Profound silence on the tundra in sub-Arctic Canada, the gunshot of a calving glacier heard from a tent in Greenland’s backcountry, the reflection of snow-crowned peaks in a mirrored lagoon in the high plateau of Bolivia. Some of my most awe-inspiring travel experiences have been in the vast wilderness, where I felt humbled by the scale of time and space while simultaneously more connected to the natural world.

I鈥檝e rounded up ultra-remote places to stay around the world where you can feel the same pull of the wild. Whether these adventures inspire introspection or not, their wow factor is undeniable, from a five-room lodge in the middle of a glacier, to a mountain biking mecca on the rim of 鈥淎frica鈥檚 Grand Canyon.鈥� And while these lodges might not be the most accessible due to the effort they require to get there鈥攏ot to mention the sometimes steep cost鈥攖he sublime solitude alone makes these once-in-a-lifetime journeys worth it.

Dreaming of an adventure in some of the planet鈥檚 most remote stretches? These are nine of the wildest lodges and camps in the world where you can truly get off the grid.

Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

It鈥檚 just you and miles of snow, ice, and starry skies at , an intimate, fly-in lodge perched on a razor-sharp ridge in the middle of Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park.听 The nearest town is 50 miles away, and there鈥檚 no cell service, WiFi, or TV, only limitless views of snow-encrusted Denali and the white expanse of the glacier outside your window. With only five bedrooms in the chalet, you鈥檒l feel like you have this pristine wilderness to yourself.

The spirit of adventure has been part of the lodge since its early days (read our review of Sheldon Chalet here). After helping to map much of the Alaska Range, aviator and explorer Don Sheldon and his wife, Roberta, built the 鈥淢ountain House鈥� on the lodge鈥檚 current site in 1966 as a refuge for alpinists, skiers, and intrepid travelers who wanted to experience the majesty of Denali. The couple鈥檚 children ushered in a new era for this remote escape when they opened the luxury Sheldon Chalet in 2018. While the helicopter arrivals christened with champagne and oysters are a far cry from the chalet鈥檚 humble mountain hut beginnings, the legacy of rugged adventure remains.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: A stay here is all about ski-touring and snowshoeing across the Ruth Glacier in the shadow of mythic Denali or repelling into its luminous blue crevasses. From fall through spring, head out on a or witness rippling electric green and pink northern lights, then warm up around a bonfire or in the sauna. In the , turquoise pools bloom on the glacier鈥檚 surface and the boom of far-off avalanches thunders across the white wilderness.

How to get there: Reach the town of Talkeetna via a two-hour drive from Anchorage and then board a helicopter for the 30-minute flight to the chalet. You can also opt for a 1.5-hour airplane flight from Anchorage. Both options are included in your stay, along with all meals and experiences. From $4,250 per person, per night for an all-inclusive trip with transportation from Talkeetna or Anchorage.

Ungava Polar Eco-Tours Camp, Canada

Even in some of the quietest natural havens in the world, there鈥檚 the hum of insects, water caressing a shoreline, or the unfortunate buzz of a rogue drone. But as I laid on my back gazing up at the cloudless blue sky during a fat-biking break in Nunavik鈥攖he northernmost part of Quebec just below the Arctic Circle鈥擨 couldn鈥檛 even hear a whisper of wind. This rare, precious silence was part of what drew Jonathan Grenier and James May, the founders of , to set up the company鈥檚 outdoor adventure base camp here.

The ecotourism company is the first 100 percent Inuit owned and operated business of its kind in Nunavik, and brings travelers to the uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands. Set on the shores of Ungava Bay on听 postage-stamp Tiercel Island, the camp is marked by five cozy heated domes that echo traditional igloos and can withstand the island鈥檚 tempests and as well as any curious polar bears. When I visited during their inaugural season in 2024, the first autumn chill had turned the sub-Arctic tundra into a fiery patchwork of orange and umber. We explored and motored around by boat, with the waterways entirely to ourselves, learning about Inuit culture and tradition along the way.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Days here are spent wildlife viewing while exploring the land on a fat bike or on foot on guided interpretive hikes. If you visit in late summer or early fall, the tundra turns into an all-you-can-eat berry buffet, where tart, juicy crowberries and cloudberries provide the perfect mid-hike snack. Head out onto the water to sail around the archipelago, keeping your eyes peeled for breaching minke whales and bearded seals, as well as shaggy muskoxen鈥攐ne of the few megafauna to survive the Ice Age鈥攁nd Arctic wolves patrolling the shoreline.

How to get there: A week-long stay includes all flights, including from Montreal north to Kuujjuaq, the largest town in Nunavik. From there you鈥檒l catch an Air Inuit charter flight to Tiercel Island where you鈥檒l land on the tundra runway, but not before getting a fantastic bird鈥檚-eye-view of camp from the bush plane. From $10,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven-night trip with flights from Montreal.

Ramaditas Mountain Lodge, Bolivia

鈥淵ou travel from Mars, to Earth, to the moon on this trip,鈥� said my guide Aida Belen, referring to Explora鈥檚 week-long , an adventure-packed, private overland journey. The trip traces a route from the Martian Atacama Desert to Bolivia鈥檚 lunar Uyuni Salt Flat following the Qhapaq 脩an, a network of ancient Incan roads that spans six countries and nearly 19,000 miles. But as our jeep rumbled down a steep dirt road, obscuring a herd of vicuna in a veil of dust, Bolivia鈥檚 Ramaditas Lagoon below looked as otherworldly as the two iconic destinations that bookend the journey.

Ramaditas sits on the edge of the mirrored lagoon at over 13,000 feet, and is one of two mountain lodges set in remote locales along the 罢谤补惫别蝉铆补鈥檚 Altiplano section. Designed by Max N煤帽ez, the minimalist, stilted lodge has just four rooms that overlook the lagoon, and in the distance, snow-capped mountains and Bolivia鈥檚 dramatic, barren plateau. 国产吃瓜黑料s abound in the region, and at night, a rainfall shower, glass of smoky carm茅n猫re, and a modern room clad in warm mani wood with a picture window await.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Hiking and mountain biking across the windswept plateau are the main draw in the region and a five-mile trek in Pastos Grandes is a highlight (which feels a lot longer at 16,000 feet). Weave through boulders and around desert plants to reach ancient pictographs emblazoned on the walls of skyscraper-high yardangs (tall rock formations sculpted by the wind), before catching your breath during a picnic lunch.

How to get there: The guided overland journey begins in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, a two-hour flight from Santiago. The Jirira Lodge, which overlooks the and marks the end of the 罢谤补惫别蝉铆补 can also now be booked independent of the overland trip. Joya Andina in Uyuni is the closest airport to Jirira Lodge and is a 1.5-hour drive across the salt flat during the dry season, from April to November, or a five-hour drive around it during the wet season, from December to March. From $8,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven night trip excluding flights.

Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia

Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth, and in the heart of the Gobi Desert, a vast 500,000-square-mile expanse of wilderness, sits Three Camel Lodge. Nestled at the foot of Bulagtai Mountain, each cozy, wood stove-warmed traditional ger (a Mongolian yurt-like dwelling) opens out onto the endless steppe, where wind whispers through sunbaked grasses. Hidden in this ancient landscape are Bronze Age petroglyphs and a geological and paleontological history even older.

Part of the collection, the property was founded on a vision of preserving the land, wildlife, and nomadic culture and traditions of Mongolia鈥檚 people. So, while this is likely one of the most remote locales on Earth for a lodge, every guest is immersed in local culture, food, and storytelling through visits with nomadic families鈥攚ith wild desert adventures on your doorstep.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Head out on a hike through the cinnamon-hued Flaming Cliffs, an iconic site in the Gobi Desert and one of the world鈥檚 most important paleontological sites (dinosaur eggs were first discovered here in 1923), or embark on a trek through the green Yol Valley National Park, a tapestry of sparkling streams and wildflowers. Horses are an important part of Mongolian culture throughout history and into the present. Saddle up to visit a nomadic family and get a look at their culinary and artisan traditions inside their home or try your hand at Mongolian archery.

How to get there: Travelers can reach via a 1.5-hour flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, located on the edge of the Gobi Desert. There, a 4脳4 vehicle awaits to ferry guests along a scenic one-hour drive to reach the lodge. 听From $4,915 per person for two nights.

Kongde Lodge, Nepal

The trek to Everest Base Camp, a place steeped in the spirit of mountaineering expeditions both infamous and celebrated, is still one of the world鈥檚 most celebrated adventures. While making the journey to camp at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier has drawn criticism in recent decades for being overcrowded and unsustainable on multiple fronts, Mountain Lodges of Nepal offers a way to traverse this storied landscape in a way that鈥檚 gentler on the environment and local communities.

Their 12-day trip begins at 9,300 feet in Lukla and ends with a helicopter ride into camp surrounded by the staggering beauty and scale of the nearly mythical, snow-shrouded mountains. Along the route, trekkers engage with local culture and stay at the mountain lodges that dot the trail, including . Sitting at nearly 14,000 feet, this is the highest-altitude lodge on the trip and the most remote, hours away from the usual tourist circuit. Cradled by mountains with sweeping views of the Khumbu Valley and Mount Everest in the distance, the scenery and solitude here is unrivaled in the region.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The week-long journey on foot through the high Himalayas to reach Kongde Lodge will take you through small Sherpa villages and over high suspension bridges. You鈥檒l wind through fragrant fir and rhododendron forests and visit the world鈥檚 most remote monastery. Central to the trek is connecting with the region鈥檚 Sherpa people, and learning about their culture through song, dance, and food. After two nights at the lodge, a short but cinematic helicopter flight marks the last leg to base camp.

