Adventure

If you’re prepared to splash out on luxury adventure travel, you can really spread your wings and experience some very special places. As an adventurous traveller you may already been on an African wildlife safari. So why not go further and embark on an Antarctic safari? You can take an expedition cruising ship around the Antarctic peninsula and see the vast colonies of sea birds and penguins. These are top quality trips, where you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who can help you understand this incredible area.

Alternatively, try the Arctic, where you can arrange a trip to spot polar bears, then stop at a town and try husky trails, snowshoeing or snowmobiling.

If the thought of all that snow makes you shiver, what about horse trekking through the Limpopo Valley in Botswana’s Tuli Block wilderness? The travel provider describes this as “not for the faint hearted” because of the difficult terrain, although the horses are used to the country. This kind of trekking can provide meetings with lions and elephants, as well as demanding riding.

It’s often the case that if you want to meet the people of a region, outside of the tourist traps, then “luxury” travel is your only option. The cheaper packages are not able to provide environmentally friendly interactions with real people except in somewhat artificial situations. So for example, if you want to experience the wildness of Morocco rather than its well-known tourist destinations, you’ll need to look for private, customised tours that are provided by a Berber-British operator.

With these kinds of luxury adventure tours, you can decide whether to use 4x4s or camels to traverse the desert and can have a private camp under the stars with Berber guides to cook for the group in the evenings.

With more companies than ever offering adventure travel trips to the wildest parts of the world, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the choice available. Fortunately, some stand out from the rest thanks to their professionalism and love of adventure travel. So, here in no particular order are five of the best adventure travel companies.

G Adventure

With years of experience in adventure travel and a good collection of awards to show for it from the likes of National Geographic, G Adventure certainly deserves its enviable reputation. They provide over a thousand adventure travel itineraries to all parts of the globe and have a great focus on African safaris and wildlife encounters.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid travel love to involve their travellers with local people and their customs in out of the way places such as the hill tribe villages of the Thai-Burmese border. Having small groups and using local transport, whether that happens to be by pick-up truck or by elephant, they’ll certainly get you to see the real country and people up close and face to face.

Tusker Trail

Mountain trekking is Tusker Trail’s speciality and nobody does it better than this highly-experienced, family-run company. Popular treks include Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Everest Base Camp in Nepal and Machu Pinchu in the Peruvian Andes.

Elevate Destinations

This company specialises in luxury adventure travel trips, especially for families. What really makes this company stand out is their commitment to preserving the rural environments they visit as well as donating funds to local projects. You can even get involved in volunteering.

Austin Adventures

This company has a good range of travel adventures to offer you. These include trekking in the Andes of South America, sports adventure trips in Costa Rica and boat cruises on the mighty Mekong River as it passes through Cambodia and Vietnam.

For those whose idea of a holiday means leaving their comfort zone to chase thrills, choosing a destination can be the toughest part. These five are known to tick all the boxes for the intrepid traveller.

Venezuela’s ‘Lost World’

Mount Roraima in Venezuela, virtually untouched by evolution, inspired Conan Doyle’s tale of rampaging dinosaurs. To visit this beautiful enclosed ecosystem, trekkers must brave rushing rivers, a winding mountain path and a thundering waterfall. No dinosaurs, though!

Kenyan safari

Even if you’ve seen wild animals in a zoo or safari park, there’s no comparison with viewing them in their natural habitat. Visitors can travel across the Masai Mara in all-terrain vehicles or on horseback – nature’s own all-terrain vehicle.

Siberia

This frozen wilderness of North Asia possesses a unique landscape and is home to animals not seen elsewhere. Adventurers can traverse this exceptional region in a number of ways, including by motorcycle, dogsled or as a passenger on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.

Franklin River, Tasmania

Both a National Park and a World Heritage Area, opportunities for activities in this region include white-water rafting, canoeing and hiking along the basin. With stunningly diverse flora and fauna, it’s a gift to even the most amateur photographer.

Everest Base Camp

If you’re fighting fit, then having a crack at climbing the tallest mountain above sea level must be tempting. Most people don’t aim for the summit but accept the significant challenge of reaching one of the base camps, at around 17,000 feet. With support and proper equipment, climbers achieve amazing memories and bragging rights for life.

There’s a perfect holiday for everyone. These five destinations prove that for the determined adventurer, the world is their oyster.

The Aussie Outback is an almost mythical destination, synonymous with dry red soils, unique wildlife and awesome scenery. But where are the top five must-see destinations?

1. Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock)

One of the best known landmarks on Australian soil, Uluru is a rock the size of a small mountain with sacred meaning to the local Aboriginal tribes. It’s a spectacular place to spend time finding yourself in the heart of a continent.

2. Kakadu National Park

This national park represents the best of the “Top End” of Australia, in the Northern Territories. Teeming with wildlife and wetlands, it offers a stark contrast with the desert stillness of Uluru. Go crocodile spotting, waterfall swimming or take a tour of the extensive rock art.

3. Coober Pedy

Called the “Opal Capital of the World”, Coober Pedy is a small but surprising gem that hides most of its beauty underground. Made by opal miners in the early 20th Century, visitors can stay in a below-ground hotel, or shop for opals in a cavernous arcade. A unique place to visit!

4. Outback Farm Stay

For a truly revealing look into what life is like in the “Bush”, stay on a real farm. Experience the hardy lifestyle with some of the friendliest people on earth and make memories (and friends) for life.

5. Charters Towers – Gold City

Charters Towers is a small town with a big history. The 19th century gold rush made it one of the richest towns in Australia at the time, and it still contains architecture that evokes the Wild West. A crossroads between the interior and the coast, north and south.

Travel in outback Australia with care as water can be scarce and temperatures soar. Isolation can be extreme, but with careful planning, it can be the trip of a lifetime!

There are numerous activity holidays offered in countries all over the world. Four of the most popular activity holidays in the world, in no specific order, include:

Going on Safari in South Africa

Safari holidays are available at the many game parks dotted around South Africa, and promise a great activity holiday for the whole family. Not only do you get a chance to see the famous “Big Five”, but you also have the opportunity to camp out under the stars, visit cheetah conservation centres, go snorkelling, kayaking, and mountain biking, as well as visiting crocodile farms, and seeing the day-today life in a real Zulu village.

Camping Wild West style

The southwest regions of the USA provide camping adventures reminiscent of the old wild west days, where you eat and sleep around a campfire under the velvety, starry expanse of the night sky. Camping tours are available in areas where the landscape is spectacular, in such places as Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire, Monument Valley, and the world-famous Grand Canyon.

Experience a blend of culture and nature in Sri Lanka

This is an activity holiday that will satisfy every member of the family, no matter how diverse their interests. Visit World Heritage temples, interact with the gentle giants at elephant sanctuaries, see key attractions, stroll through tea plantations, visit the imposing Sigiriya rock fortress, and of course, spend time on the many magnificent beaches that the country has to offer.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Known as the “land of fire and ice”, Iceland offers the holidaymaker plenty in the line of activities, especially during winter when it’s at its most impressive. The boiling mud pools, geysers, and hot thermal springs are in complete contrast with the icy landscape surrounding them, and activities include invigorating hikes to stunning waterfalls, and across mighty glaciers. Visiting Reykjavik also gives you the opportunity to visit excellent museums, dine at some of the many quirky cafes, and experience the famous Northern Lights first hand.

Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse on Unsplash

It’s that time again. The kids will soon be off school, and you have to begin planning your next vacation. You’re bored of the same old beach holiday, reading the same old paperbacks, with the same old plot. Just because your regular vacation destination has become old and boring, doesn’t mean you have to be.

The Indiana Jones Way

Ever wondered what it would be like trekking through the jungle? Well, you don’t have to be Indiana Jones. You and the whole family can have the adventure of a lifetime, as you navigate your way through the tall trees and green leaves of the Costa Rica Rainforest, compass in hand. You will learn survival skills along the way. Many travel companies organize family-friendly expeditions in Costa Rica. Look for one offering a fully comprehensive package.

Wet All Over

How about kayaking? What an amazing experience it is to be carried by the rapids along the Noguera Pallaresa River, in the Catalan Pyrenees, while enjoying the scenic view of these majestic mountains. Just remember to pack a waterproof camera to capture the experience of a lifetime! To make sure you don’t get caught up the creek without a paddle, it is very important to find a qualified and experienced instructor and guide.

Skiing in Aspen

You will never feel more alive than when you’re descending the snow covered hills of the Aspen Snowmass. You and the kids will be having so much fun, with so many mountains to ski, that you won’t have time to notice the cold. And when the day draws to a close, gather round a blazing fire in the comfort of your cabin. Be sure to find a good instructor, invest in a good pair of skis, and have fun!

Don’t waste your next vacation doing nothing.