Alaska: Traversing Tsirku Glacier
This eight-day traverse begins in the Chilkoot Mountains, where expert guides teach you mountaineering skills and how to move on glaciers before you go to the Tsirku Glacier itself. As you traverse the ice, you'll stop to climb inviting peaks and take side hikes to experience Alaska's glorious alpine vistas. On the seventh day, you'll descend the glacier to the Tsirku River where rafts await you for your trip back to civilization. Outfitter: Alaska Mountain Guides, 800-766-3396, www.alaskamountainguides.com When to Go: June Price: $1600 Difficulty: Moderate

Malaysia: Hiking in the Heart of Borneo
Mountainous rainforests and exotic species make Borneo, the third largest island in the world, paradise for wildlife lovers and adventure seekers. This 13-day trip takes you walking into Malaysia's Mulu and Bako National Parks, to orangutan and sea turtle reserves, and into the longhouses of the Iban, one of Borneo's native tribes, where you'll help catch fish and gather plants for a traditional meal. Outfitter: Wilderness Travel, 800-368-2794, www.wildernesstravel.com When to Go: March, June, September Price: $2495-$2695 depending on group size Difficulty: Easy

Mongolia: Mountain Biking Khovsgal National Park
You'll ride through rolling steppe, along the shores of Lake Khovsgol, and through the Saridag Mountains to the Darhat Valley over the Jigleg Pass on this 15-day mountain biking epic. This trip offers 20-30 miles of cycling per day through Mongolia's Khovsgal National Park where you'll meet local herdsmen, discuss Mongolian ecology with park rangers, and hike, fish, and wind your way across one of the most remote corners of one of the world's most remote nations. Outfitter: Boojum Expeditions, 1-800-287-0125, www.boojum.com When to Go: August Price: $2200 Difficulty: Moderate

Alaska/Yukon: Road Cycling the Alaskan Highway
You'll start your 1421 mile journey in Delta Junction, Alaska, then, for 23 days, you'll pedal through glacier encrusted mountains, lush boreal forests, and down steep river valleys. You'll cycle along the Alaskan highway through the Yukon, stopping in Whitehorse and Fort Nelson, the only towns on your journey, to rest your weary bones. Otherwise, you'll camp along the way, watching the mileage signs tick down to zero as you pass through some of North America's most remote and spectacular country on your way to your final destination, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Outfitter: Cyclevents, 1-888-733-9615, www.cyclevents.com When to Go: June Price: $1750 Difficulty: Strenuous

Chile/Argentina: Hiking and Kayaking Paine National Park and Tierra del Fuego This trip starts with five days of trekking in Chile's Paine National Park, perhaps Patagonia's most stunning region. You'll hike through grasslands, over mountains, and past granite batholiths before heading to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the Andes. You'll kayak through a maze of fjords and tidal channels and through the ice-encrusted Cordillera Darwin and the most active tidewater glaciers in the world. At night, you'll listen to the crack of icebergs calving, reminding you that, while Antarctica might not be far away, everything else is. Outfitter: Wilderness Travel, 800-368-2794, www.wildernesstravel.com When to Go: January, February Price: $3995-$4395 depending on group size Difficulty:Strenuous