The Best Adventure Travel Destinations

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches and the giving season begins to round the corner, I’ve rounded up the best gift ideas of 2024 for outdoor adventurers—hand-picking 28 things I know the people on your list will be delighted to unwrap! You might even find a few essentials you want to grab for yourself.

Gift cards are great, but gifts they can actually use and appreciate are even better! If you’re starting to shop for the hiker, camper, biker, climber, outdoor photographer, or nature lover on your list, take a look and get inspired with this year’s best outdoor gift ideas. I added options in every category, from outdoor gear essentials and clothing to stocking stuffers and gifts under $25.?

Cross something off your list with?the Big 2024 Outdoor Holiday Gift Guide here!

New Video: Top 10 Adventure Destinations ??

Just posted a new video on my YouTube channel and I couldn’t wait to share with you all! I dug through my past travels to come up with the?10 Best Adventure Destinations from 10 Years of Solo Travel?and you’re going to love the way this came together. Please give it a watch and let me know what your favorite destination is on the list!?

Here’s a little background on the 10 destinations I’ve included (when you watch here, you’ll see links to videos of each destination).?

1. Ecuador:?From hiking the snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano with its crescent-shaped crater toexploring the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest, South Africa’s equatorial Ecuador has a special place in my heart.?Join me on a group trip through the Mystic Andes and Amazon in Ecuador this February!

2. Patagonia:?Split by the Andes with sections in Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is home to striking landscapes from the majestic Andean peaks to glaciers and deserts. I’ve spent time hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, where I was privileged to stay immersed in nature at one of the most spectacular hotels I’ve come across in my travels: Hotel Lago Grey.?Read my new Hotel Lago Grey review here!

3. Norway:?A country of gorgeous extremes, my travels here have led me to Troms? in search of the Midnight Sun, Oslo for arctic plunges, a fjord cruise, historic sightseeing, and eating farm-to-table food, and Alta for bucket list activities like dog sledding and seeing the Northern Lights. I even stayed in an igloo hotel!

4. Utah:?Home to the Mighty 5 national parks, Utah is a land of mountains, dramatic rock formations and canyons, deserts, and the Great Salt Lake. No wonder it’s been one of my favorite places to visit, with incredible experiences in Arches, hiking Angels Landing in Zion, skiing in Salt Lake City, and climbing and hiking in hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.

5. Portugal:?Unforgettable with its colorful, hillside cities, vibrant islands, historic architecture, lively culture, and phenomenal food, I’ve fallen in love with places like Madeira Island, the Azores Islands, Lisbon, and Porto.?

6. Alaska:?Far from just a frigid wilderness, Alaska is teeming with wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, from the rugged mountains to the glacier-rich waters (more than any other state). From hiking to frozen falls and glaciers to fishing and sea kayaking, this is one of my favorite adventure destinations in the States.

7. The Dolomites:?Northeastern Italy’s Dolomite Mountains gave me a chance to go on a hut-to-hut hiking adventure, hiking through the easily-accessible alpine scenery along scenic trails, via ferratas, and staying in family-run huts at night. It was life-changing!?

8. Uganda:?I just returned from the safari adventure of a lifetime in Uganda, where I spent time with rare silverback gorillas in the mountains, saw elephants and endangered rhinos, and stayed in a luxury eco safari lodge with amazing views of the scenery around me.?Watch the video of my adventure here!

9. Antarctica:?This glistening southernmost wonderland is filled with icy seas, glaciers, mountains, unique wildlife, and dramatic scenery like icebergs that flank narrow passageways in the sea. I got to experience it all aboard an Antarctica cruise and came away with?some truly stunning photos.

10. Japan:?Forever one of my?favorite countries to travel solo, Japan is more than a tourist destination—it’s a true adventure hotspot. I hiked Japan’s largest active volcano, stayed in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, met with generational tea and rice farmers, ventured deep into river-filled canyons, and hiked beautiful trails. I also loved exploring cities like Kyoto and Tokyo to see temples, shrines, and taste delicious Japanese food!

Gear Deals ??

Stio is celebrating big this year with the annual Holiday Sale, running from 11/21 to 12/2! Make sure you’re all set for the winter season with up to 40% off current season styles, 7 Daily Drops, up to 50% off past season styles, and an exclusive Cyber Monday Deal!?Shop the Stio Sale Collection now.

Travel Deals ??

Here’s your airfare deal of the week! Score an L.A. to Tokyo DIRECT flight for $427 on ZipAir! This price is good now through March. For daily email alerts on flight deals like this,?sign up for the DailyDrop Pro.

Free travel? Sign me up. If you want to travel for free by earning points and miles from the money you already spend every month,?check out the best deals this month in credit cards with awesome travel rewards!

Wildlife & Conservation News???

Bats, bears, birds—these are all increasingly common sightings in buildings, homes, and yards as warmer winters leave wildlife with increased food competition during the colder months of the year.?Learn more about how climate change is affecting winter and wildlife here.?

Jane Goodall, now 90, is still incredibly active in conservation efforts and recently shared that she believes we're in the midst of the planet's?sixth great extinction event. She is leading efforts to restore threatened habitats for chimpanzees in Uganda, focusing on planting and protecting trees that pull double-duty as carbon dioxide absorbers.?

Travel News ??

The travel world bid a somber farewell to Arthur Frommer on Monday when the guidebook legend?passed away at age 95. He changed the world of travel as we know it and his legacy lives on!?

The TSA is expecting the?biggest air travel week ever over Thanksgiving, with over 18 million people expected to move through the airports on their way to and from celebrations with family. This year alone has seen the top 10 air travel days of all time!

Need help planning your next adventure??I can book hotels, tours, and plan road trip routes for you. Just fill our my travel planning intake form here.

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