10 Must-Do Adventures to Kick Off 2025

It’s a new year and new adventures are calling! Adventure seekers worldwide are always on the lookout for their next unforgettable experience. Discover otherworldly landscapes, immerse yourself in local culture, and challenge your physical limits on thrilling adventures in 2025 hosted by MT Sobek.

If you’re looking for travel inspiration for our award-winning trips, here are our top picks to start off your year of adventure travel.

Combine Adventure and Active in 2025!

MT Sobek operates hiking tours year-round to your favorite destinations. Warm up the winter season during this unique time of year to explore top locations. Trek to snow-capped peaks in the Alps and gaze at glaciers in Patagonia. Get away from cold weather to outdoor exploration in Utah and California. The northern winter is summertime in Peru for treks to the famed Machu Picchu site.

Keep in mind the season while preparing for your trip. Check the local weather to know how to pack, and be sure to include several layers. Also, review the difficulty of each hike to ensure you’re prepared with the proper hiking boots, jackets, and accessories needed to complete the activity. MT Sobek prioritizes safety to ensure our participants enjoy their time with us.

10 Must-Do Adventures to Kick Off 2025

1. Admire the nature color-changing beauty of the Dolomites in Italy

Start the new year admiring one of Earth’s most stunning mountain peaks. Journey to North Italy to hike The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its unmatched beauty. Spend a few days exploring the iconic peaks of Cime di Lavaredo and Cinque Torri. Experience the Enrosadira Phenomenon, revealing beautiful hues of pink on the peaks at sunrise and sunset. Ascend to panoramic vistas atop the Pralongia High Plateau.

Our Italy Dolomites Hiking with Premier Lodging Tour delivers a host of cozy five-star accommodations to unwind and leverage after day hikes in the heart of Italy’s Prosecco wine region. Unwind with daily Prosecco wine tastings and stays in the region’s premier five-star accommodations—Grand Hotel Savoia, Alta Badia, and Relais & Châteaux.

2. Explore rugged wilderness trails in Big Bend National Park

Immerse yourself in Texas’ rich cultural heritage, revealed with every step through Big Bend National Park. Trek past ancient petroglyphs etched into 500-million-year-old stones. Panoramic views of the Chihuahuan Desert from atop the Chisos Mountains showcase why it’s called a ‘sky island.’

See the Rio Grande winding along the US-Canada border once you reach Santa Elena Canyon. At night, the park becomes the largest dark sky site in the world for stargazing.

The former Terlingua Ghost Town is teeming with life thanks to visitors embracing wild west hospitality in the Big Bend Holiday Hotel and meals in the Starlight Theatre. Join in the Texas-sized fun on our Texas Hiking Big Bend National Park & Beyond Lodge Based Tour.

3. Blaze trails through California’s Death Valley

Heat up the new year by hiking the hottest place on Earth! Enter the remote desert wilderness of Death Valley National Park in California for an experience ready to quench your thirst for adventure. Explore these unusual landscapes marked by arid desert floors, dry waterfalls, and Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. It’s a place where colorful badlands aren’t a mirage, and hiking routes lead to the rugged saltpan floor of the Devil’s Golf Course.

Our California Death Valley Hiking Lodge Based Tour invites you to cool down from your adventure in the iconic Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel. It features an outdoor swimming pool, air conditioning, and a rustic saloon for a post-hike beverage.

4. Discover Grand Canyon’s incomparable geology from top to bottom

Did you know the entire state of Rhode Island can fit inside the Grand Canyon? It’s one of the many reasons why it’s considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and should be the first thing you cross off your adventure bucket list for 2025! Traverse the famous Bright Angel Trail along the canyon’s South Rim and take in sweeping views of this massive natural landmark along the South Kaibab Trail.

Spend a few days admiring all the Grand Canyon’s sights and attractions while staying at the historic Phantom Ranch, located on the canyon floor. It’s only accessible via hiking, rafting, or on the back of a mule. Luckily, our Arizona Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch Weekend 4 Day Tour will get you there to start your canyon conquest.

5. Walk the spectacular Nakasendo Way in Japan

One foot in front of the other is how you’ll complete the 340-mile-long Nakesendo Way. Don’t worry, there are plenty of landmarks, landscapes, and storybook hamlets awaiting you on this journey from Kyoto to Tokyo. Embark from the Imperial Capital to explore the wonders of Kiso Valley. Discover the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. Feed the charming Nara deer. Wander through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

Monk-run lodging, called shukubo, opens its doors to adventurers on our Japan Kyoto to Tokyo Walking Tour to immerse in the region’s culture every step of the way en route to Tokyo.

