A journey is a transformation. Choose your destination wisely so that the journey itself, the people you meet, the food you taste, and the experiences you have take you to a new place, not only physically but also spiritually and philosophically. The trips we’re about to show you aren’t exactly relaxing, but is mere relaxation truly satisfying? Our purpose here is to maximize joy, release, challenge, and achieve our goals. So, what better way to do that than by traveling to places where we not only change scenery but also find ourselves? It’s time to get lost and find ourselves. Let’s experience these 9 adventures around the world. Protect these plans with sports insurance like Totalsports, which includes standard travel assistance coverage (medical assistance, baggage, transportation, civil liability, etc.) plus additional coverage for extreme sports (accidents, sports equipment, excursions, rehabilitation, crutches, etc.
9 must-do adventure plans around the world
Paddling in the Grand Canyon
Facing nearly 500 kilometers of whitewater in a wooden boat, spending 13 to 18 days navigating the Colorado River through the Canyon, while contemplating two and a half billion years of Earth’s erosion, and battling the turbulent waters, transforms you from a sailor into a geologist, and also makes you a more humble human being.
He’s chasing an elephant
In Kenya’s Chyulu Hills, which inspired Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa,” three national parks converge, protecting lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards (the so-called “Big Five”). Maasai warriors have become their guardians and guides. Campi ya Kanzi, a lodge in the area, combines luxury and exoticism. There, you can traverse these lands in open-top jeeps, surrounded by wildlife, while also experiencing a more direct connection with the land through walking tours. A safari is a quintessential once-in-a-lifetime experience to connect with the wild side of the earth.
Camp on a volcano
This mountain can shudder, hiss, and hurl burning rocks at any moment. Your shoes will likely melt, and you can have a barbecue at 2,500 meters above sea level, on the summit of Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala. Most hikers spend a day there, but if you camp overnight on the volcano, you’ll hear the lava flow sweeping through the vegetation, illuminating the night sky.
Paddling in the Galapagos
A face-to-face encounter with penguins, iguanas, and sea lions surpasses viewing them through binoculars from the deck of a cruise ship, which is how most travelers experience the Galápagos. This experience is like stepping back in time: taking a kayak trip. The islands look much as they have for millions of years, and the animals have lost none of the innocence and uniqueness that Darwin observed on his voyage aboard the Beagle 175 years ago. It’s impossible not to become a naturalist and reflect on our own ancestors.
Save the Amazon in person
There’s a better way to protect the Amazon rainforest than sending a check to an NGO: go there yourself. Contact a scientific expedition and join them on a week-long research trip through the most biodiverse rainforest on Earth. The Earthwatch Institute, for example, organizes trips aboard a century-old ship that biologists use to study populations of pink river dolphins, spider monkeys, tamarins, macaws, toucans, and other exotic wildlife. Spend your days working with the staff and relax at night on the ship’s upper deck. You’ll see things you never imagined while protecting the planet.
Find Nemo (and his friends)
The second-largest barrier reef is located off the coast of Belize and teems with marine life. Scientists have identified only a small fraction of all the species that live there, including manatees, 500 types of fish, 65 types of coral, sharks, turtles, and birds. It’s such a diverse ecosystem that it has been declared a World Heritage Site. And you don’t even need scuba gear to appreciate its splendor—a mask and snorkel will suffice! This 185-kilometer-long reef is considered one of the seven underwater wonders of the world, though it could soon follow the path of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as it is threatened by rising temperatures and ocean acidification, among other factors.
Explore the Himalayas
Hike the 200-kilometer trail along the jagged 8,000-meter cliffs of the Annapurna range, and do it like the locals, eating and staying in teahouses in Nepalese villages. Going self-guided allows you to set your own schedule, so you can spend extra days exploring your favorite spots. Hurry, though, because several sections of the trail are slated to be converted into roads, which will mean cars and pollution marring the Himalayan views. Plus, every time you look in the mirror when you get home, you’ll see someone who hiked Annapurna without a guide.
Cycle through the Copper Canyon
Known as the “Mexican Grand Canyon,” the Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) in the state of Chihuahua is composed of 20 red rock canyons at the base of which lies a network of rivers. Its network of trails, long corridors that have withstood the test of time, was built by the Tarahumara Indians.
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