travel vs adventure

• Cultural Adventures
• Desert Adventures
• Extreme Adventures
• Island Adventures
• Jungle Adventures
• Mountain Adventures
• Road Trip Adventures
• Water Adventures

Latest Posts

• Unleash Your Wanderlust: The Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel in the West
• Unleash Your Wanderlust: The Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel in Central America
• Unleash Your Inner Adventurer: The Ultimate Guide to X Adventure
• Unleash Your Adventurous Spirit with These Epic Desert Adventures!
• Unlock Your Next Adventure with the Ultimate Y Adventure Guides

Select by date:

• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• Wildlife Adventures
• Winter Adventures

The Difference Between Adventure and Travel

• October 25, 2023

When it comes to exploring new horizons and experiencing the wonders of the world, two terms often come to mind: adventure and travel. While they may seem interchangeable at first glance, there are distinct differences between the two. Adventure is all about embracing uncertainty, seeking thrilling experiences, and stepping out of your comfort zone, while travel encompasses the act of journeying to different places, discovering new cultures, and expanding one’s perspective. In this article, we will delve deeper into the dissimilarities between adventure and travel, shedding light on the unique aspects that define each of these exhilarating pursuits.

1. Heading 1

1.1. subheading 1, 1.2. subheading 2, 1.3. subheading 3, 1.4. subheading 4, 1.5. subheading 5, 2. heading 2, 2.1. subheading 1, 2.2. subheading 2, 2.3. subheading 3, 2.4. subheading 4, 2.5. subheading 5, 3. heading 3, 3.1. subheading 1, 3.2. subheading 2, 3.3. subheading 3, 3.4. subheading 4, 3.5. subheading 5.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, the key distinction lies in the purpose and mindset behind them.

Adventure is all about seeking excitement, taking risks, and pushing one’s limits. It involves engaging in thrilling activities such as hiking, rock climbing, skydiving, or even exploring uncharted territories. The focus is on adrenaline rush, novelty, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

On the other hand, travel is more about immersing oneself in different cultures, traditions, and environments. It involves visiting new destinations, meeting new people, and experiencing the local way of life. Traveling often includes activities like sightseeing, trying local cuisines, and engaging in cultural exchanges.

While adventure can be a part of travel, not all travel experiences are adventurous. Adventure tends to be more physically demanding and requires a certain level of courage and risk-taking. Travel, on the other hand, can be both adventurous and leisurely, depending on one’s preferences.

In conclusion, adventure and travel are two sides of the same coin. Adventure focuses on thrill-seeking and stepping out of comfort zones, while travel encompasses a broader spectrum of experiences, including cultural immersion and exploration. Whether one seeks adrenaline-pumping adventures or seeks to soak in the beauty of different cultures, both adventure and travel offer unique opportunities for personal growth and discovery.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, the mindset and purpose behind each are unique.

Adventure is about pushing boundaries and seeking thrills. It involves taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s climbing a mountain, skydiving, or exploring uncharted territories, adventure is all about seeking excitement and adrenaline rushes.

On the other hand, travel is more focused on the journey itself and the cultural experiences. It involves immersing yourself in different cultures, trying new cuisines, and discovering the history and traditions of a place. Travel is often about personal growth, broadening your horizons, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world.

In summary, adventure is about seeking thrills and pushing boundaries, while travel is about exploring new cultures and gaining knowledge. Both can be incredibly fulfilling, but they cater to different desires and motivations.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, the motivations and outcomes of each can vary significantly.

Adventure is characterized by a sense of thrill, risk, and pushing one’s limits. It often involves engaging in activities that are physically or mentally demanding, such as mountain climbing, skydiving, or scuba diving. The focus is on seeking adrenaline rushes, facing challenges, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

On the other hand, travel is more about discovering and immersing oneself in different cultures, landscapes, and histories. It encompasses a wider range of experiences, including visiting famous landmarks, trying local cuisines, and interacting with locals. The emphasis is on learning, broadening horizons, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world.

While adventure can be a part of travel, it is not synonymous with it. Adventure travel combines elements of both by offering exciting and unconventional experiences in unique destinations. It caters to those seeking a blend of thrill and exploration.

In summary, adventure and travel are distinct concepts. Adventure focuses on adrenaline-inducing activities and pushing boundaries, whereas travel is about cultural immersion and discovery. However, adventure travel bridges the gap between the two, providing an opportunity to experience both the thrill of adventure and the enrichment of travel.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, the key distinction lies in the mindset and purpose behind each. Adventure is characterized by a sense of thrill, risk-taking, and pushing one’s limits. It often involves engaging in adrenaline-pumping activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or mountain climbing. On the other hand, travel is more focused on leisurely exploration, cultural immersion, and relaxation. It typically involves visiting tourist attractions, trying local cuisine, and learning about different customs and traditions. While adventure can be a part of travel, not all travel experiences are adventurous. Understanding the difference between adventure and travel can help travelers choose the type of experience that aligns with their preferences and expectations.

Adventure and travel may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, adventure focuses more on thrilling and exciting activities, while travel encompasses a broader range of experiences. Let’s delve deeper into the disparities between adventure and travel.

Adventure and travel are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring and experiencing new places, there are key factors that set them apart. Understanding these differences can help you choose the type of experience that aligns with your preferences and goals.

Adventure is all about pushing boundaries and seeking thrilling experiences. It involves taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone, and embracing the unknown. Adventure seekers often engage in activities such as hiking, rock climbing, skydiving, or extreme sports. The adrenaline rush and the sense of accomplishment from conquering challenges are what drive adventurers.

On the other hand, travel is more focused on cultural immersion, relaxation, and exploration. It involves visiting new destinations, interacting with locals, and experiencing different traditions and lifestyles. Travelers often seek to broaden their horizons, learn about different cultures, and create lasting memories through meaningful experiences.

While adventure can be a part of travel, it is not the sole focus. Travel allows for a deeper understanding of the world and its diverse cultures, whereas adventure is more about personal growth and testing one’s limits. Both adventure and travel offer unique opportunities for self-discovery, but they cater to different preferences and motivations.

In conclusion, adventure and travel are distinct concepts that offer different experiences. Whether you prefer the thrill of pushing boundaries or the immersion in new cultures, understanding the difference can help you plan your next journey accordingly.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two distinct concepts. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, there are some key differences between the two.

Adventure typically refers to activities that are thrilling, daring, and often involve some level of physical risk. It is about pushing one’s limits and seeking adrenaline-pumping experiences. Examples of adventure activities include skydiving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, and white-water rafting. Adventure enthusiasts are constantly seeking new challenges and are willing to step out of their comfort zones.

On the other hand, travel is a broader term that encompasses various types of journeys. It can involve leisurely vacations, educational trips, cultural exchanges, or even business travel. Travel is more focused on the overall experience of visiting different places, immersing oneself in different environments, and learning about different cultures and traditions. It can be a way to relax, rejuvenate, or gain new perspectives.

While adventure and travel can overlap, not all travel experiences are adventurous, and not all adventures involve extensive travel. One can have an adventurous experience without traveling far from home, such as trying a new extreme sport in their own city. Similarly, one can travel to a new destination and have a calm and peaceful vacation without engaging in any adventurous activities.

In conclusion, adventure and travel are two distinct concepts, each offering unique experiences. Adventure is about seeking thrills and pushing boundaries, while travel is more about exploring and immersing oneself in different cultures. Whether one prefers adventure, travel, or a combination of both, they provide opportunities for personal growth, learning, and memorable experiences.

Adventure and travel are two terms often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, the mindset and purpose behind each are unique.

Adventure is characterized by its thrill and excitement. It often involves taking risks and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. It can include activities such as hiking in remote mountains, skydiving, or exploring uncharted territories. The focus of adventure is on pushing boundaries, seeking adrenaline rushes, and embracing the unknown.

On the other hand, travel is more about the journey itself. It encompasses the act of moving from one place to another, usually with the intention of experiencing new destinations. Travel can involve leisurely activities like sightseeing, immersing oneself in local traditions, or simply relaxing on a beach. The essence of travel lies in discovering new cultures, meeting new people, and broadening one’s perspective.

While adventure often requires a certain level of physical exertion and risk-taking, travel can be more accessible and inclusive to a wider range of individuals. Adventure seekers are typically driven by the desire for thrills and challenges, while travelers seek personal growth, cultural enrichment, and a break from their daily routines.

In conclusion, adventure and travel are both exciting ways to explore the world, but they differ in their mindset and purpose. Whether one prefers the adrenaline-fueled experiences of adventure or the leisurely exploration of travel, both can provide unique and enriching experiences for individuals seeking to expand their horizons.

Adventure and travel are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings and experiences. While both involve exploring new places and having unique experiences, there are key differences that set them apart.

Travel typically refers to the act of going to different locations, whether it is within one’s own country or abroad. It often involves visiting popular tourist destinations, exploring historical sites, and immersing oneself in the local culture. Travelers usually have a planned itinerary, and their focus is on discovering new places, trying local cuisines, and experiencing the beauty of different landscapes.

On the other hand, adventure is more about the thrill and excitement of engaging in daring activities and pushing one’s limits. It involves taking risks, seeking adrenaline-pumping experiences, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Adventure enthusiasts often seek out activities such as hiking, rock climbing, skydiving, or participating in extreme sports. The emphasis is on embracing challenges, overcoming fears, and gaining a sense of accomplishment.

While travel can be adventurous to some extent, not all adventures necessarily involve travel. Adventure can be found in everyday activities or within one’s own city. It is a mindset that encourages exploration, curiosity, and a willingness to try new things. Travel, on the other hand, can be less physically demanding and more focused on relaxation, sightseeing, and cultural immersion.

In summary, travel involves visiting new places and immersing oneself in different cultures, while adventure revolves around seeking thrilling experiences and pushing personal boundaries. Both offer unique opportunities for personal growth and discovery, but they cater to different preferences and motivations.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, there are distinct differences between the two.

Adventure is all about seeking thrilling and adrenaline-pumping activities. It involves pushing oneself out of the comfort zone and taking risks. Activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing are often associated with adventure. The focus is on the excitement and the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming challenges.

On the other hand, travel is more about immersing oneself in new environments and gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures. It often involves visiting historical sites, trying local cuisine, and interacting with locals. Travel allows individuals to broaden their horizons, learn about different traditions, and appreciate the diversity of the world.

While adventure can be a part of travel, not all travel experiences are adventurous. Some people prefer a more relaxed and leisurely exploration, focusing on sightseeing and cultural experiences rather than adrenaline-fueled activities.

In conclusion, adventure and travel may intersect at times, but they are distinct concepts. Adventure is about seeking thrills and taking risks, while travel is about immersing oneself in new cultures and environments. Both can be enriching and fulfilling in their own ways, catering to different interests and preferences.

Adventure and travel may seem similar at first glance, but they have distinct differences. While travel typically refers to visiting new places and experiencing different cultures, adventure involves taking risks and seeking thrilling experiences. Travel is often associated with relaxation and leisure, while adventure is more focused on pushing personal boundaries and seeking adrenaline-inducing activities. Whether it’s hiking through remote mountains, skydiving from great heights, or exploring uncharted territories, adventure offers a sense of excitement and novelty that travel alone may not provide. However, both adventure and travel can be incredibly rewarding, and they often go hand in hand. Many travelers seek out adventurous experiences during their journeys, combining the best of both worlds. Ultimately, the difference between adventure and travel lies in the mindset and intention of the individual, with adventure emphasizing the thrill of the unknown and travel focusing on cultural immersion and exploration.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, there are distinct differences between the two.

Adventure is associated with excitement, risk, and adrenaline. It involves engaging in thrilling activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or rock climbing. Adventure seekers are drawn to the thrill of pushing their limits and stepping out of their comfort zones. They seek out experiences that provide an adrenaline rush and a sense of accomplishment.

On the other hand, travel is more about discovering new cultures, immersing oneself in different environments, and gaining a broader perspective of the world. It involves visiting iconic landmarks, trying local cuisines, and interacting with people from different backgrounds. Travelers are interested in learning about different traditions, history, and ways of life.

While adventure can be a part of travel, it is not the sole focus. Travel encompasses a wider range of experiences, including leisurely exploration, relaxation, and cultural enrichment. Adventure, on the other hand, is centered around high-energy activities that provide a sense of thrill and excitement.

In conclusion, adventure and travel are related but distinct concepts. They offer different experiences and cater to different preferences. Whether one seeks the adrenaline rush of adventure or the cultural immersion of travel, both can provide enriching and memorable experiences.

Adventure and travel are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, adventure focuses more on thrilling and adrenaline-pumping activities, whereas travel encompasses a broader range of experiences. Adventure often involves activities such as hiking, rock climbing, bungee jumping, or skydiving, where the element of risk and excitement is paramount. On the other hand, travel can include activities like sightseeing, visiting historical landmarks, trying local cuisines, or immersing oneself in different cultures. While adventure may be a part of travel, not all travel experiences are adventurous. It is important to understand the difference between the two to plan and choose the type of experience that suits one’s preferences and interests.

Adventure and travel are two distinct concepts that often overlap in the realm of exploration and discovery. While both involve venturing into unfamiliar territory, there are key differences that set them apart.