How to get there: A helicopter flight from Deboche Lodge, which is reached on day six, whisks you up to Kongde Lodge, where, far away from the 鈥淓verest Highway,鈥� you鈥檒l refuel with champagne breakfast in the clouds on arrival. From $9,800 per person.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Australia is home to some of the most far-flung, primordial swaths of wilderness in the world, and on the coastline of Western Australia, almost 800 miles north of Perth, sits Sal Salis. The secluded safari-style camp rests in bone-white dunes that hem the brilliant turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, a . Wake up to birdsong and drift off to the ocean waves in a breezy tent鈥攐ne of only 16 and the only property around for miles, meaning you鈥檒l have beach stargazing almost to yourself.

The waters here are home to spectacular marine wildlife, including humpback whales, manta rays, sea turtles, and one of the largest aggregations of whale sharks in the world, making this spot a Shangri-La for ocean lovers. Each year between March and August and October, whale sharks migrate past Ningaloo Reef, congregating in great numbers, and a stay here offers the rare opportunity to responsibly swim alongside the majestic giants. From July to August, you can also swim with humpback whales as they make their way back down to the Antarctic.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Swimming alongside whale sharks and humpback whales is one of the most moving wildlife experiences Australia offers, but snorkeling, , kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding are also on the menu. If you want to keep your feet on terra firma for a day, hike through Mandu Mandu Gorge, part of Cape Range National Park just two kilometres behind the camp. Tread through a landscape of craggy limestone and acacia trees steeped in ancient geological history and Aboriginal mythology, with the bright blue ocean in the distance.

How to get there: is an hour drive south from Exmouth in Cape Range National Park. Daily flights run from Perth to Exmouth鈥檚 Learmonth Airport. Tents from $650 per night.

Fish River Lodge, Namibia

Truly rugged, active adventures are few and far between in Africa, but Namibia offers remote slivers of desert for visitors who want to see a less-traveled鈥攁nd sweatier鈥攕ide of the continent. Among these pockets is Fish River Canyon in the south of the country, Africa鈥檚 answer to the Grand Canyon. 鈥淣amibia’s relatively low wildlife density and expansive terrain encourages outdoor adventures that go beyond game drives,鈥� says Jeff Stivers, co-founder of Outlier Journeys, a U.S.-based travel company that organizes trips to the region. 鈥淣ot many people even know about how massive Fish River Canyon is and it鈥檚 perfect for people looking to connect with nature in an immersive way.鈥�

The rift stretches for 100 miles and is 1,800 feet at its deepest, and right on the edge is Fish River Lodge, a haven for outdoor adventure. You can take in the view of the chasm from the rim pool with Fish River tumbling along far below and ochre mesas stacked endlessly toward the horizon.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Set out on around the rim right from the lodge. As sunrise paints the rocks crimson only the call of baboons echoing between rocky escarpments punctuates the silence. Multi-day biking and hiking adventures are on the table here, too. You can pedal or walk your way to two smaller camps, , out in the far reaches of the canyon on two-to-three-day backcountry adventures. The lodge is already one of the most remote in Africa, but you鈥檙e nearly guaranteed to be the only one around for miles at these two camps.

How to get there: From the capital city of Windhoek, is a full day鈥檚 drive south. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended if you鈥檙e driving yourself. From $190 per person, per night exclusive of activities. Two- and three-night hiking and cycling packages are also available.

White Desert, Antarctica

While prone to seasickness, I somehow managed to muster the courage to cross the Drake Passage on an expedition cruise to Antarctica. But if I were to do it again, I鈥檇 be inclined to travel with White Desert. Not only do you skip the journey across some of the roughest seas on the planet by arriving on a charter flight from South Africa, but you gain access to the interior of the world鈥檚 most remote continent, a part of Antarctica that few see. While icebergs and rocky shorelines dominate the Antarctic coastline that cruise ships navigate, the heart of the continent is another world, one of shimmering blue ice tunnels and crevasses, jagged mountain peaks, and vast moonscapes.

On an east to west traverse of Antarctica in 2005, co-founder Patrick Woodhead was so captivated by the rugged beauty of the interior that he and his wife, Robyn, were inspired to give other intrepid adventurers the chance to experience it. If the landscape doesn鈥檛 feel extraplanetary enough, the two domed camps, Whichaway and Echo, give a nod to the early days of space exploration with a striking futuristic aesthetic and elegant amenities. And while White Desert is a singular luxury experience鈥攔ates start at $49,500 per person for a six-day trip鈥攕ustainability is at the core of the carbon-neutral company鈥檚 ethos. The camps鈥� design has a light footprint, the company utilizes sustainable aviation fuel, and they鈥檙e committed to combating climate change through their conservation arm, White Desert Foundation. The foundation supports Blue Carbon initiatives and climate researchers on the ground in Antarctica.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Trek through labyrinthine ice tunnels, strap on crampons, and use an ice pick to climb a sheer cliff face, or abseil down a 100-meter cliff surrounded by an incandescent blue amphitheater of ice. Fat biking, skiing, and mountaineering expeditions that traverse remote mountain ranges are also part of the outdoor adventure roster.

