Originally published in LitMag January 11, 2024
Many of us are making resolutions to get fit and take a bucket list vacation in 2024. From cycling and hiking to paddling and skiing, here are 11 active adventures around the world that will help you accomplish both.
1. Trekking in Nepal: Trek around the eighth-highest mountain in the world and across the longest pass in the Himalaya on Nepal’s Manaslu Circuit with Adventure Life. Start the trip with visits to Kathmandu’s temples and monuments, then set out on the trek with experienced guides. Less busy than the Everest Basecamp or Annapurna treks, the Manaslu Circuit is equally as stunning, with remote villages, lush forests and challenging mountains with breathtaking views from as high as 17,000-foot Larkya La Pass. Along the way, stay in mountain lodges offering the hospitality of the local Gurung and Tibetan communities. https://www.adventure-life.com/nepal/tours/17621/manasalu-circuit-trek
2. Yellowstone Adventuring: In Big Sky, Montana, The Wilson Hotel serves as a basecamp for active adventures outside the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. Guests can hike through shaded forests and wildflower-filled meadows, raft or fly fish the clear waters of the Gallatin River, experience the adrenaline rush of lift-served mountain biking and ski Big Sky Resort’s 5,850 acres of terrain in winter. And the natural wonders and wildlife of Yellowstone are a short drive away, with some trailheads closer. https://thewilsonhotel.com/
3. Skiing + Snowshoeing Jackson Hole: Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus just a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes, making it the perfect place to stay for a winter ski trip. https://www.firesidejacksonhole.com
4. Exploring Galapagos + Amazon: Starting at Scalesia Galapagos Lodge in the highlands of Isabela, guests will explore some of the Galapagos Islands’ most fascinating areas, including the Giant Tortoise Reserve and Charles Darwin Research Station. Guests will then visit Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest, and from the comfortable Sacha Lodge, head into the jungle on expertly guided tours to discover colorful birds, fascinating reptiles, many species different monkeys, and an array of other wildlife. https://www.scalesialodge.com/programs/
5. Biking Across Central Florida: To a region known for barrier islands, aromatic citrus groves, boating and sport-fishing, Escape Adventures is offering an uncharted and original six-day cycling excursion. Fall and Winter days are consistently sunny so guests can leave their coats and boots at home. On backroads or dedicated cycling infrastructure, this tour highlights the big Cypress that defines interior Florida’s wildly lively watersheds, as well as the stately century-old Live Oaks fringed with Spanish moss, synonymous to the region’s Southern heritage. https://escapeadventures.com/tour/florida-coast-gulf-road-bike-tour/
6. Rafting Montana: Looking for exciting Yellowstone whitewater rafting, breathtaking scenery, and awesome Montana river rafting guides? Choose from a half-day whitewater trip, full-day whitewater trip, scenic float or overnight Montana whitewater trip for thrilling and exhilarating rafting adventures. Flying Pig Adventures’ river experts ensure each trip is safe and enjoyable for all ages and experience levels. https://www.flyingpigrafting.com/white-water-rafting-yellowstone
7. Exploring National Parks by RV: Blackford’s brand-new, luxury RVs and campervans are low-mileage and impeccably maintained, ensuring a safe and worry-free trip. They offer flexible pickup and drop-off times, all the amenities you’ll need for a fantastic National Parks vacation and support to ensure a seamless rental experience. Blacksford utilizes AdventureGenie, the easiest, fastest, most intuitive AI-powered RV trip planner on the market. https://www.blacksford.com/
8. Walking and Cruising Croatia: Discover Croatia’s Dalmatian coast on a Peter Sommer Travels tour that combines a gulet cruise with hikes through some of the region’s most beautiful landscapes. Walk atop the longest defense wall from medieval Europe at Ston, discover an Iron Age citadel high above the sea near Orebić, explore the living archaeological landscape of the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain on Hvar and trek through the Blaca Gorge to a monastery founded in the Renaissance period on Brač. At the end of each day, enjoy accommodations aboard a traditional gulet as it anchors in picturesque coves and bays, as well as meals with fresh seafood, superb meat and cheese dishes, and fine wines. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/walking-holiday-croatia
9. Trekking Amalfi & Capri: Experience the pure magic of the Amalfi Coast and its enchanting satellite island, Capri, on this terrific hiking tour offered by Tourissimo. The fragrant lemon groves and vibrant flowers, the gentle breeze of the Mediterranean Sea, the verdant woods, and the picturesque towns perched on cliff slopes will captivate guests, much like the Sirens’ song that lured Ulysses’ sailors in Homer’s Odyssey. https://www.tourissimo.travel/amalfi-capri-positano-hiking
10. Riding the Swiss Alps: Best of the Alps destination Davos Klosters, Switzerland, offers adventures for cyclists of every type and ability. Road cyclists can ride the high passes of the Tour de Suisse or quiet side valleys with little traffic, mountain bikers can take on a 10,000-meter enduro descent or the longest singletrack in the country, and even steep uphills can be fun with plenty of trails available for e-bikes. Amenities for cyclists include bike hotels, bike shuttle services, bike-friendly cable cars and bike charging stations. And besides cycling, Davos Klosters also has hiking, trail running, climbing, skiing and more. https://www.bestofthealps.com/en/d/davos/
11. Arizona Ranch Riding + Hiking: Visit Rancho de la Osa, which borders the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona, and hike trails with beautiful vistas of the Altar Valley and Baboquivari Mountains. The surrounding grasslands, riparian areas and cottonwood and mesquite groves provide rich habitat for wildlife like deer, jackrabbits, herons, owls, hawks and golden eagles. In addition to hiking, the ranch offers opportunities for horseback riding, archery, shooting and more. And at the end of the day, settle into accommodations once visited by the likes of John Wayne, Joan Crawford, and President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. https://ranchodelaosa.com/
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