Adventure can be defined as an exciting or daring experience that typically involves some level of risk. It is about pushing boundaries, seeking adrenaline rushes, and embracing the unknown. Adventure enthusiasts thrive on challenges and are constantly seeking new and thrilling experiences. Whether it’s scaling a treacherous mountain peak, skydiving from a plane, or navigating through dense jungles, adventure is all about stepping out of one’s comfort zone and embracing the thrill of uncertainty.

On the other hand, travel is a broader term that encompasses various forms of exploration and leisure. It refers to the act of journeying to different places, both near and far, with the purpose of discovering new cultures, landscapes, and experiences. Travel can involve visiting tourist destinations, immersing oneself in local traditions, or simply exploring the beauty of nature. Unlike adventure, travel is not necessarily focused on taking risks or seeking adrenaline-pumping activities. It can be a more relaxed and introspective experience, allowing individuals to broaden their horizons and gain new perspectives.

In summary, adventure and travel may often go hand in hand, but they have distinct characteristics. Adventure is more about pushing limits, embracing risks, and seeking thrilling experiences, while travel is a broader concept that encompasses the exploration of different places and cultures. Whether one seeks the adrenaline rush of adventure or the cultural enrichment of travel, both offer unique opportunities for personal growth and discovery.

Adventure and travel may seem similar, but they offer different experiences and perspectives. While travel usually refers to visiting new places and experiencing different cultures, adventure involves engaging in thrilling and daring activities. Travel often focuses on relaxation and exploration, allowing individuals to immerse themselves in new environments and engage with local customs. On the other hand, adventure is all about pushing boundaries and seeking adrenaline rushes. It includes activities such as hiking, rock climbing, skydiving, and other extreme sports. While both travel and adventure can be exciting and fulfilling, they cater to different preferences and personalities. Some people prefer the tranquility of travel, while others thrive on the thrill of adventure. Ultimately, the choice between adventure and travel depends on one’s interests, goals, and comfort level with uncertainty.

Adventure and travel may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, the main contrast lies in the approach and purpose. Travel is often associated with relaxation, sightseeing, and leisure. It focuses on visiting popular tourist destinations, trying local cuisines, and immersing oneself in the beauty of a particular location. On the other hand, adventure is more about seeking thrill, excitement, and pushing one’s boundaries. It involves engaging in adrenaline-pumping activities like hiking, rock climbing, or skydiving. Adventure travelers are not content with just observing; they actively participate in challenging activities to feel the rush and conquer fears. Although travel can be adventurous and adventure can include travel, they offer unique perspectives and cater to different preferences.

Adventure and travel may seem similar, but they have distinctive characteristics that set them apart. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing different cultures, they differ in terms of purpose and mindset.

Adventure is all about seeking thrilling and daring experiences. It often involves taking risks and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Whether it’s climbing a mountain, skydiving, or exploring uncharted territories, adventure pushes individuals to their limits. It is driven by the desire for adrenaline rushes and the excitement of the unknown.

On the other hand, travel focuses more on leisure, relaxation, and cultural immersion. It involves visiting popular tourist destinations, engaging with locals, and learning about their customs and traditions. Travelers seek to broaden their perspectives, gain new insights, and create memories. It is a way to unwind, rejuvenate, and appreciate the beauty of different places.

In summary, adventure is about seeking thrills and pushing boundaries, while travel is about exploration, cultural understanding, and personal growth.

Adventure and travel may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. While both involve exploring new places and experiencing new things, the mindset and purpose behind each activity set them apart. Adventure is all about pushing boundaries, taking risks, and seeking out thrilling experiences. It often involves activities like mountain climbing, skydiving, or bungee jumping. On the other hand, travel is more focused on discovering different cultures, immersing oneself in new environments, and gaining a broader perspective of the world. It includes activities like visiting historical sites, trying local cuisine, or interacting with locals. While adventure seekers may crave adrenaline and excitement, travelers often seek knowledge, understanding, and personal growth. Understanding the difference between adventure and travel can help individuals determine their preferences and plan their journeys accordingly.

In conclusion, while both adventure and travel involve exploring new places and experiences, they differ in their overall purpose and mindset. Adventure is more focused on seeking thrilling and challenging activities, whereas travel is about discovering new cultures and broadening one’s horizons. Both are valuable and can offer unique benefits to individuals seeking to expand their perspectives and create lasting memories.

Related posts:

• Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel in Turlock
• The Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel in Turlock
• Why Is Adventures by Disney So Expensive?

About Author / Aarika Dallis

The Ultimate Guide to Adventure Travel Trips

Exploring the thrilling jungle adventure world.

You Might Also Like

Unravel the Thrills of Desert Adventure Tours

10 Thrilling Adventures in Harsh Deserts

10 Exciting Adventure Travel Destinations Near Me

Start typing and press Enter to search

Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and adventures, traveling for adventure vs. traveling for relaxation: here’s what you need to know.

December 12, 2016 By Laura

¡Hola de México!

That’s 95% of what I remember from high school Spanish.

There are as many reasons to travel as there are travelers.  It is not just about getting your picture taken with the latest cartoon creation… not that there’s anything wrong with that.  But sometimes you may want to add a side of education to your adventures.

You all know by now that I LOVE to travel.  In fact, I am in Tulum, Mexico as I type this.  We came for a wedding, but left time for a few adventures!  We’re headed to the Mayan ruins today, for example.

Some destinations that have little to do with adventure or relaxation, and everything to do with learning about a historical event by putting yourself in the middle of it.  Oregon trail travel packages will likely be high on the list for that kind of trip.

Side note: anyone else remember the Oregon Trail computer game?!

It’s likely your next trip will either be for adventure or relaxation.  Often the choice you make is a result of the business you happen to be in.  If your job is sedentary, you might be looking for some type of adventure to get the blood pumping.  If your job is very stressful, you’re more apt to be seeking relaxation.

Paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland

There is a big difference between these two kinds of vacations.  From preparation to destination to activities, your choices will be quite different!  Here is what you need to know:

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when going on vacation is attempting to do it all in a single trip.  You will end up doing nothing very well.  And by the time you get home, you will feel like you need a vacation.  That unsatisfied feeling is most often the result of not focusing on either adventure or relaxation.  Trust me, I made this mistake going to Italy a few years back – we planned VERY differently on this recent trip .

One of the biggest challenges to choosing a theme are those spectacular locations that are conducive to both high adventure and deep relaxation.  The Welk timeshare contact page on social media provides an excellent example of a location that can be both relaxing and adventurous.

The key point to remember about the Welk timeshare locations is that they are minutes away from San Diego Safari Park, beaches, and LegoLand.  The Temecula Valley wine country is also within reach.  There is a lot going on at a place like that.  And that is exactly why you have to decide upfront what kind of vacation you want to have.  We were looking for a combination of relaxation and adventure last year when Vegas, Lucie, and I spent Christmas at the Palm Springs resort !

A Restful Retreat

If what you want is a restful retreat, you will be looking for a place that feel decadent and  offers impeccable service.  You know the kind… one of those places where room service is so laughably expensive that you will want to try it once just to say you did.

You will want to pay extra for the hot tub in the room and the waterfront view.  You want it to be just a few steps away from the beach because a few steps from your luxurious room is as far as you ever want to travel.

For this type of vacation, you will also want to save some of the budget for fine dining, sight-seeing, and of course, everyone’s favorite, shopping.

Another great activity for a relaxation-focused trip is photography.  Forbes list the world’s best destinations for travel photographers in 2016 .  But you don’t have to go all the way the Chile for beautiful pictures.  The world is full of beauty at almost every turn.  Wherever you go for your relaxing vacation, just remember to bring your camera.

Tuscany really DOES look like a postcard.

Sleepless Adventure

You don’t have to go zip lining through Bootleg Canyon for the adventure vacation of a lifetime.  There are lots of places in the world devoted to sleepless adventure.  Whether it’s rock climbing, skiing, surfing, or reliving the old west cattle drive Oregon Trail-style, the possibilities are endless!

The thing you don’t want to do is overspend for your accommodations.  You want to be in the room long enough to care.  You will be spending the kind of days that will have you asleep before your head hits the pillow.  The only creature comfort worth splurging may be a good masseuse.  If you are anything like me, you are going to have a few kinks to work out.  After that, its back to the Running of the Bulls.

My current view

Have the best vacation possible by not trying to do it all in one trip.  Get the best room you can afford when it is time to relax.  And go for the most adventure when it is time to play.  It’s all about balance!

[Tweet “Traveling for Adventure vs. #Traveling for Relaxation: Here’s What You Need to Know!”]

There’s so much to do and see in the world… I get overwhelmed sometimes thinking about it!

Are you more of an adventure or relaxation vacation person?

What is your dream vacation?

December 12, 2016 at 6:33 AM

Let’s just say we do adventure with the kids and relaxation (with a smidge of adventure) when we’re alone!! You know I have to have SOME adventure in every trip but, I also want to feel like I took a vacation when I come home. I also did not know there was a LegoLand in San Diego. Hmmmmm. Boys are dying to go there and I did not want another trip to Florida, so thank you for that. Also thank you for the 30 seconds of Mexico. I really needed that as I woke up to 3 inches of snow and a 2 hour school delay. Send champagne immediately! Enjoy Mexico!!!!

December 14, 2016 at 12:50 PM

The nice thing about where we just went was that they had a huge kids program – like they even had their own jungle building!

If you ever make it out to SD’s Legoland, we MUST hang out. The kids can go to Knott’s Berry Farm too (an amusement part).

If you’re stranded, I hope it with champagne. Pairs well with sugar cookies. 😉

You make such a great point. And when I needed to hear this morning. I have it in my brain I could do a restful retreat with adventure day trips. Now I’m thinking I may need to separate the two out L!

December 14, 2016 at 12:52 PM

I think you CAN do it, but you have to do it over a longer period. To much running around is exhausting… that’s when I feel like I need a vacation after my vacation!

December 12, 2016 at 7:00 AM

I would agree–pick one or the other or go for a long enough time to do both, but it might require a change of venue, etc. Just make sure you don’t get dysentery.

December 14, 2016 at 12:56 PM

Or cholera.

December 12, 2016 at 7:43 AM

I visited Tulum a few years ago and loved it! It was definitely more of a relaxing vacay but we did an excursions with zipling and rapelling and also went out off the resort out in downtown Playa del Carmen. We are headed to the bahamas in February for a trip that I’m sure will be most relaxing with a little bit of adventure thrown in! Enjoy Mexico 🙂

December 14, 2016 at 12:57 PM

I wish we’d gotten over to Playa del Carmen! Next time!

The Bahamas are so much fun. Can’t wait to read about it!

December 12, 2016 at 11:12 AM

I guess you could say that most of the time we travel for family or for adventure; our mountain vacations are usually for relaxation. 🙂 I love how you drew the distinction. <3 It's SO AWESOME that God Almighty has made a big big world to explore. We won't even explore it all in this life time.

December 14, 2016 at 1:03 PM

Mountain vacations are one of my favorites! We have two coming up… though most of the time will be spent skiing. 🙂

December 12, 2016 at 12:34 PM

I think you need to be a full on travel blog. And then invite me to tag along. Next stop New Zealand! You’d love the bungee there. /and wine… duh

If I could get paid to travel… I’d be in heaven!

December 12, 2016 at 3:43 PM

I always try to do it all! Loving this travel series

December 12, 2016 at 5:23 PM

We can’t do just one or the other usual. Too much gogogo is draining and too much sitting around is boring. So we always make sure our trips are long enough to intersperse days of doing nothing with adventure.

December 14, 2016 at 1:04 PM

The length is key! We’ve tried to pack WAY to much into under a week before and it’s stressful!

December 13, 2016 at 9:09 PM

I am more of an adventure girl – I like to explore on vacations.

December 14, 2016 at 1:07 PM

Same here! Vegas and I are forever compromising… and sometimes I leave her behind to lounge!

December 14, 2016 at 11:32 PM

Most of my vacations tend to be of the adventure variety, but not in the traditional sense. More like trying to find the best burger in SE Asia, trying to find our hotel while tripping out, getting on a 10 hour bus to a city I’ve never heard of, etc. Hahaha

December 15, 2016 at 1:46 AM

This does not surprise me at all. LOL! And I bet you have a blast doing it!

December 15, 2016 at 4:28 PM

You know that I LOVE to travel too! I usually go more for adventurous trips with some relaxation mixed in. I’ve definitely gone on trips that were amazing, but so go-go-go that I came home feeling exhausted! Ha, I have a Welk timeshare and NEED to get on looking up where I want to travel to with it next year… so many possibilities!

I hope that Mexico was a blast. You mentioned the other day that you’re in town now for a bit….and I’m obviously leaving for 2 weeks next week! Haha. Let’s catch up in January lady! 🙂

December 15, 2016 at 11:03 PM

Right?! We’re using ours in February for Tahoe, but did you know Colorado is open now?

Of course you’re out of town. LOL! January it is!

December 16, 2016 at 11:33 AM

Right now I just want relaxation. I would settle for a solid night’s sleep without interruption. The tiny human has been up the last three out of four days. I didn’t gt a pedicure or massage yesterday since I could barely function. I chose a power nap instead. Sigh.

Send me Mexico pictures so I can live vicariously through you.

December 16, 2016 at 11:45 AM

Oh friend… she’ll grow out of it. Have a drink. Have 12.