How to get there: Aboard a five-hour charter flight, travelers fly from Cape Town into the Antarctic Circle and land on Wolf鈥檚 Fang Runway, an ice-hardened private runway. From $49,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven-day trip with return flights from Cape Town. A one-day trip from Cape Town to Antarctica and back is also available for $15,950 per person.

Nanoq Lodge, East Greenland

Much like Antarctica, eschewing the cruise ship and opting to get out into the backcountry in Greenland is exhilarating. Certain slivers still feel like some of the last untouched places on Earth. On a week-long, land-based with Hinoki Travels in East Greenland, I trekked across tundra carved with the vestiges of Thule history (the ancient ancestors of the Inuit), and camped on the edge of cobalt fjords with views of glaciers and jagged mountain peaks cloaked in snow. In glacier-carved valleys, the wind carried the smell of ice and taste of the sea, and our small group of seven didn鈥檛 come across another soul.

The journey began in Kulusuk, a small Inuit village on an island of the same name just below the Arctic Circle, at . The small, hand-built wooden lodge serves as a home base for intrepid travelers heading out into the wilds of East Greenland with Pirhuk, the ski touring and mountaineering experts that Hinoki partners with to lead trips. While staying here before heading out on our trek, I woke to sled dogs howling into the lonely dawn and a flotilla of icebergs gliding by on the bay. I helped catch Arctic char and forage for sorrel under a bright blue sky, which we enjoyed for dinner after hiking to the island鈥檚 hilltop to watch the crayon-box houses aglow at sunset.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: To reach the first campsite on Hinoki Travels鈥� seven-day trip, I kayaked across Tunu Sound toward Apusiaajik Glacier, escorted by breaching humpback whales. The journey鈥檚 two remote campsites are reached by traversing spectacular terrain on foot across glaciers, up icy slopes, and through glittering blue ice caves. In addition to Hinoki Travels鈥� unique expedition, which weaves local life and culture into the adventure, Pirhuk offers expedition ski touring, trekking, climbing, and kayaking along hundreds of miles of isolated coastline.

How to get there: The island of Kulusuk is reached by a direct flight from Keflavik, Iceland, that鈥檚 just under two hours. A 30-minute hike or ski from the small airport brings you down to the lodge on the water鈥檚 edge. From $6,750 per person for Hinoki Travels鈥� seven-night Interdependence: East Greenland trip, excluding flights from Reykjavik.听

Chloe Berge is a travel journalist drawn to adventures in the world鈥檚 rugged, remote corners, preferably exploring them on foot. Recent stories have brought her into the backcountry of Greenland, across Bolivia鈥檚 high plateau, and to Arctic Canada, and she has her sights set on the Himalayas next. She writes for publications including National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, AFAR, Travel + Leisure, and Sierra.

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While watching , the new National Geographic series on Disney+, I couldn鈥檛 stop thinking, There are a lot of awkward moments in here! The premise is glamorous: Will Smith travels the world and shares adventures with explorers and scientists at the top of their game, resulting in beautiful footage that鈥檚 edited to within an inch of its life for a jam-packed 30-minute experience. So why did the producers leave in so many uncomfortable silences? You could make a supercut of guides telling Smith about the scary thing he鈥檚 about to do, while ominous music plays and the camera pointedly hovers on his face as he stares into the void. By the end of the first episode, though, I was rooting for whoever was playing up these moments, and for Will Smith, who I鈥檇 like to think enthusiastically signed off on the idea. What could have been just a vanity project reveals itself to be a surprisingly honest exploration of the struggle to be a braver person.

Of course, it鈥檚 also good old-fashioned educational adventure TV. Each of the six episodes revolves around a broad theme, like scents or swarms, and Smith takes a trip with a specialist for the marquee scenes in each episode. In 鈥淭he Silent Roar,鈥� about sounds that aren鈥檛 audible to most humans, Smith explores an active volcano with volcanologist Jeffrey Johnson and adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, who is blind and senses sound below the frequency that most people can hear. (鈥淪o you feel comfortable going in there, and you would take your students or anything in there?鈥� Smith asks Johnson as casually as he can.) Woven throughout each episode are side journeys in which we join other photographers, National Geographic ambassadors, or local residents to explore phenomena related to each episode鈥檚 theme, like earth tides, moonbows, and the in San Juan de la Vega, Mexico. 听

