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These 10 adventure tour operators — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best — cater to travelers who crave excitement, challenge, and fun in their vacations. Whether you’re looking for an individualized journey or group tour, they’ll have something for you, with activities ranging from hiking and biking to rafting and kayaking.
Wildlife lovers take note: Natural Habitat Adventures has been supporting Earth’s flora and fauna since 1987, even entering into a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund in 2003. In addition to classic adventures like southern African safaris and Alaskan grizzly bear encounters, guests can also book once-in-a-lifetime tours including a trip into the depths of China to search for wild pandas.
Quark Expeditions has been leading professional and in-depth journeys to the polar regions for over 30 years. Tours are infused with immense knowledge of each destination — experts like marine biologists and glaciology pros come on each expedition. The Ultramarine, one of Quark’s ships, is equipped with two helicopters, 20 Zodiac boats, and even a sauna with floor to ceiling windows. Whether you visit ice-choked Snow Hill Island to observe emperor penguins or paddleboard and helicopter in the Canadian High Arctic or Greenland, you’ll be in great hands.
Seattle-based MIR Corporation has spent nearly 40 years designing tours to some of the world’s least-traveled regions. Their focus covers the Silk Road countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; the South Caucasus nations of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; ancient caravan routes through Saudi Arabia, Oman, China, and Mongolia; and Eastern Europe from the Baltics down through the Balkans. Beyond their signature small group tours, MIR builds custom programs for individuals and private groups, from overland expeditions to educational programs and cultural itineraries for travelers with a serious interest in history, art, architecture, food, and wine.
Salmon Berry Travel & Tours curates fun and exciting travel experiences of Alaska, including day tours and multi-day journeys that focus on safety, sustainability, and authentic Alaskan hospitality. With this tour company, you can hike on glaciers, spot the northern lights, fish for salmon or halibut, or experience the famed Iditarod race for yourself.
A perfect fit for adventurers of all ages, Stubborn Mule Travel has curated a wide variety of itineraries designed specifically for traveling families. Destinations span six continents, and as an added bonus, the company also offers unique itinerary activities based on the interests of each individual guest.
Beginning as a small-scale rafting tour company in 1972, Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has expanded far beyond the rivers of North Carolina. Though their scope has expanded to include occasional international adventures, the company still excels at domestic adventure, showcasing the incredible rafting opportunities across the Southern United States.
From snorkeling around the Galapagos to observing gorillas in Uganda, Explorer Chick’s curated tours span five continents. Each itinerary is crafted specifically by women, for women. Founded in 2014 by Nicki Bruckmann, this adventure company provides ample opportunities to explore gorgeous landscapes and forge new friendships all across the globe.
MT Sobek has been a leader in the adventure travel industry for more than half a century. Today, travelers can choose from some 200 journeys throughout the world, including the Italian Dolomites, El Camino Santiago in Spain, and California’s Yosemite Valley. Each experience is designed to inspire and exhilarate, with interest categories like multi-adventure, family adventure, wildlife and safari, adventure cruising, hiking and trekking, cultural discovery, and rafting and kayaking.
Bindlestiff Tours specializes in small group adventures with a focus on the American West, Alaska, and western Canada. Guests enjoy fully customized touring vehicles with enlarged viewing windows, free Wi-Fi at most campsites, and the myriad benefits of insider expertise, like the best spots to photograph a sunset or favorite local restaurants.
Adventure Canada creates small-ship expedition cruises for curious travelers drawn to the Arctic, Atlantic Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and beyond. From the storied waterways of the Northwest Passage to the living landscapes of the Hebrides, each journey is shaped by weather, wildlife, community welcome, and shared discovery. Guests travel alongside expedition leaders, naturalists, artists, cultural educators, and other specialists who help deepen every encounter with land, sea, and story.
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles.
She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education.
She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more.
www.adventuresbycarly.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/
X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world’s great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Writer Katie McElveen began her travel career when a wrong turn on the way to a family vacation took her on an eleven hour odyssey that she thoroughly enjoyed. Today, more than 40 countries later, her work has appeared in Real Simple, Southern Living, Global Traveler, Fodor’s, Virtuoso, Bride’s, Islands, Reader’s Digest, AFAR, Organic Spa, Garden & Gun, Travel Curator and other publications.
Molly O’Brien is a Denver-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She’s lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home.
Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor.
Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations.
She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she’s not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling.
Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!).
You can connect with Molly here:
Instagram: @metropolitanmolly
Twitter: @Molly_A_OBrien
Facebook: @MetropolitanMolly
LinkedIn: @mollyannobrien
www.metropolitanmolly.com
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