Popular Posts

Affiliate Links: This site is monetized through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to make a purchase through one of these links, Sprint 2 the Table would receive a small percentage of the sale price. Thanks for your support!

The Different Types of Adventure Travel

Adventure travel is one of the fastest segments of the travel market, drawing in more and more people on a yearly basis. But what exactly is adventure travel and what can you expect out of an adventure trip? That is completely up to you, because "adventure" has a different meaning for every individual traveler.

That said, in its purest form, this type of travel generally offers some classic experiences and activities that truly help to define its style. If you're planning on taking your first adventure travel trip, here are some of the activities you can expect to be a part of the itinerary. 

Trekking/Hiking

Traveling on foot through remote locations has always been at the core of adventure travel. Whether that means backpacking along the Appalachian Trail, trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, or simply heading out for a backcountry adventure on a local trail, this is a great way to explore any destination. Travelers have always enjoyed walking tours and pretty much no matter where you want to go, you'll likely find some options for hiking and trekking there. Often these trips involve camping overnight along the way too, adding yet another adventurous element to the equation. 

Cycling/Mountain Biking

Cycling trips are another popular method of transportation and category for adventure travel. Rather than exploring a destination on foot, travelers climb aboard a bike instead. This allows them to cover more ground at a faster pace, while still feeling connected with the landscape, culture, and people there. Mountain biking offers a similar experience, but allows access to more remote, off the beaten path, destinations, while introducing a more challenging aspect to the riding as well. 

Travelers will find options to ride just about anywhere these days, ranging from French wine country to the entire length of Africa . 

Canoe/Kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking trips are another popular way to experience a destination, granting travelers access to lakes, rivers, and even oceans. This type of travel can be as serene as paddling the Greek Isles or as wild as taking on some of the top whitewater destinations on the planet. One word of caution however, travelers should have some experience paddling before embarking on these types of journeys as they can be strenuous and dangerous depending on the nature of the water involved. Flat water is generally safe, but whitewater can be treacherous. Both can be fun if you are well prepared. 

Climbing/Mountaineering

While not often viewed as a form of adventure travel, mountaineering and climbing expeditions still fall under the same very broad umbrella. These types of trips typically require more skill and experience than simply trekking in the mountains and tend to be more technical too. That means requiring the use of ropes, ice axes, crampons, and other specialized equipment to reach the top of a mountain. A climb to the top of Kilimanjaro is mostly non-technical, and falls under the trekking category, while an expedition to Mt. Everest is squarely in the more challenging mountaineering realm. Altitude can often play a bigger role in this type of adventure too, which can literally take place on every continent.

Take caution however; you should only embark on a mountaineering trip if you have the necessary skills and experience to do so and are traveling with a certified mountain guide. 

Skiing/Snowshoeing

Some of the best adventures take place in the snow, with skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing offering great experiences for travelers who don't mind colder weather. These types of trips can include everything from resort and backcountry skiing, to cross-country and snowshoe traverses too. Winter adventures are once again very popular in pretty much every corner of the globe, ranging from North America, to Europe, and even the Antarctic. 

Horseback Riding

Horseback adventure tours are also a fantastic way to explore the more remote regions of any country. Horses can travel faster and more safely to places that we humans can't always reach on our own. This allows us to go along for the ride while taking in the scenery along the way. While travelers will want to have some level of skill on horseback before setting out, these types of trips are a great way to gain experience for those who want to improve their riding. Just be sure to be confident in the saddle, don't be afraid of the horse, and enjoy the ride. (And if you're in Jordan, check out how to ride a camel.)

Dogsledding

Horses aren't the only animals that get to join us on our adventurous travels. Dogsledding is another exciting activity that travelers can indulge in if so inclined. These types of tours can last four a few hours or a few weeks, depending on just how adventurous you want to get. Driving a team of dogs takes a bit of practice, but it can be a lot of fun and a wonderful way to travel through the backcountry during the winter. Be sure to pack your warmest clothes and bring your most adventurous attitude. Oh, and try not to fall in love with the dogs. 

Overlanding

If you're the type of traveler who likes to get off the beaten path and explore remote parts of the world by motorized vehicle, overlanding is the option for you. Typically done in 4x4 vehicles, overlanders relish the journey rather than the destination. These types of excursions will take you off-road and into the wilderness where you'll be completely self reliant. Camping is usually a part of the experience, with only the occasional dip into nearby towns to refuel and resupply. Travelers can choose to join an organized overlanding expedition or go completely independent as well, depending on their own level of experience and confidence. 

Traditionally speaking, a safari is a wildlife viewing trip to Africa, although these days the term can be applied to all kinds of excursions to just about any part of the planet. In fact, "safari" is the swahili word for "journey" and it is widely considered to be one of the first forms of adventure travel. Today, the African safari remains a great option for spotting wildlife in its natural habitat, but there are also penguin safaris , polar bear safaris , and other times of safaris that take place across North and South America, and Asia too. These types of trips are family friendly, relaxing, and perfect for a wide variety of ages, making them one of the most popular forms of adventure travel, even in the 21st century. 

Just as the name implies, a multisport adventure travel experience combines two or more of the activities listed above into the same trip. For instance, travelers might go hiking, biking, and paddling when visiting a certain destination, allowing them to stay very active and experience a wide variety of aspects of the place they are visiting. These types of itineraries can be found in just about any corner of the globe and during any season too. In the winter, travelers might ski, snowshoe, and dogsled their way across the landscape, and in summer they could bike, surf, and sail for instance. These types of outings are generally very popular with those who like to stay very active and are in good physical condition. 

Sailing/Cruising

For most adventure travelers a cruise doesn't seem like much of an adventure, but there are some great options for those who enjoy traveling by ship. Small-ship cruises to places like Alaska, Antarctica, and the Falklands can be amazing options, with opportunities to go hiking, kayaking, and wildlife spotting. Plus, small-ship cruises are much more intimate and allow passengers to get to know one another better. These types of adventures are far cry from the massive ships that carry thousands of tourists, with the smaller vessels allowing access to some of the most remote and rewarding places on the planet. 

Extreme Adventure Travel Vacations

13 Amazing Trips to Take Before You Turn 40

The Best Countries in the World for Adventurous Travelers

REI Adventures Offers Great Active Travel Trips

The Best Women-Only Adventure Travel Companies

The 10 Most Romantic Adventure Trips You Can Take

Your Complete Guide to Bikepacking

The 8 Most Adventurous Things to Do in Tahoe

9 Very Adventurous Things to Do in Costa Rica

How to Go Hiking With Your Kids

The World's Highest Places and Attractions That You Can Visit

How to Choose and Prepare for a Hiking Trip

10 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone in the Winter

20 Top Things to Do in Diverse India

Best Tour Companies for Singles

Smith Rock State Park: The Complete Guide

• Adventure Travel

What is Adventure Travel?

Liz is a collector of grand adventures. She first discovered her passion for meaningful travel wh...

• Before You Go
• button]:border-none [&>button]:bg-white [&>button]:hover:cursor-pointer [&>button]:hover:text-cyan-400"> button]:hover:text-cyan-400 [&>button]:bg-white hover:cursor-pointer" height="1em" width="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

What is adventure travel? It’s the most epic way to see the world! Adventure tourism activities combine tourism with cultural immersion, physical activity, and getting down and dirty in nature—the adrenaline rush is just a bonus.

What does “adventurous” look like for you?

Adventure travel is the opportunity to explore your favorite destinations while discovering new skills, passions, and lifelong friends. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging in the best way possible. It’s climbing the highest peaks, learning local languages, shredding down powdery mountains, diving deep into history, and plunging headfirst into the depths of the ocean.

If you’re the kind of traveler who loves to push themselves to the limits and collect new experiences, adventure travel is a must on your travel bucket list .

What is adventure travel?

Adventure travel embraces the concept of exploration. Adventure activities often appeal to adrenaline junkies, but you don’t necessarily have to be keen to jump out of an airplane or swim with sharks to be an adventure tourist. Sometimes being in an unfamiliar place and pushing yourself out of your cultural comfort zone can be enough of an adventure in itself!

Adventure tourism activities range from anything that gets your blood pumping to anything that allows full immersion to the local culture. Often, this includes some type of physical activity and the chance to connect with nature, but most of all it’s the opportunity to challenge yourself and push your limits to allow for personal growth and the ultimate travel experience.

What is the importance of adventure tourism?

You’d be surprised how capable you feel after summiting a mountain!

Adventure tourism offers the opportunity of growth, both for yourself and the destination.

On a personal level, adventure tourism activities are often physically stimulating. They get your blood pumping, endorphins running wild, allowing you to reduce stress, burn calories, and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Adventure travel allows you to connect with nature, improving your mental state so you can feel your best in every sense. And sharing an adventure with locals or other travelers is always the perfect way to bond quickly over incredible experiences and make fast friends.

Not only does adventure tourism benefit our health, but there is an importance of adventure tourism to the local economy. Many of the top destinations for adventure tourism are also some of the poorest countries in the world.

When we take part in adventure activities and eco-tourism , we have the ability to help develop the country’s infrastructure, support local community development, and contribute to eco-initiatives to preserve land and natural resources.

It’s always a good idea to travel with eco-friendly programs and providers that are responsible, sustainable , and who benefit the local community.

11 best types of adventure tourism activities

So what are the best types of adventure travel? Whether you’re a lover of mountains or ocean, sun or snow, adrenaline-pumping activities or cultural immersion, there are countless types of adventure tourism activities to suit every traveler.

Here are the best types of adventure activities to satisfy your mind, body, and soul.

1. Backpacking

Living out of a backpack is an essential travel skill.

• Why? Backpacking is one of the best ways to do adventure travel. With almost no luggage, backpacking lets you reach unique travel destinations that other travelers may not be able to access—whether that’s the depths of the jungle or tiny beach towns with nothing but pedestrian access.
• Whether you want to spend a week or several months abroad, backpacking is one of the most flexible and cheapest types of adventure tourism, and one of the best ways to make friends with fellow travelers.
• Where? Australia , Costa Rica , Ecuador , Thailand , Vietnam
• Recommended program: Australia Adventure with Gapforce

2. Climbing

• Why? If you want to truly push your limits to the extreme and see the world from a new perspective, climbing is one of the best types of adventure travel. With the ability to scale cliffs and sit atop the tallest mountains, climbing will give you access to extreme terrain and some of the most legendary views.
• As a sport, climbing is one of the most physically and mentally challenging, giving you both an adrenaline kick and a sense of accomplishment. What better way to fall in love with a new land?
• Where? Nepal , New Zealand , Tanzania , Thailand
• Recommended program: 12 Weeks Adventure Guide Program in Queenstown, New Zealand with Pure Exploration

3. Heritage Tours

• Why? Have you ever felt the desire to dive deep into your ancestral roots? Heritage tourism is one of the most unique types of adventure tourism, taking you on a journey to connect with your ancestral roots and experience a new country and culture that is deeply ingrained in your own personal history.
• Connect with the places, traditions, and stories of your ancestors for a one-of-a-kind adventure abroad that will leave you with a deeper understanding of your identity.
• Where? France , Mexico , Italy , UK , Japan , India
• Recommended program: Maya Day of the Dead Experience in Quintana Roo, Mexico with Na'atik Language and Culture Institute

4. Homestay

Homestays can push you out of your comfort zone while immersing you in different cultural norms.

• Why? Living with a local family abroad is the best possible way to have a culturally immersive travel experience. There is only so much you can learn from traveling on your own or with other travelers. By participating in a homestay abroad, locals will become family. You’ll eat home-cooked meals, have your own local social circle, and take part firsthand in cultural traditions.
• Homestays will push you outside of your comfort zone, but this adventure allows you an inside peek at your destination that you won’t find anywhere else.
• Where? Denmark , Italy , Japan , South Africa , Sweden
• Recommended program: Exploration and Adventure Travel Program in Europe with Putney Student Travel
• Why? White water rafting is one of the most common adventure tourism examples, and for good reason. It is the epitome of adventure travel, combining anticipation, natural beauty, and fun.
• Rafting allows you to appreciate nature on a new level—the power of the river, the lushness of the forest around you, and the depth of the world’s grandest canyons. Splashing through white water rapids is a great way to use your muscles and have a blast while you’re at it.
• Where? Australia , Costa Rica , Fiji , Nepal , New Zealand
• Recommended program: Surf, Scuba, Raft & Hike in Costa Rica & Panama with Outward Bound Costa Rica

6. Scuba Diving

• Why? Test the limits of being human by exploring an entirely new world under the sea. Scuba diving teaches you to relax, communicate, move slowly, and appreciate the ocean's ecosystems.
• Whether you want to go for a day trip, a scuba tour, or earn your diving certification so you can explore the depths of the ocean solo, scuba diving is one of the best adventure activities if you want to be one with the sea.
• Where? Caribbean , Great Barrier Reef , Malaysia , Philippines
• Recommended program: Caribbean: Marine Biology Voyage with Broadreach

7. Skydiving

This exhilarating adventure tourism activity isn’t for the faint of heart!

