Adventure Travel

Finding Nature’s Finest

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations

Once you’ve picked the location, chosen the activity, and found the perfect outfitter for your outdoor experience, it’s time to book and then return to daily life before the big trip, right? Not so fast. The most common cause of a bad trip is a misunderstanding of what the trip entails. And when you’re venturing into the Great Outdoors, the last thing you want is misunderstanding—lest that grizzly comes looking to share a bite of your breakfast. Just because you’re trusting an outfitter’s knowledge and experience doesn’t mean there’s no homework on your end.

“The biggest issue with bad trips is a lack of complete information on the part of the consumer before the trip begins,” says Chris Doyle of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. “A better educated consumer makes for a better adventure excursion, period.” Details abound when it comes to adventure travel, so while you hired an outfitter because of their know-how, truly take advantage of their expertise. Ask as many questions of the outfitter as possible before you book to make sure you know what you’re in for. If you’re signing up for a group, be sure to get the max number of people allowed per group, and a guest-to-guide ratio. Also make sure your skill levels are in synch with the group you’ll be joining—if you’re daydreaming about a laid-back paddling excursion in Baja, make sure you’re not signing up for kayaking boot camp. Most reputable operators divide groups by skill levels, while others accommodate for different skill levels by employing more guides and a wider support infrastructure.

“Asking questions is key,” Linda Long of GORPtravel.com, an adventure-travel website, emphatically states. “Ask about the duration of the activity each day, the type of accommodations and facilities, what the meals are like, what to expect from your guides,” et cetera, et cetera. Inquire about added costs, transportation, meeting locations, and physical training for the trip. And once you’ve booked, be sure to inquire with your outfitter on the particular logistics. What kind of clothes should you bring? Will you have someone to shuttle your luggage? And if you’re going the active-sport route, finding out what’s available gear-wise is always a good query—especially if it means a choice between your own cycling helmet, say, and a Styrofoam brain bucket.

After all of your homework is done, your bags are packed, and you’re heading to the airport, what’s the most important thing to remember as you take off on your escapade? This is your handpicked trip, and the outfitter is there to help you stay safe and have fun—so take advantage of their expertise and let it rip.

• Intro |
• The What and Where |
• Safety First |
• Pre-Trip Prep |
• On the Ground Considerations