All travel is experience but when your own purpose for traveling would be the experience awaiting you at your destination, it becomes Adventure Travel.
Perhaps it’s your “bucket list”. Perhaps it is boredom. Maybe you just require the adrenalin rush. Whatever the reason, adventure travel has expanded far beyond the confines of the tired old safari vacation of bygone days. Now there are an array of things to do on your vacation, none of which consist of relaxing!
Let me present you with some examples. Rock climbing, white-water rafting, sky-diving, horseriding, zip-line tours, hiking Machu Picchu, hot-air ballooning, dog sledding and sub-orbital space flights just to mention a few.
Yes, I said room travel! Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is within the lead with sub-orbital flights already being tested. You will find other players. SapceX and Bigelow Aerospace are two well-known companies working on commercial space flight and there are others with projects in various stages of development.
So, did all of this start with timeless African Safari, or are the roots deeper still? Frankly, there hasn’t been much written about the topic. I’m likely to resist the temptation of saying it all started with Alexander the Great’s day at Siwa, Egypt in 331BC to consult the Oracle of Amun. That’s too simple!
Let’s focus on the term in its modern context. Many attribute early stirrings of experience travel to Grand Circle Vacation, when in 1958, they offered travel services geared to older Americans with an interest in discovering local peoples and cultures very first hand. Not terribly adventuresome on the surface, but it was a case of traveling for the experience waiting for your destination. Remember our definition!
Richard Bangs, the Yahoo adventure guru, probably has the best grasp of the adventure vacation concept as defined here. I am in no way affiliated with him and have nothing to gain by giving him a plug, but need to acknowledge that his adventure vacation articles are top-notch entertainment.
Based on Richard Bangs’ article in the New York Times on the history of experience vacation, it all began with merchants on expedition, numerous accidental discoveries, Leif Ericson, Columbus’ discovery of North America and so on. It is Bangs’ position that modern adventure vacation started some 35 years ago. I’m not so certain I concur with that. So little research exists on the subject, it’s difficult to make or defend any argument.
There’s but one indisputable fact. Adventure travel is here, it is growing and it is a multi-million dollar company.
The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement. They are healthier and much more vigorous than retirees of past generations. They seek a lifestyle that maintains that health and vigor. The adventure holiday fulfills that niche perfectly.
Countless vacation websites on the Web are catering to these boomers and capturing their share of this growing marketplace. If you’re engaged in an adventure holiday, take a trip via the virtual world very first. See what is obtainable, see what interests you and pack your bags, your parachute, or your pet sled!
David K. Bradley is a writer for Indovillas Bali which specializes in Bali Villas, Bali Villa Rental Seminyak and bali dream villa as well as tour and activity arrangements. They offer an assortment of holiday packages and property deals on the island of Bali.