Escape the Mundane with These 18 Incredible Adventure Vacations
Endless Thrills Await
Adventure travel is fantastic for the soul and provides a multitude of physical and mental health benefits, all while allowing you to enjoy spectacular scenery. You’ll be able to leave your worries behind and completely immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience while enjoying a great sense of accomplishment too.
Some of the most incredible adventure vacations can be found among these amazing options. If you aren’t ready now, be sure to put them on your bucket list. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll get the sudden urge to snorkel with sea lions or trek across the desert on a camel!
Kayak Alongside Orca Whales off Vancouver Island
There’s been a lot of controversy over orca whales being held captive in marine parks in recent years. Why go there when you can see them in the wild, living in their natural habitats? You can do just that by heading to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Some 250 orcas, otherwise known as killer whales, inhabit this area.
While whale-watching from land is one of the best things to do in Vancouver, why not take things a step further and get out there with them?
Arguably one of the best opportunities for a close encounter is to join a sea kayaking trip with an outfitter like Wildheart Adventures. There are several options, including three- and six-day trips, where you’ll paddle among them in the waters of Johnstone Strait, departing from Telegraph Cove on the island’s northeast coast.
Your nights will be spent in tents along the shoreline where you can hear the sounds of the whales as they pass by. Meals are delectable too, often featuring salmon that was just hauled up from the water.
Take a Trek Across the Desert on a Camel
A camel trek through the desert is surely a bucket list travel experience, and Nomadic Expeditions provides this amazing adventure in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. You’ll travel as Mongolian nomads have for centuries, through sand dunes, hidden springs, isolated forests and canyons where ibex roam among the prehistoric rock paintings.
The trip also provides the opportunity to explore the ruins of ancient monasteries and cities and visit with those who actually live here, raising their herds. Your nights will be spent under the stars in traditional felt tents. An equal dose of history, culture and nature? That’s an adventure you won’t soon forget.
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Explore Patagonia on Foot and Horseback
Explora Patagonia by Adventure Smith Explorations allows you to explore the wonders of Patagonia in an unbelievably in-depth way. All trips are based at a lodge located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park on the edge of a glistening lake, just below the impressive peaks of the iconic Torres del Paine massif.
One of the most stunningly beautiful spots on the planet for outdoor adventure, guests can choose from a menu of activities, with some 50 different half- and full-day hikes and horseback trips for experiencing the diverse landscapes of the park. Adventurous couples in particular will love the rugged beauty of the area.
You’ll also be able to join boat excursions where you can witness the jaw-dropping sight of calving glaciers, and hear the thundering sounds they make as the plunge into the water. Eco-friendly yet luxurious, the lodge itself boasts an excellent restaurant that pairs meals with a carefully curated list of Chilean wines. It also hosts an indoor pool, spa and bathhouse.
View Polar Bears in the Wild in Churchill
Although you may not want to come to face to face with one unexpectedly, there’s nothing quite like seeing the mighty polar bear in its natural habitat. One of the best places for this is in Churchill, which lies on Hudson Bay in the far north of Manitoba, Canada.
This area is renowned for its bears that inhabit the region during late summer and fall. While there are several options, Lazy Bear Expeditions is one of the most popular, with overnight stays at the eco-friendly Lazy Bear Lodge. You’ll get to spend your days out on the tundra, tracking along the coastline, traveling in Arctic Crawlers made for the tundra.
Occasionally the bears come right alongside these vehicles to get a peak at visitors, just as curious as the humans inside. You’ll also have the chance to glimpse all sorts of other wildlife like Arctic fox.
Snorkel with Sea Lions in Baja California
Situated near the city of La Paz in Baja California, Mexico, Espiritu Santo is a UNESCO-listed nature reserve, and a true paradise for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. It’s surrounded by pristine, crystal clear blue bays and fiery red cliffs, and hosts an incredible array of marine life, making it one of the most unspoiled ecosystems on the entire planet.
Part of the region Jacques Cousteau referred to as the “world’s aquarium,” Espiritu Santo is filled with colorful tropical fish and sea lions. Join an excursion with one of the few tour operators permitted to visit this area — such as Baja Sur Tours — and you can even get out and snorkel with the 300 or so animals that live here, perhaps even rubbing the belly of one of the playful pups.
The tours also include a tasty lunch and opportunities to swim with whale sharks.