Welcome to Earth manages to surprise in its capacity as a nature-expedition show. (Did you know that New York City can move up and down as much as 14 inches a day?) But overall the show seems less interested in animals and scientific phenomena than in the charismatic adventurers who make up its cast. There are regular appearances, for instance, by Trinidadian marine biologist , who free dives and visits deep oceans around the world, and polar explorer , who was the first Black Briton to reach the North Pole. Many of the other guest explorers also have something unusual in common: they鈥檝e had a traumatic experience that could have made it difficult to continue their adventures, but nevertheless found a way to keep pursuing their curiosity. Marine biologist Melissa M谩rquez, who was attacked by a crocodile, still explores waterways on a glass-bottom canoe. Scientist Albert Lin, who shows Smith all kinds of fancy gear on their adventure in Namibia, had one of his legs amputated after a car accident. 鈥淭echnology has helped me be able to define my own limitations,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n a strange way I don鈥檛 actually feel like I鈥檝e lost anything, I actually feel like I鈥檝e gained.鈥�

As a host, Smith is a perfect audience stand-in, never failing to voice his admiration for his guides or gape at a deep-sea jellyfish the way anyone would if they were dropped directly into a nature documentary. He seems to have a lot of fun checking off a lifetime鈥檚 worth of bucket list items, from diving 3,000 feet beneath the sea to paddling the recently-discovered Stu冒lagil canyon in Iceland. And dad jokes abound鈥斺�淲e are detached [from the boat],鈥� he says from a submarine. 鈥淏ut not emotionally. Emotionally I鈥檓 still very attached.鈥� But the show is clearly seeking a more meaningful reason to put him through these experiences. The series opens with Smith invoking the words of his grandmother, who said the best things in life exist听on the other side of fear. He returns to this theme repeatedly, sharing his previously unrealized longing to be an explorer鈥攊n the second episode he confesses to never having swum in a lake, climbed a mountain, or slept in a tent. 鈥淎 large part of the reason why I live my life the way I do today is because I was fearful as a child,鈥� he says in the fear-themed final episode, directed by Darren Aronofsky.

None of these insights is particularly original or dramatic, but the point isn鈥檛 only that a world-famous movie star hasn鈥檛 done things that many people also haven鈥檛 done. It鈥檚 that even with all of the best resources at hand, he still reacts with all the stumbling, self-deprecating jokes, nervous silences, and thousand-yard stares that any of us might recognize from our first time doing something out of our comfort zone. As their submarine descends into the ocean, Amon asks Smith with genuine surprise if he鈥檚 actually nervous. 鈥淛ust a little bit. It鈥檒l be fine though,鈥� Smith says, much too quickly.

These moments add a much-needed authenticity to a show that might otherwise be overstuffed with shiny distractions like drones, fancy high-speed cameras, and joy rides over the dunes of the Namib Desert. Beyond that, though, the show seems like a more graceful extension of Smith鈥檚 recent personal project to become more open about his life with the public. This has resulted in many of us learning way more than we ever wanted to know about him. A in which he aimed to lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks ended up feeling sad (even Will Smith still has to deal with diet culture?), and he shared so many specifics on his marriage in interviews听that it inspired articles like 鈥�.鈥� But as Elamin Abdelmahmoud particularly well in Buzzfeed News, most stars of Smith鈥檚 generation, himself included, have maintained their fame with an air of unattainability鈥攕taying off social media, granting limited interviews, and not sharing many personal confessions. But younger actors today build a fan base by being (sort of) open books, aiming for polished relatability and controlled transparency. 鈥�A byproduct of 鈥�90s celebrity culture, [Smith] is attempting something few men of his generation of stars have done: reinventing himself publicly, to align with the contemporary expectations of celebrity,鈥� Abdelmahmoud writes.

Welcome to Earth contributes to that project with a clean narrative arc about Smith facing his fears and insecurities. And it wouldn鈥檛 have stood out from the glut of stunning David Attenborough films or celebrity-narrated nature documentaries if it hadn鈥檛 nailed that element. This is to Smith鈥檚 credit, too; he鈥檚 a man used to getting gawked at, but it seems like we get to see moments in which the mask slips and we鈥檙e just watching him go through it. (鈥淗ow鈥檚 it feeling?鈥� Fields asks as they traverse a glacier in Iceland. 鈥淵ou know exactly how it鈥檚 feeling,鈥� Smith replies. 鈥淪cary as hell!鈥�) Unlike turning his fitness plans into a sort of reality show, this doesn鈥檛 feel like a put-on or an embarrassing thing Smith must endure to prove he鈥檚 a human with real problems. The documentary chooses to spend most of its time celebrating the people who pursue adventure despite having first-hand knowledge that things can go wrong鈥攁long with beginners like Smith who give it a try, knowing the process will likely be a little bit embarrassing. By the end of the show, Smith seems just as amazed at the physical feats he鈥檚 willingly gone through as he is by the hidden forces of nature he鈥檚 witnessed. Glamorous as the show may be, it captures something any viewer might recognize in themselves: that exhilarating feeling of possibility after discovering you can do things that once felt totally undoable.

