Adventure Traveling…
What’s stopping you?
“I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”
-Eric Roth
In comparison to a normal vacation, adventure traveling is a very different type of holiday. Where the focus is less on ‘relaxing’ or ‘lounging’ and more about being active and trying new things. The actual definition can vary from person to person. For example, you might consider adventure travel to be traveling to uninhabited mountaintops or discovering a wonder of the world and for someone else it may be doing any activity other than sitting on a beach looking at the water.
For me personally, no trip is complete without some type of ‘adventure travel’ event such as: whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, hiking, or paragliding.
Whatever you believe, the truth remains that a vacation that sends your adrenaline pumping and truly makes you feel alive is the whole goal of adventure traveling.
However, when it comes to adventure traveling, there are many myths and misconceptions, which often put people off for ever starting. They are not sure what sort of apparel they need, or if they need special equipment, or whether they are too old or not in good enough shape.
Here, we will attempt to debunk some common myths around adventure traveling, so you can plan a trip knowing it will be the experience of a lifetime. After all, adventure travel is my favorite type of travel.
Myth #1: Only young people can adventure holiday
Young and fearless individuals may find the idea of rafting alone in a remote river or hiking through the solitude of dense forests more appealing. However, this does not rule out the possibility of older people getting into adventure traveling. You can solve any obstacle as long as you can handle the physical element of adventure travel and a lot of that can be done through preparation and training (my friend Kevin is 63 and just hiked to the Everest Base Camp).
These trips are all about mental toughness, stamina, and preparation. Becoming older just makes you better in these areas. So long as you don’t have any major health issues, you can embark on a trip that arouses your excitement and cross some items of your bucket list.
Myth #2: It is expensive
Another myth of adventure travel is that it is super expensive and will drain your bank account, but like anything else it’s all about what you decide to do and how you decide to do it. I’ve done super cheap hike/camping trips in the middle of the Grand Tetons and also spent a good amount of money rafting through the Grand Canyon. But even the rafting trip was cheaper than spending money on vacation rentals and vacation accommodation for 13 days.
Like anything else, it all depends on where you want to go and what kind of adventure trip you want to take. Of course, some activities will be more expensive than others, but you tailor your experiences to the budget that you have available and make sacrifices where you have to.
Myth #3: It is dangerous
Adventure travel can be risky to some extent, which is what makes it so exciting. However, if you make sure the activities that pose a danger are done under the close supervision of an expert, you will keep yourself much safer. Look for package deals offered by reputable adventure tour operators who will make your safety their priority.
One of the first things I look for when researching adventure tour companies is the reviews other people who have used the company have left. Often times, they will specifically state facts about the company’s safety protocol.
You should now be able to embark on an adventure that these popular myths and stereotypes about adventure traveling have been refuted.
The best way to get started is to find a few things you want to do, look at some websites to see what choices are available that work within your budget.
When planning such trips, the most important consideration should be safety. While going through an agent or tour operator may cost a little more, it is worth it to protect yourself.
Stay Gold.
