Adventure Travel

Finding Nature’s Finest

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations

Your first task is the most fun: Figure out what you want to do and where you want to do it. Rafting in Costa Rica? Scaling Kilimanjaro? Stalking reef sharks in the Maldives? The world is your playground—only slightly larger—and a guide can show you places you might never find or consider if you did it solo. After picking the where and what, chat with your travel companions and agree on what you’re up for in terms of length, roughing it, and level of physical difficulty (in other words, cousin Billy Sue the couch potato could never do the Himalayan trek, so opt for the Chilean river float). Blanking on ideas? Turn to travel websites like GORP.com, ResponsibleTravel.com, or GoPlayOutdoors.com for globetrotting inspiration.

Next comes the difficult task: wading through the myriad outfitters to select the one that matches what you want to get out of your trip. Good ol’ Google is always worth a search—many outfitters pay for high-ranked listings—but browse more specific databases to get your knobby wheels rolling faster. The Adventure Travel Trade Association has a list of resources with outfitter databases. Or start with some travel organizations themselves, like America Outdoors, Sustainable Travel International, or the United States Tour Operators Association, all of which have extensive lists of their own members.

Odds are, however, you’ll still be overwhelmed with the options, so try narrowing your search by your chosen activity or destination. Some destinations require specific permits, like national parks, which publish lists of approved outfitters on their websites (visit www.nps.gov and click on the individual park for more details). There are also more general location-based resources. Looking for a bike tour through Angkor Wat? Start with the Pacific Asia Travel Association. Considering an off-roading excursion in the Colorado Rockies? Try the Colorado tourism office. Along similar lines, if you’ve got your heart set on a certain activity, look into a sport association. For rafting and whitewater excursions, for example, American Whitewater has an extensive list of reputable companies. Or for rock climbing, look into the American Mountain Guides Association, which certifies guides and publishes a database of good operators. Some activities may already have an industry standard. Want a road-cycling tour of Europe (or practically anywhere else) and even a cursory search will lead you to Backroads, who’ve been in the biz for decades. You’re obviously not obligated to go with them, but when you come across outfitters who seem synonymous with a particular sport, look at what they offer—it’s a great way to get the gist of what’s available.

Anecdotal recommendations—read: word of mouth—are another stellar way to get the lowdown on the best operators for things like hiking Machu Picchu or a 4x4 jaunt through Australia’s Kakadu National Park. In-country, just start asking fellow travelers, or turn to the online equivalent of the hotel pub: a traveler’s forum. Places like Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com) are a fantastic way to get specific info from travelers who’ve been there, done that, and are kind enough to offer insight on how well it was all done.

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations