Top 10 best adventure vacations to book now
Research says we’re becoming less adventurous, so to spark your intrepid nature we’ve put together the 10 best adventure vacations to bring out your inner explorer.
While the thought of packing light and heading out in search of new horizons and adrenaline-inducing activities may light a fire under some, it seems that many of others have become content with leaving the adventures to other people. But with so much out there to thrill and delight, it would be a shame to lose our thirst for globetrotting.
But it does seem that we’re losing our sense of adventure. Research by Sunsail into 2,000 UK adults has unearthed some statistics that would have the adventurers of yore spinning in Davy Jones’ locker. They include:
- 22% of adults have never slept in a tent
- Only 41% have walked 10 km or more on a hike
- Only 4% describing their ideal summer vacation as the more extreme the better
- 51% have never used a compass to take a bearing
Basically, we’ve gone a bit soft, lost our sense of adventure. Soft and unadventurous isn’t going to get us anywhere in the post-Brexit apocalypse, so if you want to toughen up with something more challenging than a gentle weekend away, here are the 10 top adventure vacations to reignite the spirit of derring-do.
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Hike to the summit of an Aztec pyramid in Mexico
Venture into the stunning El Tepozteco National Park to explore beautiful, lush flora and fauna, visit incredible ancient ruins, like the historic former Convent of Tepoztlán. Grab your walking boots for a bracing hike to the summit of El Tepozteco, an Aztec pyramid where you will discover incredible rainforest views.
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Kayak down Río de las Vueltas in Patagonia
There’s plenty of Patagonia to explore by foot, from swathes of forest to crisp glaciers, but you can also adventure through the mountainous landscape from the water. As you kayak downstream, the landscape rises up around you, treating you to stunning views of Mount Fitz Roy and the surrounding Patagonian scenery.
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Chill, but don't chill, in Iceland
It might not have the fearsome beasties of the tropics, but frost can bite just as hard as a tiger. Well, nearly. So the glacial hiking here shows a true spirit of exploration, offering one of the best adventure vacations in Europe. You can also ‘sail’ on frozen water with snowmobiles.
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Set sail in the sands of Jordan
The desert is like an ocean, just drier. It’s vast, intimidating and not somewhere you want to find yourself alone at night. You won’t be alone on this trip, but you will be adventurous – it includes canyoning and hiking – and you’ll get to go to sea: floating in the Dead Sea like a fleshy sailing boat.
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Go natural in Peru
If you’re one of the 22% of adults who have never slept in a tent, then this is one heck of a way to lose your canvas virginity: it involves camping in the great outdoors as you climb more than 5,000 meters to the summit of the awe-inspiring Rainbow Mountain.
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Hit the skies in South Africa
Nothing tests the old nerves quite like tip-toeing your way over the rim of Table Mountain in Cape Town: aka, one of the world’s highest commercial abseils and best adventure vacation activities. And if that’s not enough of an adrenalin hit for you, Flash Pack’s South Africa trip also comes with surfing and paddle-boarding on the Cape Peninsula. Buckle up.
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Slip and slide in Slovenia
Slovenia’s Bohinj Valley may be a spectacular patch of central Europe, with mirror-still lakes and hazy peaks, but it’s also ripe for some gritty adventuring. Canyoning here is not for the faint-hearted, as you heave your way over giant boulders and rappel down water slides deep in the mountain ravines on an adrenaline-fueled European adventure vacation.
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Bust some river moves in Costa Rica
If there’s one river you want to get wet and wild on, it’s Rio Celeste in Costa Rica – where pigmentations turn the water a startling turquoise hue. Hop into a tube and whirl your way down the winding valley gorge in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Fourteen kilometers of wilderness tubing later, and you’ll feel ready to take on the world.
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Snow-drive like you mean it in Finland
Snowmobiling doesn’t get more hardy than in the vast frozen tundras of Finnish Lapland. Rev up your machine and unleash that explorer within, as you zip over the gleaming white horizon by day or twilight. After a quick sauna (one needs a few luxuries in life), you can ramp up the adventure further with husky sledding and cross-country skiing. And, as this is Arctic territory, there’s always a chance of spotting those elusive Northern Lights.
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A unique wildlife safari in Thailand
Wildlife safaris may be on many people’s bucket list of best adventure vacation experiences, but this one in Thailand is unique. Prepare for an early start so you can take to the water as the mist starts to evaporate and listen out for the sounds of gibbon calls echoing across the water. Once back at the raft house and full from breakfast, you can explore the same waters in full sunlight.
Images: Flash Pack, Shutterstock
