Top 10 (+2) adventure destinations for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

With 2009 rapidly coming to an end, it is time to look ahead to 2010 and begin making our travel plans. For adventure travelers, the year ahead is full of possibilities, with amazing destinations just waiting to deliver the trip of a lifetime. Here are ten of the very best places to feed your need for adventure.

10. Antarctica
One of the most coveted destinations on any adventure traveler’s list has always been Antarctica, the coldest, highest, and driest place on the planet. The frozen continent is remote, rugged, and challenging, but there are now multiple ways of getting there, ranging from luxury cruises to “last degree” ski expeditions to the South Pole. You could easily make the argument that Antarctica is the last great frontier, and perhaps the most adventurous destination on Earth, and should be ranked higher on this list. I’d agree with those sentiments, except for one very big consideration, which is the expense of getting there. Unfortunately, it still costs a good deal of money to visit Antarctica, and for now, it is beyond the budget of many of those adventurous enough to want to make the journey.

9. British Columbia, Canada
If you’re the kind of person that enjoys a busy, active vacation than perhaps British Columbia should be your next destination. Located in Western Canada, BC has so many options for outdoor adventures, you may never want to go home. Adrenaline junkies will have opportunities to mountain bike, hike, and climb there way through the Canadian Rockies. And when you grow tired of all the fun on dry land, the Pacific Ocean beacons with some great sailing and sea kayaking options as well. Throw in breathtaking scenery and legendary Canadian hospitality, and you have everything you need for a very adventurous trip. Don’t miss out on a visit to Vancouver while in the area too, and you’ll discover why it is considered to be one of the best cities on the planet.
8. Iceland
Boasting massive glaciers, snow-capped peaks, active volcanoes, and remote fjords, all within a relatively small area, Iceland is a wonderland for adventure travelers. With some of the best hiking and mountain biking in Europe, you can challenge yourself on a trail all day long, then relax in a the country’s famous hot springs at the end of the day. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding are other popular activities for those that enjoy the colder weather. Use Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, as your base of operations, and you’ll find new adventures in the evening as well. The city has a thriving art community and a surprisingly active nightlife, and with the economy still struggling a bit, there has never been a more inexpensive time to go.

7. Madagascar
Located in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Africa, Madagascar has earned a reputation in recent year for being a hot spot for eco-tourists. The island nation has diverse scenery, ranging from mountain highlands, to deserts and dense rainforests, and just about everything in between. Those varied landscapes contain five percent of the world’s plant and animal life, many of which can only be found there. Jungle treks and safaris are popular activities, with lemurs, unique to Madagascar, as the highlight. This exotic location conjures images of remote and wild places, and doesn’t fail to deliver on that promise.

6. New Zealand
New Zealand is another one of those countries that seem to exude adventure at every turn. After all, this is the nation that came up with concept of commercial bungee jumping, and the sport of adventure racing can trace its origins there as well. Multi-sport adventures are the name of the game, with mountain biking, paddling, and trekking options abounding. Mountaineers are lured in with some of the most amazing peaks in the southern hemisphere, and in the winter months, skiing and snowboarding take center stage. Whether you select the North or South Island as your adventure destination, you can’t go wrong, as both have plenty of options to keep you busy for days on end. And when it’s time to go home, you’ll likely be planning a return trip to experience even more of the Kiwi culture and hospitality.

5. Peru
No list of adventure destinations would be complete without at least mentioning Peru and all of the amazing possibilities it has to offer. Whether you’re trekking in the Andes, exploring the Amazon, or visiting Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines, Peru will impress at every turn. There is a reason that this South American country is considered one of the epicenters of adventure travel, and backpackers are still drawn to the place for its unique blend of ancient cultures, natural wonders and modern sensibilities. The classics will never go out of style and Peru remains one of those destinations that every adventurer should visit.

