25 Perfect Adventure Vacations

© Courtesy of Alextype - Fotolia.com

Country Walkers has been creating immersive, authentic, and active guided walking adventures all over the world for more than 35 years. Their explorations get the mind engaged, the blood pumping, and the five senses energized by the magnificent natural wonders that surround them. Guests will enjoy the warm and welcoming spirit of many countries and their friendly locals thanks to this on-the-ground approach to exploring each of the areas. Country Walkers offers an array of all-inclusive walking packages for any level of walker from easy to challenging. Walks are provided on nearly every continent across the globe, so there’s always one nearby.

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

© Basecamp Boulder

Basecamp Boulder is a modern, newly renovated hotel designed with the adventurous traveler in mind. Located in downtown Boulder, it offers unique upscale accommodations with an array of elegant amenities at budget-friendly prices. Amenities include an indoor hot tub, indoor dry sauna, fitness center, 24-hour business center, and onsite laundry service. They’ve also created and developed the Basecamp Area Guide for visitors to get the low-down on all Boulder has to offer, from local hot spots to outdoor activities. This informative list contains nearly 60 detailed descriptions of various restaurants, theatres, museums, bars, national preserves, state parks, trailheads, mountains, and outdoor recreational facilities and services.

2020 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO, Phone: 303-449-7550

© Vista Verde Guest Ranch

Vista Verde Guest Ranch is located just north of Steamboat Springs nestled among the splendor of the Rocky Mountains. This luxury dude ranch features log cabins and lodge rooms that have a rustic-chic vibe. The ranch offers a diverse collection of seasonal activities from horseback riding, hiking, fly-fishing, and rafting during spring and summer to skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and fat-tire biking during fall and winter. A plethora of activities are offered all year round such as photography lessons, culinary classes, and spa treatments. Vista Verde’s delectable cowboy cuisine is a highlight of the ranch experience, providing dishes that are both authentic and distinctive, prepared by professionally trained chefs.

58000 Cowboy Way, Clark, CO, Phone: 970-879-3858

© Courtesy of Jillian - Fotolia.com

Arctic Kingdom is a pioneer of the Canadian Arctic, offering legendary land-based Arctic experiences for over 17 years. Through collaborations with the indigenous Inuit, who have called the Arctic home for thousands of years, they have created an array of unique adventures. Arctic Kingdom features one-of-a-kind trips that include exploring the pristine wilderness and providing intimate wildlife encounters. An exclusive polar bear photography tour and a Northern Lights experience settled deep within the Canadian wilderness in a remote, rustic lodge are just two of their popular adventures. The Narwhal Tour is another highlight in the northern area of Baffin Island, where the sea ice opens up to reveal marine mammals and other wildlife.

PO Box 6117, Iqaluit NU X0A, Canada, Phone: 888-737-6818

© Grand Geneva Resort

Located just 90 minutes from Chicago or an hour from Milwaukee, the Grand Geneva Resort offers a quick escape to the beautiful Wisconsin countryside. Guests can take advantage of the natural beauty with the resort’s world-class recreation program. In the summer months, adventurers can hike or mountain bike the resort’s 8.5 miles of pristine trails, play golf, horseback ride, or participate in mountain bike races or disc golf tournaments. In the winter months, The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva boasts over 30 acres of downhill ski runs as well as a variety of snow sports for all ages, like ice skating and sledding.

7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI, Phone: 800-558-3417

© Courtesy of LMspencer - Fotolia.com

Recognized by National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and Travel + Leisure as a leader in outdoor adventures, Adventure Life customizes itineraries for every adventurer to plan their dream excursion. Their team of experts make the wildest of destinations accessible to every traveler, with detailed itineraries tailored to specific dreams. Explore the ancient sites of Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat, experience the concrete jungle of Shanghai, or charter a small ship to navigate the coast of Alaska. Adventure Life plans every detail to allow guests to enjoy every aspect of their journey without the worry of planning.