• Why? There’s nothing like jumping out of an airplane and free falling from the sky at 10,000 feet. It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush, the most epic adventure you could imagine.
• Skydiving gives travelers the opportunity to see the world from a totally different angle while pushing you completely out of your comfort zone. With endless types of adventure tourism activities, skydiving is the only one that will allow you to appreciate the world’s beauty from above.
• Where? Fiji , Hawaii , New Zealand
• Recommended program: Awesome Aussie Service Adventure with Rustic Pathways

8. Snowboarding & Skiing

• Why? Fresh powdery snow, cozy fireplaces, and stunning white peaks are just a few of the reasons hitting the slopes is one of the most fun adventure activities. Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, a beginner or a black-diamond expert, there’s nothing like embracing your inner snow bunny in a winter wonderland.
• If you want to gain experience in tourism and hospitality while shredding powder, you can even consider becoming an instructor, transforming adventure travel into an internship or job abroad .
• Where? Canada , France , New Zealand , Switzerland
• Recommended program: Become a Ski Instructor in Canada with EA Ski & Snowboard Instructor Training
• Why? Prefer basking in the sunshine and salty air? Surfing is more than just bumming on the beach. It’s the chance to engage with local instructors who teach you not only how to ride the waves, but also how to blend into island life in your destination—living, eating, and speaking like the locals.
• Surfing challenges your physical ability and brings euphoria. There are equal moments of thrill as you search for the perfect wave, and peacefulness as you become one with the ocean. And the best part? You’ll have access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
• Where? Australia , Costa Rica , Indonesia , Sri Lanka
• Recommended program: Learn to Surf in Peru with Maximo Nivel

10. Trekking

Trekking is a fun way to experience beautiful natural landscapes.

• Why? Trekking is one of the best adventure tourism options if you want to venture off the beaten path. From the jungle trails of South America, to European pilgrimages, to the highest peaks of Nepal, trekking pushes your boundaries and offers a unique cultural experience.
• Whether you want a short-term group hike or a long-term solo adventure, trekking allows the opportunity to spend your days in nature and your nights in small villages where you can eat, sleep, and speak with locals for full cultural immersion.
• Where? Argentina , Chile , Italy , Nepal , Spain , Tanzania
• Recommended program: Mexico, Guatemala & Costa Rica Gap Semester with Pacific Discovery
• Why? Yoga offers a different kind of adventure—an adventure of the soul. You won’t necessarily get an adrenaline rush through ashtanga and deep breathing, but yoga challenges you physically, mentally, and emotionally, while allowing you to connect with the culture of a new place.
• Practice your language skills or learn about the local history of yoga. Combine your practice with volunteer work for a true cultural immersion and feed your soul in more ways than one.
• Where? Costa Rica , India , Nepal
• Recommended program: Kindergarten Volunteering in Bali with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

Get matched with 5 adventure travel programs abroad for FREE

Ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure abroad.

Don’t shy away from an adventurous lifestyle!

If you have big dreams of traveling the world, why not make it into a grand adventure? With so many different types of adventure travel opportunities, you’re guaranteed to find adventure activities to suit your own personal desires.

Whether you crave that adrenaline rush, the glorious natural world, or want to drench yourself in a new way of life, adventure travel offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will transform travel for the better.

Explore ALL Adventure Travel Opportunities on GoAbroad.com

Explore Adventure Programs on GoAbroad.com

Related Articles

By Kerianne Baylor | April 10, 2024

By Steph Dyson | April 9, 2024

By Hailey Hirst | April 9, 2024

By Dominic James Fusco | April 5, 2024

Popular Searches

Recommended programs.

1905 reviews

MAXIMO NIVEL

Seamester Study Abroad at Sea

Penda Photo Tours

African Horse Safaris

Top Adventure Program Providers

Popular opportunities to check out

Join us on our exceptional photographic journeys with a do-good twist!

Come join us on the ultimate horseback holiday adventure, program fees from $180 join ivhq's incredible and affordable volunteer programs, come join us for a wonderful summer of your life wcc global, join ethical small-group adventure tours in uganda, for travelers, travel resources, for partners.

© Copyright 1998 - 2024 GoAbroad.com ®

• Study Abroad
• Volunteer Abroad
• Intern Abroad
• Teach Abroad
• TEFL Courses
• Degrees Abroad
• High School Abroad
• Language Schools
• Jobs Abroad
• Online Study Abroad
• Online Volunteer Programs
• Online Internships
• Online Language Courses
• Online Teaching Jobs
• Online Jobs
• Online TEFL Courses
• Online Degree Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Budget Travel
• Business Traveling
• Mountain Travel
• Travel Photography
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Guides
• Passport And Visa
• Hotel Accommodation
• Holiday Destination
• Hotel And Resort
• Ski Resorts
• Jungle Safari
• Sea And Beaches
• Desert Safari
• Food And Drink
• Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice
• Cookie Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

What is the Difference Between Adventure and Travel?

Many things differentiate adventure from travel . There are obvious differences – the main one being location. You experience the wild – where there are no buildings or roads. And so it’s not like traveling to a foreign country – this means no language barriers, no transportation issues, no crowds or traffic jams .

Are you ready for an adventure? Is there anything more fun than exploring the world? Or perhaps you want to experience the world without leaving your home. Whatever your reason for traveling, you’ll find answers here. Have you ever wanted to travel the world and explore new places? Then, this blog post is just what you’ve been searching for!

Are you ready for an adventure? There are many types of incidents, and they are all different. Some are small, and some are large. Some are adventurous, and some are safe. Experience is fun and exciting ; you could get bored without being careful.

Adventure is the exploration of new places and new experiences . Travel is the act of exploring new places or experiences . In other words, adventure is the thrill of discovery, while travel is the act of discovering . Exploring new places or experiences will likely teach you things you didn’t know were possible. This can be exhilarating. Finding out something you didn’t know was possible makes you feel more confident, open-minded, and excited about the future.

Adventures vs. Travel

Do you know the difference between adventure and travel ? There’s a fine line between these two concepts. After all, you can’t truly call yourself an adventurer if you don’t do any adventuring. Adventure is a broad term that encompasses many things, from extreme sports to world travel. The definition can be subjective, so it isn’t easy to define what adventure means.

Travel, on the other hand, is more concrete and defined. You’re either on a trip, or you’re not. It’s a narrower definition with no room for interpretation. While adventure and travel are often lumped together, they aren’t synonymous. Experience is broader, and the trip is more specific .

What makes travel adventures?

If you want to travel the world, you must start planning early. I’d recommend starting with the first step: creating a bucket list .

This is a list of things you’d love to do. Perhaps you want to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, or you may want to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains . The possibilities are endless, and there’s a good chance you’ll want to visit each country on your list.

If you want to travel the world, you’ll need a clear idea of what you want. You could go to a website and pick a destination or use a site like Travelpod.

Whatever you choose, the key is to be able to decide on a country you’d love to visit. This will help you narrow down your list, and it’ll also help you determine if you want to stay in a hotel or if you’d prefer to live somewhere for a short period.

Why is it important to travel?

I remember going to Disneyland and watching parades and fireworks shows as a kid. My parents took me to the zoo, and I enjoyed seeing all the animals in their natural habitats . But that wasn’t the best part of the trip.

I remember looking out the airplane’s window and watching the Earth zoom past. And I still haven’t seen every corner of this beautiful planet. It was a feeling I’ll never forget.

How do you choose where to travel?

Traveling can be a very rewarding experience . But before you decide on the best destinations to visit , you should keep a few things in mind.

Are you looking to explore the world or experience different cultures?

Are you looking for something unique, or prefer to stay home and experience new places?

Will you be spending your time traveling to the main cities, or are you planning on going off the beaten path?

The answers to these questions will help you determine your ideal type of travel.

Adventure travel versus travel

As we’ve seen, travelers choose adventure over traditional travel for many reasons. But how do you know which option is right for you? Adventure travel is usually defined as traveling to countries that aren’t well-known and visiting remote and unique destinations. While this isn’t entirely true, it is the most common definition.

Travelers who choose to do adventure travel often cite the following reasons for doing so:

• They’re looking to escape from modern life and don’t mind sacrificing comfort for something more adventurous.

• They’re looking for something different and prefer to go somewhere new.

• They’re looking for something that will make them feel alive.

• They want to connect with the world and enjoy learning about other cultures.

So, while some of these reasons may sound similar to reasons for choosing traditional travel , they are very different. For example, many of us are busy and don’t have the time to plan and execute a trip to a faraway country. This is why adventure travel is often done as a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Frequently Asked Questions Adventure and Travel

Q: What’s the difference between adventure and travel?

A: Adventure is more of an event. You have a plan and a goal. Travel is just like being on vacation . You can have a dream, but it can be a break if you’re not careful.

A: In my opinion, travel is something you choose to do, while adventure happens to you. You’re always going on an experience when you travel.

Top 4 Myths About Adventure and Travel

1. Adventure travel can only be done with a lot of money.

2. Adventure travel is dangerous.

3. Adventure travel only happens in faraway countries.

4. Adventure travel means doing dangerous things.

I was asked to write this blog conclusion because of a recent debate about whether adventure travel and travel are similar. It’s a question I’m often asked by people looking for ideas on spending their vacation days . When we’re talking about adventure travel we typically referng to trips where you get off the beaten path and explore new things, these trips are perfect for travelers who want to learn about and explore new cultures. They’re also great for those who wish to make lifetime memories. Traveling is a bit different in that you can still explore new things, but you’re also more likely to see the same things repeatedly.

Related Posts

How to Become a Trekking Guide for Beginners

15-Second Pitch: Vista Adventure Travel, Inc.

Follow These Women to Inspire Your Next Adventure

STARTUP STAGE: GreatGuides wishes journey journey publications to manipulate their very own destiny

Adventure Travel Destinations for You Lose Your Head

The World Adventure Travel Collective joins the adventure travel supply chain

Confidence and Finally Get What You Want in Life

© 2024 newtravelplans - All Rights Reserved Jegtheme .

Travelling Without a Passport

G Adventures vs. Intrepid Travel: Which Operator is Right For You?

Thinking about booking a world-class tour but hitting a roadblock when choosing between two operators who offer seemingly similar trips? Both  Intrepid  and  G Adventures  have spectacular selections of tours to choose from, but how do you choose between them? Here’s a side-by-side glance at both operators.

Group size, age requirements and travel styles

Both operators offer a variety of trips that adhere to different travel styles. 

G Adventures  offers tours to independent travellers aged 18 and up. There are no upper age limits on most tours, but they do have YOLO tours that are restricted to 18 to 39-year-olds based on the nature of activities appropriate for that demographic.

Their Family Adventure travel style has tours available to families with children aged 5 to 17. All other trips (with the exception of YOLO) are open to kids aged 12 and older when accompanied by a parent. The average G Adventure tour has 10 people on a tour but allows a maximum of 15.

G Adventures also has a partnership with National Geographic (called National Geographic Journeys) and offer trips that can be considered premium excursions. These trips offer more inclusions, interactions with local experts, comfortable accommodations and transportation options as well as smaller group sizes.

Intrepid   also allows travellers under the age of 18 on their tours, so no worries about having to leave your 15-year-old sister behind on your Euro-trip.

Similar to G Adventures, Intrepid offers Family Adventure styles of travel that have a range of minimum ages depending on the destination and level of difficulty. While most trips are available to travellers 15 years old and up, all travellers under the age of 18 must have an adult accompany them. 

Intrepid does have a youth-orientated trips called 18 to 29s, which is similar to G Adventure’s YOLO tours in that the tours are available only to 18 to 29-year-olds and are budget-friendly. Other than the 18 to 29 tours, there is no maximum age limit on most tours.

The average Intrepid tour has 10 travellers but allows up to 16 on overland trips but most max out at 12 people. They have some trips that allow up to 24 travellers. Intrepid offers a premium travel experience with their brand  Peregrine , similar to G Adventure’s Nat Geo Journeys, for travellers who aren’t restricted by a budget.

Physical requirements

Both operators offer tours that have stricter physical demands than a typical trip. 

  G Adventures  offers many tours under the umbrella of their Active travel style. These trips vary from trekking to the top of Kilimanjaro, rock-climbing, dog sledding, cycling through China’s countryside and more.

You’ll absolutely need to be in good shape to have the best time possible on these types of tours.  

Intrepid  has their Cycling and Walking & Trekking travel styles that offer tours that require you to be in good physical shape. You can expect to be working your muscles every day on one of these tours!

While Intrepid’s Overland trips don’t focus as heavily on constant physical activity, they do recommend that you are reasonably fit in order to fully participate in this trip style.

Accommodation

G Adventures  rarely have a mandatory single supplement while  Intrepid  steers clear of them entirely.

For solo travellers, both companies will typically match you with a traveller of the same gender to share your room with.  The standard of accommodation will vary with both companies depending on the type of trip you decide to take.

For example, nearly all tours will include air-conditioning and heating but if you’re travelling to a rural destination or a homestay you should adjust your expectations for the facilities.

Transportation

Both operators provide a variety of transportation options based on the trips.

G Adventures and Intrepid use a combination of private buses and public transit to get you where you need to go.

In most cases with G Adventures, you’ll be using public transit but both operators offer very similar transportation options.  

Most of Intrepid’s Overland trips have vehicles that come with their own power supply so that you able to recharge your devices on board.  

