Staying inside has us all dreaming of wide-open spaces. What better way to satisfy that desireÌýthan by planning a future ocean adventure? And asÌýall of us waitÌýto reconnect with our loved ones, these seabound journeys offer a great way to come together once we’re able to travel again. Whether by kayak, sailboat, or yacht, here are nine itineraries to start planning for now.Ìý
Go by Sea Kayak
For a warm-weather trip, head south to Baja, Mexico, whereÌý has a new seven-day paddling itinerary (from $3,295) around Isla EspÃritu Santo, a national marine park off the coast of La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. ItsÌýJanuary and April 2021 toursÌýinclude stops for reef snorkeling with sea turtles, hikes to the highest point on the island, and swimming with friendly whale sharks. If you’d prefer to do the trip yourself, book one of eight safari-style tents at the island’s Ìý(from $375 for two nights), locatedÌýrightÌýon the beach. Your stay starts with a boat pickup in La Paz and includes the company of a naturalist guide on your kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, or bird-watching excursions. The camp is open from November to June.Ìý
Many paddlers will have heard of the Maine Island Trail, a 375-mile route that passes some 200 islands along the state’s coastÌýfrom Casco to Machias Bay. While many of the islands are public, join the (from $45) in advance for access to 50Ìýprivately owned sites. If you have a few days, base out of the 271-site , setÌýon a 255-acre peninsula at the southern end of Phippsburg, an hour’s drive northeast ofÌýPortland. Or book a trip with , which leads overnight trips (from $349)Ìýranging from two to four days, with camping on remote islands or stays in boutique inns.
For advanced kayakers, the 100-mile paddle along Alaska’s Prince William Sound counts as a bucket-list trip. Enter the water at Whittier, a harbor town 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, where a number of rental shops offer fiberglass doubles, drysuits, and maps of camping spots along the sound (from $185 for two days fromÌý). Give yourself 10 to 14 days for the trip; the amount of time it takesÌýwillÌýdepend on the area’s temperate-rainforest conditions, which can shift from calm to stormy in a matter of minutes.ÌýAllot a few daysÌýin Columbia Bay, home to one of the state’s largest tidewater glaciers. Or sign up for a six-day paddling trip next year with (from $1,429), which runÌýfrom May through September. The tours start in Valdez and headÌýto Prince William Sound and the Columbia Glacier. You’ll camp on islands and spot sea lion colonies, icebergs, and orcas along the way.
Go by Sailboat
While there are many ideal ways to experience Iceland, including via its one of its long-distance treks, seeing the country from the water offers a better vantage of its glaciers, iceberg-filled lagoons, and black-sand coastlines. Book a trip for 2021 on theÌý (from six days for $2,606), a 60-foot sloop that sleeps up to 12 and departs from the harbor town of Isafjordur, a 40-minute flight from ReykjavÃk, with a captain named Siggi or Óli at the helm. You’ll sail into the remote fjords of the roadless Ìýand, depending on the time of year, enjoy backcountry skiing, trail running, or sea kayaking on excursions to shore.Ìý
If you want to learn to sail, theÌýÌýleads an adult 14-day sailing course (from $5,490) from Nelson, New Zealand, on the country’s rugged South Island, where you’ll learn how to operate 35-foot keelboats through the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of submerged valleys. Every day will have you taking on a different role in the boat and focusing on a new skill, including navigation and overboard drills. It’s also a greatÌýway to study the country’s history—much of itÌýbuilt upon a seafaring past—with stops at important Maori sites.Ìý
For a trip a little closer to home, head to Maui—its hard-to-access shoreline means the best way to see the island is from the ocean. The coast is known for its 30 different trade winds, which haveÌýkept local operators from renting sailboats, but there are plenty of charter options available at every price point. departs from LahainaÌýon five-hour sailing trips (from $109), complete with snorkeling or scuba diving through the .Ìý
Go by Yacht
You want to cruise the open seas but would rather avoid being on a giant ship with hundreds of other people. We understand. These small expedition ships are designed for adventure travelers looking to explore less traveled ocean nooks that the bigger boats can’t get to.
Canada’sÌý, 50 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, is home to hundreds of tiny islands scattered throughout the Salish Sea. To visit the area, start in the provincial capital of Victoria, where you’ll boardÌý’ 88-foot converted tugboat for a five-day cruise (from $2,267). The boutique outfitter’s permits and agreements with First Nations mean exclusive access to sites that are off-limits to larger operators, and the crew of five, which includes a naturalist and a chef, are all from the region. The boat features six private cabins with full bathrooms, four kayaks, and a hot tub.
Island-hop through Indonesia onÌý’ 15-to-21-day small-ship cruises (from $8,535). Start in Darwin, Australia, and set off on a 120-passenger expedition vessel en route to some of Indonesia’s less visited isles, where you’ll hike in search of Komodo dragons, snorkel in , and visit local villages. Or, for a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, sign up for a trip aboard the , a 167-foot traditional phinisi-style yacht that hosts up to 14 guests with 18 crew members (a dive instructor and chef included). The custom itinerary includes surfing Sumbawa’s uncrowded waves, diving in Raja Ampat’s pristine reefs, and kayaking across crater lakes (from $16,000 a day).Ìý
If you’re a scuba diver, head to the 20-cabin Ìýin Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, then board the newly renovated , an 89-foot catamaran that calls the resort home. From September to November and April to June, the 16-passengerÌýship charters eight-day trips (from $3,810) to the island’s most popular diving areas, including Kimbe Bay, the Witu Islands, and Fathers Reefs, which are known for their crystal-clear waters, barrier reefs, and World War II shipwrecks.Ìý