712 W Spruce Street, 1, Missoula, MT, Phone: 406-541-2677

© Volcanoes Safaris

Volcanoes Safaris is a luxury lodge company established in 1997 that works in Uganda and Rwanda and is the leader in reviving chimpanzee and gorilla tourism in the region. They started their business by setting up simple camps in the areas near the gorilla parks. Today, they operate the luxury Virunga Lodge in Rwanda near a gorilla park and active volcanoes, Mount Gahinga Lodge, which introduces the Batwa culture and offers hiking in Uganda, Bwindi, the Jungle Gorilla Lodge in Uganda, and the Kvambura Gorge Lodge in Uganda. Volcanoes Safaris offers unique alternative to the traditional African safaris, an eco-adventure in full comfort of their luxury accommodation. Phone: 212-967-5895

© Courtesy of milosz_g - Fotolia.com

Visitors can experience New Orleans from a different perspective when they venture through the waterways of this iconic Southern city. Kayaking through New Orleans’ oldest neighborhoods, travelers learn about homes dating back to the late 1700s as well as native communities that pre-date European settlement. Guests will learn about the eco challenges facing southern Louisiana on an adventure through Bayou St. John. It’s a great way to explore Louisiana’s diverse ecosystems. Kayak-iti-Yat offers a variety of tours ranging from a couple of hours to day-long excursions that give adventurers the opportunity to observe Louisiana’s rich wildlife, local community, and deep history.

3494 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA, Phone: 985-778-5034

© Courtesy of reisegraf.ch - Fotolia.com

Home to some of the world’s best canyoneering, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking, Arizona invites adventurers of all ages to experience its unique terrain. 360 Adventures encourages visitors of all skill levels to experience Arizona with their expert guides, customized itineraries, and reliable equipment. In this way, guests can make the most of their trip without the worry of planning out the details. Whether it’s hiking the Grand Canyon, biking Sedona’s famous red rocks, or climbing Phoenix’s favorite landmarks, 360 Adventures expert guides ensure every visitor has an enjoyable experience. Guests can also rest assured that their safety is always a top priority.

Phoenix, AZ, Phone: 480-722-0360

© Courtesy of Margaret - Fotolia.com

Travelers who’ve never been on a Vermont vacation would do well to choose Appalachian Trail Adventures as their introduction to the Green Mountain State. Guided custom small-group hiking, caving, and kayaking adventures can be arranged for half-day or full-day experiences. At ATA, guests can choose weeklong themed adventures like the Hiking and Yoga Vacation, Hiking and Spa Vacation, Healthful Living Vacation, or Kayaking Vacation, to name a few. The Summit Lodge, with its country inn vibe, provides a menu of spa therapies, while the Foundry Restaurant caters to guests’ individual needs and tastes. Chefs have master’s degrees in clinical nutrition, making this a great choice for everyone from athletes to dieters.

200 Summit Road, Killington, VT, Phone: 888-855-8655

© Courtesy of luengo_ua - Fotolia.com

Travelling to exotic destinations is exciting, but many things can go wrong. Using professionals such as Exotic Voyages makes all the difference between having the time of your life and having a nightmare, or at least time wasted on endless details. Exotic Voyages is a high-end tour operator that specializes in organizing trips to less-travelled destinations in Southeast Asia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. If Thailand is your dream destination, they will take all the boring details off your hands such as looking for a hotel in Bangkok or organizing a bus to Phuket or a boat to Koh Chang. They offer private and custom adventures and will help you plan your trip, tell you about the must-see places and how to avoid the crowds of backpackers, and let you visit Thailand the way ordinary tourists do not. They will show you magnificent temples that are not in your guidebook, organize a ride on an elephant, and tell you about special festivals and celebrations. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and take photos.

244 Madison Avenue, New York City, NY 10016, Phone: 888-497-0068

© Konstantin/stock.adobe.com

An Indian state sitting out on the country's gorgeous Malabar Coast, Kerala features close to 600km of Arabian Sea shoreline. It's famous for being the home of some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, as well as playing home to the Western Ghats mountain range, where grand tea, coffee, and spice plantations have been nourishing the country, and the world at large, for many years. It's a place where elephants, monkeys, and tigers can be seen too, and you can experience the very best of Kerala with WanderNow.

More than just a tour operator or travel agency, WanderNow is a full service travel company, tirelessly planning every aspect of your journey in order to create world class travel experiences that you'll never forget. The most exclusive, tailor-made trips and vacations in Kerala can only be found with WanderNow, as the company's team of travel-loving experts work to take care of absolutely everything, from accommodation and transfers to restaurants, activities, celebrations, and local guides too. In short, when you choose to travel with WanderNow, you can sit back, relax, and know that absolutely all of the little details have been taken care of on your behalf, ready to enjoy the trip of a lifetime. wandernow.in

© Courtesy of soft_light - Fotolia.com

Travelers yearning for an off-the-beaten-path experience will want to consider Intrepid Travel. This tour organization specializes in small group tours with the best and most knowledgeable local guides. No ticking off the guidebook at the usual sights here. Travelers can select tours by specific geographic area across seven continents or by type of tour, from small ship adventure cruising to polar expeditions. These personalized tours let guests dive below the surface of a destination to discover what the culture, geography, and people are really all about – it’s real life. Guests also choose their level of creature comforts, from basic to an experience with fewer rough edges.