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Stanza Mbanga Molaodi had big plans this spring. On May 17, the owner of 听in Botswana was due to accompany six Italian clients into Chobe National Park, home to a third of the continent鈥檚 600,000 elephants. From its base camp in the bush, the group would go on game drives, day-trip to Victoria Falls, and enjoy cocktails and crocodile-watching听on sunset cruises up the Chobe River. The gang would then relocate to the park鈥檚 semiarid Savuti region, a landscape of baobab trees and rocky outcrops听where dense herds of zebra and buffalo congregate at watering holes and try not to get picked off by the Savuti lion听pride. Next up would be the Khwai Community Area, where indigenous bushmen would guide the Italians on walking safaris and take them paddling down the Khwai River in traditional mokoro canoes. The 12-day adventure would end with a birding extravaganza in the Okavango Delta, a Unesco听World Heritage site. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful place to end a safari,鈥� Molaodi told me, sounding almost emotional.

But the trip was not to be.

Frightened听by the coronavirus, the Italians canceled. All of Molaodi鈥檚 clients听have canceled or postponed. When I reached him by phone recently, he was holed up at home with his family in Kasane, fretting. On the day we spoke, the Botswana Defense Force ordered all troops on leave or off duty to return to their posts immediately, and Molaodi predicted a military-enforced lockdown, not unlike what neighboring South Africa had announced that same day. Molaodi seemed to be speaking for Africa鈥檚 entire听$40 billion wildlife-tourism industry when he confessed, 鈥淲e are all retrenching. Everyone is panicked.鈥澨�

Simply put, the safari business in Africa and Asia has stopped. Completely. Maybe that鈥檚 not surprising at this point in the pandemic. Between flight cancelations, national lockdowns, border closures, emergency visa restrictions, and required quarantine upon entry, clients fearless enough to travel couldn鈥檛 reach their destinations if they wanted to. Even if they could, in some countries they鈥檇 be sorely disappointed. India has shuttered all of its tiger reserves and national parks. Congo has closed Virunga National Park, fearing that its famous mountain gorillas could contract COVID-19听from humans. Gabon, deeply scarred from losing 15,000 lowland gorillas in a 1995 Ebola outbreak, has likewise halted all ape tours.听

What is surprising are the domino effects of this economic catastrophe and the ultimate impact they will have on wildlife. Starting in April, Molaodi鈥檚 six staff members will receive half their normal salary, but for May and beyond, all bets are off. Roberto de Sibi, owner of Savannah Explorers in Tanzania, had already placed 17 of his 45 employees on half salary when we spoke (I found him under 14-day quarantine in Milan, where he鈥檇 fled to be near his 82-year-old father, having caught the last flight from Tanzania to Italy). Neither Molaodi nor De听Sibi听would be paying anything to the many freelance听drivers and guides they hire during busy periods. Molaodi wouldn鈥檛 be paying the bushmen to take clients paddling, and De Sibi wouldn鈥檛 be paying Dadoga tribesmen to show his clients how to melt metal to make knives. Their clients wouldn鈥檛 be donating solar lanterns to villages or otherwise leaving generous contributions.听

Crucially, neither operator would be ponying up the various fees required by parks and community conservation areas for tourist entry, guide entry, vehicle entry, and overnight stays. Large percentages of such fees go to local communities for development projects and conservation measures, like funding anti-poaching scouts. Ninety percent of Zambia鈥檚 more than 1,000 scouts come from its communities and are paid from tourism fees. In Namibia, tourism fees pay for the country鈥檚 600 game guards and support more than 6,000 families.听

With rampant unemployment, unpaid game guards, and fewer tourists in the bush to report suspicious activity, it鈥檚 just a matter of time before wildlife gets hammered. 鈥�Poaching will increase,鈥� De Sibi听insists. 鈥淧eople who are jobless must find money or food.鈥澨�

Everyone I spoke with concurred on this point. 鈥淥ne of the biggest fears is that, if scouts can鈥檛 be paid, I can foresee people poaching,鈥� says Maxi Louis, director of the Namibian Association of听Community Based Natural Resources Management Support Organizations. 鈥淧overty will drive people.鈥� Louis also anticipates that local tolerance for crop-raiding herbivores and livestock-killing predators, both common in villages near protected areas, will plummet. 鈥淭here will be no scouts to manage human-animal conflict听and no funds to compensate for lost livestock,鈥� she says, expecting a spike in retaliatory killings听of troublesome wildlife.

In a 2012 study, ecologist Ralf Buckley of听Griffith University in Australia found that most of the more than 1,400 species listed as threatened by the International Union for听Conservation of Nature depend on tourism for their survival, including iconic species like lions, elephants, and rhinos. 鈥淢any park听agencies worldwide now rely heavily on tourism for routine operational funding, more than 50 percent in some cases,鈥� the study reported. 鈥淭his puts rare mammals at a new risk, from downturns in tourism driven by external socioeconomic factors.鈥澨�

Given the magnitude of this potential biodiversity implosion, mentioning a silver lining might seem frivolous. But there is one. Tourism is a double-edged sword. It funds conservation, yes, but too much of it can disturb breeding patterns, feeding habits, and migratory movement. It can pollute landscapes and destroy habitat. 鈥淭his travel hiatus of several months will give a chance for resilient natural environments to recover from the stress inflicted by tourism,鈥� says Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University in Toronto. (While Dimanche鈥檚 prediction is warranted, many other听reports on social media of wildlife thriving as a result of quarantines .) If the animals can manage to survive, the pandemic might be an opportunity to improve wildlife tourism. 鈥淒estinations and tourism operators everywhere have a unique chance to restart a tourism that will be better planned, better managed, one that will be sustainable, with stronger policies,鈥� Dimanche says.听

The post A Tourism Lull May Be Good for Animals鈥攂ut Not for Long appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When her Kenya Airways flight touched down on Mah茅 Island in the Seychelles on October 6, Jessica Nabongo said it finally hit her.

