adventure travel phillipinesThe Philippines' diverse natural wonders make us a sought-after destination among the pack of adventurers; those who choose to explore outdoor escapes," shared Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.
He noted with enthusiasm, "While adventurism has just recently been recognized as a global trend, the Philippines has been catering to this demand as a way of life – being blessed with mountains, caves, white waters, name it, the Philippines has it."
At the recently-concluded highly successful Adventures in Travel Expo (ATE), travel buffs got a sneak peak of Philippines adventure travel where the tropical archipelago was given the spotlight as the featured destination.
"It was an excellent venue to showcase the wealth of adventure the Philippines has to offer," Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque, Jr. commented.
"Trekking and mountain hiking in Mount Pulag and Mount Apo, lake and trail trips in Taal volcano, heritage tours in Banaue and Sagada are only some of the unique ways to plan a Philippines adventure travel itinerary," he added.
Scuba diving, snorkeling, wakeboarding, surfing, mountain biking, spelunking, white-water rafting, sea kayaking, are other choices for exploration. The diversity of natural resources in the Philippines also allow for ecotourism activities like organic farm tours, canopy walk adventures, and cultural community immersions.The Philippine booth in the Adventure in Travel Expo featured these and more. "Aside from the seminars, the expo attendees who visited the booth received materials on the country, arranged tour packages, answered surveys and went home with native souvenirs," Jarque explained.
The country offers countless adventures from whitewater-rafting to kayaking through limestone caves to rappelling down mountains and waterfalls. And because of favorable exchange rates, the country is affordable on any budget. These elements were highlighted at the Philippine booth in the expo.
Also home to the most diverse marine ecosystem known to exist, the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Palawan, the Philippines has attracted the most serious of scuba divers the world over. The Tubbataha Reef is a scuba diving mecca featuring two of the world's oldest and most distinct reef systems.
Aside from the featured destinations and attractions, noted travel authors Lisa Greyhill and Carlos 'Caloy' Libosada, Jr. gave relevant talks at the expo and engaged the numerous visitors who stopped by to learn more about the Philippines' 7,107 islands and Philippines adventure travel.
Co-founder of Adventure Travelers Society and author of a collection of humorous travel tales entitled, Miss Adventures, Greyhill highlighted a few select destinations and their offerings, as well as presented some basics on 'what to know before you go.' Her remarkable presentation, 'A World of Adventures Awaits in the Philippines,' gave an overview of the irresistible marvels and exciting quests one could look forward to.
Meanwhile, travel writer Caloy Libosada, famous for his '26 Days Around the Philippines,' delivered an interesting talk on a number of Philippines adventure travel activities possible in the country – from pure adrenalin-pumping actions like surfing and trekking to more grey matter activities that focus on biodiversity, landscapes, and cultural interaction. His sharing of a seemingly never-ending tale of exploration was entitled 'Adventure Philippines: From Easy to Extreme' and thrilled numerous travelers from different nationalities and backgrounds."It was an enriching experience having renowned travel writers share their first-hand experiences on their unforgettable adventures in the country. Hearing their stories truly enticed travelers both young and old to go through the same, and realize for themselves the myriad of Philippines adventure travel options here in the country," Jorda-Apo noted.
"Our cosmopolitan cities, designer shopping malls, upscale spa facilities featuring traditional massage or 'hilot', a sampling of delectable Pinoy fares and private-island resorts cater to luxury travelers, just as our islands in general are perfect for those looking for unique cultural experiences. Adventure travelers can also possibly discover their own personal Man vs. Wild or Survivor experience while in our more remote islands," said Vernie Velarde-Morales, Director of the Philippine Department of Tourism.
Adventure buffs and travel aficionados can visit the Philippine Department of Tourism at www.experiencephilippines.ph for a list of viable options for their next Philippines adventure travel journey.
adventure travel
adventure travel costa rica
adventure travel alaska mountainWelcome to the Alaska Adventure Center. Your first step in planning your Alaska Adventure Travel.
This site can help you:
- Go sea-kayaking in Prince William Sound
- Learn to ice climb on a glacier (or just hike around on the blue ice)
- Trek in high and wild alpine areas
- Look for wildlife in a National Park
- Take a flight-seeing tour of Denali
Looking for an Alaska Tour? Our links can help you book a trip, plan a holiday for your family, climb Denali, film a movie or organize your own expedition.
