As sustainable travel grows in popularity, travellers are increasingly being drawn to adventure travel options.
It also ticks the box of another huge travel trend that’s been on the rise for a while now: experiential travel.
Lucky for you, keeping up with adventure travel trends is not much easier with the help of Intrepid’s new Adventure Travel Index, which is packed with plenty of nifty facts about the changing face of adventure travel, challenging the stereotype of what an adventure traveller looks like, and redefining the growing sector within the tourism industry.
They’ve even ranked the top ten adventure travel destinations, according to Australian travellers.
According to Intrepid, Aussie travellers are a loyal bunch with Vietnam, Peru, India and Cambodia remaining Australia’s favourite Intrepid adventure travel destinations from 2016 to 2017.
In terms of year to year changes, ten to twenty is where the movement starts to take place. Iceland, Croatia and China are new to the top 20 in 2017.
Interestingly, Iceland and Croatia are known for over tourism yet adventure travellers are seeing these countries in new lights by getting off the beaten path. Myanmar dropped from the top 20 list in 2017 as a side effect of the Rohingya crisis.
Cuba has moved down one place in 2017 following a spike when the country opened up to tourism, and Nepal has risen two spots in 2017 as it climbs back from the 2015 earthquake.
To see the full list go here, you can have a peruse through the top ten below.
1. Vietnam
From south to north, Vietnam offers adventures full of beauty and contrast, in a country of incredible food, lively locals, stunning scenery and cosmopolitan cities.
Full of mystery and culture dating back millennia, Peru is an indomitable land of deserts etched with enigmatic lines, Amazonian rainforests teeming with wildlife, and soaring mountains harbouring secret cities.
A vast nation filled with colourful, chaotic, and enchanting cultures. Witness pilgrims performing ancient ceremonies on the ghats of Varanasi and marvel at the iconic Taj Mahal, inspiring India has it all.
With art galleries popping up in Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap’s thumping nightlife, Cambodia is more than just epic temples (although they’re awesome too).
Camel rides through the Sahara, the stunning Atlas Mountains and the pulsating energy of Marrakech are just a few highlights of mint-tea filled Morocco.
Cuba a stunning and idyllic time capsule, where the cars are classic, salsa dancing is a must and the mojitos are icy, icy cold.
Food, wine, history, architecture, fashion, coffee – there’s nothing this European favourite can’t do. You’ll surely be seduced by a slice of La Dolce Vita.
Whether you’d rather track rhinos in the Chitwan jungle or eat momos in Thamel – there’s more to Nepal than the mighty Himalayan mountains.
Peel back the lucha libre mask and you’ll find a patchwork of cultures and customs mixed into one tequila-drenched country.
A combination of incredible beaches, culture and of course, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is a one-stop shop for adventure.