Level 7, 567 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Phone: 510-285-0640

© Courtesy of Catherine CLAVERY- Fotolia.com

Fatpacking is a unique weight-loss-focused excursion program that offers one-to-two-week adventure vacations designed to unplug participants from the grid and help facilitate weight loss and fitness. Backpacking excursions travel to a variety of national parks and wilderness locations around the United States, from the Florida Everglades to the Superstition Wilderness of Arizona. Though the company cannot promise a designated amount of weight loss on trips, backpacking throughout excursions may serve as a fitness jumpstart and build lean muscle while burning fat rather than water weight. Trips are bookended by hotel stays, though participants can receive discounts if they live near the trailhead location and do not require a hotel stay.

9 Third St, Hull, MA 02045, Phone: (781) 773-1115

© Courtesy of alexa - Fotolia.com

Established in 1898 as a typical Montana homestead, 320 Guest Ranch is today a rustic home away from home for nature enthusiasts who are exploring the magnificent unspoiled Montana landscape. This upscale lodge is located between the Yellowstone’s west entrance and Big Sky Ski Resort, and it offers quaint log cabins with traditional pine paneling, large picture windows overlooking the surrounding Gallatin National Forest, private bathrooms, and Wi-Fi. Some cabins have fireplaces, decks, and kitchens. Guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, sleigh rides in the winter, fishing in a trout pond, a hot tub, a steakhouse, a bar, and modern event spaces. Miles of hiking and biking trails, whitewater rafting, skiing, horseback riding, and much more are just outside the door.

205 Buffalo Horn Creek Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730, Phone: 406-995-4283

© Courtesy of Remains - Fotolia.com

Mountaineers seeking to ascend the highest summit can choose from a variety of guided tours hosted by Mountain Trip. Founded in Alaska and based in Telluride, Colorado, Mountain Trip offers climbers the ideal travel experience throughout some of the world’s most breathtaking mountain ranges, including in Colorado and Alaska along with Africa, Asia, South America, and Antarctica. Packages cater to a range of skill levels offering activities like skiing, rock climbing, ice climbing, and trekking. This guide company has three goals – bring everyone back safely, ensure everyone has a great experience, and get every climber to the summit with high quality personalized service.

135 West Colorado Avenue #2A, Telluride, CO, Phone: 970-369-1153

© Courtesy of Alexander Erdbeer - Fotolia.com

Any seasoned traveler has certainly heard of their magazine, but National Geographic also organizes themed vacations to exotic destinations around the world. Photographers looking to improve their skills can take a guided tour with a National Geographic photographer in places like Japan or New York. Jetsetters looking for a taste of the high life can explore the world by private plane in a VIP-style luxury getaway. The Classic Train Tour covers landscapes in places like India or Russia aboard a train carriage fit for royalty. The National Geographic Adventures themed tours will surely satisfy any adventurer’s wanderlust.

1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C., Phone: 202-857-7000

© Courtesy of WitR - Fotolia.com

Deemed The World's #1 Adventure Travel Outfitter by Outside magazine, Natural Habitat Adventures specializes in nature travel, operating journeys to locations like the Sahara and the Alaskan wilderness. Natural Habitat Adventures works with top scientists and staff from The World Wildlife Fund to create unique itineraries to remote wildlife reserves and parks away from the crowds and tourist traps. Groups average nine guests in order to maintain a feeling of seclusion and to avoid disturbing the wildlife. Travelers can also join specialty trips with world-renowned photographers and naturalist guides as well as go on hiking and kayaking adventures.

833 W South Boulder Road, Louisville, CO, Phone: 303-449-3711

© Courtesy of GooDAura - Fotolia.com

Adventurers with their sights set on Scandinavia can rely on Nature Travels to provide the trip of a lifetime to the lakes, mountains, forests, and archipelago islands of Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Vacation packages range from guided to self-guided tours during the winter and summer months. Their tours include both family-accessible tours as well as challenging expeditions into the wilderness. Nature Travels commits themselves to the principles of ecotourism and believes strongly in the protection and conservation of the environment. Lovers of the Great Outdoors can choose from exciting adventures like timber rafting on a self-built log raft, dogsledding, cross-country skiing, and beyond on a nature-friendly vacation.

