Last updated November 16, 2023
Are you someone who loves exploring new places? What about taking the road less traveled or indulging in adrenaline-packed experiences? Do you like to challenge yourself? Will you visit a foreign country to really let culture and experience seep deep into your skin?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, you’re probably an adventure traveler. An adventure traveler is someone who travels far and wide; actively seeking out new challenges and overseas adventures.
Adventure travel is thrilling and exciting. It’s about getting out there and doing something new.
Travel is safe for the most part. When thinking about adventure travel, images of people skydiving, bungee jumping and ziplining come to mind. Safe? Not my first word choice…
However, adventure travel doesn’t always have to be perilous or about putting your life at risk. Your idea of adventure might involve taking long train journeys across continents, skiing, or even perhaps a town-wide tomato fight.
Whatever levels of adventure you enjoy, there are thrilling places for everyone. Destinations worldwide that allow you to connect with the culture, people and landscapes on a different level. Here are the best destinations for adventure travel around the world.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Nepal
With the Himalayas on your doorstep, adventure travel is never far away in Nepal. It’s a destination with a beautiful mixture of adventure, culture, nature and jaw-dropping landscapes. Nepal also has a vast range of spiritual experiences.
This country is full of ample hiking trails and hardcore mountaineering options in the Himalayas. Nepal is also full of activities like paragliding, rafting, rock climbing and bouldering as well as exciting safari walking tours. Some highly recommended activities to try are:
- Multi-day trek to Annapurna base camp
- Paragliding over the city of Pokhara and the Himalayas
- Going on a safari tour through Chitwan National Park in Southern Nepal.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Hawaii
For those wanting to stay closer to home without having to settle, the islands of Hawaii await with more adventure than you could possibly have time for in just one trip. From big wave surfing and cage diving with sharks to rappelling down jungle walls and hiking to an active volcano, Hawaii won’t disappoint any hardcore thrill-seeker.
In Hawaii, you can also dive with manta rays, go dolphin and whale watching, go cruising on a 2.5-mile zipline through the jungle and of course see the set of Jurassic Park from a helicopter.
The only problem? Planning in enough time to do it all.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Mexico
In recent years adventure tourism in Mexico has really taken off and this beautiful country now has so many adrenaline-packed activities to choose from. Fancy surfing in Puerto Escondido? How about scuba diving or snorkeling in the Mayan cenotes of Yucatan? Sportfishing in Zihuatanejo? What about kayaking in Baja California?
With the country’s adventure tourism on the rise, Mexico will always be one of the best destinations for adventure travel.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Chilean & Argentine Patagonia
As one of the most hostile natural environments in the world, the Southern tip of South America, shared by both Argentina and Chile is a trekkers and adventurer’s dream. Patagonia, both on the Chilean and Argentinian side is full of mountain-related activities such as multi-day trekking, glacier-hiking, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking and even white-water rafting.
For hiking, you’ll not want to miss the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, nor will you want to give up an opportunity to hike across the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina.
For kayaking and rafting don’t miss getting up close with Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine National Park as well as the Futaleufu Region in Chile. A horseback riding itinerary can also be organized in El Chalten, Argentina, and in Chile’s Puerto Natales. If you’re someone that would much prefer a long driving experience don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime to drive Chile’s Carretera Austral for the ultimate Patagonia road trip.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Costa Rica
Costa Rica does adventure travel like nowhere else. Welcome to the home of the zipline and if volcano trekking, surfing, snorkeling, rafting and of course ziplining all sound fun to you, consider Costa Rica for your next adventure.
Rich in natural diversity and beautiful landscapes, you’ll easily find your dose of nature and adventure in this fascinating country. Head straight to La Fortuna for hiking Arenal volcano, zip-lining through the jungle canopy and rafting down the country’s most ferocious rivers. Next, head to Nosara or Santa Teresa for some surfing and beach fun.
If you’re more of a fan of snorkeling or diving, head to the Caribbean coast instead. Finish your trip in and around Manuel Antonio National Park, trekking with monkeys to pristine beaches as well as sighting whales off the Pacific Coast.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in New Zealand
A firm favorite as one of the best destinations for adventure travel, New Zealand is probably one of the most popular adventure travel destinations. From endless hiking opportunities to bungee jumping and even a bungee swing, New Zealand will have the hairs on the back of your neck raised throughout most of your trip.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand and a great place to base yourself throughout your trip. Get ready to cruise Fiordland National Park, go heli-biking and even heli-hiking on a glacier. There are also endless places to choose from for hiking, kayaking and fishing in and around the north and south islands. Get ready for a trip that is full of nothing but adventure.
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Brazil
Home of the Amazon rainforest and river, the Pantanal Wetlands, and endless street parties, Brazil has a way to impress any adventure seeker. With adventure travel options everywhere you go, you’ll have to choose which areas of this tremendous country to discover first.
In the South, you can get up close and personal with the gigantic Iguazu Falls and party all day and night and the infamous Rio Carnival. In the North, there’s dune buggy driving in Natal. If that seems too tame, why not kayak through the Pantanal wetlands or scuba dive around paradisiacal Fernando de Noronha island or even white water raft in Brotas?
Best Destination for Adventure Travel in Switzerland
As one of the best destinations for adventure travel in the form of mountain sports, Switzerland should be on every adventurer’s bucket list.
This beautiful country has a variety of very different activities to choose from depending on whether you visit in the winter or summer. In winter enjoy skiing or snowboarding at some of Europe’s best ski resorts as well as sledding from Preda to Bergün or even some winter mountaineering. In summer, there are hundreds of hiking opportunities to choose from as well as paragliding at Lauterbrunnen and jetboating in Interlaken.
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