Adventure Vacation Ideas

1. Smithsonian Journeys

With the help of Smithsonian Journeys, travelers can explore the world through the lens of some of the most knowledgeable and well respected scholars on earth.

Participation in a Smithsonian Journeys trip not only allows you to learn about different cultures, explore landscapes and learn about local wildlife, but it also benefits the Smithsonian and their affiliated programs.

The Smithsonian will use all their connections to get travelers behind the scenes access to iconic cultural sites across the globe, where they will learn about history and culture, and meet new people.

Smithsonian Journeys has destinations on all seven continents and has both pre-curated and tailor-made adventures waiting for each individual guest. Phone: 855-330-1542

2. Go Ahead Tours

Planning the perfect travel adventure can involve a lot of details, which is why it is so important to have a trusted travel expert at hand to help you. At Go Ahead Tours you get the benefit of more than 50 years of adventure travel experience built into each tour they offer.

The company puts together immersive tours in more than 80 countries spread over all 7 continents, giving you access to all the insider tips you need to make your holiday unique and memorable.

Once you have chosen your tour all you need to do is pack your bag – Go Ahead Tours takes care of all the details for you.

EF Center Boston, Two Education Circle, Cambridge, MA 02141, Phone: 800 500 1161

3. Road Scholar

Offering a variety of options around the world, Road Scholar is one of the best adventure travel companies for exploring local history and nature.

Whether you are planning an exotic trip to the Galapagos Islands or a weekend of mountain hiking, Road Scholar will help you choose when to go, what to take and so much more.

This adventure company offers everything from hiking in Kathmandu to sailing the high seas on a modern cruise vacation.

If you have no idea where your next adventure may take you, Road Scholar makes it easy to get away with seasonal adventure and airfare specials.

11 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111, Phone: 800 454 5768

4. Backroads Travel

Backroads Travel is an incredible travel company best suited for active travelers.

With Backroads Travel, guests can explore the hills, history, and wineries of Tuscany on foot or by bike, hike the mountainous rocks and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park, or get up close and personal with the massive glaciers, intricate fjords, and fiery volcanoes of Iceland.

Backroads Travel promotes active travel because they believe that there’s no real way to get to know a place except by intimately acquainting yourself with it.

Traveling with Backroads will allow you to see the beauty of the world around you from a slower, more personal pace. Phone: 510-527-1555

5. Elevate Destinations

Elevate Destinations focuses on eco-friendly, sustainable luxury travel.

Their innovative Buy a Trip, Give a Trip initiative means that for every guest who books with Elevate Destinations, the company will pay to send a group of local children on a trip to see some amazing tourist sites in their own country.

Guests can design trips for solo travelers, couples, families, and large groups and choose their destination from a huge list of options over multiple continents. At Elevate Destinations, guests can select their trip based on what kind of traveler they are, whether they are looking for a volunteer experience or a yoga retreat. Phone: 800-605-6751

6. Geographic Expeditions

Travelers looking for a luxurious, intimate experience with insider access will love Geographic Expeditions, a travel company that boasts a massive array of destinations on all seven continents.

Geographic Expeditions takes small group travel to a whole new level, with custom designed adventures that may include a chartered ship to the icy seas of Antarctica, a wild safari in the Serengeti to see lions, elephants, and giraffes, or a relaxing and elegant adventure to see -- and try -- all the wineries in the Bordeaux region.

GeoEx’s proud motto is “to the ends of the earth.” They don’t let the remoteness of a location stop travelers from visiting it, and in fact they focus on traveling with integrity no matter the destination. Phone: 888-570-7108

7. Classic Journeys

When traveling with Classic Journeys, you will get a completely unique look at their destination; the company thrives on creating one of a kind experiences for its guests, who will interact with locals, eat local cuisine in small villages, and shop at local markets.

Travel groups with Classic Journeys are small and led by knowledgeable guides who are familiar with the area. Tours and trips are structured yet maintain a sense of spontaneity and flexibility that is often difficult to find outside of solo travel.

Classic Journeys prides itself on keeping this feeling for its guests while eliminating all the logistical trouble of planning your own trip. Phone: 800-200-3887

8. Country Walkers

With an ever growing list of destinations on five continents, Country Walkers offers authentic travel experiences for active travelers who love to see the world on foot.

Country walkers offers two styles of travel experience. For guided walking tours, the company creates an itinerary, takes care of food and accommodation, and has local guides for small groups of eight to eighteen guests.

There is also a self guided walking tour option, which allows guests to explore at their own pace with all the support they need, so they can focus on enjoying themselves while Country Walkers takes care of luggage, hotels, transportation, and more.

426 Industrial Ave, Suite 120 Williston, VT 05495, Phone: 800-234-6900

9. NAMU Travel

NAMU Travel Group is based in Central America and so travelers hoping to explore the sandy beaches, quaint and colorful villages, and lush green rainforests of the Latin American region should take full advantage of their considerable expertise. NAMU offers a number of vacation packages to suit all guests’ desires, from fishing in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Costa Rica to exploring the colonial towns of Nicaragua. Their destinations include Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua, and they even have an adult only hotel located in Costa Rica called Villa Buena Onda.

Calle 70, San José Province, San José, Costa Rica

10. Explore!

With over 600 destinations in 130 countries, Explore! is a fun adventure travel agency that organizes small group adventure holidays that span from an African safari to a Polar voyage in the icy waters of the Arctic. Groups, couples, families, and others can enjoy their vacation with Explore, and solo travelers can take advantage of exclusive deals and savings. Destinations include locations on all seven continents, so no matter where a traveler wants to go, Explore can not only help them get there, but help them make the absolute most of their experience.

Phone: 0-12-52-88-37-42