If you want to travel with purpose, you have to fully engage in activities that enhance your positive emotions and give meaning to your whole trip. They might be sort, rare, or one-in-a-lifetime situations, but some travel adventures overseas will remain in your mind, making you smile for a very long time. Which are some of the best travel experiences you should get if you love adventure?
The ten best travel adventures you need to experience at least once:
Ride a hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia
My sunrise balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey.
Cappadocia in Turkey is a must-visit destination for every traveler who loves adventure. I still remember the day I experienced the hot-air balloon ride as one of the unique moments of my life. The sun was rising among the caves while we were at 1,000 meters high in a basket.
I couldn’t help but notice how much beauty exists in this world while happiness was flowing through my veins. It was a magical moment, and I will never forget it.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
I stayed in Artemis Caves Suites (and in a cave suite!), one of the best boutique hotels in Cappadocia. Our hotel then arranged the hot-air balloon flight with Butterfly Ballons (it is one of the best companies in Cappadocia.) You can either book independently or ask them to book the ride for you.
Get a desert safari in Dubai or Jordan.
My desert safari in Dubai.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
Dubai desert and Wadi Rum in Jordan are among the most popular destinations for an ultimate experience. Covering all tastes, you can have a full day tour or spend the night at a campsite. You can find multiple desert tours on Tripadvisor or booking.com. However, one of the best desert tours you’ll probably get in Dubai is with Platinum Heritage.
It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay.
Shisha, dinner at a bedouin camp, dance with Bedouins, ride with camels, hawk show, and many more are included with Platinum Heritage.
Two of my favorite luxury campsites for the ultimate luxury desert experience is Memories Aicha in Jordan and Starlight Camp in Dubai.
Have a sunset horseriding tour in a scenic spot
Horses are unpredictable, and that’s what makes them a top choice if you want to have a travel and sporty adventure. I was a beginner when I chose to ride a horse in Cappadocia. I have to admit it was a bit scary, as our horses climbed the mountains, passed through rivers, reached the edge of the chimneys, and guided us to the valleys.
However, If I could go back in time, I would definitely do it again. The sunset views from the valleys were incredible, and I had to stretch after my 1,5-hour ride!
Horseriding views from my trip to Cappadocia.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
If you travel to a hilly, nature-friendly destination, chances are there will be horseriding tours that will take you to the most scenic spots. Even if you’re not a big horse fan, try it at least once, as it’s an incredible experience.
Swim with sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles in Maldives or Bahamas
Bucket-list destinations like Maldives or Bahamas are on their own “a must” travel experience. However, who said that those destinations are only for chilling in an ocean lagoon or having massages and candlelight dinners? Adding some adventurous vibe to such a romantic event will increase your adrenaline rush and make your trip even more memorable.
We had sea turtles, stingrays, and baby sharks right below our ocean villa in the Maldives. The feeling I had while jumping in the water and swimming among them was out of this world.
Stingrays and baby sharks from my trip to the Maldives.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
Going to the Maldives or Bahamas is a dream trip for many. There are spots you can dive or snorkel and swim, feed, and see stingrays, sharks, and turtles. When you choose a hotel, ensure there are tours or docks to get this experience.
Some of the most famous sports where you can dive/swim with sharks are in the Maldives and here in the Bahamas.
Climb Sydney bridge
Climbing the Sydney bridge is quite adventurous.
Okay, maybe you shouldn’t try that if you are afraid of heights. But if you fancy getting the most beautiful Sydney views you can imagine while reaching your adrenaline levels to their peaks, don’t skip that experience. Climbing the Sydney bridge is a very safe and common adventure for anyone who loves risk, climbs, and superb views.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
You can book any here.Â
There are night and day times you can choose from, depending on your preference. Make sure you book in advance, as many of the tours at peak times are sold out.
Go solo to a country you’ve never been before
Traveling solo is one of the most empowering experiences you can offer to yourself, and it takes nothing more than courage, confidence, and trust that you’re going to be okay. It’s quite an adventure because you have to ask around, search on your own, fill your time with solo creative experiences, and much more.
Visiting a completely unknown country on your own is a powerful experience, and you should try it at least once. One of the few amazing experiences I got to have when traveling solo was at exploring New York City by night, having g a picnic at a park in Vancouer, and visiting the SkyAvenue Complex and the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park in Malaysia.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
Choose the flight, book the hotel, and go. It can be a weekend, a week, or even one night. It doesn’t matter. It’s an unknown city, a new destination, and you’re on your own.
Sleep under the stars in a luxury African lodge
Staying in an African lodge is probably an experience you will want to experience again as soon as it ends.
Wilderness adventure and cultural discovery – what’s not to love about staying in a luxury African lodge? South Africa is a must-visit destination for even the most selective travelers. Staying in an African lodge is probably an experience you will want to experience again as soon as it ends. There are multiple to choose from, but you should go for or wish to have the ultimate stargazing experience.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
A South African safari, combined with a stay at a safari lodge, is still on my bucket list (damn, 2020). That’s why I have a separate list with the best luxury safari lodges I could find and the ones that combine everything I dream – adventure, nature, stars, wildlife.
Check more lodges here.Â
Get a very long (>4,000 km) road trip.
Views from my road trip in Sweden and Denmark – 5.000 km in total.
Exploring a country by car – and the countries in between- is the most adventurous thing to do. Among crossing borders and searching gas stations and places to spend the night, you will get the most picturesque views you can imagine and tastes from places you wouldn’t have the opportunity to explore otherwise.
It doesn’t matter the continent you’ll choose to complete that trip (however, I have a slight preference in Europe.) Ensure you have all the spots, countries, or cities you want to visit pinpointed on your map so you won’t lose track of time and miles.
Crossing such a long distance on four wheels gives a whole new meaning to your travel experience.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
There are many road trips you can choose from, either round trips or one-way. If you want to do one-way, check the country regulation, and choose a car company that allows that between the countries. If you want to add an extra adventurous vibe to your road-trip, rent a caravan and spend all your nights and days in your temporary 4-wheel home.
See the Northern lights.
It’s an experience that will leave you breathless.
Northern Lights are the planet’s most spectacular light show. It’s considered a bucket-list experienced by anyone who loves adventure travel overseas. The feeling you get once you capture this bright miracle in the sky is unusual. The colors can steal your breath away while you wonder how many beautiful things is nature capable of creating. It’s a relatively rare and circumstantial phenomenon – no moon, specific months of the year, no artificial lights- but once you experience it, it will light you up with joy.
How to experience it among the other travel adventures:
There are specific times and places in the world where you’ll see the Northern lights. The most popular sites are mostly in Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland).
Do a sunrise hike
Waking up in pink skies.
Hiking a mountain or a volcano while the sun is rising is a memorable experience and one of the cliche but most adventurous things to do. You need to have some minimum physical condition and a good night’s sleep the night before. You can discover the best hikes at your destination by using this site.
Many local travel companies organize sunrise hiking tours that might interest you, so in case you’re solo, you won’t hike alone.
Conclusion: The best travel adventures
Of course, every person might have different preferences for other travel adventures. However, I made sure to include the ones that will probably be appreciated by the most by adventurous people in this post.
- Ride a hot-air balloon in Cappadocia
- Get a desert safari in Dubai or Jordan
- Have a sunset horseriding tour in a scenic spot
- Swim with sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles in Maldives or Bahamas
- Climb Sydney bridge
- Go solo to a country you’ve never been before
- Sleep under the stars in a luxury African lodge
- Get a very long (>4,000 km) road trip.
- See the Northern lights.
- Do a sunrise hike
