Adventure Travel – Google and I Disagree

Because here’s the thing: that kind of adrenaline-fuelled adventure absolutely hits the spot for some people… I am not one of them. But I do want my holidays to include cultural experiences and some level of physical activity.

Companies like G Adventures and Intrepid (who have been doing this for 30+ years, so I trust their definition more than Google’s) describe adventure travel as: “Getting off the beaten track for an authentic cultural experience”. And that I can get on board with.

HOW I ACCIDENTALLY ENDED UP AN “ADVENTURE TRAVELLER”
By nature, I’ve always been an independent traveller. I’ve wandered through most of Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa and the US on my own. And unlike many Aussies and Kiwis backpackers, I never did the classic Contiki bus tour across Europe - the rite of passage that usually results in questionable photos, lifelong friendships, and a liver that takes months to recover.

My turning point came about 10 years ago when a friend suggested we take the Trans-Siberian Railway on the Tsar’s Gold. I said yes, not really knowing what I was getting into - and I absolutely loved it.

It opened up parts of the world I would never have thought to visit and introduced me to people I never would have met. Let’s be real - if I somehow found myself in Siberia on my own, I don’t think I’d casually invite myself into a local family’s home for dinner. But through this trip, that happened… and it was magic.

Since that first trip, I’ve cruised down the Mekong Delta and travelled through the Caucasus - all small-group adventures. And not once did I have to cling to a rope or strap on a helmet. (To be fair, there was an opportunity to zipline through a valley in Georgia… but there was also wine. I chose wine.)

I did, however, learn to make enamel jewellery with Ana, a permanently displaced Georgian woman who helps run a social enterprise supporting her community. Her resilience stayed with me. If you’re curious, her story (and others) is worth a read: https://ikorta.com/women-of-ikorta-our-stories/

Adventure travel covers a wide spectrum. There are hiking trips in places like Nepal and Machu Picchu, expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands, and overland journeys through countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond. The one thing they all have in common? Adventure - in whatever form that looks like for you.

THE MYTHS PEOPLE BELIEVE ABOUT ADVENTURE TRAVEL
“You’re stuck with the same people the whole time.”
Yes, you travel with a group - but you’re not handcuffed to them. My trip through the Caucasus was with three other people, while on the Mekong there was about 40 people.

On the Mekong river boat, we naturally spent more time together because, well, we were literally on a boat in the middle of the Delta. But on my 16-day Caucasus trip, not all meals were included, so I could choose whether to dine with people from the group or go solo.

And honestly? The people I’ve met on these trips have been fascinating, well-travelled, curious and fun. Adventure travel seems to attract like-minded people with an interest in culture, food, history, and experiencing the unexpected.

“There’s no free time.”
All three trips I’ve done had free time, just in different amounts. Land-based itineraries usually allow more flexibility than boats and trains.

One of my favourite nights was completely unscripted: a cosy wine bar in Baku that our guide recommended, where I ended up sharing a couple of glasses of local wine and chatting with locals for hours. Those moments don’t show up on the itinerary - but they’re the ones I remember.

“It’s only for young people.”
A big, hearty NO. On my most recent trip, we had an energetic 80-something-year-old woman (picture below) who had just done an adventure trip through Turkey right before ours. Another traveller told me she took her teenage nephews on an Intrepid trip to Indonesia to celebrate the end of their schooling, and they all had a great time. Talk about creating memories – this is the way.

Adventure travel is not age-restricted - it’s mindset-restricted. If you’re curious, open-minded and willing to embrace something a little different, you’ll fit right in."It's too active, I want some relaxation time*
This depends on what you sign up for.
Yes, you can do Everest Base Camp and Machu Picchu if you want that level of challenge. But most “classic” adventure trips just require a reasonable level of fitness - walking tours, light hikes, exploring villages, that kind of thing.
If there’s an optional activity that involves a harness, helmet or signing a waiver - it’s exactly that: optional.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL (A Big Tick for Me)
I’m very aware of the impact tourism has on the world, and one of the things I really value is that most companies running adventure travel are part of responsible travel programmes. They hire local guides and staff, support environmental and social initiatives, and focus on low-impact, sustainable travel that benefits the communities you visit rather than overwhelms them. There’s a beautiful Māori saying that sums it up perfectly: Manaaki whenua, Manaaki tangata, Haere whakamua – Care for the land, care for the people, go forward.

SO HERE’S THE QUESTION?

Are you an adventure traveller? I am. And now I need to decide on my next trip… The Arctic or Antarctica?

If you’d like to know more about adventure travel and the companies that run these trips, let me know - I’m always happy to share my experiences and recommendations.