Adventure Excursions
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Bucket-list adventures you can actually book
Life is short. Take charge of it. These are the excursions worth planning a whole trip around: hand-picked, with real booking links, free-cancellation options on most tours, and a place to stay nearby.
Top-rated tours right now
Whitewater Rafting the Grand Canyon, Arizona
From half-day smooth-water floats below Glen Canyon Dam to multi-day Colorado River expeditions through legendary rapids. Nothing makes the canyon feel bigger than looking up at it from the river.
Best season: April to October · Good for: teens & adults (half-day floats work for younger kids)
Glacier Helicopter Tours & Dog Sledding, Juneau, Alaska
Fly over the Juneau Icefield, land on a glacier, and in some tours, mush a real sled-dog team on the ice. A top shore excursion for Alaska cruisers, and one people talk about for years.
Best season: May to September · Good for: all ages (check tour minimums)
Canyoneering & Off-Roading, Moab, Utah
Rappel into slot canyons, ride slickrock trails in a side-by-side, or raft the Colorado near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Moab is basically an adventure theme park built by geology.
Best season: March to May, September to November · Good for: active families & adults
Ziplining, Canyoning & Hot Springs, Arenal, Costa Rica
Fly through rainforest canopy on some of the longest ziplines in Central America, rappel waterfalls, then soak in volcano-heated hot springs at night. Adventure plus downtime, the ideal combo.
Best season: December to April (dry season) · Good for: families with kids 6+ and adults
Ice Caves & Glacier Hikes, Iceland
Strap on crampons and walk across Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, or explore electric-blue ice caves that only form in winter. Pair it with a Northern Lights hunt.
Best season: Ice caves roughly November to March; glacier hikes year-round · Good for: adults & older kids
Bungy, Jet Boats & Skydiving, Queenstown, New Zealand
The adventure capital of the world. Jump off the historic Kawarau Bridge, blast through Shotover Canyon by jet boat, or skydive over the Remarkables.
Best season: Year-round (December to February is summer) · Good for: thrill-seekers
Paragliding over the Swiss Alps, Interlaken, Switzerland
Tandem-fly between two turquoise lakes with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau on the horizon. No experience needed. Your pilot does the work, you do the screaming.
Best season: May to October · Good for: adults & teens
Cenote Swimming & Snorkeling, Tulum, Mexico
Swim crystal-clear freshwater sinkholes in the Yucatán jungle, then snorkel with sea turtles at Akumal. Easy to add to a cruise stop in Cozumel or a Cancún beach week.
Best season: November to April · Good for: the whole family
Gear up before you go
Dry bags, hydration packs, first-aid kits and headlamps: everything on our own packing list is in the Adventure Gear shop.