鈥淚鈥檓 done,鈥� said the 35-year-old. 鈥淚鈥檝e been to every country in the world.鈥�

Surrounded by her family and closest friends, Nabongo was ebullient and humble. She began livestreaming to her 130,000 .听People from six continents tuned in to watch, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Finland.

Nabongo, who grew up in Detroit, Michigan,听and is the daughter of Ugandan immigrants,听estimates that she had already been to 105 countries when she publicly set her goal in April 2018. A dual Ugandan-American citizen, she spent time in East Africa as a child and teen, visiting her parents鈥� families. She moved abroad to teach English in Japan in her early twenties听and then got a master鈥檚 degree in international development from the London School of Economics at the age of 26. She moved to Benin, in West Africa, to work for an NGO, then landed a job in Italy as a resource-mobilization consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

There are 193 UN听member countries, in addition to the Vatican and Palestine, which are nonmember states. That left 90听places for Nabongo to visit when she set her goal.听Over the past two years, she was on the road about three weeks a month, departing from Detroit. She supported herself through her travel business鈥攁 tour operator called Jet Black鈥攁s well as funding from听a Kickstarter campaign and help from select tourism boards for on-the-ground expenses and hotels that comped stays.

I first met Nabongo at a coffee shop in New York City鈥檚 East Village in August. She arrived wearing a turquoise and blue shirt from Studio 189, a Ghanian brand. Adorned with rings from Kenya and bracelets from Botswana, she called herself a 鈥渨alking passport.鈥� Fresh off a weekend at the听Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn, she had a few days in New York before heading back to Detroit for a week of rest.

In the previous听three weeks, she had been to Palau, South Korea, Mongolia, India, Bhutan, Oman, and Pakistan. She had four countries left: Venezuela, Algeria, Syria, and the Seychelles. Nabongo听kept听track of the countries she听visited on an app called听,听which notes each place on a list and a map. She鈥檇听filled up听three passports in the past two and a half years听with stamps from each country. Additionally, she听posted photographic evidence of every country on her .

Even as a young child, Nabongo wanted to visit every country in the world. But it wasn鈥檛 until she read about Cassie De Pecol鈥檚 for the Guinness World Records鈥� fastest visit to all sovereign nations that she learned about country counters and came up with her own goal. A small but avid group of worldwide travelers, the country-counting community is tight-knit and shares information. Nabongo estimates that there are about 150 people who have been to every country. They connect in the Facebook group .

鈥淚 am trying to change the narrative about black people in the travel space,鈥� said Nabongo. 鈥淲hen I am traveling in Delta One or domestically flying first class, people are like, 鈥極h, are you an employee?鈥� I am like, 鈥楴o, but I am Diamond,鈥欌�� referring to Delta Airlines鈥� top tier of frequent fliers.

鈥淪ome people have been critical and saying, 鈥極h you鈥檙e doing it too fast,鈥欌�� said Nabongo. 鈥淚鈥檝e been traveling my whole life. I almost look at this as taste testing.鈥�

Nabongo听averaged around four days in each of the last 50 countries she visited. While that might sound like breakneck speed, compared to other country counters who tag some countries in a day, it is downright slow. While Nabongo isn鈥檛 averse to solo travel, she journeyed with many longtime friends throughout.

In the country-counting community, is the de facto gold standard for verification. The organization听has 5,000 members and verifies country visits by asking for proof of a听random 20 places.听Nabongo鈥檚 efforts have been confirmed by it. (Other groups, like the Travelers鈥� Century Club, mainly rely on the honor system.)

鈥淎 lot of people ask me which countries are safe for black people to travel,鈥� Nabongo recently wrote on an Instagram post from the Seychelles. 鈥淭his question typically comes from black Americans. The U.S. has perfected racism in a way that I鈥檝e not seen in other countries, so I would urge you to travel WHEREVER you want to, no matter who you are and what you look like. I did it! And just because you hear one or two negative stories from someone doesn鈥檛 mean you should write a country off of your bucket list. We all will have different experiences and you shouldn鈥檛 allow your race to hinder you.鈥�

As the celebrations in the Seychelles continued, Nabongo shared some of what she learned along the way to our reporter.

