Originally posted in Forbes Sep 30, 2021
Lea Lane – Contributor
Award-winning travel writer/photographer/podcaster, 100-plus countries
Are you ready to travel? According to a recent report by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) at the first-ever Adventure Travel Xpo, adventure travel is expected to recover about three to four years before mass travel – and grow more rapidly.
Tourism ministers and secretaries around the world have identified adventure and nature travel as leading segments in the travel industry’s restart. They focus on outdoors and individual pursuits. With that in mind, here are nine carefully selected adventure travel vacation ideas, ready for whenever get out and go.
Ecuadorian Amazon Adventure: Sacha Lodge, an eco-lodge set on a 5,000-acre ecological reserve in the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon Basin, is ideal for nature lovers, birdwatchers, scientists and adventure seekers. It features luxury accommodations, first-class meals and expert native guides. An animal and bird kingdom, it’s home to eight species of monkeys, 50 species of bats, anteaters, three-toed sloths, ocelots, and flocks of colorful birds.
MTB Hut System in Southern Utah: The new Aquarius Trail Hut Systemoffers a unique backcountry mountain biking experience. A system of five huts furnished with beds, a bathroom and a fully stocked kitchen has been strategically placed along a 190-mile route through some of Utah’s most scenic backcountry.
National Parks by RV: Blacksford is a new recreational vehicle rental business with an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, no generator fees, bedding, bath and kitchen supplies, free Wi-Fi, free annual national park pass and 24-hour roadside assistance. They also curate road trip experiences by connecting travelers with vetted campsites, guides and other hand-picked attractions.
The Mighty Mississippi: Join Cycle of Life Adventures on a 2,057-mile bike tour from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans. Along the way, pass Minnesota’s many lakes, the metropolises of Minneapolis, St. Louis and Memphis, the rolling farmlands of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, and the levees of Louisiana. And while the tour is southbound, it isn’t all downhill. Take on the entire 33-day trek or any one of four shorter stages.
Dude Ranch Retreat: At Red Reflet Ranch, a 28,000-acre guest ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, guests stay in fully stocked private cabins and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine while participating in equestrian programs, cattle branding, hiking, mountain biking, ATVing, fly fishing, shooting, family-friendly activities and cooking classes.
Galapagos Glamping: Scalesia Galapagos Lodge is situated in the highlands of Isabela Island on the slopes of a volcano, about 20 minutes from the town of Puerto Villamil. The modern, luxurious, safari-style tent resort is in the middle of a forest with a spectacular view of the coast of Isabela Island, the Pacific Ocean, and other islands of the Galapagos archipelago.
Tiny House Basecamp: With sustainably built, LEED-certified “tiny house” cabins, Fireside Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, embraces modern, yet rustic design and presents a fresh approach to luxury lodging. Nestled in a wooded setting at the foot of the Teton Range, the cabins allow guests to get back to nature while enjoying the intimacy of a boutique hotel and the ambiance of their own cozy residence.
Cycling Across the USA: Plan a bike tour or bikepacking trip of your own with the assistance of the Adventure Cycling Association. To help riders find their way, the organization offers maps for 50,000 miles of bike routes through the U.S. and into Canada, the Bicycle Route Navigator app and other resources. Cross the country on the TransAmerica Trail, ride the Rockies on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, or try a shorter adventure in-between.
Yellowstone Adventure: A stay at The Wilson Hotel in Big Sky, Montana,offers the opportunity for outdoor adventures in the surrounding mountains, rivers and Yellowstone National Park. Go hiking through shaded forests and wildflower-filled alpine meadows, float or fly fish a clear, cool river, experience lift-served mountain biking, or tour the natural wonders and wildlife of the world’s first national park.
