Most people like a bit of adventure in their lives, especially when travelling, but not everyone has the skill or appetite for risk that comes with more intense adventure. This is where soft adventure comes in. Soft adventure is perfect for beginners or travellers who want a bit gentler excitement when exploring the world.
What is soft adventure travel?
Soft adventure is contrasted with hard adventure travel, or activities that have a steeper learning curve. Rather than requiring lots of training and intensive time and energy commitments, soft adventure offers a more leisurely, but still rewarding, bit of excitement when travelling. For example, if drift diving in a remote coral atoll is a more intense adventure, soft adventure is an afternoon snorkel tour through a lagoon. Instead of a multi-day hike where you’re pitching your own tent each night, it’s a morning trek along mountain trails. It’s easy on the body, but still offers some adrenaline and natural spectacle that you expect when on an adventure.
What are the best destinations for soft adventure?
Alaska
Alaska caters to travellers who want to experience all manner of adventure. For a bit of soft adventure, you can head on a hike along the Harding Icefield Trail of the Kenai Fjords south of Anchorage or spend a winter night beneath the Northern Lights. Take advantage of exceptional service aboard Alaska Rail for the best connections between adventure spots in the state. Check out the 7-day Alaska Northern Lights Tour for a great soft adventure vacation in the winter.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is an adventure haven, where you can surf off the Pacific Coast and ride ziplines through the cloud forest. If you’re looking for soft adventure, the nation is crisscrossed with well-maintained hiking trails, especially around Arenal Volcano. You can raft along some gentle rapids near La Fortuna, hire kayaks off the coast of Manuel Antonio, and hike across hanging bridges in Monteverde. The 8-day Costa Rica: Jungle & Coast is a great option for comfortable adventure in this Central American nation.
Fiji
Pair together a South Pacific resort vacation with some soft adventure on a trip to Fiji. It doesn’t matter what island you choose. You’ll have so many opportunities for soft adventure in Fiji, from snorkelling through underwater coral gardens to caving explorations to jetboating along the Sigatoka River.
Morocco
Most people head to Morocco for the culture, from the relaxing pleasures of the hammam to the imperial architecture of its medinas to the refreshing taste of mint tea. But it’s also a great country to get active in. Head on camel rides through the Sahara Desert or embark on a mountain trek through the High Atlas Mountains.
New Zealand
Blessed with a beautiful and diverse natural landscape, New Zealand accommodates so many different adventure opportunities within its borders. If you don’t want to bungee jump in Queenstown, don’t worry. You’ll find many soft adventure options here. You can go for a coastal walk along the Bay of Islands, swim with friendly dolphins near Kaikoura, kayak to Cathedral Cove, or bike through the hinterland outside Christchurch.
Peru
There’s perhaps no better bucket list soft adventure experience than hiking the Inca Trail. There are 4- and 5-day hiking options, such as on our 8-day Lima, Cusco & the Inca Trail itinerary, but you don’t have to commit to the entire 42 km (26 mi) route if you don’t want to. Instead, you can take the “Baby” Inca Trail from KM 104 and hike 12 km (7.5 mi) up to Intipunku, the Sun Gate. There you’ll enjoy arguably the best views of Machu Picchu, while still having the experience of hiking this legendary trail.
Portugal
Portugal is an appealing getaway destination for travellers who want to escape the North American winter. The Algarve in the nation’s south and the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores are great places to spend several weeks at a time when it’s cold back home. Madeira and the Azores are also great hiking destinations. The islands have temperate climates year-round and gorgeous mountain landscapes that accommodate hikers of all experience levels.
Thailand
It’s easy to lose yourself in the food and cultural experiences of Thailand, but if you go beyond Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you’ll discover a lot of soft adventure opportunities. In the country’s north, you can hike to hilltribe villages and elephant sanctuaries, while in the south, you can kayak to secluded bays from Phuket and Phang Nga Bay. There are also many opportunities for bike journeys through Thailand, from backroads adventures just outside Bangkok to circuits through rice paddies near Chiang Rai.
Zambia
Zambia is renowned for a particular type of safari experience: the walking safari. Instead of travelling by Land Cruiser, you join an experienced tracker and head into the African bush to spot elephants, giraffes, and, yes, lions while on foot. It’s a leisurely and intimate way to explore the African wild. Head to South Luangwa National Park for the best walking safari opportunities.
You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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