|
Giddy and out of breath, my wife Janet and I glide down a snaking, spongy singletrack trail
on our mountain bikes. We’re descending from a 9,000-foot-high plateau overlooking the
creamsicle-colored cliffs and fantastical hoodoos of Zion National Park in the valley
5,000 feet below. Launching off whoop-de-doos, we roller-coaster through the thick, fragrant
woods—down, down, and down some more, then pop out at tonight’s campsite.
“I am not having fun,” Janet declares, failing miserably to hide the huge
grin spreading across her mud-spattered face.
Janet hates camping. She hates mountain biking on singletrack. We’re doing both as
part of a six-day guided group trip through southwestern Utah. Janet hates it so much that
on day two she asks our guides what other trips we can sign up for.
Ah, wilderness
We could’ve taken a regular vacation: tropical resort, umbrella drinks by the pool,
surf ’n turf at the evening floorshow. Definitely relaxing, but kinda boring after a
few days. Besides, all that boozing and snoozing makes me feel like a beached whale. We
wanted something more—a mild adventure, a chance to burn off some stress and calories,
an escape to a beautiful place. We wanted an active vacation. And we didn’t have the
time, energy or expertise to plan one.
Adventure travel is hot!
We’re not alone. Rushing to serve the expanding number of busy, active travelers, an
army of outfitters offer thousands of trips all over the world. Adventure travel, it’s
called. You can walk through France, sea kayak around Baja, cycle Nova Scotia, backcountry
ski in Colorado, trek across New Zealand, dogsled to the North Pole, and on and on.
By one estimate there are 10,000 adventure-tour outfitters in the U.S., ranging from
mom-and-pop operations to industry giants such as Backroads, which
runs 1,200-plus trips a year to more than 30 countries. In the past five years, 98 million
Americans have taken an adventure vacation and 31 million of those have done
“hard-adventure” trips (such as whitewater boating, scuba diving or mountain
biking), according to the Travel Industry Association of America.
|
Log on and Escape |
If you have access to the Internet at work, and are stealthy about surfing during the
9-to-5 grind, you can easily pull together your late-summer escape in a matter of hours
(think: T-1 line). In the office today, off kayaking, surfing, biking, hiking tomorrow.
Ready to go? Here’s an exhaustive listof sites
to get you there.
|
“Things are definitely growing,” says Ashley Korenblat, president of Western
Spirit Cycling, the outfitter that offered the mountain bike trip Janet
and I took. “People who go to the gym every day don’t want to spend their vacation sitting on a beach or walking around a museum.” Western Spirit’s business grew by 30% last year, and Korenblat estimates that just the bike-touring segment of the adventure-travel market does about $300 million in annual sales.
Why Do a Guided Adventure-Travel Vacation?
After traveling with various outfitters, I can think of many reasons:
Fun.
It’s a chance to play for a week or so in a cool place, without losing (you might even gain)
fitness. Try a trip featuring a new sport or one with your favorite activity. And don’t let
the word “active” scare you with thoughts of blisters and grueling workouts. There are trips for almost every fitness level, from the newly active to hard-core jocks. Traveling with
someone who’s a little more (or less) gung-ho than you? Many trips feature daily mileage
options so everyone can do as much or as little as they want.
Challenge.
It’s a vacation, not a death-march—but at some point you may have to push your comfort
zone: try a section of whitewater, a twisty singletrack, a day of hiking in the rain. A bit scary
perhaps, but you’ll have support and instruction from your guides. And you never forget the
feeling of accomplishment when you do more than you thought you could. Hey, when was the last time
you returned from a week at Uncle Harry’s summer cottage feeling like a stronger, more
competent person?
Convenience. Usually all you have to do (after writing the check) is get to the trip’s starting point. The
outfitter takes care of the rest. You don’t have to send away for maps, research routes, or
book accommodations. Besides showing you the way, a good guide can talk local history or geology, offer technique tips, and keep things running smoothly.
Socializing.
Doing an organized trip is a great way to meet people and a safe alternative to traveling
alone. In my experience, most folks who take active vacations are fun, easygoing, and
interesting—perfect travel companions. Some outfitters even offer trips for such
groups as singles, families, or women only.
Local Knowledge.
Traveling alone, odds are slim that you’ll stumble onto the most spectacular trail,
the best swimming hole, the prettiest overlook, the ski lodge with the homemade hot
chocolate, or the bakery with the tastiest turnovers. But on an organized trip, your guide
probably has the inside scoop. It’s like traveling with a
local.
|
Vacation Marketplace |
|
Tons of companies offer guided trips for active travelers. Here’s a small
sampling. (For more, visit http://www.outsidemag.com/destinations/atd/, which has a travel directory with ads from several
outfitters.) |
|
Backroads
Bills itself as “The world’s #1 active travel company.” More than
1,200 trips a year to 30-plus countries. Cycling, walking, sea kayaking,
canoeing, cross-country skiing, etc. Founded in 1979. Approximate price range:
from $1,000 for a 6-day camping trip in the U.S., to $4,600 for 14 days in China.
http://www.backroads.com
|
|
Butterfield & Robinson
Another biggie. Specializes in luxury trips all over the world. Cycling and
walking. Founded in 1966. Approximate price range: from upper-$2,000 for 6
days in the U.S., to $6,000 for 10 days in Southern Africa.
http://www.butterfield.com
|
|
Western Spirit Cycling
Smaller company specializing in mountain bike trips, mostly in the American
West. Motto: “Civilized tours in uncivilized terrain.” Founded in 1989.
Approximate price range: from $600 for 4-day camping trip, to $1,000 for 6-day
camping trip.
http://www.westernspirit.com
|
|
REI
A branch of the giant outdoor retailer/consumer co-op. Lots of trips, lots of
destinations around the world, lots of activities (climbing, hiking, cycling,
paddling, etc.). Approximate price range: from $895 for a 6-day sea kayak trip
in Washington state’s San Juans, to $3,200 for 29-day trek in Nepal.
http://www.rei.com/travel
|
|
Want to plan your adventure-travel vacation online? Here are two companies vying for your
business. Need more online resources? Look no further. |
|
Adventureseek.
Formed in November 1999, it features a travel-resource center, a trip-finding tool,
gear-purchasing opportunities, and community sections for sharing travel information.
http://www.adventureseek.com
|
|
iExplore
Features information, expert advice, trip-booking service, and gear buying.
http://www.iexplore.com
|
|
|