4. Mongolia
Mongolia has been one of the top adventure travel spots for the past few years, and while it has become more accessible, it remains far from commercialized. Located in central Asia, the land locked nation has one of the lowest population densities on the planet, which means that there are a lot of wide open spaces that are miles from any kind of settlement. In the southern part of the country is the great Gobi Desert, which stretches a thousand miles from east to west. In the north, is the remote Altai mountain range that offers unique trekking opportunities through snow capped peaks. Adventurous travelers can follow the path of Ghenghis Kahn, on horseback no less, with the nomadic tribes that still call the Mongol Steppe their home. Of all the locations on this list, this one remains the most wild and untouched by civilization.

3. Botswana
When you think about the classic African travel experience, Kenya and Tanzania are generally the first places that come to mind, but for an equally amazing safari experience, with smaller crowds, and a different atmosphere, consider Botswana. The Okavango Delta has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, and can be explored in the traditional safari vehicle of course, but the more adventurous will prefer to go on foot or by dugout canoe, to gain a very different perspective of life on the African savanna. From there, travel to the Kalahari Desert to meet the fabled Kalahari Bushmen and to track one of the few remaining packs of wild dogs found anywhere on Earth. Africa’s Big Five, consisting of lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo, are well represented here, on a wide open expanse that sees far less traffic than those other safari destinations.

2. Chile
Another nation with wild and varied landscapes, Chile has something for everyone, starting with the Atacama Desert in the north, a place so dry that it hasn’t rained there in recorded history, stretching to the southern end of South America, where Patagonia offers striking vistas that are unmatched any where else on the planet. In between, you’ll find the lake district, mountains, plains, and dense forests too. Adventure travelers will flock to Patagonia, with some of the best backpacking routes in the world, not to mention amazing rock climbing. Chile’s Pacific Coast offers great sea kayaking as well, and don’t forget to drop by Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world, which serves as the gateway to Antarctica for explorers heading to that frozen continent. And when you’ve finished up with the mainland, consider a side trip to Easter Island, which falls under Chile’s domain. The famous stone faces remain as compelling as ever, and are worth the journey to one of the most remote places on the planet.

1. Nepal/Tibet/Bhutan
Okay, so I lied when I said this list would include ten places for adventure travelers, but in my defense, when it came time to select a destination from the Himalaya, it soon became abundantly clear I couldn’t choose just one. The legendary mountain range is amongst the most breathtakingly beautiful places on Earth, offering great trekking opportunities, wild paddling expeditions, and the most challenging climbing trips anywhere. Throw in a healthy dose of unique culture and spiritualism, and you have the makings of a trip that can only be described as “life altering”. If any of that appeals to the adventurer inside of you, then you can’t go wrong with a visit to either Nepal, Tibet, or Bhutan. They each have their own unique appeal, and to visit any of them, you’ll have to go through Kathmandu, a city that is as eclectic and fascinating as the Himalaya themselves.

Travelers to Nepal can choose a myriad of adventure options, including hiking the Annapurna Circuit, making a trek up to Everest Base Camp, located at 17,500 feet, or tackling a mountain such as Island Peak, which stands at 20,305 feet, but remains popular for non-technical mountaineers looking to add a Himalayan summit to their resume. As the birth place of adventure travel, Nepal knows how to cater to the backpackers, vagabonds, and modern day nomads, that pass through its borders.

Tibet offers a similar Himalayan experience, although the wide open spaces of the wind-swept Tibetan Plateau make it unique in its own right. On this side of the mountain, you can actually drive up to Everest Base Camp, and Buddhist monasteries dot the landscape, often in the most unexpected places. Barring any unforeseen unrest in the region, Tibet is also likely to see its border remain open for all of 2010 as well, making it more accessible to adventure travelers than it has been for the past two years.

Bhutan is probably the most mysterious and lesser known of these three destinations. The tiny kingdom has placed limits on the number of visitors from the outside, and the government has taken steps to ensure that the country maintains its traditional culture. Visitors are treated to tours of ancient monasteries and remote villages, while trekking through the eastern end of the Himalaya, getting a glimpse at a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

That’s the list. My suggestions for the very best destinations for adventure travel in the year ahead. With the economy remaining in uncertain territory, many of these destinations will be as affordable as they ever have been. Pick one that appeals to you and go. Have an adventure that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Adventures on the Geronimo Trail

by Kraig Becker on

Way out west, in the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico, there is a quiet little ranch tucked away in the thick pine trees, where cowboys still ride the trails and rustic bunkhouses give guests a place to lay their head at the end of a busy day. That place is the Geronimo Trails Guest Ranch, an adventure resort that lets us live out our wild west dreams on horseback in a pristine setting.

