7 Best Adventure Travel Experiences for First-time Group Travelers

1. Croatia, Slovenia & Italy Hiking Tour

For new hikers, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as getting to new heights and viewpoints, while also indulging in hearty, well-deserved, local cuisine at day’s end. Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, Slovenia’s Julian Alps, and Italy’s Friuli-Venezia-Giulia will tempt your tastebuds with new flavors, from truffles to olive oil, while revealing the region’s historical sites and gorgeous natural setting. 

Adventures you’ll have:

• Meet a local family in their home in historic Bale, Croatia, to sample top-quality virgin olive oil. 
• Take a ferry out to the scenic Brijuni Islands. 
• Hike along a truffle route to learn the art of “hunting” for this precious mushroom, then hike to Groznjan, a walled Renaissance town. 
• Descend into Slovenia’s karst region – the Skocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to take a subterranean walk.
• Trek to the top of Italy’s Montemaggiore for its famous views of the blue Adriatic, Julian Alps, and Dolomites (followed by local wine tasting, of course!).

Total Days: 9 / Activity Level 2

2. Rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho

If you’ve always wanted to try whitewater rafting, this is the trip for you. Frequently cited as the world’s best river trip, this ideal beginner adventure crests more than 75 rapids as you make your way down 75 miles of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Actively participate on a guide-led boat or sit back and take in the scenery on an oar boat! 

Adventures you’ll have: 

• Take an optional hike to stunning views of the canyon through which you’re rafting, or to Veil Falls. 
• Try your hand at fly-fishing in the calm waters that follow Marble Falls and Ski Jump rapids. 
• Swim in the bracing waters of the river, or cool off under the cascade of a waterfall. 
• Relax in a natural hot spring at Sunflower or Loon Creek (look for mountain goats and bighorn sheep!). 
• Kick things up a notch and try paddling through the rapids on your own in an inflatable “ducky” kayak. 

Total Days: 7 / Activity Level 2 

3. Private Yacht Cruise Adventure in the Galapagos

If the Galapagos have long been on your bucket list, but you thought you weren’t up for the adventure, think again. Our journey along the classic Western Loop takes you to the iconic islands of Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and others aboard an intimate, 16-passenger yacht, while also allowing for gentle, naturalist-led hiking, snorkeling and kayaking to more closely examine the landscape and wildlife of Darwin’s playground. 

Adventures you’ll have: 

• Explore colonial Quito with an MT Sobek guide, including the UNESCO-listed old town, before setting off to the islands. 
• Get to know giant tortoises in their wild and natural habitat on Santa Cruz Island. 
• Marvel at penguins at Elizabeth Bay, then search for spotted eagle rays and sea lions at Red Mangrove Cove.
• Hike along Fernandina Island’s volcanic landscape, close to hundreds of marine iguanas. 
• Snorkel with angelfish, rays, sea turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks at Buccaneer Cove. 

Total Days: 11 / Activity Level 2 

4. A Walking Tour in the English Countryside

If you fancy yourself an avid walker, there’s no more dreamy setting in which to stretch your legs than England’s Cotswolds. Keep an eye out for hedgehogs scuttling through hedgerow-lined fields, have a spot of tea in a picture-perfect hamlet, with its idyllic thatched cottages, and wander along meandering rivers. This adventure includes a classic steam train ride!

Adventures You’ll Have:

• Hike through delightful English countryside villages with such whimsical names as Chipping Camden, Stow-in-the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water. 
• Venture into the world of William Shakespeare at his 16th-century birthplace, the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Climb to the site of an Iron Age hill fort, then descend to the ruins of Hailes Abbey, founded in 1246.
• Ascend the trail to the top of Cleeve Hill, which, at 1,040 feet, is the highest point in the Cotswolds. 
• Follow the relaxed trail along the banks of the scenic River Coln, past the villages of Quenington and Coln St. Aldwyns. 