Destinations

G Adventures  and  Intrepid  offer tours to the following locations:  North America ,  Latin America ,  Polar Regions ,  Central America  &  the Caribbean ,  Europe ,  North Africa ,  the Middle East ,  Africa ,  Asia ,  Australia  and  New Zealand

Intrepid  and  G Adventures  go to many of the same destinations but Intrepid has a larger selection of tours on all continents.

G Adventures  is slightly more affordable for budget travellers with their average price per day sitting at roughly USD $220 .

They keep costs low with the use of exclusions. While their trips always include the highlights of a destination they also leave out some activities you’d considered “can’t miss.” You’ll pay for that separately in addition to the listed tour price.  

Intrepid   can be considered slightly more expensive as their average  price per day costs approximately USD $245 . Why the slight spike in pricing you ask? Intrepid’s tours generally have activities included in your tour price. 

There are many factors that affect the price of accommodations, which either increase or decrease the price of the overall trip. With G Adventures you’ll likely find cheaper rates in their South America destinations and with Intrepid, the same can be said for their Southeast Asia trips. Travellers should compare individual trips to ensure the best price.

Looking for more info? Find reviews for Intrepid Travel here and reviews for G Adventures here .

Days to Come Editorial Team

Related articles.

• Local Travel
• Sustainable Travel
• Tour Operators

See the World with G Adventures

Ready to reconnect with our planet through authentic, active adventures? See...

These Are the U.S. States That Are Still Touring

It's still a tumultuous time for international travel, but in mid-October,...

Busabout vs. Topdeck: Which Operator is Right For You?

Considering booking your dream tour but having trouble deciding between Busabout...

The Best Airports for Long Layovers

Get unlimited access to the world's best travel stories. subscribe now., privacy overview.

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Disneyland vs. California Adventure

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

What to know about Disneyland

What to know about disney california adventure, california adventure vs. disneyland, recapped.

Whether you’re visiting the Happiest Place on Earth for the first time or as a return guest, deciding whether to maximize your time at Disneyland Park versus California Adventure can be difficult. Each theme park has distinct lands, attractions, dining options and experiences that are unique to each park.

If you’re planning a visit to Disneyland Resort, here are the main differences between Disneyland and California Adventure.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disneyland's Frontierland. (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California, was the first park to catapult Walt Disney’s vision as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”

It first opened to the public in July 1955 and has expanded over the years to include nine lands for guests to explore. 

Disneyland themes, attractions and notable dining

Each land immerses you in different themes, dining experiences and attractions. At Disneyland, you’ll encounter:

Main Street, U.S.A. This is the first land that guests encounter upon entering Disneyland. On Main Street, you can hop on the Disneyland Railroad or purchase from eateries, like the popular Carnation Cafe, and souvenir shops. 

Adventureland. You’ll find historic attractions here, like Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones Adventure, and you can grab a Dole Whip at the Tiki Juice Bar.

New Orleans Square. New Orleans Square is home to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that inspired the Hollywood film franchise. You can also experience the Haunted Mansion or book a fine dining reservation at Blue Bayou Restaurant.

Critter Country. On especially hot California summer days, Splash Mountain in Critter Country can be a refreshing experience. And if your appetite is roaring, take a break at Hungry Bear Restaurant.

Frontierland. If you’re aching for a more thrilling ride, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is Disneyland’s high-speed, coaster-style attraction. Frontierland is also the place to be if you enjoy collecting and swapping Disney pins with other guests.  

Fantasyland. Fantasyland is home to Sleeping Beauty’s iconic castle, which you can walk through. This land has the most attractions compared to any other land in the park for any age group, like Matterhorn Bobsleds, Peter Pan’s Flight and King Arthur’s Carrousel.

Mickey’s Toontown. Mickey’s Toontown is a friendly land for young families to play inside the park. It’s currently closed for renovation, but it's expected to reopen in March 2023 with an anticipated new attraction: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Tomorrowland. If you prefer daydreaming about the future, Tomorrowland’s futuristic theme brings attractions like Autopia, Space Mountain and more. And if you’re craving a pizza after your space battle on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, head over to Alien Pizza Planet - "A Better Place."

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For fans of The Force, the biggest difference between Disneyland and California Adventure is that Disneyland is home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the park’s newest land. Experience a close encounter with Kylo Ren on Rise of the Resistance. As you chart your course across the galaxy, grab themed eats at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. Guests 21 and over can grab an adult concoction at Oga’s Cantina — the only other place to purchase alcohol at Disneyland aside from the Blue Bayou Restaurant.

» Learn more: The best Disneyland restaurants

Disneyland-specific experiences

On select nights, Disneyland guests can enjoy light and fireworks shows from specific spots in the park. (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

Aside from delicious dining and exciting attractions, it’s not a visit to the parks without catching a show. There are multiple shows throughout the different lands, but one notable show at Disneyland is Fantasmic! You can enjoy this 27-minute show, starring Mickey Mouse, at Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland. 

You can also close out your visit with Disneyland’s fireworks shows, which are visible at specific corded areas, like along Main Street, in front of the “It’s a Small World” attraction or at the resort’s main entry plaza.

» Learn more: How to purchase theme park tickets with points

Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

Disney California Adventure is the second park at Disneyland Resort. It opened in February 2001 and is designed to give guests a glimpse of California state’s most notable attractions and places. 

Disney California Adventure themes, attractions and notable dining

California Adventure has fewer themed areas compared to Disneyland.

Its eight themed areas are:

Minnie Mouse wears retro gear for meet and greets on Buena Vista Street. (Photo by Sally French)

Buena Vista Street. Upon entering the park, walk along Buena Vista Street, named for the location of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Find fine dining at Carthay Circle Restaurant or grab a scoop of ice cream at Clarabelle’s.

Hollywood Land. Watch Mickey Mouse’s PhilharMagic at Hollywood Land, or cool off in the wonderfully air-conditioned Animation Academy for a hands-on drawing experience. You’ll also find Award Wieners here, where you can grab a hot dog loaded with different toppings.

Paradise Gardens Park. Young families can enjoy this side of the park with kid-friendly rides, like Goofy’s Sky School, Jumpin’ Jellyfish and Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

Dine on cone-themed items (like Popcone) at the Cozy Cone in Cars Land. (Photo by Sally French)

Cars Land. Cars Land plops you in the middle of Radiator Springs, the world built by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Studios. Ride Radiator Springs Racers and stop by Cozy Cone Motel for various cone-based snacks and treats.

Pacific Wharf. Guests can beeline to Pacific Wharf, inspired by the waterfront piers of the Monterey and San Francisco areas, for meals. It’s California Adventure’s main eating area with sit-down restaurants like Wine Country Trattoria. Magic Key holders can dine at the exclusive Magic Key Terrace.

Grizzly Peak. Grizzly Peak offers a rafting attraction with Grizzly River Run. If you prefer staying dry on your visit, ride Soarin’ Around the World, which lets you hang glide along an international tour using a projector dome.  

Pixar Pier lights up at night. (Photo by Sally French)

Pixar Pier. Thrill-seekers will love the Incredicoaster at Pixar Pier. For a birds-eye view of the park, hop aboard the Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel. If you want a bite with a view, the area is home to the Lamplight Lounge, which serves gastropub-style food on the waterfront.

Avengers Campus. The newest addition to the park is the Avengers Campus. It’s home to your favorite Marvel superheroes as well as attractions like Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure and the freefall ride, Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! Pym Test Kitchen and Testing Lab is a callout to Marvel’s Ant-Man and serves themed food, like the Quantum Pretzel.

» Learn more: Best Los Angeles-area hotels to book with points and miles for Disney visitors

California Adventure-specific experiences

Getting beers from the Pym Tasting Lab in California Adventure's Avenger's Campus is just one of several options available to guests looking to enjoy a cold, adult beverage. (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

Like Disneyland, California Adventure has park-exclusive shows for guests to enjoy. World of Color is a 22-minute evening water and color-projection show that takes place in Paradise Gardens Park. There are also live-action shows to catch in Avengers Campus, like The Amazing Spider-Man!

A notable difference between Disneyland and California Adventure is the accessibility of alcohol throughout the park. At Disneyland, guests who are of age can only grab a drink at Oga’s Cantina or Blue Bayou, and alcohol must be consumed inside.

In contrast, alcohol is available across multiple California Adventure restaurants, casual dining locations and carts. Also, guests are allowed to explore the park with an alcoholic beverage in hand, giving California Adventure a more “adult” vibe.

» Learn more: How to plan a Disneyland trip for the Disney100 Celebration

Figuring out which park to visit depends on the themed lands you want to experience, as each park caters to specific themes, shows and attractions. If it’s your first visit to Disneyland Resort, and the possibility of a return trip is unlikely in the near future, the resort offers a Park Hopper ticket that provides access to both theme parks. 

(Top photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see? 

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well off-the-beaten path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Travels to a friend). 

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari. 

Exodus Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 

Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

A Taste of the Sweet Life in Slovenia

Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave communities and places where they operate tours better than they found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route . 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers as well, as most trips don’t have a single-supplement. You can choose to share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler, or pay extra to have your own space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

8 Trending Destinations to Visit in 2023

Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours . EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers, and feature unique educational experiences. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers , where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification for companies doing good. 

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

The 10 Best Sites to Book a Cruise

Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences, while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. 

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure. 

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour . 

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination.

For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

Program These Numbers Into Your Phones Before Traveling Internationally

Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll love For the Love of Travel . All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.

Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure —no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent has been delighting discerning travelers since 1962. Today, they take travelers on unforgettable adventures across over 100 different countries and all seven continents. Although Abercrombie & Kent’s trips are pricey, they encompass once-in-a-lifetime experiences like private jet tours around the world or luxury chartered cruises .

There are trips designed for solo travelers and families , and the small group journeys max out at around 14-18 guests.

Top Trip: Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines, feed proboscis monkeys in Malaysia, and photograph wild tigers in India on Abercrombie & Kent’s Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet trip , already booking dates into 2024.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

For independent explorers who don’t want to miss out on these amazing destinations, book your hotel stay for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels .

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Porto to Lisbon: 7-Nt, Small-Group Portugal...

Indus Travels

Greenland: Luxe, All-Incl. 11-Nt Exploration Small-Ship...

Swan Hellenic

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

• Tour Account ›
• Travel Forum ›
• Travel Forum
• Trip Reports
• Report: Review of...

Report: Review of my first trip with Overseas Adventure Travel - The Baltics

For comparison - I’ve traveled with Road Scholar (3), Gate 1 (2), Smartours (2), Odysseys Unlimited (1), and Rick Steves (1).

OAT is tied at the top of my list with Road Scholar. Why?

1) Small group size - there were 15 of us, with the max size being 16. We traveled around on a full size bus. 2) Itinerary - we stayed 3 nights most places. The itinerary was quite fluid - something I’ve never seen before on a tour. If one day had bad weather and the next day looked good, our Trip Leader would swap sites and move things around. As we traveled, she checked local event calendars and added in fun options many days. For example, in Helsinki, she saw a free evening concert at Church in the Rock, and offered to head over there with anyone who wanted to go. This fluidity made the trip even better. 3) Guide - One of the top two guides we’ve ever had. Friendly, funny, organized, and always planning, thinking, working to make the trip better. She clearly has a lot of freedom from the home OAT office to adjust, adapt etc. 4) Hotels - the first tour I’ve EVER taken with all solid hotels. Usually there’s at least one bad one. But not this tour. All nice 4 star hotels, good rooms, and excellent locations. I have no negative comments or suggestions for improvement on the hotels used. 5) Tour mates - luck of the draw, I know, but these people LOVE OAT. There are people on this tour who have done over 20 OAT tours and they rave to us about them. 6) Local guides - OAT provides more than I’ve had on any other tour. They were uniformly excellent - good English speakers and interesting. 7) Local speakers/lecturers - I loved these parts of the tour. They were all PhD holders in their topics and discussed controversial political/social things with us and let us ask all the questions we wanted. My tour mates asked great questions and I ended up learning a ton. 8) Meals - meals were smaller and simpler than on other tours and I loved that. On my last Odysseys Unlimited tour one evening, the appetizer was chicken nuggets and fries and then the main meal was a duck breast. Really. OAT often has lunch with just a bowl of nice soup, bread, coffee and a light pastry.

Would I travel with OAT again? Absolutely. In fact, I’m thinking of changing my fall 2024 from a Gate 1 to an OAT.

Well, that is a nice comprehensive overview of the way the tour worked and it would all appeal to me. If you change your next tour to OAT, it will be interesting to see if it conforms to this style as well. I am SO not a tour person but there are destinations where I would consider it - and recommendations from people I would trust are valuable. Thank you!

Sounds like my kind of tour and I am not a tour person, so far. Are you traveling solo, Valerie? Were there many couples?

OAT does attract a lot of singles since they don’t charge a single supplement. There are a lot of singles on the tour - some traveling with friends and some not. The tour looks like this - 3 couples - so that’s 6 people. 3 groups of 2 friends traveling together. That’s up to 12. Then it seems like there are 3 singles.

But everyone is inclusive, friendly, and no one ever eats alone if they don’t want to.

On the nights that there is no included dinner, our guide has sent out a WhatsApp text setting up an impromptu group dinner anyways…every single night. She adds optional activities for our down time almost every day.

I’m super curious if OAT trip #2 will have a guide this good. The tour members I have talked to say that they always have amazing guides.

