There are vacations, and then there are adventures. I like to consider myself more of an adventurer than a leisure traveler. Today I am sharing some of my favorite adventure travel destinations in hopes of inspiring your next trip.
I like to be pushed out of my comfort zone, and I love being surrounded by nature. Sure relaxing on the beach can be fun, but I would rather be biking through a vineyard, hiking up a mountain, or trying to navigate a dog sled through a forest.
This list has a little bit of everything – off the grid adventures, destinations where you can balance relaxation and activity, and a wide variety of landscapes from deserts to jungles. Some of these destinations can easily be combined with a beach vacation or cultural exploration. It’s easy to combine a trip to the Amazon with a visit to Machu Picchu. When I have traveled to Costa Rica I have split my time between the beach and the rainforest.
First things first, you will need to check the CDC website to see if you need to get any shots or malaria pills before jetting off to these locations. I also recommend checking the CDC website to see if Zika is a concern. If you are going to a high altitude area, usually mosquitos are not a concern since they live in lower elevations.
One last thing to remember is that any vacation can be turned into an adventure. Maybe you aren’t ready to canoe across a piranha filled lake to get to a jungle lodge in a remote part of the Amazon. That’s ok. Try a day trip instead! Do a bike tour, a guided hike, or a kayaking experience. These are fun and easy ways to enjoy time outside, and they also ensure that you will be back to your hotel room in time for dinner.
Adventure Travel Destinations
Feed your thirst for adventure by going to these adventure travel destinations. There is a little something for everyone - find inspiring travel destinations from the desert to the Arctic Circle.
The Amazon Rainforest
The lodges along Lake Sandoval in Peru can only be accessed after taking a boat, hiking for an hour, and then canoeing across the lake. It's completely off the grid and it's a nature lovers dream. See an incredible range of plant and animal life, and maybe step outside your comfort zone. I paired my trip to the Amazon with a trip to Machu Picchu.
Lapland
It's cold and dark in Lapland during the winter, but it's also one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Fill your days with sledding, cross country skiing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Africa's tallest peak takes at least 5 days and takes trekkers through 5 different ecological zones. Many people pair this with a trip to the Serengeti.
A Serengeti Safari
If you want to go on a safari, the Serengeti gives travelers a chance to see the big five - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. If you are extra adventurous, stay in a tent instead of a lodge.
Glamping in the Sahara Desert
Mix adventure and luxury by glamping in the Sahara Desert. Spending two nights in the big dunes was an incredible trip filled with camel rides and stargazing.
Utah
Utah's State and National Parks are incredible. If you like hiking and rock climbing, this is the place for you. Make sure you visit Bryce Canyon too.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown has it all. It's a spot where tourists go to try activities like bungee jumping, mountain biking, heli-skiing, white water rafting, river surfing, parasailing, and skydiving. And take a day trip to Milford Sound, a fiord filled with waterfalls.
La Fortuna Costa Rica
La Fortuna is a hub of adventure. This town located near a volcano is a place to hike through the cloud forests, zipline, rappel down waterfalls, and go on nature safaris. After a few days in the rainforest, go to the beach and learn to surf.
Iceland
If you don't mind chilly weather, go explore Iceland's natural beauty. Try ice climbing and climb a glacier, drive the Golden Circle, and then relax at the Blue Lagoon. In the winter, search for the Northern Lights.
Nepal
The jungle of Southern Nepal is a place where you can see rhinos in the wild, canoe through marshland that is home to crocodiles, and see wild boars and peacocks in the forest.
Or trek the Annapurna circuit, a group of mountains in the Himalayas (this can take up to 21 days). If you have the training, you could trek to Everest Base Camp.
