Who said you have to be 65 and retired to see the world? The clock is ticking, so check some of these sweet trips off your bucket list before you’re 30.
Here are the sweetest trips every active man should take before he's 30.
You’re young, in good shape, and you don’t have kids yet—really, there’s no better time to travel than now. So that’s why we scoped out the world’s best adventure trips to compile this top-20 list for guys just like you. Truth be told, some of these excursions are intense, demanding advance training, special gear, technical skills, a fat wallet, and a work sabbatical. But others, you’ll be pleased to find, require only a plane ticket, a minimal budget, and a little bit of white space on your calendar. Take your pick.
There’s no better rush than speeding down a single track on a mountain bike, and if you ask us, the High Sierra of California and Nevada is the place to do it. The 165 mile Rim Trail is a massive multi-use loop that links the high peaks surrounding Lake Tahoe. Roughly half the trail is open to mountain bikes, but some sections depend on the day of the week or season, so be sure to check the official maps and rules before setting off. Arrange trailhead rentals with The Flume Trail or with one of the ski and sports shops in the town of Lake Tahoe. ($45–55/day bike rental, $15 for a shuttle; tahoerimtrail.org)
Ride horseback through the southernmost inhabited region in the world, and—just like the legendary solitary Patagonian gaucho—you’ll become part of this intense landscape of rugged mountains, valleys, and glaciers. The trip takes you from Punta Arenas to Hotel Salto Chico, in Torres del Paine National Park, with your hotel servings as your base camp for riding trips into the surrounding countryside. ($2780 per person for 5-day trip, price includes transfers, 3 meals, bar, and activities; explora.com)
If you’re a creative guy who appreciates a good organic cup of joe, Indonesia’s rural coffee bean farms are a must. Forest Voices, an eco-minded, fair trade organization, connects travelers and farmers in storytelling workshops. You’ll use writing, photography, and video to highlight the land’s different ecosystems and promote environmentally conscious farming. Though it’s not adrenaline pumping by any means, you’ll get a thrill from immersing yourself into the community and leaving a positive impact. Oh, and the coffee isn’t bad either. Next trip runs May 23-June 8. ($2455; forestvoices.org)
Nothing pushes you further beyond your mental and physical limits than an Outward Bound Wilderness expedition. It’s part survival course, part adventure vacation: group leaders take you and your crew into the wilderness where they teach trekking, sailing, and mountaineering skills. But aside from the physical stuff, you’ll build your character with activities that focus on compassion, teamwork and self-reliance. Whether you canoe the north woods in Maine, sea kayak in Baja, or dogsled in Alaska, you’ll return home a rejuvenated, stronger man. (Offered worldwide, variety of trip lengths and costs vary; outwardbound.org)
This difficult weeklong ski expedition covers the Haute Route (“high route), a well-traveled, well-marked trail two miles above sea level that stretches 110 miles across the Alps. It’s most famous for its spectacular mountain top views. You’ll zip through a couple mountain villages (a perfect place to stock up on hearty food) and you can sleep at small camping huts above the tree line along the way. Go in late March, April, or early May when the huts are open and the snowpack is perfect. ($2695 per skier; mountainschool.com)
Want to hunt big game in the high mountains? Head to Corkins Lodge near Chama, a small village in New Mexico and call local guide Peter Romero. He’ll take you out on 8,600 acres of land rising ranging between 8,000 and 11,000 feet above sea level, to the best spots to shoot. Archery season is in September, while rifle season is in October, so plan accordingly. ($4,000 for archery, $5,000 for rifle; 5 days, includes guide, food, lodging, permits; email Peter Romero: elkhunter_69@hotmail.com)
About 270 million people across the globe speak the Spanish language—and you can be one of them if you beef up your high school language skills with a full-immersion experience. Head to the Mariposa Spanish School, one of Nicaragua’s highest rated programs. A course includes 20 hours of personalized language instruction per week, room and board (either at the school or with a local family) and trips to local volcanoes, markets, and attractions. The school has a special 2-week study tour coming up in July. ($300/week includes room, board, and instruction; mariposaspanishschool.com)
There is no surer way to get that once-in-a-lifetime Indiana Jones feeling than by swimming-wading-squeezing-crawling-hiking a half mile deep into the Aktun Tunichil Muknal in Belize. In the ATM caves, officials have left ancient bones, pots, and other artifacts in situ, instead of hauling them off to labs and museums. The crystal sepulchre is actually the full skeleton of 1000-year-old human sacrifice, covered in calcite crystals that sparkle in the light of your headlamp. ($110 day trip; $280 overnight; pacztours.net)
Want to tell your grandkids about the time you traveled by boat through the world’s largest river system and rainforest? Then hop a plane to Manaus, Brazil, and book a spot on Swallows and Amazon’s river tour of the Amazon and Negro Rivers. You’ll visit Anavilhanas Archipelago National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003), canoe up wild tributaries, visit a Caboclo River indigenous village, and go piranha fishing and alligator hunting. Choose between river boat (hammock-style) or houseboat (plush air-conditioned cabins). ($1595–$1895 per person for 6-day trip, all-inclusive; swallowsandamazonstours.com)
