The concept of “adventure travel” is a relatively recent trend that is gaining in popularity among Americans. It is loosely defined as a trip to an exotic locale where at least part of your agenda involves physical activity like hiking, climbing, scuba diving, or swimming vigorously immediately prior to being eaten by a crocodile that can swim faster.
As a person who generally tends to avoid visiting places where I might be viewed as a menu item, I have chosen the Himalayas as my adventure travel destination of choice. The Yeti, after all, is known mostly for leaving weird footprints and staying put just long enough for a blurry, undistinguishable photograph at a great distance. That seems pretty safe to me.
In all seriousness, there’s a reason why adventure travel is the thing to do. Actually, there’s a bunch of reasons, but I’m going to present you with the best 11. Here we go, in no particular order.
11. Because we can
Humans, in our modern forms, have supposedly been on Earth for about 300,000 years, but we’ve only been able to move efficiently around the globe for the past 70 or so. That means that for 299,930 years, folks were born, lived, and died pretty much in their own little spot on the globe having never experienced any other part of it (with the exception of a few people like Columbus, Lewis and Clark, and Marlin Perkins).
Even after comfortable air travel was available and tiny bags of peanuts were invented, visiting exotic places was usually an activity reserved for only rich adventurers, not ordinary folk like us. It was simply too expensive.
But that’s no longer the case.
In 2019, most adventure travel trips are within the financial reach of a great many people. Sure, it might take a bit of concentrated saving and planning, but traveling to Nepal or Peru or Iceland is something almost anyone can do if they really want to. It’s no longer impossible and, frankly, it’s no more expensive than a week at Disney World.
10. Memories
One of the many reasons I’m obsessed with all things related to space (my wife will confirm this) is because of the different perspective it provides for us Earthlings. In the grand scheme of things, we exist on a very tiny planet, one of a number akin to grains of sand on a beach, for a microscopic blip of time. Life is fast, fleeting, and never guaranteed. For these reasons, I believe in two things: 1) Never missing the opportunity to polish off a slice of really good Key lime pie, and 2) making as many memories as possible. Going to Walmart to buy a pair of socks doesn’t count as a memory. I’m talking about the memories you will cherish for the rest of your life. These are what enrich our little dash on the timeline of human history.
9. Photographs and videos
At the risk of sounding like a Kodak commercial (kids, that was a camera company from the Olden Days), our memories no longer need be recorded only in our brains. Modern photographic technology is to adventure travel what peanut butter is to jelly. In fact, I’m convinced that the Himalayas were invented specifically so we could take selfies in front of them.
All narcissism aside, it is pretty swell to be able to look back at photos of yourself and your buddies standing in front of Machu Pichu, Mt. Everest, or the Great Barrier Reef. I’m not talking about bragging rights; I’ll get to that in a minute. I’m talking about being able to remind yourself that you were actually there and enjoy the flood of memories that always accompany the viewing of an adventure travel selfie. There are very few things in life that are more valuable than a photo of yourself, hopefully with friends and family, in an exotic setting.
8. The Story
One of the great things about living to be an older person (not referring to myself, of course) is having access to a vast collection of stories. Everybody has stories they can tell, and we all love to hear a well-crafted narrative — it’s part of the human condition. And although I love a good Dollywood vacation story as much as the next guy, it’s hard to beat a tale about approaching Mt. Everest Base Camp at 17,600′ in the midst of a snowstorm or how you out-negotiated a Kathmandu taxi driver over a $2 fare or landed the perfect rainbow trout in a high-mountain Patagonian stream while being stalked by a puma. These stories will always win at any family reunion.
7. Physical challenges
As much as I love a standard vacation at a cushy resort, it doesn’t really compare to adventure travel. The real reward comes with training, working, sweating, and putting our “Earth suits” to the test. Cooking yourself like a giant breakfast sausage under a Myrtle Beach sun is, admittedly, a wonderful thing, but it’s hardly an adventure (although sunburn stories can be pretty good). On the other hand, adventure travel often provides an opportunity to push ourselves and measure our physical and mental toughness. That’s a rare thing in a world that is increasingly designed for our comfort, convenience, and … well … laziness.
6. Spirituality
Whether you’re Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, or anything else (apologies if you didn’t get a shout-out), finding yourself in nature that is unencumbered by civilization is an awe-inspiring thing and will often bring you closer to God in whatever form he/she/it takes. It’s difficult to find yourself in the shadow of Mt. Ama Dablam and not have some sense of a higher power, even for the most hardcore agnostics among us. If nothing else, adventure travel tends to make one much more philosophical and inwardly aware than a weekend in Vegas.
5. Exposure to new cultures
By definition, adventure travel will put you into an exotic locale where life is not what you’re used to. In many cases, these locations are “third world” countries where the standard of living is vastly different from the lazy lives we lead in Western, developed societies. Is this sometimes uncomfortable? Sure. Is it good for you? Absolutely. Experiencing an entirely foreign culture is a rare, valuable gift because of the perspective it provides.
4. Friendships
Traveling long distances and then embarking on a demanding trek or something similar has an uncanny way of forging or reinforcing strong friendships. It’s all about shared hardships, joys, laughs, and even boredom (i.e., layovers at the airport). I highly recommend traveling with at least one buddy, and within a larger group of people you don’t know all that well. I promise you’ll make new friends!
3. Food
This is another one of those comfort zone areas. Sure, when you travel to exotic places, you’ll encounter exotic foods. Some of them may appear unappetizing or downright icky. But always remember that even though your pallet might be unaccustomed to the dish, we humans are all constructed the same. If it doesn’t hurt the humans in Kenya or Nepal or Japan, it probably won’t hurt you. Give it a try with an open mind!
2. Risk
This is one of my favorites, but believe me, I don’t have a death wish. I’m not going out of my way to drastically increase my chances at death, but as we all know, just driving to the grocery store for a loaf of bread is riskier than most things. All I’m saying is, don’t let your fear of risk rule out a world of incredible experiences and stories. There are ways to reduce the risk of whatever you’re doing, like wearing your seatbelt, for example. On the other hand, a little risk is, to me, part of what makes a story worth telling and an adventure worth having.
1. Example for children
Lastly, for you parents out there, teach your kids by example. Show them that our planet is meant to be experienced, and not only in TV documentaries. For my wife, Holly, and I, creating a Nepal trekking company was an outrageous idea and about as likely as the concept of walking on the moon was in 1961. Yet, just as Neil Armstrong illustrated to the world, we proved to our children that if you dream big enough and work hard enough, you can achieve seemingly impossible things. We have since walked the same trails as the world’s greatest adventurers and heroes. We made the decision to go and made it happen. (One day, our kids will think their parents were really cool. Not today, though.)
My point is, if we could do this, anybody can. Including you.
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