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Two weeks in the sun never seems long enough - especially when it comes to bragging about our exotic trip to our friends and family back at home.

Now social media savvy tourists are prolonging their annual summer break in the virtual world by turning their holiday into a two-month 'statuscation'.

Research has revealed that 84 per cent of Britons regularly use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to draw out the effects of their breaks abroad, boasting from the moment they book their trip, and keeping the memories alive by posting photographs and updates for weeks after they return.

Travel company boss Lee Thompson was allowed to climb the 124ft-high Christ The Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, taking a selfie as he reached the top

The study by adventure travel company The Flash Pack revealed that nearly 50 per cent of all Brits claim that their 'statuscation' starts as soon as the booking is made, with people posting Facebook updates and photos of their tickets when they arrive.

The next opportunity to brag comes at the airport - or 'shareport' - with a third (34.6 per cent) of the 1,000 travellers surveyed admitting that they cannot resist uploading pictures of the airport departure board, the runway and even the view out of the plane window.

Once they have reached their destination, holidaymakers are increasingly posting breathtaking photographs of their exotic holidays in more and more remote locations.

Nearly 65 per cent of Britons admit they share images and updates with their friends and family whilst away.

And on their return, 37 per cent claim they keep the holiday vibe going for at least a month afterwards by connecting with their new found holiday companions online and then sharing photographs and memories.

 

See incredible climb up inside of Rio's Christ The Redeemer...

World at his feet: Very few people are able to climb the landmark in Rio de Janeiro, but Mr Thompson was able to convince the Brazilian tourist board to let him scale the monument

The Flash Pack co-founder Lee Thompson knows only too well the effect of sharing his favourite holiday moments.

The Londoner became an overnight sensation when he shared his selfie from the top of Brazil's iconic Christ The Redeemer statue last month.

Very few people are able to climb the 124ft-high statue but the 31-year-old managed to convince the Brazilian tourist board to let him scale the monument and poke his head out of the top to take a photograph.

Thompson said the 25-minute climb to the summit was 'extremely hot, eerily quiet and claustrophobic' but he reported that the view was 'incredible' and that the selfie was one of his favourite photos.

Head for heights: It took the 31-year-old almost half an hour to reach the summit of 124-foot statue, climbing narrow steps where a single misplaced move would have resulted in serious injury, or worse

Of the research, Thompson said: 'For me holidays have always been about pushing the boundaries and experiencing something that you usually can only dream off - and so The Flash Pack was born.

'I saw for myself the power of social media when my Rio selfie went viral, and just because you're no longer on that Vespa zipping through the Spanish mountains it doesn't mean your holiday has to be over.

'Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are great ways to inspire others to bite the bullet and go on their own adventure trip. Long live the Statuscation.'

Top UK life coach Fiona Harrold commented: 'People have their issues with social media and the way it interrupts all aspects of our lives, but here it's a great force for good. Why should the positive and beneficial effects of our trips abroad evaporate as soon as we touch down?

'This new breed of 'statuscationers' have found a superb, efficient and cheap way to keep that positivity going through, almost to the next holiday.'