This site is designed for active people looking for an active Alaska adventure vacation. You don't have to be an extreme sports junkie or a world class athlete; but if you like the idea of sitting on a big bus day after day then you might want to look elsewhere to plan that sort of tour.
We'll give you a lot of ideas but, realistically, you might need to narrow down your choices or move north. There's just far too much to do in a week!
You might start by either deciding where you want to go or what you want to do. You can plan it all yourself or get a pro to help you. Getting some professional, local help is highly recommended if you have limited time for your trip.
Remember, to really experience Alaska you need to get away from the roads and the tourists. Get out there and have an adventure!
adventure travel beach
A couple of kayakers encounter a whale!
two male on adventure travelTwo kayakers examining Alaska’s coast
You want to have much more time in Alaska Adventure Travel. There are lots of hotels and pensions to spend the night. If you go to Alaska travel, don’t turn back before doing adventure and ecotourism. There ara lots of travel agencies, you could go there with Alaska agencies.
Alaska is BIG! When planning your trip allow enough time for the regions you want to see and the things you want to do. All you need to do is determine what type of activities and adventures top your “must do” list and choose the regions that offer those experiences. Alaska offers the following and more:
Adventure & Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
Backcountry Experiences & Hiking
Kayaking, Rafting & Canoeing
Flightseeing & Helicopter Tours
the adventure travel
adventure travel jungleTravelers, who are looking for love stopping, adrenalin pumping action during their vacation, could not choose a greater location than Alaska. Alaska is the most northern, the largest also the most sparsely populated state in the U. S. A. but, thanks to tourists who are seeking the ultimate in adventure travel destinations, Alaska has likewise to submission than almost piece incomparable lot of the world.
Cutting edge technology again modern communication systems obtain made touring Alaska emphatically safer again easier than it was in bygone times. However, the limits spirit serene exists in vastly parts of the elucidate and adventurous journeys bag unexplored, wilderness areas can still be enjoyed by the thrill seeker, who is looking for the ultimate Travel Adventure Alaska .
Adept are many items of recreation to be enjoyed in Alaska, the challenge of scaling the highest peak in the U. S. A., Mount McKinley is open to the mountain climbing enthusiast. Well marked driving trails are available for tourists that are looking for an very pleasant walk that will enable them to return in the scenery wayward the bet of getting lost.
As the fittest and most well-informed trekker, the sovereignty component is at your arrangement, one care sojourn through solitude areas for days or weeks off-course avenue into combat with, or due to grant of, another human through. You are advised to give away the Alaska Public Rule Hub of your intention before embarking on such a venture.
Able are populous lakes also estuaries in Alaska to steward explored. Tour guides are available to bird dog you through a variety of wilderness areas in canoe safaris. Groups are guided through inaugural waters in maximal silence to beam nature at first comfort, camp on islands also trek through virgin bush land that forms the boundaries of these majestic water ways.
Alaska, of course, provides the perfect place as winter sports. Cross country skiing, cool skating and sledding activities are in abundance. Dogsled outfitters are available to pilot you on a dog - sled inquire into into the back country footing the natural polish of the view incumbency factor enjoyed. One power plain win a humor as making the crowing snowman, if that is your high-sounding.
oh adventure travel
adventure travel boat
Panama is a country that is primed for adventure travelers. With mile after mile of coastline, scores of offshore islands, lush rainforests and soaring highlands, Panama presents a variety of intriguing landscapes that are waiting to be explored by the masses. Those who have enjoyed adventure travel in Costa Rica will find Panama adventure travel tours to offer a very comparable experience, only you can expect to encounter fewer tourists. You can surely get your heart rate up in Panama, whether you're charging down a series of raging white water rapids, or scuba diving among the giant fish of the Pacific. Panama adventure tours can last just a few hours and be enjoyed on their own, or can be spread out over a period of days, and can come as part of a greater Panama vacation package. Though there's nothing wrong with kicking back at one of the Panama beaches and doing nothing for a week, it's always a good idea to arrange at least one adventure travel Panama tour just to spice things up a bit.