Total Days: 8 / Activity Level 2 

5. Glaciers & Wildlife of Alaska

Can’t decide what type of adventure to take? Our multi-adventure trips take the guesswork out of the equation – for example, this Alaska Glaciers and Wildlife that reveals some of the world’s most spectacular wildlife and nature. You can even add on an invigorating heli-hiking experience at Mendenhall Glacier, walking on the ice field while peering into deep crevasses and marveling at blue ice flows.

Adventures You’ll Have:

• Paddle a tandem kayak in Bartlett Cove or hike the meandering Bartlett River trail to spot bald eagles, sea lions, seals, black bears, and sea birds. 
• Take a boat trip to Point Adolphus to watch for the endangered humpback whale. 
• Sail along the north shore of Chichagof Island, seeking marine mammals, bears, and bald eagles. 
• Trek in Tongass National Forest, from Juneau along the Perseverance Trail down into a spectacular canyon, then to the old mine shafts of the Gold Creek valley. 
• Whiz through Glacier Bay National Park on a high-speed catamaran boat, stopping for wildlife viewing along the way. 

Total Days: 7 / Activity Level 2 

7. Discover New Cultures in Southeast Asia  

For some, it’s a cultural immersion in a brand-new place that awakens the spirit of adventure. Our unique Southeast Asia tour combines Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam’s most exceptional destinations into one two-week journey. Not only will you visit all the major UNESCO World Heritage Sites of these engaging countries, but you’ll gain a new perspective on local cultures through genuine encounters in remote, tribal villages.  

Adventures You’ll Have:

• Fly to mountain-encircled Luang Prabang, located on the Mekong River, to visit its historic Buddhist temples and climb Mount Phousi for a panoramic view.
• Cruise along the Mekong River in a private longtail boat to the Pak Ou Caves, filled with thousands of Buddhist statues. 
• Boat out to the islands of Don Det and Don Khon and visit the Li phi Waterfalls, perhaps spotting an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin along the way. 
• Take a cyclo (three-wheel bicycle taxi) ride through the old city of Hue, Vietnam, to the Imperial Palace. 
• Spend the night on Halong Bay on a junk (a wooden Chinese sailing ship), taking time for kayaking, swimming, and a traditional cooking class aboard the boat.

Total Days: 15 / Activity Level 2

How to “Adventure” (So That You’ll Want to Do It Again)

While this topic is worthy of an entire post of its own, we offer these few tips to get you in the right frame of mind for a beginner adventure.

1. Have a good understanding of adventure travel. Remember that adventure/active travel means something different for everyone. Basically what you can expect is a group of like-minded travelers, led by an expert, locally knowledgeable guide, engaging in activities on foot, by jeep, on a boat, on trails, in kayaks, in a seaplane – you get the picture. 
2. Know your physical limits. Choose your adventure humbly; only you know what physical challenges you’re ready to tackle. If you exercise every day, you can likely go on a more demanding trip, whereas an easy trip may offer more optional activities, with the opportunity to just come along for the ride if that’s what the day calls for. 
3. Get geared up. We love to chat about outdoor gear, so once you’ve decided on a trip, pepper us with questions and ask for recommendations. The most important tip: Once you’ve chosen your new hiking or walking shoes for your trip, break them in. Wear them everywhere you can before departure, up and down hills, on pavement and trail, to get your feet and your shoes in shape for your upcoming adventures. 
4. Pack as light as possible. Sure, we like our gear, but we also value packing light. Keep things simple so that you can be fully engaged in your new experiences. There’s no need for fashionable clothing when you’re crouching along the shoreline in Alaska, peering through binoculars at a brown bear. Stick to the trip’s packing list. 
5. Be friendly and open. Your adventure will probably include new-to-you destinations and cultures. Break down language barriers and get people talking as you attempt a few words in a new language, share food with a local family, or learn the names of village schoolchildren. 

We love to adventure, and we hope we’ve piqued your interest, too. Find out about all of our Level 2 trips here. Whether the wildlife you seek is bunnies in the Cotswolds or grizzly bears in Alaska, and whether the mode of travel you prefer is a sea kayak or a traditional steam train, adventure is for everyone. Find yours with us.