Quiz Result: Unique Adventures [Where To Travel Next]
Adventure is your middle name! When you travel, you like to be active and chase after unique thrills and adrenaline rushes.
Keep reading for tips on how to book these types of trips as well as suggestions for unique adventures to have around the world!
Note that this page contains affiliate links to trusted partners I think you’ll love, which means if a booking is made I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips For Booking Unique Active Adventures
1) Start with an adventure activity that you love and build your trip from there. For example, as someone who loves hiking and outdoor adventure as well as going to places that aren’t touristy, I recently spent 2 weeks hiking around Kyrgyzstan.
2) Use local forums, threads, and social media. The best recommendations come from locals or at least people who have been where you’re planning to go.
Read travel blogs for inspiration or ask fellow travelers in Facebook groups like Girls Love Travel and the Going Travel Community.
You can also utilize local travel Facebook groups and Reddit forums, such as the Colorado Hikers Reddit forum.
Finally, share a post on your social media platform of choice asking for recommendations. People love to give their input!
3) Opt for accommodations that facilitate adventure. Think ski lodges, ranches, walking safari lodges, resorts with lots of active programming (like the BodyHoliday in St. Lucia), and hike-in lodges (like Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park).
Interested in a retreat? The adventure section of BookYogaRetreats features yoga retreats that also weave in hiking, cycling, climbing, surfing, and other active adventures.
4) Use tour companies focused on adventure tourism. An additional bonus is that having a guide allows you to learn about a place from a local’s perspective. Personally, I’m a fan of:
- WHOA (get $100 off with code “JESSIEONAJOURNEY”). WHOA stands for “Women High On Adventure” and their focus is on creating active and sustainable adventures. I actually did an adventurous trip to Mongolia with them and loved it!
- You can also search locally. For instance, for my 2-week Kyrgyzstan trip, I went through Visit Alay, which focuses on hiking, horseback riding, and cultural trips.
- REI Trips. Certain gear companies host epic adventure trips. For instance, REI leads adventures around the US and Canada.
- Airbnb Experiences. These experiences are created and led by locals. While not all are adventure-focused, I’ve been able to find some really fun cycling and hiking experiences—like hiking to a secret waterfall in Puerto Rico far away from touristy Old San Juan.
- WithLocals. Book private experiences created and hosted by locals, or have a local create something custom for you.
While popular booking platforms like Viator, GetYourGuide, and Klook tend to have more popular tours, you can still find adventure experiences if you search.
5) Stay flexible and open-minded. Active adventures can be unpredictable, with weather or other factors impacting plans. Stay flexible and open to changes, as this can lead to unexpected and memorable experiences.
Recommended Experiences
Here are some #BeyondTheGuidebook adventure experiences you may enjoy:
- Hike through Kyrgyzstan and stay with local families in yurts and homestays along the way
- Visit Mongolia to hike in the Altai Mountains and bike the Gobi Desert while camping and doing yurt homestays along the way
- Trek overnight up Mount Agung, the highest peak in Bali at 10,308 feet
- Get active while exploring remote islands on a Galapagos yacht cruise
- Try a quirky scooter snorkeling tour in Antigua
- Go white water rafting followed by an organic farm visit in Costa Rica
- Do an all-night hike through the Latvian “jungle” to get in touch with nature
- Hike in the mountains to a lake where an easel and art instructor are waiting to help you paint the beautiful Vail scenery
- Hike the gorgeous “Switzerland of Bhutan” in Jakar
- Cycle the stunning “Scotland of Asia” in Kerala, India
- Sandboard the oldest desert in the world in Namibia
- Swim between tectonic plates in Iceland
- Bike Tuscany’s breathtaking UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia
- Travel through five unique ecosystems as you hike up Nicaragua’s active La Concepción Volcano
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