Hi, Valerie. Thanks for sharing your OAT experience. I'm still on the independent traveler side but am considering trying the world of organized tours. It sounds like OAT would be a great place to start.

I loved my week I spend in the Baltics a few years ago. I'm headed over to read more about the trip on your blog 🙂... (URL in Valerie's profile for anyone else who is interested).

Thanks for the info, Valerie. We were scheduled for a monthlong OAT a tour to Morocco in 2020 and you know what happened next. We really, really liked their itinerary. It covered everything we wanted to see and do better than any other tour company. Unfortunately, getting our sizable deposit back in 2020 was a bear but I suppose a lot of tour companies were slow refunding money that year due to unforeseen circumstances. As an aside, I am enjoying your blogs of your travels with Ron.

I’m definitely intrigued by OAT. I loved how you and Ron had dinner in the home of a family, arranged by the tour. That’s an opportunity I’ve never heard of a tour providing, and I don’t know how you could do that traveling independently. The Baltics are such interesting countries and seem like a great place to take a tour and learn all about the culture, history and politics. I’ve really enjoyed your blog.

@Dave - OAT has some pretty eclectic itineraries and those are what I’m drawn to when I choose the tour part of our trips. I’m always looking for the tours that connect cities that are harder to connect and the tours that get me out in the countryside since I don’t rent a car when we travel and can’t do that.

@Laurel - I’m traveling with my partner, Ron:)

@Mary - I’m glad you’re liking it! It’s way more detail than I can fit on this site. I read tons of OAT refund horror stories during COVID too and it made me nervous. But I have TWO neighbors in my complex - both of whom have traveled with OAT numerous times since COVID (about 7 trips between the two neighbors) and so I knew that they are now running solid trips, despite what happened during COVID.

@Carroll - Thank you! The dinner with the Lithuanian family was an absolute highlight and I will definitely be doing it again on the next OAT tour I book. I was so unsure about it that I was thinking of just bowing out - but I’m so glad I didn’t.

Valerie, thanks so much for this review! I've booked an OAT tour to Egypt and Jordan in early 2025, and this confirms what I've read about OAT from others. Especially that it attracts many solo travelers, which I'm happy about. :-)

This will be my first organized tour so I'm really glad to read your thoughts about it. As it stands, I'm getting more and more excited about my tour, so again, thanks for this! I'm glad you have had a great experience! Heading over to your blog now!

I have travelled with OAT on 4 trips, and based on those trips, I would say they are one of my favorite tour company. We have also done many trips with Road Scholar (US only) and find them to be tops for education. We are doing Mexico City with Road Scholar in January.

Why OAT: focus on the 'unusual' in their itineraries, small group, most tours are long enough (12-15 days) to get a 'feel' for the area, flexibility in changing schedule when it benefits the tour, no single fee if you book early enough (and often whenever you book), like-minded travelers who focus on the culture of the area and not concerned about shopping. I just finished the Baltics Trip and it was my least favorite, but still good ... so that tells you what you might expect. It was good and delivered what I wanted (learn about the Baltic countries) so no real complaints. Turkey (or maybe India) was my favorite. :)

There are so many good tour companies, with each of them often being unique in their approach.

Valerie this will be so helpful to people and glad you were pleased with your tour. I will be curious if you do another OAT tour if it gets as high marks as this one. I know you are picky (like me) about food and hotels. Lane from this forum ( blogs at Lane is Going Places) has also done several OAT tours and seems to really like them. As you know, we are doing our first Road Scholar tour in January to Mexico. It gets very good reviews. I’m curious if it will change my mind about Mexican food, my least favorite ethnic cuisine.

After reading on the forum here that they refused refunds to people after OAT cancelled trips at the start of covid I'd be wary of booking with them.

See for example https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/rs-tours-compared-with-overseas-adventure-travel-tours-update https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/overseas-adventure-travel-refund

Valerie! What a wonderful time you had! I can understand almost bowing out of the family dinner. I just don't like those but glad you did. I have been on one family dinner with Rick's Village Italy tour which was fine in spite of my being reluctant to go.

Off to read your details!!!

Wonderful post, Valerie, sharing your comparisons & highlights of this company’s tours.

I really enjoy traveling independently while I can, but I agree that there’s places where it’s just not convenient with my method of traveling by train.

A former co-worker also really likes traveling with OAT and recommended them when I was first considering my 2024 options.

Thanks for this review, Valerie. I prefer a tour when traveling with one of my longtime friends, but I have covered too much of the ground of the Rick Steves tours that she would take. So I'm interested to investigate the OAT itineraries for places she and I can go. And we don't room well together, so the no-single-supplement sounds good too.

Valerie, Thanks for this report. I'd never thought of looking at OAT. I've been searching for a good Northern Ireland tour. Theirs is the best I've found so far, even if I then have to do Ireland, also. Nonetheless, I am still looking for a solely Northern Ireland tour if any exist...

@Wray - Here you go - Road Scholar has a Northern Ireland tour: https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/22092/the-best-of-northern-ireland-past-present-and-future

@Mardee - a lot of people on this tour have done Egypt and Jordan with OAT and loved it. Morocco seems to be another favorite. I’m definitely doing their Morocco tour in March 2025.

@Tammy - If I don’t move the fall Gate 1 to an OAT tour, the next one will be Morocco. I think almost everyone on this tour has done Morocco with OAT and loved it.

@Pam - we did! And now we get a week in London!!!!!!

@Jean - Thanks! I like independent travel too but we’ve lately found it fun to do 1 week on our own, a two week tour, and then another week on our own. Best of all worlds!!!!!

@CWSocial - I’ve got a list of about 5 OAT adventures I plan to thoroughly research when I get home from this trip. They do put together some good itineraries!!!!!

@Valerie. Thanks for the Road Scholar info! I don't know how I missed that. That being said, there is something about it that doesn't excite me, but the OAT one does. I had been hoping SeymourTravels would have one, but not at present. I'll keep looking. Besides, I've never been to Ireland so perhaps I shouldn't rule the OAT tour out.

Thank you for posting this Valerie. We were signed up for our first OAT tour to Morocco in March 2020 and had issues recovering money from them. After that experience, I’ve been reluctant to book with them again, even though I’ve seen some very interesting tours. I’m likely to be traveling solo in the future, so the free single supplement and lots of singles is also very appealing to me. I will definitely give OAT another look due to your experience as well as others who have chimed in!

I have found it useful to look at the Road Scholar and OAT itineraries for ideas when planning my independent trips.

Morocco seems to be another favorite. I’m definitely doing their Morocco tour in March 2025.

I would love to go to Morocco! I couldn't do the March 2025 one, but will keep that one on my radar. Thanks!

@CindyP and John - I had also followed their refund stories on this site and on other travel sites and they definitely scared me. I hope that OAT’s behavior was an extreme example of things gone awry during COVID. I only gave them a chance because of the numbers of tours my two neighbors have done in the last 2 years.

I’m glad I did! And one other note - a lot of OAT reviews are complaints of their air connections they set up when you buy air as part of your package. I buy my own airfare - I don’t trust any tour company to do it the way I like. All the tour companies I like - Odysseys Unlimited, Road Scholar and now OAT? Well I hear air travel stories from my tour mates about connections and layovers I would never book.

I've taken 3 trips with OAT over the past three years (Egypt, SE Asia, and "Crossroads of the Adriatic" (former Yugoslavia)), and they've been great. For two of them I used their air, and they provided good routings at what I thought was a fair price. For SE Asia I did my own air, but that was because I was able to use miles for a business class ticket, rather than any concern about OAT's arrangements. I didn't hear any of my fellow travelers complain about their OAT air arrangements. I did have a COVID-affected trip, but didn't ask for a refund. I just postponed to a departure the following year, at the same price (i.e., the money I had paid for my 2020 trip, paid for my 2021 one instead). That worked out well for me.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

Adventure Tourism: 60+ Statistics, Facts, and Trends [2023]

Adrenaline. 

Thrill. Excitement.

Adventure tourism has it all in spades.

While you’re getting your gear ready for the next big adventure, we’ve curated and vetted a list of adventure tourism stats, facts, and trends to help you get up to speed on what’s happening in the industry.

Let’s make a start:

Top 5 Adventure Tourism Statistics to Know in 2023

General adventure tourism stats and facts, the portrait of a typical adventure tourist, most popular destinations for adventure travel, adventure tourism market, covid-19 vs. adventure tourism.

• The adventure tourism industry earned $282B in 2021 worldwide.
• In the US, adventure tourism added $40B+ to the economy in 2021.
• With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%, the adventure tourism market is expected to grow to over $1T by 2030.
• Women make up 51% of adventure solo travelers.
• 34% of global adventure travelers are Americans.
• Soft adventure activities (e.g., backpacking, camping, and hiking) make up 60% of adventurous tourism’s revenue.
• Hard adventure activities, such as rock climbing or caving, bring 20% in revenue.
• The average length of an adventure trip in 2021 was eight nights.
• The median cost of an adventure trip in 2021 was $2,900, excluding airfares.
• Adventure tourists spend an average of $240 on souvenirs and local handicrafts.
• 54% of Americans went outdoors in 2021, totaling 12B trips.
• 65% of adventure activities are booked independently (without travel agents).
• 55% of adventure travel companies don’t have sustainability certifications.
• Sustainable itineraries are the 2nd most-demanded adventure travel option, just slightly behind custom journeys.
• Couples are the most likely cohort to engage in adventure tourism, making up 40% of such travelers. Next are solo travelers (25%), groups (20%), and families (14%).
• Women are more likely than men (51% vs. 38%) to seek adventures on their own.
• 85% of tourists aged 30–40 get activity inspirations from social media.
• Living new experiences, going off the beaten track, and traveling as locals are the key adventure travel motivations.
• 34% of the global adventure tourist clientele comes from the US.
• Americans with an annual income of $100K+ make up 32% of adventure travelers.
• The average age of an adventure tourist in America is 37.

• Females make up 46% of outdoor travelers in the US.
• The average annual income of an adventure tourist in the US is $70K.
• 34% of adventure travelers do 52+ outings per year.
• Causal outdoorers who do 1–3 outings yearly make up 33% of US adventure tourists.
• Americans with some college education make up 60% of US adventure travelers.
• Whites make up the majority (72%) of adventure enthusiasts in the US, followed by Hispanics (11%), Blacks (9%), and Asians (5%).
• Hiking is the most popular activity among Whites, exercised by 22% of white Americans.
• Running is the most popular outdoor sport among Asians (24%), Hispanics (21%), and Blacks (15%).
• Asians are the most outdoor-active ethnic group in North America, with 58% engaging in adventure tourism, followed by Whites (56%) and Hispanics (51%). 
• 30% of children under 17 love biking, and 26% enjoy camping.
• 78% of people say that being physically active outside is their key motivation to adventure travel.
• 69% of adventure tourists enjoy interacting with nature.
• Traveling to an outdoor environment is the 3rd most popular reason to engage in adventure tourism, as mentioned by 66% of outdoorers.

Looking for passport photos? Discover more information:

• Print a Sam’s Club Passport Photo
• Print a Rite Aid Passport Photo
• Print a USPS Passport Photo
• Europe hosts 100M adventure trips annually.

• The Old World accounted for 40% of adventure tourism revenue in 2021.
• 28% of adventure tourism companies are headquartered in North America, Europe (21%), and South America (18%).
• Europe attracts 49% of adventure tourists. Central America comes second with a 20% clientele share, followed by North America (14%).
• Most popular adventure tourism activities globally:
• The United States (18%), Italy (9%), and Tanzania (7%) were the top destinations for adventure tourists in 2021.
• The adventure tourism market was worth $282B globally in 2021, down from $800B+ in 2019.
• The adventure tourism market was valued at $42B in the US in 2021.
• With a year-over-year growth rate of over 15%, the global adventurous tourism market may reach over $1T by 2030.

• Europe has the highest adventure tourism market share of 40%, followed by the Asia-Pacific region (30%) and North America (~20%).
• COVID-19 resulted in a 93% drop in adventurous tourism revenues worldwide.
• 70% of adventure tourism companies in 2021 employed up to 10 people. For comparison, that number was around 40% in 2019.
• Only 2% of adventure tourism companies had 100+ employees in 2021, down from 10% in 2019.
• 81% of adventure tourism operators experienced revenue drops in 2021.
• About eight in 10 adventure travel operators expected their revenues to go up in 2022 compared to 2021.
• 30% of adventure tourism companies made less than $50K in 2021. The share of below 50K earners grew three times from 2019.
• Only 1% of adventure tourism businesses earned $10M+ in 2021, down from 10% in 2019.
• An adventure tourism organization’s average number of clients in 2021 was 1.3K, a 65% decrease from 2019.
• Every one in three adventure tourism companies wanted to take a loan in 2022 to keep the business afloat.
• 79% of adventure tourism operators introduced flexible cancellation policies in response to the pandemic-induced customer drop.
• The adventure tourism segment saw a 1.4x increase in clients from 2020 to 2021. That’s still 65% less compared to 2019.
• Over 40% of adventure tourism operators indicated that travelers aged 50+ were their primary focus in 2022.
• Over half of adventure tourism companies targeted specific genders in their marketing campaigns—37% focused on women and 16% on men.
• Word of mouth is the best strategy to attract new adventure travelers, according to 68% of businesses.

Stacking It All Up

There you have it.

