Great adventure travel destinations

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I think the meaning of adventure travel is different from traveler to traveler, depending on each person’s interests and experience. But in general,  adventure travel is a trip that will allow you to experience something new, something different, something that you can’t experience at home.

With adventure travel you will have to use your brains as well as your muscles, regardless whether you are hiking up a snow capped mountain or following a mellow bicycle trail. The whole point is to enjoy yourself, be active, see new places, do something unusual and make new friends. So get your backpack and let’s start adventuring!

Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang is a beautifully located on a peninsula created by the Mekong river. It’s an amazing little town with lots to see and to experience.  Make sure you treally think about how you want to get there, because this alone can make your trip adventurous. Going by airplane will be boring and fast, but choosing one of the other options can be a thrill. If you take the bus, you are in for beautiful landscapes, and no space at all and stuffy air for about 8 hours (from Vientiane).

You might even have some kids sit on your lap because there is literally no room for everybody. The most adventurous but also quite dangerous way to get there is by speed boat. You’ll be stuck in a tiny little boat, sitting on the ground all cramped up with a helmet on and  flying across the Mekong river at about 50 mph. After about 5 hours and 250 miles you will reach Luang Prabang from the Northern border of Thailand.  You will be happy to have done it, but your ears, and pretty much every bone in your body will be hurting for a while.  Finally, you can take the slow boat which takes several days, but you’ll have more time to enjoy the beautiful sceneries and nature.

The temples in Luang Prabang (Wats) are also beautiful, and there are many fascinating local customs that you can adopt while you’re there. Wake up early in the morning and participate in the alms ceremony (monks collect food offerings from villagers and tourists), visit the famous Buddha Caves, the Bear Rescue Center or the amazing Night Market. The best way to see the surrounding countryside is to rent a bike and go exploring on your own.

Yangshuo, China

Yangshuo village in Yangshuo County has a reputation of being a foreigner’s village, because in the past few years it has become an immensely popular destination for backpackers. The village is worth seeing precisely because it is so different from an average Chinese village, and while it won’t feel like an authentic experience, there are so many excellent shops and restaurants that you will not regret coming here. Plus, the Yangshuo is surrounded by the famous limestone hills that form the karts landscape.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

The unbelievably picturesque little town of Cesky Krumlov is full of Baroque buildings, so if you want to visit a town with a distinct and charming personality, you will love it. It is not a large town, but it is a perfect destination for backpacking.

There are plenty of cafes where you can while away the afternoon, many cozy and cheap hostels, a beautiful castle, and most importantly, dozens of amazing hiking trails surrounding the town. In the summer, there are more tourists in town than inhabitants.

Bukit Lawang, Indonesia

Bukit Lawang is a scenic little village located about 90 kilometers away from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. The bus ride itself from Medan to Bukit Lawang is an adventure, and not a very pleasant one. But once you get to the village, you will be fully rewarded. This village is one of the few places in the world where you can see Orangutans in their natural habitat. It’s not a good idea to approach the monkeys without a guide, but you can see them at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

Merida, Venezuela

The university town of Merida is rich in history and culture, but its main attraction is the fact that it is located only 15 kilometers away from the highest peak in Venezuela, Pico Bolivar.

You can climb some of the way with the Teleferico, the world’s longest and highest cable car. You can either go up with the cable car and then hike down afterwards (or ride a mule), but some more adventurous travelers might want to climb up to the peak, in which case it’s better to hire a guide.

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