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Heli-Hike the Bugaboos
The Bugaboos of British Columbia, Canada are a spectacular mix of stark granite towers and stunning glaciers that have been enticing heli-skiers for more than a half century. If skiing on diverse terrain among some of the most magnificent scenery on Earth is something that piques your interest, this may be your top pick as a stay at Bugaboo Lodge will place you right in the center of it all.
Only accessible via helicopter, you won’t have to worry about battling the crowds here. Instead you’ll be soaring down multiple ski runs both above and below the tree line in relative solitude, ideal for not only beginners but highly experienced heli-skiers.
After a long day out on the slopes, you can enjoy soothing those muscles in a hot tub while soaking up one of the most breathtaking views imaginable, followed by a delicious dinner paired with fine wine. In the morning, the aroma of blueberry pancakes are sure to lure you from your bed before you’re once again whisked off by helicopter into the jagged peaks of the Purcells.
Hike the Inca Trail and Raft on the Rio Blanco
Tucked between the dramatic 20,000-foot-high peaks of Salkantay and Humantay in the Soraypampa Valley, the Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort is part of the Mountain Lodges of Peru family. When based here, not only will you have the chance to hike the Inca trail, you’ll have a wealth of opportunities for other scenic treks — including some that are quite a bit less strenuous, leading to the Quenuales Forest or gorgeous glacial lakes.
A great place for those who want to enjoy various outdoor adventures, you’ll be able to ride Arabian horses to explore hidden ruins, or follow routes that climb high into the Vilcabamba Mountains. Whitewater rafting on the Rio Blanco is possible too, while mountain bikers can roll across the diverse terrain of Salkantay. Your reward for all that hard work is an outdoor hot tub with awe-inspiring views.
A Chimpanzee Safari in Tanzania
Unique Jungle Tours provides a truly once-in-a-lifetime excursion that involves a six-day safari in the legendary game park of Gomb and Mahale, which is home to a large number of wild chimpanzees as well as many other animals.
A variety of accommodation options are available, including luxury tent camps with complexes that include swimming pools, restaurants and bars. The tents themselves are equipped with bathrooms with showers. You can also choose to join a mobile camping tour, accompanied by an expert guide and cook, with all necessities provided, including toilets.
Meals are served just outside the tent, where you can enjoy a gentle breeze and impressive scenery.
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Dive the Caymans
Living the Dream Divers Tour in the Cayman Islands offers private dive tours that provide personal service and excursions that match the divers’ experience levels, making it ideal for beginners and the experienced alike. Located on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, you can enjoy everything from a more low-key adventure like snorkeling the shallow waters of Stingray City, to an all-out adventure, scuba diving among the sea turtles, moray eels and nurse sharks, as well as a host of exotic fish.
The Caymans are renowned as one of the best spots on Earth for snorkeling and diving, with incredibly clear, balmy waters. While this tour doesn’t include accommodation, you’ll find a wealth of options, and the company will pick you up right from your resort or hotel.
Mountain Bike Through Tibet
Talk about an adventure of a lifetime; Tibet Discover offers a 17-day/16-night mountain bike tour where you’ll bike atop the “roof of the world.” The trek begins in Lhasa and leads to Kathmandu, exploring temples like Potala Palace, known as the spiritual center of Tibet, along the way.
You’ll visit monasteries and cycle through some of the world’s most stunning views, including the majestic Himalayas and Mount Everest. As this is a private tour package, it includes your own personal tour guide, vehicle and driver, allowing you to learn more about Tibetan culture and lifestyle, as well as providing the opportunity to chat with locals.
Waddle with the Penguins in Antarctica
Quark Expeditions offers the opportunity for a very rare experience that few others have the chance to take part in. You’ll be able to waddle right alongside penguins, mingle with the seals and get up close to whales too, all in one of the Earth’s most truly unspoiled remote locations: Antarctica.
Packages include the flight from Chile over the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as the ship to Adelaide Island, in the Antarctic Circle. You’ll be able to snowshoe over untouched powder, kayak across tranquil waters while maneuvering around gigantic icebergs to access areas only a small number of humans ever get to see, and even do some polar camping.
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Dive Between Two Continents in Iceland
ION Luxury Adventure Hotel lies at the base of a towering volcano, surrounded by hot springs near one of the world’s top 10 rated scuba diving sites, and one of the most unique. This is where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia collide, with divers swimming right between the two continents in the fissure.
The ultra-clear waters draw both snorkelers and divers from around the world. A host of other recreational activities are available too, including hiking and — as the property leases a section of the coastline along the lake — outstanding catch-and-release fly fishing.
