike wird von den Gästen sehr gut angenommen. Vor allem das jüngere Publikum freut sich über die sportlichen Räder und auch über den Ausbau unserer sportlichen Produktlinie.

Three cyclists riding e-bikes on a road in Sankt Lorenz, Mondsee. Behind them is a church with green spires and traditional alpine houses with mountains.

What can travelers look forward to most in 2026, and which travel trends do you see shaping the year?

Verena: Without a doubt, it’s all about “Mindful Travel.” People are seeking time in nature and fresh air, a chance to leave everyday life behind, and to truly unwind. It’s about stepping away from the stress of an increasingly hectic world, reconnecting with yourself, recharging, and finding new energy. This desire for calm, slowing down, and taking meaningful breaks is central for many—and the best part is it can all be done sustainably.

Thomas: A major trend is cycling and hiking trips tailored to the individual wishes of our guests. And of course, new destinations like Slovenia and Portugal are gaining popularity. Portugal in particular allows us to offer exciting active travel experiences almost year-round, which is proving to be very popular.

‘We are starting the new season full of energy and optimism – and looking forward to working together to create unique active travel experiences for our guests.’

Thomas Schmid in dark blazer and light blue shirt with Verena Sonnenberg in white blouse, both smiling in a bright office setting.

Ulrike Sommer

Verena Sonnenberg und Thomas Schmid

managing directors Eurofun Touristik

Looking Back at the 2025 Season

Our Most Popular hiking Tours

There was a surprise at number one among our most popular hiking tours in 2025. The tour Around Madeira managed to knock the classic Garmisch – Merano into second place. The Lechweg also came in joint second with the Alpine Crossing.

To travel search

Female hiker with blue backpack sitting among white hydrangea flowers, overlooking Madeira's dramatic north coast landscape with mountains and ocean.

The Most Popular New Tours

Two of our new hiking tours for 2025 were particularly popular with our guests: Around Lake Garda and the Julian Alps & Wild Soča Valley. Both regions score highly for their scenic diversity, and Slovenia has been added as a new hiking destination.

Discover all new tours

Travelife certification

This year, we were also delighted to receive Travelife certification as a sustainable tour operator. To achieve this, we had to meet over 260 requirements in a wide range of areas, from environmental protection and energy-saving measures to emissions management and consumer protection. This is an important step on our journey towards more ‘green thinking’.

More about sustainability at Eurohike