The Best Adventure Travel Places in 2022 For Your Next Getaway

You may like to challenge yourself on vacations. Then you are an adventure traveler.  Adventure travel covers a whole gamut of things. It may be scuba diving, snowboarding, bungee jumping, and more.

 

It also factors in urban exploration and overland travel on a truck or a bus. You participate in local festivals of foreign nations and have eco-friendly adventures to commune with nature.

 

Do not spin a globe with your eyes closed. Check out our list of the best adventure travel places to visit in 2022.

 

The Best Adventure Travel Places

 

1. Hike the Milford Track, New Zealand

 

 

Do complete one of New Zealand's greatest walks in grand style. New Zealand has nine official Great Walks. But the Milford Track is arguably the greatest of the lot. 

 

This is a four-day, 33-mile hike from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. It slices through the splendor of Fiordland National Park. It takes in lakes, waterfalls, ice fields, forests, and plenty of pioneer history. The walk tops out at the panoramic Mackinnon Pass (1,154m). 

 

It is always oversubscribed in the peak summer trekking months from November to April. Camping is not permitted. Numbers are limited by the bunk space available in the three DOC lodges.

 

That is valid unless you opt for an upgrade.

 

Many companies operate a series of private lodges with both dorms and doubles. These help trekkers to navigate the track with a guide. 

 

You still have to carry your bag. But you get many features, unlike those in the DOC huts.

 

You get duvets, hot showers, and hairdryers. You get cooked breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners. Each lodge even has a well-stocked bar. Cheers to that. One of the best adventure travel places, indeed. 

 

How to tick it off your list: Ensure you are prepared fitness-wise before the October to April hiking season commences. Prepare your packs for all weather conditions.

 

Start your adventure: Book a five-day and four-night guided walk tour.

 

Like that? Try this: Do hike Tasmania's Overland Track in style with Cradle Mountain Huts.

 

2. Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru

 

This definitely makes it to most lists of the best adventure travel places.

 

It is virtually impossible to make a bucket list that does not include Machu Picchu. The trouble is that there is a danger it will be a bit of a let-down. This is when you have seen so many photos of the Inca citadel. And that is one reason you should go on foot instead.

 

The city deserves the slow build. There is the accumulated excitement that trekking there provides. 

 

Also, deciding to lace-up does not mean you have to hit the Inca Trail immediately. There are plenty of alternatives to it.

 

You can hike via the less-visited ruins of Choquequirao. You may even head along the dramatic and diverse Salkantay Trail.

 

There are posh lodges en route. You can even tackle the tough Vilcabamba Traverse. 

 

How to tick it off your list: All hikes vary in altitude, length, and difficulty. So, you will need to acclimatize before setting off. Remember, the dry season (the best time to go) is April to October. It would be good if you also had a permit for the Inca Trail with you. Only a small number are released each year. They sell out quickly.

 

Start your adventure: Simply book your trip now.

 

Like that? Try this: Make a grand entry at Jordan's once-lost Nabatean city. Do this via the multi-day Dana-Petra trek – the Inca Trail of the Middle East.

 

3. Sleep at Everest Base Camp, Nepal

 

 

Complete an epic trek. Then snooze with the summiteers.

 

The trip to Everest Base Camp is a breathtaking 14-day out-and-back into Sagarmatha NP. It goes to the foot of the world's highest mountain. The journey is a classic.

 

The Himalayan views and teahouse hospitality en route are magnificent. But most trekkers are not allowed to stay at Everest Base Camp. It requires special permission.

 

Most visit their 5,340m goal for a 'been there' photo op. They then descend to nearby Gorak Shep to sleep.

 

A few notable departures do offer the chance to stay overnight at the iconic camp. Time these trips to coincide with peak summit-attempt season. This is when groups of climbers are also in residence. 

 

It is a unique opportunity to sleep in the shadows of the mighty mountain. Please speak to the brave souls making their final preparations. There may be teams setting off up the notorious Khumbu Ice Fall. They then start their trek to the top. 

 

How to tick it off your list: Summiteers usually arrive at Base Camp in April or May. So, plan your trip accordingly. Keep yourself healthy, too. Trekkers with illnesses are not allowed to stay at Base Camp. This is done to avoid potentially infecting the climbers. 

 

Start your adventure: Book your trek and choose one of the notable Nepalese trekking routes.

 

Like that? Try this: You can hike up to Camping Arolla in Petit Praz, Switzerland. It is Europe's highest campsite.

 

4. Experience the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Italy

 

The Sistine Chapel has massive art and large crowds. Michelangelo should have picked a bigger room!

 

The 40m long by 13m wide box is squished into the Vatican Museum complex. 25,000-odd people now move through here daily. 

 

Yes, the iconic ceiling, and the altar wall's The Last Judgement, are probably the most impressive paintings you will ever see. But that is only if you can see them. You have to look over the heads of the rest of humanity. 

 

Fortunately, there is another way. You can book private tours of the site. They take small groups into Vatican rooms, usually off-limits. Finish in the Sistine Chapel. You will get an after-hours viewing of Michelangelo's masterpieces. 

 

This is one of the best adventure travel places that provide you art as well.

 

How to tick it off your list: Booking in advance is essential. So, do not delay organizing your visit to the Sistine Chapel.

 

Start your adventure: We would recommend booking a private after-hours tour for the ultimate experience.

 

Like that? Try this: When in Rome….join the nighttime, crowd-free tour of the Colosseum.

 

5. Raft the Grand Canyon Arizona, USA

 

 

You will be able to see the grand gorge from a completely rare angle.

 

Look down on the Colorado River from a mile up. It will seem impossible that this river could have carved the gargantuan Grand Canyon. 

 

Of course, it has had about two billion years to do so. It slowly sliced through the black-red-orange-purple strata to create one of the natural wonders of the world.

 

You have to see the canyon from the water level to best experience it. The experience provides a far more intimate encounter. You will also get a close-up of all that glorious geology. 

 

For an entire run, the official launch point is Lees Ferry. It is at the northeast of Grand Canyon National Park. The end is at Lake Mead. En route is side canyons, swimming holes, Puebloan sites, and sandy beaches. But not plenty of wild water. 

 

So, all good – it is just getting authorization to enter that is the problem. There is a 'weighted lotteryʼ system. There is a waiting list of many years to secure a private rafting permit.

 

Fortunately, commercial tour-op trips are available—these range from one-day to three-week floats. However, even these needs booking in advance. This is required if you want to guarantee your moment with this ancient rock in the future. 

 

For all of these reasons, this makes it to the top of our best adventure travel places.

 

How to tick it off your list: A good time to raft Colorado is from May to October, so book your trip then. Overall, the river is graded an IV (intermediate), with many I to III rapids, plus some Vs. 

 

Start your adventure: Obtain more info from the Grand Canyon National Park site.

 

Like that? Try this: Go on and tackle the Rio Futaleufu. It is an absolute classic. It cuts through the wilderness and canyons of Patagonia.

 

Conclusion

 

Adventure travel comes in varieties. Adventures are found everywhere. No matter how you slice it. The best adventure travel places may differ. That being said, some have a little more of an advantage than others. This is thanks to a combination of tourist attractions and natural resources.

We dug into data with this in mind. We identified just which countries were best for adventurers. Then, we added a few picks of our own.

So, our article has provided some of the best adventure travel places if you tend to choose adventures over lazing around on the beach.