Other options include horseback tours aboard the especially gentle Icelandic horses, guided kayaking and rafting trips, as well as excursions on a glacier. Enjoy all of that and then return to dine on dishes that utilize fresh local ingredients before sipping drinks at the bar, designed specifically to showcase the brilliance of the dancing Northern Lights.
Extreme Cycling in Italy’s Dolomites
Italia Outdoors Food and Wine offers a fantastic tour for extreme cyclists: the Agony and Ecstasy Bike Tour, which is just what it sounds like. Its most extreme cycle tour has been called an adventure of a lifetime, with the itinerary including some of the most difficult climbs in the Italian Dolomites, which are well-known for their vertical walls and sheer cliffs, situated in the Northern Italian Alps.
This is for the experienced, serious cyclist who is seeking a major challenge through demanding terrain, though the reward is just as big with some of the most amazing scenery on the planet. The mouthwatering homemade meals are paired with local wine to fuel you for the next day’s adventure.
Hike the Great Wall
Visiting the Great Wall of China is often disappointing — if you only stick to the most heavily traveled path, that is. If you want to really experience it with an off-the-beaten-path kind of adventure, this is your opportunity. The Jiankou Great Wall Hike not only provides access to the restored area where most people tend to congregate, but many isolated, virtually untouched spots too.
It requires a bit of a tough constitution, and a good walking stick, but it’s well worth the effort to take it all in without countless other tourists. The two-day trek, offered by WildGreatWall Adventure Tours, includes camping overnight and enjoying a magnificent sunrise and sunset right on the old wall.
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Learn to Sail in The Grenadines
If you’ve always wanted to learn to sail, there are few better places than the dazzling Caribbean, and The Grenadines are particularly spectacular. Barefoot Offshore Sailing School is one of the longest running and most lauded sailing schools. It’s owned and run by yachtsmen, one of whom is a former America’s Cup sailor whose family has lived here in St Vincent & The Grenadines for many generations.
The Sailing School offers a one-week Learn-N-Cruise course, the live aboard cruise providing students with a hands-on learning experience while exploring the breathtaking Grenadine Islands. By the time the course is completed, you’ll not only have experienced one of life’s most incredible adventures, but you’ll earn your ASA Bareboat Chartering certification that allows you to charter your own sailboat (up to 40 feet) anywhere in the world.
Mingle with the Monkeys in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famous for its myriad of adventure trips, and Desafio Adventure Company offers everything a thrill-seeker could ever want, all in a beautifully lush environment. Rappel down cascading falls before following a river through deep gorges. Hike to Arenal Volcano National Park, where you’ll possibly witnessing molten lava flowing from the volcano.
Ride a horse through the rainforest, mingle with monkeys as well as toucans, sloths and armadillos, and try your hand at canyoneering too. After it all, you can soak in the natural hot springs, relaxing and reflecting back on the unforgettable day.
Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking in Wyoming
OARS is a company that’s famous for offering some of the best adventure vacations, including a combination whitewater rafting/kayak trip under the shadows of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.
You’ll get to glide across the calm waters of Jackson Lake in a kayak, spending the night in the heart of Grand Teton National Park for two days. Then you’ll switch to inflatable rafts, where you’ll float down the Snake River, mesmerized by the wilderness scenery, including jagged, mile-high mountain peaks.
Wildlife is abundant too, with glimpses of bald eagles soaring above, as well as river otter, elk and moose.
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Iceberg Hunting on Fogo Island
Fogo Island Inn is sometimes referred to as the hotel at the end of the Earth. Located on the rocky shores of Fogo Island, which lies off the Northeastern Newfoundland coast in Canada, this luxury all-inclusive resort is an escapist’s fantasy come to life.
Every room boasts expansive sea views, along with binoculars for gazing out at the brilliant blue-and-white-hued icebergs that float by in late spring and early summer, and the humpback whales that pass by throughout the summer months.
Each of the rooms also includes a giant soaking tub, a fireplace or wood stove and beautiful handmade Scandinavian-inspired furniture, created by skilled local makers. Head out on a boat to hunt for icebergs that are often dotting the water, go fishing, kayaking or cycling, and go hiking on 120 miles worth of ancient footpaths.
If you’re interested in boat building, there’s even a hands-on boat building class. During the chillier months of the year when snow is on the ground, snowshoeing or venturing out on Nordic skis is possible. In late fall through early spring, the inn is perfectly situated for viewing one of nature’s most dazzling light shows: the Aurora Borealis.
