9 Adventure Travel Experiences to Take on with Your Partner
Ride World’s Most Famous Railroad in Russia
Railways have a regal history, uniting continents as they ferried commoners and kings from one border to another. Few, though, are as famous as the Trans-Siberian Railway. The brainchild of Tsars, it has survived wars and revolutions, spanning a continent as it connects Europe and the Far East.
There are technically three Trans-Siberian routes, but the only “true” one is the line running from Moscow to Vladivostok.
Though crossing a third of world in less than two weeks is definitely an adventure, couples can’t expect to enjoy much privacy on a train. Also, to get the best experience, shop around for a reputable tour company.
Rates vary widely, and ticket price isn’t necessarily a guarantee of berth quality. Still, once you’re on board, have your camera and Russian phrase book ready — you’re about to see a stunning stretch of the world and meet the people who live there.
After touring Moscow — no small task given the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage — make your way to Yekaterinburg and see Ganina Yama, the site where the Romanovs met their untimely end.
Irkutsk contains countless architectural marvels, and Ulan Ude offers engaging museums, gorgeous churches, and the world’s largest bust of Lenin, a sobering reminder of dark times. Finally, dive into the sites of Vladivostok once you’ve disembarked or arrange a day trip to nearby Falaza Mountain.
Find Rough Refuge in Argentina
Patagonia has panache. The southernmost tip of South America is beautifully barren, swathes of green forest cluster beneath craggy, snow-capped cliffs and cerulean waters teem with sea life while birds swoop above. It’s a photographer’s paradise, a naturalist’s dream, and an adventurer’s Elysium. Still, many travel guides focus on the five-star, luxurious Patagonia experience.
There’s another option for adventurous couples, though: the refugio circuits.
Much like California’s famous missions, the refugios of Northern Patagonia serve as shelters for hikers willing to brave stretches of Argentina’s nearly uninhabited woodlands. Many of the area’s eerie glacial wastes and lonely peaks would be inaccessible if not for this network of 13 huts.
For about $15 per person per night, you and your significant other can secure a piece of fire and roof under which to unroll your sleeping bags.
Not much privacy, true. But you can get plenty of that on your hikes, which are lengthy by necessity. The nearest refugios lie at least four hours from any significantly trafficked roads, and others are even more remote. Outings such as the Cerro Chall-Huaco Trek or the Refugio Manfredo Segre Trek can last a mere 24 or 48 hours.
There are so many benefits to hiking, making it a great choice for a trip together. If you want to step things up a notch and do some real bushwhacking, consider following in the footsteps of Conde Nast Traveler’s Christopher Bagley, who took a course that reached most of the refugios over a nine-day hike.
There's a trail for everyone, from families with young children to thrill-seeking adventurers, on this list of the best Zion National Park hikes.
Explore the Skeleton Coast in Namibia
Back in 2006 when entertainment journalists could use the term “Brangelina” without a hint of irony, Hollywood super-couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt put Namibia on the map when they traveled to the West African country for the birth of their first child. A seemingly surprising choice, but once you learn a little about this peaceful desert nation, it makes perfect sense.
Namibia’s small population, stable government, and relatively open economy make it particularly attractive to adventurous couples who want to enjoy Africa’s natural wonders without constantly fearing for their safety. And what wonders there are in The Land Of The Brave.
To the north, Etosha National Park offers a more traditional safari experience for couples who want to see black rhino, elephants, wildebeest and leopards.
But the real draw for adventurers is Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. Located in the western part of the country, it’s an area that’s every bit as stripped and stark as it sounds, a rocky desert that the area’s indigenous people dubbed The Land God Made in Anger.
Tour the Dunedin Star, a British liner whose oxidized iron bones rising from dry wastes dramatically point out the dangers of the South Atlantic’s Benguela Current. Meet the native Himba who stain their skin with ocher clay and subsist solely on a carnivorous diet. Finally, toboggan down the roaring dunes or speed over the sandy crests on an ATV tour.