6. Be spellbound by all five of Utah’s epic National Parks

Utah ranks third in the list of states with the most national parks. Instead of choosing one, why not include all the Mighty Five to your 2025 must-visit list? Set off on iconic hiking routes inside Zion National Park. See more than 2,000 naturally formed arches in Arches National Park. Gaze up at hoodoo rock structures stretching towards the sky in Bryce Canyon National Park. Maneuver the rocky labyrinth inside Canyonlands National Park. Check off each famous rock structure in Capitol Reef National Park.

Tour with an expert guide on our Utah National Parks Hiking Tour. Between stops at these iconic national parks, guests will experience warm hospitality in rooms designed for the intrepid at the Red Cliffs Lodge Zion, Capitol Reef Resort, and more.

7. Traverse the Eiger Trail, iconic Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc trilogy

Spend your summer in the Alps, where rolling green valleys turn into snow-capped mountain peaks. It’s time to triumph over one of Europe’s largest mountain ranges spanning eight countries. Hikers trekking the Alps will find the adventure they seek while exploring three of the most iconic peaks. Admire breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc Peaks and navigate the challenging Eiger Trail on Eiger Mountain.

Find refuge within the mountain passes at charming mountain village inns dotting Switzerland and France. The Alps Village to Village Hiking Tour is your all-access pass to this beautiful mountainous region.

8. Experience the iconic W Route in Patagonia

Dramatic landscapes. Rare wildlife. If that’s your idea of an adventure, then South America’s Patagonia region is a must-visit in 2025. This vast region stretches across Chile and Argentina. The famous W Route follows a W-shaped route past must-see landmarks like the Grey Glacier, Paine Grande Mountain, Cuernos del Paine, Grey Lake, and more.

Wake up to incredible landscape views with stays at Hotel Las Torres, Cabanas de los Cuernos, and other park lodging. Follow an expert guide to the region’s best glaciers, bodies of water, and mountain trails during the Chile & Argentina Ultimate Patagonia Hiking Tour.

9. Hike to the mystical lost citadel of Machu Picchu

Once the clouds clear, the enchanting Incan city of Machu Picchu reveals itself to hikers who made the nearly 8,000-foot trek to this city in the sky. The lost city built in the 15th century was lost for almost five centuries and has become one of the world’s most famous hiking adventures ever since it was rediscovered. Peer through the holes of the Temple of the Sun, which miraculously align with the sun’s solstice. Stand at the Intihuatana dial to track the sun’s movement across the sky. Admire the engineering feats of the agricultural terraces.

Enrich your travels with hotel stays nearby to take advantage of sunrise over Machu Picchu and locally prepared Inca meals in Cusco. Learn more about our Peru Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Hiking with Premier Lodging Tour.

10. Follow the legendary Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela

New year, new you. Give yourself a spiritual refresh on the Camino de Santiago hike. It’s one of the most well-known pilgrimages in Europe, attracting everyone from devout Catholic followers to adventure-seekers. The route extends from France to Spain to Portugal. It brings hikers to notable spiritual sites in the region, including the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Gothic-style Burgos Cathedral, the Romanesque-style Cathedral of San Salvador, and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint James.

Re-energize for the next day’s hiking leg with stays in the region’s luxury hotels at the NH Collection Palacio de Burgos, Hotel Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, and Hotel Roncesvalles. Our Spain El Camino de Santiago Hiking Tour plans stops on the route’s best sites.

How Active Do I Need to be on These Trips?

MT Sobek’s Levels system help scale adventure trips from 1 to 5 to help understand the physical demands of each trip. This scale seeks to consider key factors like elevation gain, terrain type, climbing and descending, and the daily time spent on your feet. With trips ranked from 1 to 5, it’s easy to find the right fit for your experience level. Trips rated 1-3 are ideal for beginner hikers, families, groups, or anyone seeking a more relaxed pace. If you’re a seasoned adventurer craving a challenge, our level 4-5 trips are designed to test your limits!

Browse our Active Adventure Trips to find an adventure suitable for you. Get the latest MT Sobek tours delivered right to you when you request our FREE catalog.