If you are only in Panama for a short amount of time and are basing your visit in Panama City, you can still add an interesting adventure travel Panama excursion to experience some of what this beautiful country's outdoors has in store. Visiting a nearby rainforest for a few hours is a great way to give any city trip a shot in the arm. In Panama City, you can arrange an adventure excursion to a rainforest that includes pick-up and drop-off from your Panama City hotel. In no time at all, you will be in the heart of a lush tropical forest, listening to an English-speaking guide who knows every answer to any question you can probably think of. Your tour fees will usually cover refreshments and entrance fees, and you don't have to be in tip top shape to enjoy a short tour like this. Maybe you are up for a full-day excursion that takes you from Panama City to a series of scenic, natural caves. At Lake Bayano, there are Panama adventure tours that take guests to a native community, where they then board a small boat to get to the caves. Top off the inner-cave exploits with lunch and a swim in a lagoon. Come nightfall, you're back in Panama City to enjoy some fine dining and a little nightlife, perhaps.
Panama adventure travel tours don't have to see you basing yourself in Panama City. In the autonomous Kuna Indian "Comarca de Kuna Yala", the city of Porvenir is a major base for Panama adventure tours in the San Blas Archipelago. Once in Porvenir, you can arrange a tour where a native Kuna will then whisk you off to the islands by boat. You will likely stay a night at a Kuna lodge, which is quite an experience, and from there you can book scuba diving and snorkeling trips. Perhaps you'll be interested in a tour of a native Kuna village. Adventure travel Panama packages exist that can cover all aspects of your San Blas getaway, from your flight and meals, to your tours and lodging. In the western region of Panama, the Chiriqui Highlands present a most favorable setting for Panama adventure tours. Boquete is a major tourist town in the Chiriqui Province, and from there you can arrange hiking trips, white water rafting adventures, birdwatching tours, and horseback riding excursions, among other possibilities. If you haven't already booked an adventure travel Panama tour in Boquete before you get there, you'll find a nice variety of tour groups offering their services and equipment.
Panama adventure travel tours can include just Panama, or they can be joined with experiences in nearby countries, such as Costa Rica and Belize. It would be quite the adventurous trip should you take on such an endeavor. You surely will be treated to some of the best landscapes in the world for adventure travel. Imagine visiting the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica one day, and relaxing on the beach of your own secluded island in Bocas del Toro in Panama the next. Quite a story you'll have to share when you get home, not to mention a gob of colorful photos. Did someone say slide show? The most adventurous visitors to Panama will seek out Panama adventure tours in the infamous Darien Gap. A highly undeveloped swath of forestland and swamps, it's truly one of the world's most remote places, not to mention one of the more dangerous. Adventure travel Panama isn't reserved for those in incredible shape, nor is it just ideal for those who crave mass quantities of adrenaline. Various levels of activities can be enjoyed, and should you have any mobility issues, most tour operators will attempt to accommodate you however they can. A half-day trip on the Panama Canal doesn't require you to do anything else but take it all in from the deck of the ship. Rising 54 feet at the Miraflores Locks when the water is pumped in is quite an invigorating and exciting experience that can be enjoyed by all. Add a couple Panama adventure tours to your Panama vacation, and you'll be glad you did. It's the world's next great adventure destination.
Adventure Tours
Deciding which adventure vacation is right for you can be an intimidating experience. There are thousands of options, and it's hard to know where to start. One way to determine what's a good fit is to get in touch with a travel agency that provides or specializes in adventure tourism. They can help steer you through the myriad choices that you'll face.
 adventure travel climber A mountain climber ascends a rock face in Alaska. |
Aside from seeking help from a travel agency, the first thing you should do is determine exactly how adventurous you want to get. Many adventure tours can incorporate dangerous and thrilling activities like paragliding, river rafting and big game hunting. Others require you to be in top physical shape -- mountain and rock climbing, surfing monster waves and snow-shoeing across frozen tundra are a few examples. Be honest with yourself about your capabilities.
 Grant Faint/Getty Images A giraffe stands in the cool dusk of the African savanna. |
Some adventure vacations involve performing a dream job you never had a chance to experience. The movie "City Slickers" had Billy Crystal go on a spiritual journey of sorts as a cattle driver in the rugged West. Perhaps due to that film, cattle drives are one of the more popular adventure vacations today, offered everywhere from Utah to Patagonia. Sports-themed vacations are popular for athletes that never realized their dream of becoming the next Cal Ripken Jr. or Dale Earnhardt. Baseball fantasy camps let your average Joe compete against former major leaguers, while NASCAR driving schools allow you to release your inner speed demon.
