10 Unforgettable Adventures to Experience in 2024

About 100 km off the coast of Africa lie the Canary Islands, which have a rich history as a seafarers’ stopover. Embark on an Atlantic sailing adventure aboard a tall ship, departing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. You will learn how to navigate and set the rigging and unfurl sails, which used to be the only way to get from one continent to the other before the 20th century! The Santa Maria Manuela, a four-masted schooner offers week-long itineraries around the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro before returning to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. Have your cameras ready, as you may spot cetaceans in the nutrient-rich waters around the Canaries! Pilot whales and dolphins may also leap through the waves, which is a breathtaking experience!

Do you enjoy snorkeling? You can add depth and purpose to your snorkeling adventure in Mexico’s Caribbean Coast with wildlife operator Aqua-Firma. Head out to sea on a day expedition with whale shark researchers, marine biologists and camera operators whose job is to study the world’s biggest fish.

This activity operates in July, which is the busiest month for whale shark sightings, and aerial surveys have counted around 200 whale sharks surrounded by remora fish. The encounters are in clear water where, by free-diving, you can marvel at these gentle giants looming overhead, blocking out the light. 

The giraffes in Africa are fascinating to observe, and they’re scarcer than you might think. Due to habitat loss in South Africa, where giraffes once thrived, this has caused a sharp decline in sub-species in countries to the north. If you’re keen to see these rare creatures, closely related to East Africa’s Masai giraffes, Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley National Park is home to their sole population of around 600. Informative tour guides with The Bushcamp Company lead tours run by ethical-minded bush camps. Look closely, and you will see the animals travelling with an entourage: red-billed oxpeckers, plucky little birds who help keep them away from ticks. You may even see them reaching inside their ears, looking like they wanted to whisper a secret.

Seeing the elephants is something everyone must experience at least once in a lifetime! We all know that tourism involving animals is harmful for the world’s animal population, especially when elephants are kept locked in a certain area for elephant riding activities. However, just outside of Chiang Mai, there are sanctuaries which allow elephants to live in their natural habitat.

Take a tour from Chaing Mai, and get up close with these majestic and loving creatures in the Thai jungle! After a one-hour drive, you will get changed into local clothes and learn from the locals about the elephants’ behaviour and how to provide care for them. You will then prepare food and healthy treats for the elephants, and actually feed them. They will come close to you with a smile, and even hug you with their trunk if you show them love! Afterwards, you will have the chance to give them a bath. If you’re a daring traveller, you can even bathe with them (bring a chance of clothes, as the bathing is in a river!). End the tour with a delicious Thai lunch prepared by locals, as a thank you for taking care of the elephants!

The Nile is the world’s longest river, and was the source of water for drinking, farming and transporting goods for over 3000 years. Almost all of Egypt’s ancient temples were built along its banks, from those at Abu Simbel located 70 km north of Sudan, all the way to the famous pyramids in Giza. Feluccas originally transported goods up and down the river, with their high canvas sails. Today, each Felucca has a captain and a cook, leaving you free to enjoy the ride on a deck mattress beneath a sunshade and chat with other travellers while soaking up views of life along the Nile. Donkeys being brought to the river to be washed, river cruises cross the river, the sun goes down and the faithful Muslims pray on its banks. There are few journeys that are more relaxing. 

Many worthwhile trips of an hour or two are available in Luxor and Aswan, however, the most enchanting journey is the 3-day journey from Aswan to Kom Ombo, a temple dedicated to the Crocodile God. This journey is less commercial and allows you to see the rural lifestyle along the Nile. Life onboard a Felucca has the very basic cooking facilities and shore-based bathroom stops upon request. However, this simplicity lends itself perfectly to connecting you to the river and its history and lifestyle. Waking up on deck as dawn light begins to paint the river is more memorable than simply watching the sunrise from your 5-star hotel. 