A comprehensive list of adventure travel statistics, facts, and trends to give you a behind-the-scenes look. 

Are there any other stats or facts you’d like to see? 

Let us know in the comments! 

How many people engage in adventure tourism in the US?

Over 200M people globally engaged in adventure tourism in 2022. When it comes to North America specifically, that number stands at ~70M .

What’s the world’s #1 destination for adventure tourism?

Europe generated over 40% of adventure tourism traffic in 2022. Countries-wise, the US leads the way with 18% of visitors, followed by Italy ( 9% ) and Tanzania ( 7% ).

Who are the main players in the adventure tourism business?

Key players in adventure tourism include G Adventures, Discovery Nomads, and Tui Group. That said, giants that earn more than $10M annually make up just 1% of the segment.

What are adventure tourism activities?

Adventure travel activities range from light ones, like wildlife viewing or cuisine tasting, to adrenaline-sparking ones, such as parachuting or cave-diving. The most popular adventure tourism activities in the US are running ( 19% ), hiking ( 18% ), and fishing ( 16% ).

How big is the adventure tourism industry?

Adventure tourism was worth over $280B in 2021, down from $800B in 2019 (before COVID-19). However, adventure tourism is forecast to get back on track and be worth over $1T by 2030.

Where is adventure tourism most popular?

Europe is the most popular adventure tourism destination. It has 49% of the market share and makes 40% of the revenue.

What’s adventure travel?

Adventure travel is an outdoor activity that combines exploration, travel, and physically-challenging activities. The most popular activities are hiking, cycling, camping and fishing. 

What’s hard adventure tourism?

Hard adventure tourism involves risky, adrenaline-sparking activities, such as rock climbing, cave-diving, or parachute jumping. These activities typically require training and are popular among thrill seekers.

What’s soft adventure tourism?

Soft adventure tourism refers to relaxing and family-friendly activities like hiking, camping, or cycling. It usually doesn’t require training and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. 

Fair Use Statement

Did you like our infographics? If so, feel free to share them with your audience. Just remember to mention the source and link back to this page.

• Adventure Travel Trade Association, “Diversity in Adventure Travel Report: US. Travelers of Color”
• Adventure Travel Trade Association, “Adventure Travel Industry Snapshot”
• Adventure Travel Trade Association, “Creating, Communicating, and Connecting: Technology in Adventure Travel”
• Grand View Research, “Adventure Tourism”
• Outdoor Foundation, “2022 Outdoor Participation Trends Report”

Adam is an SEO & Digital PR writer with a child’s curiosity about the surrounding world. His superpower to dig out juicy facts got him citations in Forbes, Social Media Today, and 90+ other news outlets. Adam enjoys snapping pictures and won the national Huawei Next Image Award.

10 Best Adventure Vans Of 2023

If you’re nursing a bite by the wanderlust bug, the best home base for your wanderings might just be an adventure bus. After all, the only thing better than a road trip is doing it with the comforts of home in tow!

Today, we’re taking a close look at ten of the best adventure vans we’ve seen out on the road or on the Internet. If you’re planning an off-grid adventure, peruse our list for ideas to complete your own camper conversion . 

The Best Adventure Vans for Off Grid Living

Imagine pulling up to a beautiful view, putting it in park, and really savouring it as long as you want, cup of tea in hand. That’s the adventure van lifestyle, that allows off-grid adventures to continue indefinitely. 

But which is the best adventure van for you? It all depends on your budget, lifestyle, and destination. The ultimate camper will look different for everyone; it may be an all terrain camper , compact camper van , or maybe a stealthy pop top camper . 

Regardless of your situation, there’s a solution out there for you. To help you get the wheels turning, we’re looking at ten of the gnarliest off-road camper conversions to serve as the best van for your next adventure. 

1. Storyteller Overland MODE

First up on our list of the best adventure vans is the MODE 4×4 by Storyteller Overland . This epic Mercedes Sprinter conversion  embodies the six essential qualities of an off-grid home on wheels: it’s safe, simple, fun, flexible, rugged, and most importantly, ready to go.

With these factors as the basis of the build, you’re getting a vehicle that’s purpose-built for all stripes of life. Whether you’re barreling down dirt tracks or just making a run to the grocery store, the MODE camper is up to it.

Inside, the Overland MODE has everything you need to live comfortably. There is enough storage onboard for all the gear you’ll need to live life on the wild side. Beneath the bed at the back is a “garage” area large enough to store travel bikes, climbing gear or blow up paddle-boards.

If you need even more space, then the bed can fold away, allowing more storage area when in transit. In the living space, you’ll find a galley kitchen, a seating area that converts into a second bed, storage, and a toilet. There is even a hidden camper shower system, giving you the luxury of a hot indoor or outdoor shower after a day on the trail!

The Storyteller Overland MODE would make a great van for any vandwellers wanting to upgrade to a monster camper off-road rig. 

2. Winnebago Revel 4×4

The Winnebago Revel 4×4 is another all terrain camper that has earned a spot on our list of the best adventure vans of 2020. It’s chock-full of off-road capabilities that allow you to easily take the road less traveled.

The Revel 4×4 features a rugged roof rack to transport any adventure gear that won’t fit inside the camper van. You can access it via ladder, which is where you’ll also find solar panels to fuel your gadgets on the go. Finally, an electronic awning doubles your living space and gives you some shade from the elements. 

One of the most unique features of this adventure bus is the power lift bed. This allows you to raise the comfortable double bed to the ceiling of the van. At the press of a button, you open up a massive 140 cubic ft. garage, perfect for all your van life essentials.

The rest of the interior clearly keeps adventure firmly in mind; the flooring, cabinets, wall coverings, and seats are all made out of easy-to-clean materials, so don’t worry too much how wet or muddy you are when you get back to your home base. As well as the bed, this camper features a full kitchen with hob, sink and fridge, seating areas with table and front swivel seats, gear closet and wet bath, as well as overhead storage.

The Winnebago Revel 4×4 starts at $163,292.   

3. Adventure Truck XT 

Next up on our list of the best adventure vans we have the Adventure Truck XT . Aptly named, these off road trucks are built with a long expedition in mind and are perfect if you’re planning a long overland trip to remote corners of the earth.

The Adventure Truck XT is ideal for living off the grid long term, as they can be fitted out and upgraded to suit your needs. Whether your camper base model is a pick-up truck or something a little larger, the modular Adventure Truck XT kit attaches directly to the vehicle. 

The spacious interior of the Adventure Truck XT is perfect for full-time truck life . There’s enough room to compare directly to a small apartment!

An over-cab sleeping area allows the main space of the camper to be utilised as a living space. And the camper comes complete with a full kitchen, bathroom, a dining area that converts into an extra bed, plus heaps of storage.

The Adventure Truck XT also has heating and air conditioning that runs off of the solar electrical set up. This camper can even be fitted with a washing machine, which is perfect if you plan on living off grid for months on end.

Prices for the Adventure Truck XT start at $368,000.

4. Mitsubishi 4WD Terrain 

Small campers have many benefits; they’re often more affordable, more fuel-efficient, and are easy to drive and park. Pair the benefits of a compact driving experience with a full 4×4 conversion, and you have the perfect adventure campervan for exploring those off-road tracks. 

Enter a treat for the small van fan, the Mitsubishi 4WD Terrain .

This Mitsubishi camper van is built on a Delica base, with a switchable 4WD option to give you full control on and off the road. 

While the Mitsubishi 4WD Terrain may be small, it still has room to sleep and seat four–ideal for traveling with kids or friends.

Two can sleep on the double bed in the pop-top roof, with two on the rock and roll bed downstairs. That rock and roll bed also doubles as a seat-belted seating area, providing a safe space for extra passengers.

The kitchenette can be used to whip up campervan recipes either inside or out, meaning you can create delicious meals on the go no matter what the weather throws at you.

This great little camper is affordable too, coming in at a starting price of £27,995. 

5. Cascade by Outside Van

We’re halfway through our list of the best adventure vans, and at number five we have the Cascade by Outside Van ! These folks are the masters of custom vans , letting you control exactly what you would like in your conversion.

A Ford Transit chassis constitutes the base for this camper. It comes complete with a 4×4 conversion, tyre and wheel upgrades, safari roof rack, extra exterior lighting, ladders, and an L-track mounting system. Outside Van have also mounted a roof tent to the top of the camper, creating an extra ‘bedroom’ perfect for kids or friends to come on the road with you. 

Inside the camper is plush yet rugged, with all of the comforts of home ready and waiting for your next road trip. At the back of the van is a large double bed with a garage storage area below.

This storage tucks away from the rest of the van behind the two extra passenger seats at the foot of the bed. Beyond the seats is the kitchen which includes a sink, hob, fridge, and storage space.

We love the materials and colours used in this van; it stands out from the crowd and looks more homely than many off road campers  that prioritise function over form.

Prices vary depending on conversion, so contact Outside Van for more information!   

6. Zion by Roadtrek

At number six on our list of the best adventure vans, we have Zion from Roadtrek . The Zion is built on a Ram Promaster chassis, seats up to five, and can sleep three (unlucky if you’re passengers four and five!)

This build is perfect if you are looking for a more versatile interior space in your campervan and need less storage for gear.

The bed at the back of this camper van converts into a large seating area, with two comfortable bench seats running along both walls. These seats are perfect for lounging around in the day, with more space to entertain friends (or keep your kids occupied on a rainy day). At night, the benches can be flattened into a comfortable double bed, with a single bed set up in the cab are. 

Beyond the bed is a kitchen and lots of storage cupboards for clothes and other essentials. If you do need to carry gear on board, this can be stored in the central aisle of the camper and removed once you park up.

Roadtrek’s Zion camper is great for trips all year round with a propane furnace to keep your warm in the colder months. After all, a good heating system in a camper is essential to stop the cold becoming a barrier to getting outdoors.

The Zion camper van starts at $101,681.

7. Project M by Four Wheel Campers

Pop up campers are perfect for anyone who just wants to get out into the wild and isn’t too bothered about having all the bells and whistles. And that’s exactly what you get with the Project M Truck Camper by Four Wheel Campers: Simplicity.

Moreover, this is an affordable adventure vessel for exploring the world, ideal for the outdoorsy (but cash-strapped) younger generation. The Project M slides onto your truck bed, so if your vehicle is compatible, there is no need to splash out on another truck. This drastically undercuts the cost of buying an RV, making road tripping more accessible to all.

The Project M gives you an over-cab bed, which can be extended to comfortably sleep two while the roof is popped open. In the most basic model, this is the main feature of the Project M–a true adventure crash pad!

The rest of the interior space is dedicated to storing your gear, or building out your conversion piece by piece. Optional extras include pre-wiring for power and lights, a roof rack for even more gear and L-track on the interior walls.

Four Wheel Campers ‘ Project M starts at just $8,995 and is a great base to use to be able to get outside. 

8. Chinook Countryside

The Chinook Countryside  is a luxury RV built to be the best on the road. This swish campervan may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re looking for a bit of decadence, then this is the camper for you.

Sporting cream leather seating and glossy veneer cabinetry, the interior of the Chinook Countryside feels like a luxury yacht. There’s plenty of seating for extra passengers, and the bench at the back folds down into a bed when it’s time for a snooze.

A full bathroom takes up one side of the camper, complete with a porcelain toilet, shower, and a retractable clothesline. Opposite this is the kitchen, where you can whip up anything from a quick snack to a full three-course meal. The kitchen comprises of a dual microwave/convection oven/grill, two-burner cooktop, sink, and fridge.

The Countryside’s Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis can be upgraded to a 4×4 conversion, allowing you to combine luxury with the dirt road. What’s not to love!

9. Sportsmobile Classic 

We’re coming to the end of our list of the best adventure vans, and at number nine we have my all-time-favourite: the Sportsmobile Classic 4×4. This is a great vehicle if you like your road trips with no limitations.

Built on a 4×4 Ford Cutaway chassis, this heavy-duty adventure van’s body is moulded with a steel-reinforced fibreglass shell for maximum durability. And, this camper has a complete and extensive off-road conversion; you can travel over dirt roads, up mountains, through ravines, and across any terrain!

For all its muscle, the Ford Cutaway is a relatively small vehicle. To make up for its compact size, Sportsmobile include a pop top penthouse roof. There’s more than enough space to stand up and move around inside.

The interior layout is customisable depending on what your needs are. Nevertheless, conversions typically include a full kitchen, a cosy sleeping area, dining area, plus plenty of space to store gear and added extras.    

10. Timber Den by Outside Van 

Our last camper on our list of best adventure vans is the Timber Den by Outside Van . This another excellent example of the kind of custom off-grid-paradise that the company can produce.

The Timber Den is the ultimate gear-hauling camper, with space to carry an extensive amount of equipment inside–including a motorbike! This comes thanks to an open-plan layout, with minimal ‘home comforts’. Meanwhile on the exterior, there are surf/SUP racks, plus solar panels for off-grid power. 

Aside from the storage space, the interior of this campervan features two different sleeping layouts: bunk beds or a double at the back. The double bed is ideal when there is enough room around the gear; but, the bunk beds work just fine if you need the space for all of your snowboards or skis.

The camper doesn’t have a full kitchen, but it does come with a fridge for storing tasty snacks. If you want a suitable base that is well-equipped for all manner of outdoor sports, from then the Timber Den is for you. 

