From scaling mountains where the air is so thin your selfies look like you’re gasping for your last breath (spoiler alert: you are) to wading through rainforests where the bugs have their own zip codes, these are the places that can make our outdoor-loving heart do backflips.
Fair warning: reading this might cause spontaneous flight bookings and bank account emptying. Proceed with caution—or better yet, with a credit card and no adult supervision.
Countries to Visit for Adventure
Here are the 10 destinations for outdoor enthusiasts to visit at least once in a lifetime!
1. New Zealand
Featuring breathtaking stretches of coastline and snow-capped mountains to glittering lakes, if you love the outdoors, one trip to New Zealand won’t be enough. There are few places in the world where one can experience ancient forests, stunning coastlines, and mountain vistas within the space of a day.
With plenty of national parks to explore, volcanic and geothermal active areas, and gorgeous landscapes that seem to go on for days.
Head to Queenstown to get a bit of everything, from water sports to hiking and climbing. It’s also the birthplace of bungee jumping, so travellers looking for an adrenaline rush can be sure they’ll get one.
Did You Know? The Māori name for New Zealand is “Aotearoa,” which translates to “land of the long white cloud.” Many of the hiking trails follow ancient Māori pathways that have been used for centuries.
Adventure Highlight: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is often called New Zealand’s best day hike. It takes you across a remarkable volcanic landscape that served as “Mordor” in the Lord of the Rings films. The 19.4 km trek passes emerald lakes, old lava flows, and active craters.
2. South Africa
South Africa is truly a nature lover’s destination. Offering some of the most diverse landscapes in the entire African continent, with forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and savannahs just some of the scenery you can expect to encounter.
Besides the incredible natural surroundings, there’s also plenty of wildlife, with over 700 publicly owned reserves, 200 private reserves, and 19 National Parks. Time to tick off “go on an African safari” on your travel bucket list!
A trip to South Africa isn’t complete without a trip to the largest game reserve in Africa – the Kruger National Park. Make sure you keep your eye out for the “Big Five” – lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros.
Did You Know? South Africa is home to the world’s largest green canyon, Blyde River Canyon, stretching 26 kilometres and plunging 800 metres deep. It’s the third-largest canyon on Earth and is almost entirely covered in lush subtropical foliage.
Adventure Highlight: For the truly adventurous, shark cage diving in Gansbaai offers a chance to come face-to-face with great white sharks in their natural habitat. The area is known as “Shark Alley” for good reason—it’s one of the densest populations of these magnificent predators in the world.
3. Argentina
The sheer size of Argentina practically ensures there’s incredible natural diversity. Taking a trip through Argentina is like travelling through several countries, with its world-famous UNESCO-listed Iguassu Falls to its unique jungle-scapes home to a vast variety of different flora and fauna species.
Head to Patagonia, in Southern Argentina, to enjoy one of the most spectacular hikes in the world – the W Trek, which includes the peaks of Torres del Paine.
Did You Know? Argentina is home to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, often called “the end of the world.” From here, you can embark on expeditions to Antarctica, making Argentina a gateway to seven continents for ambitious travellers.
Adventure Highlight: The Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing rather than receding. Adventure seekers can don crampons and take guided ice treks across this massive 97-square-mile ice formation, exploring deep blue crevasses and ice caves.
4. Iceland
Iceland’s natural beauty is easily the highlight of the entire country. From glittering glacier lagoons to bubbling hot springs, the island’s unspoiled, otherworldly charm captivates travellers at every turn. And whether illuminated each season by either the Midnight Sun or the Northern Lights, the lighting is guaranteed to up the ante.
Many people don’t even know that you can dive in Iceland, in the Silfra fissure, located between the North American and Eurasian plates.
Did You Know? Iceland produces nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydroelectric. The abundance of hot springs means many Icelandic homes are heated using geothermal energy, making it one of the cleanest countries in the world.
Adventure Highlight: The Laugavegur Trail spans 55 kilometres through some of Iceland’s most diverse landscapes—from colourful rhyolite mountains to black desert sands, obsidian fields, and geothermal valleys. It’s consistently rated as one of the world’s best multi-day hikes.
5. United States
The United States is an incredible destination for nature lovers, with the National Park System encompassing 423 national park sites across the US.
Why not head to the infamous national park in California, Yosemite? With over 750 hiking trails to choose from, river rafting trips, and of course, the stunning landscape, Yosemite is a place that every outdoor adventurer should see at least once.
Did You Know? The US National Park Service manages over 18,000 miles of trails—enough to circle the Earth’s equator and then some. The oldest trail in the system is the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, which follows a route used by Native Americans for thousands of years.