First, there’s the standard safari in Tanzania, Kenya, or South Africa, where most wildlife-seeking travelers head—and then there’s Namibia. This region, inaccessible to travelers until recently, is one of southern Africa’s remotest spots. For a week, Evergreen Escapes lays out one active adventure after another—track elephants and endangered Black Rhinos through the desert on foot, visit the world’s tallest sand dunes, meet indigenous tribes, and more. ($3,160 for 7 days; evergreenescapes.com)
For a fitness-oriented trip with an eco-positive spin, go to Cotopaxi National Park and the Condor Biosphere with Adventure Life, a Quito-based environmental voluntourism company. This 5-day group service project in Ecuador’s highlands combines activities like trail work, mountain biking, horseback riding, and tree planting. (Basically, you get to preserve nature and do cool extreme sports at the same time.) And if 5 days sounds too short, sign up for a 3-day service project extension, which will take you into rural schools or back out on the trails. ($930; adventure-life.com)
Every bucket list should include a high peak, so how about Huayna Potosi, which stands at 20,000 feet—a mile higher than anything in the continental United States? Located in the Cordillera Real, Huayna Potosi requires crampons and ice axes but not too much extensive technical mountaineering experience beyond those basic pieces of equipment. The standard route is a straightforward glacier climb and there are tons guided trips out of La Paz, just 15 miles away. Plan for time to acclimate to the altitude, plus three days for the summit climb and return trip ($400 for 3-day trip; bolivianmountainguides.com)
How are your wilderness survival skills? Find out in the Rio Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, the largest virgin lowland rainforest north of the Amazon. In Managua, Nicaragua, you’ll fly a 12-passenger La Costeña plane to Greytown, in the southeast corner of the country. Once there, join ex-Special Forces jungle survival specialists for three days in the bush where they’ll teach you how to find fire, water, shelter, and food. You’ll also take classes on hunting, fishing, and trapping in the jungle. ($2,150 for 7-day program; bushmaster-survival-school.com)
This must be Alaska’s version of luxury “surf ‘n turf.” Chugach Powder Guides’ 5-day “Kings & Corn” trip in late June features heli-skiing in the Tordrillo Mountains of the Alaska Range and helicopter-assisted king salmon fishing and rafting in the Skwentna river system. The package includes flow plane transport from Anchorage to Winterlake Lodge, private chef, and champion guides. ($9,500 per person; chugachpowderguides.com)
This alternative route to the mountaintop ruins of Machu Picchu runs on centuries-old walking paths between villages, and is far less traveled than the classic Inca Trail so there will be fewer people. You’ll hike the rugged route for six hours a day at altitude, crossing passes over 14,000 feet. The best part of this 10-day trip is the chance to visit Cachiccata and other small mountain villages, where service projects have helped locals establish campgrounds, creating jobs for young people. ($2625, 10-day trip; adventure-life.com)
As a nod to your inner warrior, head to the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, Norway. Check out the recreated Viking village, learn to throw axes and shoot arrows, then jump into the replica of a Gokstad Viking ship—it has a rowing bench with your name on it. Boats depart daily from Gokstad’s boathouse (a 20-minute walk from the Chieftain’s House) from June to August. It’s only a 30-minute experience, but you’ll quickly learn to keep pace with your oar, just like the Vikings did. (Museum entrance $24 includes boat trip; lofotr.no)
If you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t — not until you’ve been to the Pushkar Camel Fair. This 5-day livestock fair in Rajasthan, northern India, is a good way to get a taste for Indian culture: check out the bridal competition, moustache contest, and cricket tournament. Arrive by bus or train a few days before the full moon of Kartik in the Hindu calendar (October or November), when the fair starts. Once there, you can score a luxury tent at Camp Bliss and eat traditional food onsite. ($337 per night, includes all meals; pushkarcamelfair.com)
Everyone should take at least one hike in the giant, snow-capped Rocky Mountains—and why not let a sturdy, exotic, and personable pack animal carry your gear? On a guided backcountry llama trekking trip, you’ll discover one of the grandest mountain playgrounds in the world. Camp out in tents or sleep in the cabins and lodges of the 10th Mountain Division Hut System, a legendary network of rustic accommodations in Colorado’s high country. You’ll hike stunning sections of the Colorado Trail, right beneath the Continental Divide. ($1198 for 3-day llama trek; paragonguides.com)
It’s a hell of a long walk, but it’s worth it. Join dedicated trekkers from all over the world as they take on up to 400 miles of trail that winds through the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain and southern France. Hikers have been walking this pass since the Medieval Age, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, the end of the Christian pilgrimage. Depending on how fast you go and where you start, it can take up to 5-6 months. Watch the 2010 film The Way, starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, for inspiration. Go independently with a solid map (it’s well marked), or take a 12-day section hike with On Foot in Spain tour providers if you’re pressed for time. ($3,524; onfootinspain.com)
You could road trip across any country, but for drastic variety—from barbeque in South Carolina to jazz in Louisiana to surfing in California—keep it close to home. Driving across America, the age-old rite of passage, works best when you have a couple of months to spare and can take your leisurely little time. Our advice? Don’t plan too much—just sketch out a general loop on a big map and go with the flow. For starters, check out Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways by Jamie Jensen, who suggests 11 different cross-country routes.
($14; amazon.com)
Page Title:
Fit Travel: 20 Sweet Adventure Trips for the Active Man’s Bucket List