Safaris are exciting soft adventures that draw people of all ages. A host of travel agencies offer driving and walking tours led by experienced guides through the African plains. The big draw of a safari is the chance to come into close contact with the "big five" -- lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. You can even go on a "working safari" and contribute to a variety of primate and elephant projects that make a lasting impact on African conservation. Participating in such a project can increase the feeling of reward and accomplishment.
Paragliding in the south of France can be an adventurous and relaxing experience.
Adventure travel is typically grouped into two categories -- "hard" and "soft" adventures. Hard adventures involve some kind of extreme and often dangerous sporting activity. Paragliding, rock climbing, surfing, spelunking and scuba diving in remote and exotic locations are some examples of a hard adventure. Soft adventures are leisurely, often educational and don't involve hazardous and strenuous adventures. Culinary and wine tours, bird watching, architectural tours and religious pilgrimages are activities that are likely to be found on a soft adventure.
The father of adventure travel is Leo Le Bon, co-founder of Mountain Tours, the world's first adventure travel company. In 1967, Le Bon and eight travel mates made the first commercial expedition to the Annapurna region of Nepal and founded their travel company after returning stateside. Now retired from Mountain Tours, Le Bon still consults for various travel entities through his aptly named firm, Wanderlust Consulting. The industry has grown by leaps and bounds since Leo went to Nepal, with thousands of companies offering adventure vacations to every corner of the globe.
In this article, we'll look at who might be likely to go on an adventure tour and how you could benefit from taking one yourself. We'll also look at some of the more interesting adventure vacations that are on the market today.
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| While on his own affordable island-hopping adventure, Leffel stopped to take in the view from a beach in Palawan, Philippines. |
Like to sail down the Nile, go trekking in the Himalayas or white-water rafting in the Andes Mountains? Or camel-riding through the desert, island-hopping in the tropics?
"Yes," you sigh, "but I can't afford it." Well, if you're looking at the prices in a glossy adventure travel brochure, you're probably right. But if you follow in the footsteps of long-term travelers and book locally, all of these adventures are easily within your grasp.
Following the Money
The difference is in where your money is going. If you book an adventure trip through an agency in the U.S. or Canada, you're paying a lot of people: the agency owners, the employees who will accompany you (and their expenses), and the local tour company at your destination who supply guides and equipment. The local portion of that may be quite small in a developing country, but that cost will be marked up substantially to cover the agency’s first-world expenses at home, including marketing. So for a typical tour of 10 to 20 days, many adventure travelers end up paying $3,000 to $4,000 per person, not including airfare. By the time a couple pays airfare, incidentals, and departure taxes, they could be looking at a $10,000 trip. If they're flying somewhere especially far or difficult to get to, such as New Zealand or South Africa, it can be even more.
Long-term travelers simply show up, book their trip, and go when the next group departs. This way they deal with their providers first-hand and all the money goes into their adventure, not into marketing expenses and commissions.
A Case Study in Nepal
I’ve done some form of organized adventure travel in over a dozen countries, ranging from the Philippines to India to Israel. However, the starkest contrast I saw in pricing was probably during my 3-week Annapurna Trail trek in the Himalayas of Nepal. The trip is exhilarating, breathtaking, and inspiring. It's also dirt cheap or ungodly expensive, depending on how you got there. Two people walking side by side are sometimes paying thousands of dollars difference for the same mountain views.
I hiked with two other guys. We carried our own packs, followed the trail without a hitch, and stayed in the lodges that are scattered all along the way. We usually got an early start and got one or two of the best lodge rooms in each village. We ate our fill at each meal, bought the odd candy bar or beer here and there, and always got dessert after dinner. After three weeks of trekking, we had spent less than $200 each, including the bus to and from Pokhara. If we had hired a guide and porter and tipped them really well, we still would have had a really hard time trying to spend much more than $350 each.
Along the way, we met many travelers who had booked with a tour company in Europe, Canada, or the U.S. and paid anywhere from $1,200 to $3,900 before airfare. That included a couple of hotel nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but otherwise they were seeing and doing the same things as we were, but with less flexibility to go at their own pace. Their loads were lighter because of porters, but some of them were sleeping in tents, not lodges, and it got pretty frosty at night as we got higher. A few of the French groups had a chef along, but they were still eating group meals prepared at one time, not the "whatever, whenever" choices we were picking off a menu. They all had a bilingual guide, but even the ones accompanying the high-priced groups couldn’t answer many questions about the local culture.
