The Best Adventure Trips, Chosen by a Travel Advisor

Adventure here means physical effort and genuine wildness, but not hardship for its own sake. Each trip runs with expert local guides, has a strong safety culture, and can be paired with excellent lodges or ships, so you recover in comfort between big days.

The list spans soft adventure, such as Zodiac landings and snorkeling, to demanding challenges like a Kilimanjaro summit night. Read the fitness notes before you choose.

Gorilla trekking means anywhere from one to several hours of hiking on steep, muddy, forested slopes at altitude, and the hour with the gorillas is worth every step. Kilimanjaro’s summit, Uhuru Peak, stands at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet); the climb is non-technical, but altitude is the real test, and longer routes of seven to nine days improve your chances. See our altitude sickness guide.

Walking and horseback safaris need steady stamina, and horseback trips require confident riders. Expedition cruises and dive trips are gentler but demand comfort with boats and open water. Our gorilla trekking guide covers that trek in detail.

Permits come first. Gorilla permits are limited each day, Kilimanjaro climbs need licensed operators, and polar expedition cabins are scarce in peak months. Dry seasons generally make trekking easier: roughly June to September in Rwanda, and January to March or June to October on Kilimanjaro.

Costs rise with exclusivity: private guides, small-group departures and fly-in camps. Every trip on this list warrants insurance with emergency medical evacuation cover.

Book 9 to 12 months ahead, or more for gorilla permits in peak season and Antarctica in December and January. Start training early and break in your boots; our adventure trek packing list covers the gear.

Gigi builds adventure itineraries with recovery days and comfortable lodges between the big efforts, books the permits and guides, and pairs the hard days with a beach or wine-country finish if you want one.