Located four hours from both El Paso and Albuquerque, Geronimo Trails falls well off the grid. The ranch is 85 miles form the nearest stop light, with all power generated through the use of solar panels and water supplied from nearby streams. The area is so remote, that visitors may as well turn off their cell phones when they arrive, as coverage ends 70 miles back down the road.

This eco-conscious approach helps to give the ranch a quiet, serene setting, allowing guests to rest and soak in the rustic atmosphere. And when they’re done relaxing, there are plenty of things to do as well. Situated on one of New Mexico’s designated scenic byways, Geronimo Trail gives access to plenty of outdoor adventure. Whether you’re on horseback or hiking on foot, you’ll be able to follow in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Butch and Sundance, and even Geronimo himself, while exploring mountain meadows and beautiful, wide open vistas. There are even Native American ruins to discover, with ancient cliff dwellings and caves with wall paintings to give travelers a glimpse into what this part of America was once like, before the settlers came west.

The laid back setting extends to just about every area of the ranch, which has a fully stocked library and plenty of swings and hammocks to curl up with a good book in. Meals are served up in the mess hall, ranch style of course, with guests gathering around picnic tables to share their daily adventures. Nights are spent around the campfire making s’mores and telling stories, while the more energetic amongst the visitors can take part in cowboy sing-alongs or go line dancing well into the wee hours of the night.

For a true cowboy experience in the untamed old west, few experiences compare to a few days stay at Geronimo Trails Guest Ranch. Just be warned, it won’t take long to get settled in, and you might not ever want to go back home.

Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda popular with tourists

by Katie Hammel on

Visiting the former home of a famous person is pretty common. Tourists flock to Elvis’ Graceland and who wouldn’t love a look inside the creepy world of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch? But exploring the former compound of a Colombian drug lord….well that seems a little less likely. Yet aparently Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda Napoles, located outside of Bogota, Colombia, is a hit with tourists.

Though Escobar was shot to death sixteen years ago, he lives on in infamy in the country. Tourists who have an affinity for over-the-top tacky “narco-deco” style or who can’t resist a look at Escobar’s lavish estate (which is now owned by the state) can visit the compound for about $10 US. The ranch is considered an “anti-crime museum” and sells replica guns and fake Escobar mustaches.

The compound is being re-purposed as an eco-tourism park, though many of the eccentric features added by Escobar remain. Nearly 30 hippos still wander the property, which includes Jurassico Park – a park featuring life-size models of dinosaurs – plus a go-kart track and private landing strip.

The compound also features horseback riding and hiking trails around the large property, butterfly and bird sanctuaries and a wildlife reserve.

[via News.com.au]

Bowermaster’s Adventures — Tourism’s impact on the Galapagos

by Jon Bowermaster on

It would be wrong on its face to say that tourism is the biggest problem facing the Galapagos today. Simultaneously, it is accurate to say that the growth in tourism in the one-of-a-kind archipelago is the primary reason the islands are “in danger.” Those are not my words, but UNESCO’s, in 2007 … the same year Ecuador’s new president claimed the islands were at “great risk” and signed a decree making their protection a national priority. You get the sense that just defining the exact problem facing the Galapagos, for both locals and outsiders, is tricky.

With ninety seven percent of the islands off-limits and under national park protection – small, guided tours limited to 60 designated sites – the system that introduces tourists to the nineteen Galapagos islands has long been regarded a model of eco-tourism. But the success of that model is what puts them at such risk today: In 1991 there were 41,000 visitors, this year there will be close to 200,000; during that same period human population has risen from a few thousand to 40,000. Those are a lot of combined footsteps – as well as ship and plane traffic — for such a fragile eco-system (the so-called “Mona Lisa of biodiversity”).