A few days after finishing my trek, I joined a whitewater rafting trip out of Kathmandu. I asked around to find out who was the best operator in town, with the best guides and the best equipment. After I got a definitive answer, I booked my trip with them, traveling down the steepest, fastest river open to the public. My price was $40 per day, including meals, transportation, and one night's lodging in a riverside guesthouse with a bar. By now you probably know the rest of the story. Beside me were many people who had booked overseas, with this side trip part of a $200 per day adventure package.
I've seen this same scene play out around the world, whether it was hiking up volcanoes in Indonesia, taking a weeklong tour through the hilltribe areas of Vietnam, or touring the Mayan ruins in Mexico.
Making a Good Connection
Many first-time travelers wonder how in the world they can manage to book an adventure tour on their own. After all, they may be thousands of miles from home, in a country where people speak a different language. However, finding a provider is usually the easy part: guides will often find you before you even start looking for them. And anyone who deals with tourists all day generally speaks at least passable English. Here’s how to make your trip a success:
• Ask around, then ask around again. Get opinions from other travelers who have done what you want to do. If other travelers haven’t made the trip themselves, they may know someone who has and know how it turned out.
• Check your guidebook for references. Guidebook writers often hear about which providers are questionable and which ones have a good reputation. If they’re wrong, they’ll get lots of letters telling them so.
• Check the message boards. This can be done physically, at local guesthouses, and virtually, at Internet message boards for travelers. The most active one of the latter is Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree.
• Interview potential guides. Ask lots of probing, open-ended questions about equipment, experience, lodging, food, and what is and is not included. Negotiate everything in advance since you’ll have very little leverage once you’ve departed.
• Find out who is really leading the trip. For popular journeys, such as the Inca Trail in Peru, 20 agencies may be selling the exact same tour and pooling customers. Your agency may have booked five people, but you show up and find 30. You’re better off booking direct with a company that leads their own group.
• If the crew did a good job, tip them graciously when your trip is finished, either personally or as a group. This supplements their often meager wages and ensures that the best guides are rewarded for making things run smoothly.
What’s in It for Me and for Them?
Many of the spending decisions you make when you travel have an economic impact that ripples out like a pebble dropped in a pond. When you stay at a locally-owned guesthouse, hire a local rickshaw driver, or eat at a family restaurant, you’re directly contributing to the local economy. The same holds true when you book an adventure tour at the source. Ironically, that guide or company you hire is often earning a bigger paycheck from you than they are from the North American adventure company, who is negotiating for a volume discount. At the same time, you are still getting an excellent deal since you’ve skipped the middleman.
In addition, local providers don’t need large economies of scale. Few tour companies in the U.S. or Canada will do an international trip for less than eight people unless the price tag is proportionately high. There’s not enough money in it for them except at the luxury end of the market. At the source, however, most companies can provide a more intimate experience, while still making it financially worthwhile for them. My wife and I did a 2-day volcano hike in the Philippines ($70 each including meals) with just a private guide and a porter. On our camel safari near Jaisalmer, India ($30 each for three days), three people were dedicated to taking care of five travelers and their camels. While in Vietnam, a group of five friends hired a driver with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle for a week to explore north Vietnam ($250 split between us). We decided upon reaching Sapa that we wanted to extend the trip an extra day. Since the only person we had to clear it with was our driver, the only effort required was a bit of extra cash for his inconvenience and expenses.
The Advantages of Booking from Home
So does this mean you're automatically a sucker if you book your adventure trip from home? No, because there are certainly good reasons for doing that too. If your schedule is very tight and you need to get back to work on a certain date, it makes lots of sense to let someone else work out all the details in advance. If you're somewhere like rural China or Uzbekistan, where the language barrier is a real issue, having good guides or translators can be essential. And if you're the type who likes to let others map out the decisions or to travel with a built-in group of companions, an organized tour makes sense.
If you book with a reputable and culturally sensitive agency, you can experience some local culture with the added comfort of dependability. The food will probably be decent, your guides will speak English well, and your hotel rooms will be reserved and clean. Much of this will be spelled out in writing and there’s less chance that you’ll have a miscommunication problem. If something goes wrong, you will have someone at home to complain to.
When airfare is included, a group tour can sometimes make your flight cheaper. Many agencies are able to negotiate significant discounts on airfare and they fold this into the package price. At times this can offset the gain you’d make by booking locally, especially for a very short trip. See the links below and check the ads in magazines like Outside (in the U.S.), Outpost (Canada), and Wanderlust (U.K.).