Final Thoughts…

There are so many different adventure vans out there to suit your individual lifestyle and budgets. While the vans on this list may all vary in shape, style, size, and cost, they do have one thing in common: they will help you to get off the sofa and out there into the world! 

Sure, choosing the right adventure van is important; but not as important as the journey that you will find yourself on when you’re out on the road. So what are you waiting for? Choose a van and start exploring!

Itching to try out Full Time Van Life ? Want to reveal to the world that you’re a weekend warrior ? Head over to our brand new Facebook Group ! It’s a place to pick up vanlife tips , share ideas, and meet other van life enthusiasts from around the globe!

More Content From The Van Clan Team!

• Meet the adventure bus that’s taking Instagram by storm!
• We’ve made a list of the best DIY camper conversions on the planet!
• Which are the best RV brands ? Van Clan investigates!

For more content from the Van Clan Team join us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Please note that all comments will be checked by our team before being approved.

Related Van Life Posts

Find out more about the most suitable vans for your camping passion.

Incredible Custom Off-Grid 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter Conversion

We are addicted to 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter’s, they are like the great white sharks of the road, vicious, unstoppable and beautiful all at the same time. American based conversion company Outside Van are known for their incredible Sprinter Conversions, here they showcase a custom made 4×4 beast and we instantly fell in love. OV have seriously […]

VW Buzz: The Iconic Camper’s Futuristic Evolution for the Modern Vanlife Enthusiast

Everyone knows that VW are the kings of the camper world; take their California XXL for example. Their brand is classic and iconic, you don’t need to be a van fan to recognise that they are truly beautiful machines. But now the vanlife pioneers have an ‘out of this world’ new revamp of their legendary camper; […]

Best Truck Bed Tents for Epic Tailgating Excursions

For those with trucks, camping has never been easier – all thanks to the truck bed tent. Gone are the days of pitching a ground tent because you can now transform your truck into a comfortable and roomy sleeping area. The 9 Best Truck Bed Tents for 2022 Ready to get out on the road […]

• 239,733 Members
• 1734 Stories Told
• 94 Featured Places
• Van Life Stories
• Camper Vans
• Off Road Campers
• Tiny Homes on Wheels

Adventure Rider

• Epic Rides Forum
• Day Trippin’ Forum
• eNewsletter Signup
• Become a Contributor

The V85 TT Travel and Adventure, side by side (IMS Long Beach 2019)

The 2020 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

Although it’s got some of the most interesting retro models on the market, Moto Guzzi only had a handful of them on display at IMS this weekend. That’s too bad, but the one bike that matters the most was there, at least: The V85 TT Travel.

The Travel is the street touring-oriented version of the V85, just unveiled at EICMA. Moto Guzzi had the V85 TT Adventure on display next to it, and it was interesting to compare the two machines side-by-side.

Compared to the Travel version, the Adventure has a more rugged look, smaller windscreen, and the panniers are aluminum. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

The V85 TT has the lines and look of an older rally bike, but really, it’s aimed at street usage, with very mild tootling down gravel tracks and other sensible off-pavement areas.

The Travel is more realistic about those capabilities, with a massive windscreen and decently large saddlebags that just look like the hard luggage off a street bike, without the rivets and shiny aluminum that ADVers associate with rugged off-road capability.

 Related

• News /  Breaking: Moto Guzzi Rolls Out The V85 TT Travel (EICMA 2019)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Keep the ride going.

Riding In A Simulation… For Safety

Harley-Davidson To Become Major Sponsor Of Backcountry Discovery Routes

Explore Tasmania With Charley Boorman

Honda Cross Cub: Another Nice Thing We Can’t Get

Most popular, gloves, or deglove yourself, a stove and a cooking kit. wasted space, the 10 best-looking adventure bikes of history, news from ural: demo days, deals … and engine updates, cool bikes from the 1990s, enewsletter sign up, advrider on youtube, how india became a motorcycle superpower.

From Our Forum

• 800-123-4567
• [email protected]

Popular Tours

Langkawi is an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s west coast. 

Surrounded by turquoise blue sea, the interior of the main island is a mixture of picturesque paddy fields and jungle-clad hills. Nature lovers will find the island a paradise filled with adventure and excitement as the shoreline is fringed by powder-fine sand and swaying coconut trees. And if you intent on carting off duty-free goods and items, Langkawi Island is the place to fulfill all your shopping desires. ​Let us host you for the vacation you deserve.

We have the best packages for all your holiday needs. Look no further and let us offer you the ultimate travel and tour solution when you are visiting the gorgeous and beautiful Langkawi Island of Malaysia.

Langkawi Package

The Danna Langkawi

Honeymoon Package

Family Package

Beach Hotel

Luxury Villa

Booking with spread payments, fully licensed tour operator, sleep & travel in comfort.

Straight to Your Inbox

Conde Travel vs Adventure.com

Tour companies compared.

Conde Travel

4.6   Excellent  

Adventure.com

Sign in  to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Reviews & Ratings

4.6   Excellent 10 reviews  

  0 reviews  

Recent Reviews

All activities turned out to be great experiences

As a solo traveller I did the 5 Day Salkantay trek on the 15th of April with Conde Travel, after I previously did the Rainbow Mountain Hike on the 14th and Sacred V...

Operator Overview

Travelers age

local Company

Trip prices

$595 - $2,798

Service level

Tour languages

global Company

• Group Tours

• River Cruises
• Custom Itineraries
• South America
• Australia & Pacific
• Middle East & North Africa

Similar Companies

About Conde Travel

About Adventure.com

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review 2024

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. Datalign's free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in as little as 3 minutes. All firms have been vetted by Datalign and all advisors are registered with the SEC. Get started with achieving your financial goals!

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

If you're looking for travel insurance that allows you to confidently participate in a wide range of sports and adventure activities around the world, then World Nomads Travel Insurance might be right for you. The company's policies cover travel to almost anywhere on the globe and are available to residents of nearly every country. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

Among the best international travel insurance companies , World Nomads is particularly good at insuring athletes, covering well over 300 sports, including skydiving, bungee jumping, and golf. World Nomads is also a great last-minute purchase, allowing you to purchase coverage even after your trip has started. However, if you purchase a plan after departure, you will have to wait 72 hours before your plan kicks in.

That said, World Nomads lacks crucial coverage options, such as cancel for any reason coverage and coverage for pre-existing conditions. It also doesn't insure travelers older than 70.

Additionally the service has received middling reviews from customers, averaging 3.4 stars out of five across 2,510 reviews. Customers often complained about their lengthy claims processes and poor customer service.

Some also took issue with the "Nomads" branding, as some travelers with multiple destinations and long-term trips found their trip wasn't covered by Nomads' specific policies. It's worth noting that World Nomads was very responsive to positive and negative reviews on Trustpilot.

World Nomads Plans Available

World Nomads has two basic policies: Standard and Explorer. Each covers essentially the same things, but Explorer has higher amounts that World Nomads is willing to pay out for claims. The company's policies cover more than 150 specific activities. These range from bungee jumping and rock climbing to hang gliding and hot-air ballooning. You can see the full list on the company's website.

Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

One of the most common upgraded features of a travel insurance policy is cancel for any reason (CFAR) , where you really can cancel for reason beyond what's in a standard policy. This is not available on every policy, but it is often a feature that travelers are looking for while shopping for travel insurance before their trip. At this time, World Nomads doesn't offer CFAR coverage.

At the time of this review, World Nomads also offers sports equipment coverage. In February of 2022, it expanded coverage to include more than 150 sports and activities including Pickleball and FootGolf. It currently covers over 300 sports. So, as you can imagine, plans with sports coverage will cover virtually any sport you might play.

World Nomads Travel Insurance Cost

You can obtain a quote from World Nomads on its website by providing details about you and your trip. Be prepared to provide the following information:

• Your destination(s)
• Duration of trip
• Your country of residence
• State of residence (if you're from the US)
• Number of travelers
• Traveler(s) age

Notably, World Nomads does not ask you for the price of the trip, which many travel insurance companies factor into the trip of your policy. As such, World Nomads may be a good option if you're going on a particularly expensive trip. 

We ran a few simulations to offer examples of how much a World Nomads policy might cost. You'll see that costs usually fall between 5% and 7% of the total trip cost, depending on the policy tier you choose.

As of April 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following  World Nomads travel insurance quotes:

• World Nomads Standard: $76.58
• World Nomads Explorer: $123.34

Premiums for World Nomads's plans are well below the average cost of travel insurance .

World Nomads provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• World Nomads Standard: $85.83
• World Nomads Explorer: $155.06

Once again, premiums for World Nomads plans are between 2.2% and 3.8%, below the average cost for travel insurance.

A couple of 65-years of age looking to escape New York for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following World Nomads quotes:

• World Nomads Standard: $152.96
• World Nomads Explorer: $276.34

Premiums for World Nomads plans are between 2.6% and 4.6%, once again below the average cost for travel insurance. This is especially impressive as travel insurance is often more expensive for older travelers.

How to File A Claim with World Nomad Travel Insurance

You can start an insurance claim by filing it on the company's website. 

You can call toll-free in the US and Canada if you need to reach the company in an emergency at: (877) 289-0968.

Callers from outside the US and Canada can reach the company at: (954)-334-8143.

The email address is: [email protected]

You'll need to have the following ready to file a claim:

• Your policy number
• A contact number
• The nature of your problem
• Your location
• Prescribed medication (if any)

Make sure you keep any documents related to the claim you're filing. This includes any receipts, notices, and invoices.

Compare World Nomads Travel Insurance

World Nomads is particularly good at insuring traveling athletes, but let's see how it stacks up against the best travel insurance companies .

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance is a strong competitor against World Nomads, especially for travelers looking for a more business-oriented option. The company has been in business for more than 120 years and offers a wide range of insurance, not just travel-related, around the world.

A key difference between World Nomads and Allianz Travel Insurance is that Allianz Travel Insurance offers travel insurance that can cover multiple trips in the same year. You can take an unlimited number of trips within the same calendar year, but you do have to double-check that all of your destinations are covered by the policy you select. 

Another difference is that Allianz Travel Insurance offers pre-existing condition waivers for qualifying customers. World Nomads doesn't have the same coverage, requiring that the pre-existing condition is fully stable in order for limited coverage with respect to trip cancellations or having to end a trip early. 

Read our Allianz travel insurance review here.

World Nomads Travel Insurance vs. AIG Travel Guard

Travel Guard , a product backed by AIG Travel, is another potential alternative to World Nomads. AIG is a prominent player in the insurance industry, and the Travel Guard product represents true global coverage. 

Unlike World Nomads, Travel Guard has coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, but there are conditions. Travelers must purchase their policy within 15 days of the initial trip payment to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver. 

Both travel insurance companies use a tiered approach, but Travel Guard has higher dollar amounts across the board. For example, trip cancellation for Travel Guard covers 100% of the trip cost, while with World Nomads the amount will depends on the tier of the coverage you purchase. Trip Interruption is also a fully covered event with Travel Guard's. Depending on the plan selected, it will either cover 100% or 150% of the trip cost. 

If you're concerned about COVID-19 coverage with trip insurance, there's more coverage with World Nomads than Travel Guard. With Travel Guard, coverage for having to stay in a country past your original booking dates is an add-on, not a standard part of the policy. 

Read our AIG Travel Insurance review here.

Compare World Nomad vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

If you already have a major credit card in your wallet, you most likely have some travel insurance benefits that come with it. These benefits do vary from card to card. Be sure to check your card's specific policies.

Not all credit cards will feature travel insurance protection. The ones that do may have specific limitations. For example, many credit cards with travel protection require that your airfare is paid for with the card in question for protections to take effect. 

Reimbursement isn't guaranteed. The credit cards do require that you file your claim and wait for a decision. World Nomads makes it easy to file a claim online and submit receipts and documentation. The response is fairly quick based on reviews from travelers that have actually had to file claims. 

The more premium the credit card, the more likely expanded travel protections are part of its features. If you don't already have a premium credit card, it's better to get travel insurance. This is also the case if you have multiple trips planned. Some credit cards limit not just the total dollar amount, but the number of claims within a 12-month period.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

World Nomads Travel Insurance FAQs

Can i extend my world nomads policy while already traveling.

Yes, you can extend your World Nomads plan while traveling, but you cannot upgrade a standard plan to the Explorer plan. 

Does World Nomads cover COVID-19 related incidents?

World Nomads covers COVID-19 like any other illness under its emergency medical coverage.

How does the claim process work with World Nomads?

You can file a claim on World Nomads's website, over the phone, or by mail. Make sure to provide as much documentation as possible to ease the claims process. 

What adventure activities are covered by World Nomads?

World Nomads currently covers 326 sports and adventure activities, from ziplining to zorbing.

Can I purchase World Nomads insurance if I'm already traveling?

Yes, you can purchase World Nomads insurance for a trip that has already started. However, a policy purchased during your trip will have a 72-hour waiting period before insurance starts.

How We Reviewed World Nomads Travel Insurance

To prepare this review on World Nomads, we started by detailing the company's travel insurance offerings. Then we looked at the best travel insurance plans and compared them to World Nomads. We looked at things like typical policy costs, coverage options, available add-ons, what's covered, and claim limits.

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance products here.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.