The sudden arrival of so many people from so many parts of the world introduces parasites which threaten both flora and fauna; permanent residents arrive desirous of re-creating their mainland lifestyles, including cars, dogs and cats, and air conditioning; tour operators are pushing to expand their offerings to include sport fishing and skydiving. The Ecuadorian government has tried, with limited success, to limit migration and is considering raising the national park fee paid by every tourist from $100 to $135, an attempt to slow the numbers.

Jack Nelson is one of the Galapagos’ most-veteran tour operators, coming to the islands to live permanently in 1967. Like others like him in different settings around the world who have watched their own personal paradises become overly popular, he is alarmed. “To a tourist, things look good. You still see a lot of animals, and not many other people,” he says. “But get outside those controlled (national park) parameters, and you’ll find a big mess nobody can figure out what to do about.”

While we were filming in and around the islands we met longtime Galapagos guide Sylvia Vargas on a few occasions. A native Ecuadorian, she’s been coming here for more than twenty years and has lived in Puerto Ayora off and on since first visiting as a teenager. She feels both blessed to be working in such an incredible place and worried that tourism and migration may be taking too big a toll.

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“Personally, I think tourism should be capped for the moment. Higher entry fees haven’t worked to slow the growth. One tour operator I work for recently told me that the people who are coming to the Galapagos today are coming with a different idea about the place – they don’t ask as much anymore about wildlife, their first questions are about the comfort of the ship. They want more air-conditioning, more service, nicer cabins, a massage, a more comfortable mattress and expect a lot of chemicals on board to keep things clean and tidy … all of which have a direct impact on the Galapagos. More energy used, more garbage created, more pollution.

“I came first in 1984 when there were two thousand people living in town and two cars. I knew everyone on the street and was offered food by friends every day. The electricity on the island used to shut down at night. Now there are twenty times as many people and two hundred times as many cars. And we have electricity twenty-four hours a day. I miss the peacefulness of back then.

“But I have talked with people who work as guides in other places and they always say that we Galapagos guides are spoiled because we see such incredible wildlife every day. I guess they are right. But for me the most popular sites are too crowded, sometimes there are so many people I feel … embarrassed.

“My biggest worry is that more people living here means more demand for everything. I don’t see people thinking about having a different lifestyle than what they have on the mainland. They will tell you they came to the Galapagos to live in a peaceful place, but they expect to have exactly the same things that they had on the mainland. Why would you have a pet dog or cat here? Why would you have a car if you live in town? Why would you build a new house with air conditioning, when electricity is so hard to create? At Christmas on the mainland we decorate our houses with lots of outdoors lights and now they do the same thing here even though the power comes from a gas generator and the gas comes from far away.”

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25 great adventures for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

The latest issue of National Geographic Adventure has just hit the newsstand with a special treat inside for adventure travelers looking for their next big trip. The magazine has listed its selection for the 25 best new trips for 2010, offering up suggestions of places to visit in nearly every corner of the globe.

The list is organized in alphabetical order by destination, starting with Bhutan and running through several U.S. locations as well. Each of the locations also has a tour operator associated with it, and clicking on the text will give you a more detailed description of what you can expect on your adventure.

No matter what draws you to adventure travel, you’re sure to find something on the list that appeals to you. For instance, if you’re up for a challenging kayaking adventure, head to Bhutan with Bio Bio Expeditions, where you get the opportunity to make the first descent on a previously unpaddled section of the Drangme Chhu River. Does an island adventure sound more enticing? Then plan a trip to Sri Lanka with Access Trips, where you can go surfing and mountain biking through that amazing setting. And for those who would prefer a little more rest and relaxation with their adventure, there is always the Muang La Resort in Laos which offers jungle escapes that includes luxury rooms and a deluxe spa. That trip is available through Asia Transpacific Journeys.

No one knows adventure like National Geographic, and you can bet that each of these trips will deliver in that category. With 2009 quickly coming to an end, it is never too early to start planning your own adventures for 2010, and this list is a great place to start.