Sanford Lane, Wareham BH20 4DY, UK, Phone: +44-19-29-50-30-80

© Courtesy of Lionel Taieb - Fotolia.com

MIR Corporation is an award-winning tour company offering luxury excursions throughout top Russian and Eastern European destinations such as the Silk Route and the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Seattle-based company, which has been in operation since 1986, is named for the Russian word for "world peace" and has been featured in international publications such as Luxury Travel and National Geographic Traveler. 35 destination excursions travel throughout Russia, Siberia, Tibet, Uzbekistan, the Ukraine, and other Central Asian locations, with world-class air travel and accommodations secured by the company's full-service guest service departments. Private adventures are offered for individuals, couples, families, and small groups, with custom excursions available upon request. Phone: 800-424-7289

© Courtesy of JFL Photography - Fotolia.com

Hikers looking to experience the best of the Great Outdoors can rely on Wildland Trekking Company for unforgettable trekking vacations to the world’s most magnificent places. This adventure-touring company exceeds expectations and has received rave reviews almost unanimously from previous guests. From family-friendly hikes to challenging treks, their backpacking tours cater to a range of skill levels and come with certified wilderness experts to guide the journey. Their trips take place all year round in mountain ranges across the United States as well as global destinations like Iceland, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, the Alps, and Ecuador.

4025 East Huntington, Suite 150, Flagstaff, AZ, Phone: 800-715-4453

© Courtesy of Irina Schmidt - Fotolia.com

Explore the wonders of the West Coast, Canada, and Alaska with immersive experiences curated by experts of each region. Evergreen Escapes offers unique tours blending natural wonders, boutique wineries, and urban adventures into small-group tours from Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco as well as custom itineraries throughout the Western United States. With responsibility and sustainability at the core of their mission, each tour focuses on the local culture, history, agriculture, wines, and microbrews of the region, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the true nature of the West Coast. With custom-crafted tours, travelers can create their own adventure with the guidance of local experts.

2305 SE 9th Avenue, Portland, OR, Phone: 866-203-7603

© Courtesy of photolifepnw - Fotolia.com

Thrill-seekers looking to witness the wilderness of the Wild West should look no further than Western River Expeditions, offering unforgettable rafting trips along the rivers of Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and Costa Rica. Guests leave civilization behind, flowing through unspoiled landscapes while taking on the rapids of the world’s top-rated rivers. Whitewater rafting tours accommodate individual travelers, families, and groups alike. These one-of-a-kind adventure vacations range from 2 to 9 days and include exciting activities like fishing, relaxation in hot springs, hikes to waterfalls, and explorations of wildlife. This is the ultimate Wild West outdoor experience for every adventure traveler.

7258 Racquet Club Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, Phone: 866-904-1163

© Courtesy of Kseniia - Fotolia.com

Dog lovers and adventurers alike can experience nature unlike ever before at the Wintergreen Dogsledding Lodge. These top-notch tours take travelers into the Minnesota wilderness while mushing across the snows behind a full team of huskies. Vacation packages welcome different kinds of guests, whether singles, couples, families, or groups. The more adventurous can opt for tent camping on overnight excursions while those who prefer the comfort of sleeping in a bed and warming themselves by the fire can sign up for the lodge-based trips. Accompanied by expert naturalist guides, Wintergreen runs full-day trips with guided dog sledding for all experience levels.

1101 Ring Rock Road, Ely, MN, Phone: 218-365-6022

© Courtesy of efired - Fotolia.com

Go Overseas is an online listing and review website for all kinds of programs all over the world. Whether you’re looking to travel abroad or are already abroad, the site aims to help individuals make their way to foreign parts of the world in order to study, volunteer, work, or simply travel. The site aims to be a resource for individuals who are unsure of where to go or what programs are available in the place they’re going or whether a specific program they’re looking at is exactly how they imagine it to be.

Users can create their own wish list of the programs they’ve taken interest in so that they can be bookmarked and saved for later. This will be useful when users will start comparing the different programs they’ll be choosing from side by side. Once the choices have been narrowed down, users can then connect with other travelers from all over the world to learn more about a program they’ve taken interest in. This is a good way for them to get answers to questions they normally can’t find elsewhere. gooverseas.com