The $150k holiday: why the bucket list is now the to-do list
Demand for adventure travel is booming, but you’ll need deep pockets if you want to jump on the bandwagon.
Growing up in New Zealand, my winter hiking expeditions in remote mountains held the promise of the unlikely luxury of cheesecake, a simple treat that made the toils of the day worth every second. The chill of winter meant you could mix up a packet of supermarket cheesecake and leave it outside your mountain hut in the snow to set. It seemed at the time like the epitome of indulgence, an extravagant (but in no way undeserved) reward for effort, and I swear nothing has ever tasted so good.
Scale up the concept and it’s not that different from the lavish inducements offered today by the world’s leading adventure travel companies. The basic principle is the same – everyone needs something to look forward to at the end of the day.
Pioneers in the field understood this from the start. Abercrombie & Kent began 62 years ago with a Bedford truck and a sterling silver ice bucket, an early signalling of the operator’s intention to fuse daytime adventures with after-hours opulence. Butterfield & Robinson launched around the same time, going on to specialise in luxury guided cycling trips. Their motto of “Slow down to see the world” sent a message that the trips were more about lifestyle than Lycra. Great company, luxe lodgings, local cuisine and enriching cultural experiences were what mattered. The bike was really just a conduit for connection.
‘There’s a realisation that life’s short, so let’s make sure we live it’
That yearning for connection through active travel has never been stronger. An Allied Market Research study last year showed the global adventure tourism market will be worth nearly $US2 trillion ($3 trillion) by 2032, up from $US325bn in 2022. John O’Sullivan, CEO of adventure tourism company Experience Co, and former head of Tourism Australia, puts the surge down partly to a post-pandemic shift in priorities. “People are moving things from their bucket list to their to-do list. There’s a realisation that life’s short, so let’s make sure we live it.” He also says guided walking tours, such as the Maria Island and the Arkaba walks (both designated Great Walks of Australia), are particularly popular now, as guests seek to combine immersion in nature, wildlife and culture with high-end culinary experiences.
James Kavanagh, CEO of Flight Centre’s Global Leisure, notes a recent spike in demand for international adventures. “People are seeking out journeys full of immersive, educational experiences, ranging from safaris in southern Africa, to scuba diving off the coast of Costa Rica or heading out on snowmobiles in search of the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland.” He says Flight Centre has also seen substantial increases in bookings for known thrill-seeking destinations such as Sri Lanka, Peru and Canada.
Meanwhile, Luxury Escapes CEO Adam Schwab says he’s noticed a seasonal shift, with travellers now more likely to embrace the cold. “We’re seeing more demand for winter travel within Australia than the traditional Christmas holidays. The June or July holiday has become much more normalised now.”
Just don’t forget the cheesecake.
With that in mind, here are eight of the best adventure travel tours for 2024-25:
The Classic Safari Company – Great Walk of Africa
Pack your hiking boots for an epic African adventure that redefines the word “safari”. While most such trips centre on daily outings from a central camp, the Great Walk of Africa is a unique 160km, 12-day trek through the wildest parts of the continent. Led by expert guides, walkers follow the Tsavo and Galana rivers, which flow from the flanks of Mt Kilimanjaro, camping under the stars each night, before finishing at Sala Gate at the eastern end of Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park. Wildlife encounters are constant, with the open, palm-fringed sections of the Galana River home to some of the largest elephant populations in East Africa. While the camps are basic (think bucket showers and long-drop loos), this is no budget backpackers’ trip, with comfy beds waiting and delicious meals whipped up each night. And it wouldn’t be an African safari without G&Ts for sundowners. This is as raw and rewarding as Africa gets.
Various departure dates February-September; from $US12,500 ($18, 876) a person
Butterfield & Robinson – Dalmatian Coast Active
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is best explored by sea, which you might assume would present logistical problems for a cycling tour. Butterfield & Robinson circumvents this by basing guests aboard Agape Rose, a luxury yacht with a sprawling sundeck, beauty studio and contemporary-styled, airconditioned cabins featuring vast windows and marble bathrooms. The seven-day trip sails between Split and Dubrovnik, disembarking each day at stunning inlets and secluded islands to cycle to wineries, stroll through historic villages and swim or paddleboard in the azure sea. All equipment, including bikes, is provided (choose between an ultralight, fully carbon road bike, a hybrid or electric) and all minutiae are taken care of, right down to water bottles being filled and waiting on your bike each morning. B&R’s Adriatic Islands multi-active tour uses the same yacht and explores the Kornati Islands and Roman ruins in the ancient city of Zadar.
May 26-June 1 and September 29 -October 5, 2024; from $US13,995 a person
TropicSurf – Secret Papua
Surfers are a secretive bunch, so don’t expect to be told in advance where you’re heading on TropicSurf’s Secret Papua tour, other than it’s one of the last uncharted surf breaks in the world. The company was founded in Noosa in 2002 by Australian surfer Ross Phillips, with a goal of showcasing the world’s most idyllic and exotic surfing spots, and making the sport accessible to anyone. The world’s best instructors cater for all levels, including complete novice, with an emphasis on rapid progression. Downtime is spent cosseted in five-star resorts or, on more remote trips, relaxing on a luxury charter yacht such as Silolona, a traditional, wooden Indonesian phinisi used for the Secret Papua tour. Private bespoke trips are also offered to destinations as diverse as Mexico, The Seychelles, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, Fiji and the Caribbean island of St Barts.
February 3-10, 2025; $US24,340 a person
Abercrombie & Kent – Peru in Depth
Tourism has been slow to return to Peru after the Covid-19 pandemic, with arrivals less than half of those prior to 2020. In response, caps on the number of daily visitors to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu have been increased, making now an ideal time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site. Abercrombie & Kent’s Peru in Depth tour immerses guests in Peru’s rich history in a very hands-on way, with A&K’s trademark attention to style and comfort. The trip begins in Lima with a walking tour, cooking class and archaeological treasure hunt, before flying east to the Amazon jungle for a rainforest cruise along the Madre de Dios River. A day is dedicated to wildlife spotting and a tour of the Sacred Valley before beginning the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu. Canoes, treetop canopy walkways, hiking trails and trains all make an appearance over 14 action-packed days, with the trip ending at Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake.
From $12,980 a person
White Desert – South Pole & Emperors
While more than 100,000 people a year visit the fringes of the continent of Antarctica on cruise ships, very few get to stay on the ice or venture into the interior, and virtually no one gets to the South Pole. Founded by polar explorers 20 years ago, White Desert whisks just 300 guests a year on a private plane from Cape Town to the middle of the Antarctic desert, which is the closest you’ll ever come to being on another planet. Echo Camp (the most futuristic looking of three camps) is a space-themed settlement of “sky pods”; domes that cater for 12 guests and can be fully dismantled. Expect panoramic windows, modern art, a library and self-service bar. Enjoy gourmet meals and South African wine as you gaze out at the lunar-like landscape of Queen Maud Land. The eight-day South Pole & Emperors trip lands at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and visits a 14,000-strong emperor penguin colony at Atka Bay. Other camp activities include ice climbing, fat-biking, a clifftop rope walk and mountaineering expeditions.
Mid November-early February; from $US105,500 a person
Aurora Expeditions – South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey
One of the greatest adventures of all time is the daring voyage Ernest Shackleton led in a lifeboat in 1916 from Elephant Island off the tip of Antarctica, 1300km across the Weddell Sea to South Georgia Island, a desperate (and miraculously successful) attempt to secure rescue for his remaining 12 men. Aurora Expeditions retraces Shackleton’s route, but does it in considerably more comfort aboard the expedition ship Greg Mortimer, replete with ensuite cabins, a gym and hot tubs. The 21-day journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, and crosses the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, where daily Zodiac excursions bring encounters with penguins, whales and elephant seals. The trip makes a poignant visit to Shackleton’s grave on South Georgia Island (he died there on a later expedition in 1922), where keen guests have the chance to replicate Shackleton’s three-day foot-crossing of the island. Sea kayaking, camping and snowshoeing are also available as add-ons, and the cruise stops by the Falkland Islands for tea and scones in the historic capital of Stanley before docking back in Ushuaia.
November 19-December 9, 2024; from $US21,516 a person
Aqua Expeditions – Raja Ampat
Some of the best diving in the world is found in the cobalt waters that surround the limestone karst islands of the Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia. Rich coral gardens provide habitat for about half the world’s known tropical marine fish, along with manta rays, reef sharks and Pacific leatherback turtles. Your conduit to the deep blue is Aqua Blu, a luxurious liveaboard dive boat with 15 airconditioned luxury suites spread over four decks. Wildlife excursions cover both sea and land, with hikes around landlocked lakes and sandy coves interspersed with daily diving, snorkelling, kayaking, swimming or spearfishing. Highlights include an inland canoe journey down the Kali Biru River on Waigeo Island, and discovering villages, caves and rock art at Kabui Bay.
Asmat Tribe & Raja Ampat Expedition; December 7-19, 2024; from $US15,360 a person
Eleven Experience – Heli-skiing in Patagonia
The true frontier of first descents for any thrill-seeking skier is surely the chance to ski a line no human ever has before. Base camp for Eleven Experiences is Rio Palena Lodge, a riverside retreat nestled in a lush valley surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Chilean Andes, where a daily chopper deposits guests into the terrain of their choosing, which could mean anything from steep couloirs to rolling glaciers and open bowls. Non-skiers miss out on nothing, with heli-picnicking a perfectly acceptable alternative. The lodge is also within striking distance of waterfalls, mountain bike tracks, rivers for rafting or trout fishing, and lakes for paddleboarding. Dine on sumptuous meals and enjoy apres-ski in the wood-fired hot tub or share first-tracks tales out on the serene river terrace.
Heli-skiing and lodge bookable between September 15-October 31, 2024; $US31,800 a night based on six guests, all-inclusive
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