The World’s Most Exciting Itineraries

The world’s most exciting itineraries, from a multicountry train ride to a photography tour that features the Northern Lights.

Best Hiking and Walking:

Cross Vancouver Island on Foot Stroll wide beaches and old-growth forests, pictured above, during Country Walkers’ six-day “British Columbia: Vancouver Island” adventure. Then rest your feet on a Zodiac boat trip to get a look at black bears. 2018 dates: Sept. 16–21, 23–28.

Best Photography Expedition

Capture the Aurora Borealis in Finland Make your pilgrimage to the land of reindeer and Santa Claus on Explorations by Collette’s “The Northern Lights of Finland” trip. By day, get to know Lapland culture; at night, photograph the lights as they dance across the sky. Various dates.

Best Travel for Good

Make a Difference in Machu Picchu You can help preserve the sacred Incan citadel on REI Adventures’ “Machu Picchu Volunteer Vacation,” mixing goodwill—archaeological restoration, invasive species eradication, Inca Trail repair—with adventure. 2018 dates: Oct. 31–Nov. 9.

Best Bike Tour Cycle

Through Croatia and Slovenia On Backroads’ “Croatia and Slovenia Bike Tour” from Ljubljana to Trieste, no car windows will separate you from the sights of the Julian Alps and the feeling of the wind and sun on your skin as you ride toward the Adriatic Sea. Various dates.

Best Culinary Adventure

Float Through Flavorful France Guests on Tauck’s 10-day “Savoring France: Paris, Lyon, and Provence” trip take a Parisian pastry class, then travel to Lyon for a cruise down the Rhône to Provence on the MS Emerald. Taste regional wines, savor local specialties, and enjoy a chef’s demonstration at a gourmet cooking school in Valence. Various dates.

Best Rafting and Kayaking

Kayak the Waters of Baja On the “Sea of Cortez Island Hopping” trip with O.A.R.S., spend nine days paddling around the islands off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The kayaks are ideal for getting close to dolphins, manta rays, sea lions, and a variety of whales, and the slower pace makes it much easier to see them. 2018 dates: Oct. 13–21, Oct. 27–Nov. 4, Nov. 10–18.

sources:

AFAR July 2018