Adventure Highlight: In Denali National Park, Alaska, visitors can experience true wilderness in a park larger than the state of New Hampshire. With minimal trails, experienced backcountry hikers can chart their course through untouched landscapes where grizzlies, wolves, and moose roam freely.
6. Switzerland
Do you want to conquer mountains and valleys, dive into rushing waters, and discover UNESCO World Heritage sites? Switzerland’s landscape is more varied than almost any other place on earth.
And the best part is that it’s an all-year-round destination. Whether you opt to hike in the Jungfrau region, go skiing in the Alps, or raft down the Lütschine River, there’s something for everyone.
Did You Know? Switzerland has over 1,500 lakes, and you’re never more than 10 miles from a lake anywhere in the country. Lake Geneva alone contains enough water to provide every person on Earth with 1,000 litres.
Adventure Highlight: The Via Ferrata routes in Switzerland offer a thrilling middle ground between hiking and technical climbing. These “iron paths” feature fixed cables, ladders, and bridges that allow moderately experienced adventurers to access dramatic cliff faces and mountain traverses with breathtaking exposure.
7. Costa Rica
Found just north of the Equator, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet (and is a leader in ecotourism). There are few places on earth where you can find so many different habitats fitting in such a small place. Over half of Costa Rica is covered in forests, with much of that being primary and virgin rainforests.
Costa Rica’s incredible national parks give visitors a chance to enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, and zip-lining, as well as a chance to discover some incredible wildlife.
Did You Know? Though Costa Rica accounts for only 0.03% of the Earth’s surface, it contains nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity. The country has successfully reversed deforestation, doubling its forest cover from 26% in 1983 to more than 52% today.
Adventure Highlight: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offers a unique opportunity to explore the canopy ecosystem via suspended bridges and ziplines. At night, guided hikes reveal a completely different forest, with approximately 80% of the reserve’s wildlife being nocturnal.
8. Ecuador
Another small country that’s incredibly species-rich, Ecuador is known for its green, sprawling landscapes. In other words: a nature lover’s paradise. Its ecosystem includes peaks of the Andes mountain range, mangroves, cloud forests, coastal regions, and the Amazon rainforest.
Head to Mindo Cloud Forest just outside of Quito to discover hundreds of bird species, ride a cable car across the valley, or take a hike to one of the many waterfalls where you can take a refreshing dip.
Did You Know? Ecuador’s Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 19,347 feet. Despite its dangerous nature, it’s a popular climbing destination with a relatively accessible summit compared to other peaks of similar altitude.
Adventure Highlight: The Quilotoa Loop is a multi-day trekking route that passes through remote Andean villages and culminates at the stunning Quilotoa crater lake—a water-filled caldera in brilliant turquoise. Hikers can stay in local homestays along the way, experiencing authentic highland culture.
9. Indonesia
Indonesia’s size, tropical climate, and archipelagic geography support one of the world’s highest levels of biodiversity. There is just so much to explore in the world’s largest island country, from ancient temples in Java to enchanting rice paddies in Bali.
One of the top destinations for adventure lovers is found on the island of Lombok – the active volcano in Mount Rinjani National Park makes for an exciting activity for any adventurer.
Did You Know? Indonesia’s Raja Ampat islands are considered the epicentre of marine biodiversity on Earth. Scientists believe this area serves as a “species factory” that seeds the rest of the Indo-Pacific with marine life.
Adventure Highlight: The multi-day trek to see the Komodo dragons on Rinca and Komodo islands combines hiking through savanna landscapes with boat journeys between islands. This adventure brings you face-to-face with the world’s largest lizards, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds.
10. Canada
Canada’s vast wilderness and stunning national parks make it a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, or canoeing, Canada has it all. Visit Banff National Park for breathtaking mountain scenery. In winter, the skiing is world-class.
Did You Know? Canada contains about 20% of the world’s fresh water and has more lakes than all other countries combined. The country also boasts the world’s longest coastline, which wraps around the Earth more than six times.
Adventure Highlight: The West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island is a challenging 75-kilometre coastal trek originally built to help shipwreck survivors navigate the treacherous coastline. Today, hikers brave ladders, cable cars, and slippery boardwalks while experiencing pristine beaches, towering forests, and breathtaking ocean views.
Bottom Line
From diving between continental plates in Iceland to dodging Komodo dragons in Indonesia, we’ve mapped out enough adrenaline-pumping activities to keep your life insurance agent awake at night.
Will you return with stories that make your friends simultaneously jealous and concerned for your mental health? You bet! But that’s the beauty of outdoor adventure travel—you go in search of breathtaking landscapes and come back with an embarrassing rash, 4,000 photos, and the unshakable belief that you’re Bear Grylls now.
Your office cubicle will still be there when you get back… unfortunately!
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