The Best Places to Travel for Adventure
Senior Travel Writer
Adrenaline fiends will love these high-energy adventure travel tours bookable with Culture Trip.
Thrill-seeking vagabonds need not look far to find adventure on any continent. Rush to the game reserves in South Africa and be ready to roar with the lions. Chart a course for the Galápagos and marvel at the rich biodiversity that you’ll find nowhere else. Make an entire Portuguese archipelago your volcanic playground. Whatever gets your adrenaline pumping, you’ll find it on these adventurous small-group trips.
The complete South Africa experience
How do you begin to get an authentic taste of Africa’s southerly nation? Well, thanks to the expert guidance of our Local Insider, this trip is a satisfying three-course meal. To start, we’ll delve into the cultural diversity of Cape Town, forged in the fires of the country’s complex past. Next on the table – after Table Mountain, of course – is an exploration of the Garden Route’s sublime natural bounties, from limestone caves to luscious national parks, epic coastlines and endless vineyards. Your dessert? A luxurious stay on a stunning safari game reserve, where you can join us in search of the Big Five and bask in the glory of the South African wilderness.
From US$2129
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
ENDS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
DURATION
11
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Spot tigers on a Jeep safari in Nepal
Spend 11 days in Nepal and your heart will get all the exercise it needs. The thump in your chest will quicken as a rickshaw whisks you through the streets of Kathmandu. Your heart rate will increase again as you go whitewater rafting down the Seti River, with who knows what watching you from the dense jungle surrounds. The beat will crescendo into silence as you lock eyes with the elusive Bengal tiger in Chitwan National Park. The Himalayas are undoubtedly one of the best destinations for adventure travel tours.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Kathmandu, Nepal
ENDS AT
Kathmandu, Nepal
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom of the Galápagos Islands
This adventure travel tour is one that David Attenborough would approve of – five days spent immersing yourself in the animal kingdom of the Galápagos Islands. You’ll join a small group for an intimate excursion to the famed archipelago. Uninhabited islands are yours to explore as you write your own travelogue detailing every endemic species you stumble upon. The giant tortoises at your glamping site will patiently review your log each night, ensuring that your classifications are rich with Darwin-level detail.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
ENDS AT
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Explore ancient temples and encounter wildlife in Sri Lanka
Are you curious to explore the quieter, more authentic side of one of the most beautiful places in Asia? Then this jungle adventure in Sri Lanka is for you. Spot herds of wild elephants on a 4×4 safari drive in Minneriya National Park, climb the winding cliffside steps to the wondrous fifth-century rock fortress, Sigiriya, and once you’ve savoured a Sri Lankan feast in Kandy, whitewater rafting and waterfall abseiling awaits. Still want more? Opt to end your trip with whale watching from Kosgoda before burning the last of your energy by dancing the night away to DJ beats on the beach.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Colombo, Sri Lanka
ENDS AT
Kosgoda, Sri Lanka
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Atlantic Azores
This six-day caper on the westernmost isles of Europe is just about as adventurous as travel gets. You’ll hike, bike and kayak your way through the mesmerising landscapes of this unique volcanic archipelago, from crater lakes to verdant forestry and mineral-rich hot springs. Abseil across waterfalls and go canyoning down mountain streams in the rich subtropical forest of Ribeira dos Caldeirões. You can also opt to for some whale and dolphin watching on an optional marine safari – the surrounding waters are home to blue whales, the largest animals on the planet.
From US$1386
Next available from 29th Mar 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Ponta Delgada, Portugal
ENDS AT
Ponta Delgada, Portugal
DURATION
6
GROUP SIZE
8
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Louis Rabinowitz contributed to this article.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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