Top 10: Adventures for Nature Lovers
From safaris offering a menagerie of African wildlife to cruises through dramatic fjords and hikes alongside scenic waterfalls, here are ten adventures for nature lovers.
1. Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Lynn Morgan, 2-time traveler from Palm City, FL:
- 17-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Behold a rich menagerie of game during safaris in Hwange National Park, Kafue National Park, Chobe National Park, and more.
- Discover the distinct flora and fauna of the Okavango Delta before witnessing Victoria Falls—the largest curtain of water in the world and one of the world's Seven Natural Wonders.
2. Morocco Sahara Odyssey
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Ellin Van Leeuwen, 2-time traveler from Norwalk, CT:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Drive across the Middle Atlas Mountain range, winding through pine groves and giant cedar forests, with ample opportunity to witness the varied geologic and ecological zones and gain a deeper understanding of the regional landscapes.
- Experience the remote environment of the Sahara, navigating sandy tracks while saddled upon the back of a camel, before enjoying the starry desert sky at a private tented campsite located close to a sea of sprawling sand dunes.
3. Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Sherry Jordan, 13-time traveler from Culver City, CA:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Pick apples, dig for potatoes, feed and milk goats, or help harvest chestnuts as you spend A Day in the Life of a hardworking farmer in the Valtellina Valley—a region renowned for its natural beauty, blanketed in orchards and terraced vineyards.
- Hike through the Dolomitic valleys to admire the scenery of rolling foothills and majestic mountain peaks.
4. A South Pacific Odyssey: Australia, the Outback & New Zealand
NEW: Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Mary Dudzinski, 5-time traveler from Denver, CO:
- 30-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Follow a guide through the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne—a 19th-century English garden of more than 8,500 flora species, including cacti, roses, and a variety of herbs—as they share some insights on the native vegetation and their significance to the indigenous people.
- Peek at the Great Barrier Reef through a diving mask, witnessing an azure scene of non-stop activity as tropical fish dart about amid sea fans and anemones swaying with the waves.
5. The Wilderness Beyond: Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & the Chilean Fjords
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Meredith Townsend, 4-time traveler from Byron, IL:
- 15-day O.A.T. Small Ship Adventure with 4 nights aboard the chartered 210-passenger M/V Stella Australis or M/V Ventus Australis.
- Embark on a full-day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-largest national park in Argentina—which comprises more than 1,700 square miles and nearly 50 large glaciers.
- Explore historic Wulaia Bay—an area renowned for the vastness of its vegetation and beauty of its landscapes—before hiking through a rugged forest to a scenic vantage point.
6. Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Arlene Piacquadio, 14-time traveler from Westerly, RI:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Explore Glenveagh National Park with a local guide who is well-versed in the region’s flora and fauna and converse about current conservation efforts.
- Walk through the Derrigimlagh blanket bog, one of Ireland’s most fascinating wilderness areas, featuring a complex ecosystem and unique flora and fauna.
7. Machu Picchu & the Galápagos
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Tom Smith, 7-time traveler from Saint Charles, MO:
- 17-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Explore Inca sites throughout the Sacred Valley, from Machu Picchu to lesser-known Ollantaytambo, surrounded by the dramatic backdrop of the Andes Mountains.
- Spend 3 or 4 nights exploring the Galápagos Islands aboard a 16-passenger small ship, anchoring just off each island and boarding zodiacs to travel ashore.
8. Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Natalie Trem, 5-time traveler from Virginia Beach, VA:
- 13-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Go on game-viewing safari drives to witness the wildlife of Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorogoro Crater, and more.
9. Fjord Cruise & Lapland: Norway, Finland & the Arctic Circle
Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by John Balza, 23-time traveler from Fort Collins, CO:
- 19-day O.A.T. Small Ship Adventure with 6 nights aboard the chartered 400- to 1000-passenger Hurtigruten or Havila Norwegian Coastal Voyage Ship.
- Hop aboard the vintage Flam Railway to admire waterfalls and glacier-carved ravines on what is considered by many to be the most scenic train ride in the world before stopping at Voss—famous for its mineral springs—to grab some of their renowned mineral water.
- Stand at the "northern edge" of Europe when you visit the North Cape, a location rich with monumental ocean views at every turn and a popular place to view the midnight sun, making for a truly immersive experience of nature at the top of the world.
10. Untamed Iceland
NEW: Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Cecile Rose Vibat, 9-time traveler from Greenville, SC:
- 14-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Stand before legendary waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss, Gullfoss, and Godafoss as thousands of gallons of rushing white water create resplendent rainbows with their shrouds of mist.
- Spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, and humpback whales in the waters of the northern Atlantic during a whale-watching excursion.
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Related Trips
- Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari
- Morocco Sahara Odyssey
- Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy
- A South Pacific Odyssey: Australia, the Outback & New Zealand
- Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties
- Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari
- Untamed Iceland
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