Iceland is a “living geological masterpiece”. A volcanic land of dramatic skies, bubbling earth, thundering waterfalls and thermal lagoons will give you an insight into how the planet was sculpted by the forces of Mother Nature. Backdropped by the steaming fuming chimneys of a geothermal power station, the Blue Lagoon is at once dramatic, bewildering and alluring. The lagoon contains 9 million liters of water, and topped with mist seems to cradle your body the moment you walk in. While outside it may be 15 degrees in the spring or fall, or a jaw-dropping -30 degrees in the winter, the hygienic water in the Blue Lagoon is always +40 degrees. Imagine the feeling, if only every swimming pool was like that! It is important to book in advance, as the lagoon is a top worldwide destination and limits the number of visitors at each hour of the day, in order to avoid being overcrowded. And don’t worry, the water renews itself every 40 hours.

If you’re going to put on a pair of hiking boots and strap a backpack on your back once in a lifetime, New Zealand’s 53-km Milford Track has to be your trek. Traversing the heart of South Island’s dramatic wild fjords, it winds through native bush and rainforests, glaciated valleys and up into the high mountains at the Mackinnon Pass. It then moves downwards past majestic rivers and waterfalls to Milford Sound. 
Independent walkers would need to carry and cook their own food for this 3-day trek, however, there are guided walks which offer the luxury of lodge accommodation with hot showers and 3-course meals included. The first day begins with a coach ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound and a boat ride as an introduction to what you will experience. The second day, you will cross a suspension bridge over the Clinton River, travel through thick, beech forest and reach the western branch of the Clinton Valley. After an overnight at Pompolona Lodge, you will have to depart at the crack of dawn in order to allow sufficient time for the challenging ascent to the 1073-metre Mackinnon Pass. After seeing the majestic views, the track descends another 6 km to Quinton Lodge. After all those efforts, the final day is a breeze, descending steadily for 43 km to Sandy Point where you can retire your boots and take a boat back to the glacially carved Milford Sound.

Japan is a destination rich in culture and history. If you’re going to visit Japan, ensure to step outside the usual hotel scene and experience at least one night in a local buddhist guesthouse. Koyasan, or Mount Koya as many call it, is the centre of the esoteric Buddhist order known as Shingon. This mystical practice is the terminus of 3 separate pilgrimage routes. 

A stay typically costs around $84-140 per night and includes breakfast and dinner, which is under a specific schedule. You can experience the morning prayer at 07:00 for 30 minutes, then breakfast is around 08:00. Some guesthouses will perform a local “fire ceremony” after the prayer. During the day, you can visit the many temples in the holy town of Koyasan, as well as one of the biggest ceremonies in the world. Dinner at the guesthouse is around 18:00. The meals are small portions of a variety of food items to suit your taste, which are usually surprisingly delicious and filling. You will sleep on futons (a Japanese mattress) which are put on the tatami floor. The table is small enough so that when you get up from your mattress, you’re sitting in front of the table. It’s not uncommon for one of the friendly monks to bring you a glass of green tea to your room. The room would most likely not have a TV, however, it is relaxing to simply soak it all in while reading a book and taking a long hot bath.

The importance of the Loire River and the valley’s prime location has made this region popular worldwide. For over 2000 years, the Loire used to be the main way of transport in France, from commercial to moving military troops. Because of its history, the Loire Valley is home to over 1000 castles and Renaissance palaces. 

If you don’t have much time, the palaces can be done as a one-day excursion from Paris. If you have more time, choose one city to be your “home base”, and the castles are easily accessible within a 15-30 minute drive. The best cities would be Amboise or Blois, each with their own castle in the city. From those cities, you can visit 2 additional castles in one day. Most of them are open between 09:00-18:00. My recommendations would be:

• Chateau de Chambord
• Chateau de Chenonceau 
• Chateau de Cheverny
• Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire

If you’re a daring and adventurous traveller, are you ready for the ultimate adrenaline? You must experience Skydiving at least once in your life! Yes, it sounds terrifying, I’ve been there! Seeing an image of someone jumping from a plane would make me tremble. But believe me, once you’ve done it, you will jump up being proud of yourself! 

Out of all the places in the world that offer this activity, Skydive Dubai is world-renowned for its most experienced and qualified instructors. You will experience a breathtaking free-fall and parachute ride above the iconic Palm Jumeriah, and see the United Arab Emirates from a unique perspective! The first 30 seconds are the freefall, where you just feel the adrenaline pumping. Next thing you know, you’re flying on a parachute overlooking Dubai, and you will feel relaxed and amazed at the view! Once you land, you will not believe what you just dared to do!