Getting in to North Korea and Syria

North Korea and Syria are tough countries for Americans to enter. While North Korea welcomes Americans, the U.S. government bans its citizens from visiting. This is when Nabongo鈥檚 Ugandan passport came in handy.

鈥淣orth Korea doesn鈥檛 care if an American comes,鈥� said Nabongo. 鈥淭hey knew I was an American, because my Ugandan passport shows that I was born in the United States, and because when I was exiting and going to China, I entered China with my U.S. passport, so they had to have both of my passports.鈥�

While in North Korea, Nabongo was astounded by some of the messages she received from her American fan base. She attended the Mass Games, an annual synchronized-gymnastics and dance festival featuring 100,000 performers. After posting some photos of the event on Instagram, some of her followers commented听that she shouldn鈥檛 have visited the country at all. While Nabongo tries to remain apolitical about her journey, which at times causes issues with her followers, she was shocked by how many Americans were upset. After her trip, Nabongo told Nomad Mania: 鈥淚 spent six days in North Korea, and aside from some quirky things, I thought it was surprisingly normal. We saw couples sitting in the park, we chatted with some college students, saw people drinking in a local bar, kids on school field trips, and people going to work on the subway. We never really see pictures or 鈥榥ormal鈥� life in North Korea, so this was very surprising.鈥�

Meanwhile, Syria was a holy grail for Nabongo. Although now relatively safe in certain government-controlled areas, the country has restricted access for Americans. (One was recently released from detainment听after entering.)

Nabongo applied for a visa using her Ugandan passport and was denied. She tried again in Pakistan using her Ugandan passport, but her contact at the Syrian embassy in Pakistan wrote down that she was a journalist. She was told that her visa request would take a long time.

In the end, in September, Nabongo visited the occupied Golan Heights鈥攚hich is recognized as Syria by the Guinness Book of World Records鈥攙ia Israel.

How to Stay听Organized

Calling herself the visa whisperer, Nabongo admits that without her hyperorganizational skills, her accomplishment wouldn鈥檛 have been possible. She used Google Docs and Google Sheets to list her remaining countries by continent, so that she could organize flights based on regions.

One tool that Nabongo recommends for travelers is . It lists all nonstop flights into every airport in the world. 鈥淵ou can get to Paris from anywhere,鈥� said Nabongo. 鈥淏ut when you鈥檙e going to Tuvalu?鈥�

To acquire visa information, Nabongo recommends . The website offers an overview of visa requirements for every country based on nationality. As a dual citizen, Nabongo found it particularly beneficial, because it allowed her to compare access to a country for both her passports, noting that knowing geopolitical situations also helps when it comes to getting access to countries.

鈥淚 closed the tab today for Passport Index, and I got a little bit sad,鈥� Nabongo told me in August. 鈥淭hat tab has been open on my browser for two years.鈥�

She tried to travel on her Ugandan passport whenever possible to save money on visas鈥攆or example, for an American going to Nigeria, the visa is $160, but for Ugandans it鈥檚 just $2鈥攁nd to bring awareness to the idea of Africans as tourists. 鈥淚 want people to see a Ugandan passport literally just coming for tourism and leaving,鈥� she said. Nabongo visited 42 countries on her Ugandan passport, saving an estimated $1,200.

The Top 国产吃瓜黑料 Countries

Nabongo found two unexpected adventure destinations: Jordan and Namibia. Nabongo was impressed with Jordan鈥檚 efforts to ramp up its听outdoor tourism, from camping in the beautiful desert escape of Wadi Rum听to exploring Aqaba, a port city on the Red Sea.

Describing Namibia as 鈥減henomenal,鈥� Nabongo saw the Milky Way for the first time while staying in the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei, thanks to the miniscule amount of light pollution. She also climbed the huge nearby sand dunes.

Some of her other favorite nature experiences included swimming with humpback whales in Tonga, the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada, whale-watching in the Arctic Circle, surfing in Peru, and hanging out in the Devil鈥檚 Pool at Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Getting Around

Nabongo tried听to maximize her experiences by how she physically traversed听countries, from train rides in Uzbekistan and Austria to helicopter rides in Senegal and South Africa.

One of Nabongo鈥檚 favorite ways to explore is with a hired driver and guide. Although she鈥檚 a proponent of local group tours鈥攕he estimates she鈥檚 been on about 40 in her time as a globe-trotter鈥攕he says that having a private driver allows for independence. On a recent trip to the country of Georgia, the tourism board provided her with a driver and a guide. After a wine tasting, they decided on a whim to stop and buy locally made bread at a local Georgian鈥檚 home.

鈥淭he way they make the bread was similar to how I saw it made in Yemen,鈥� recounted Nabongo.听She showed the Georgian woman a video of a man making bread in Yemen.

The Most Challenging Experience

Most of the trouble Nabongo听ran into happened with immigration officers, like in Pakistan in September, where she was searched for drugs as she was trying to leave the country. Although she鈥檚 careful to note that she loved her visit to Pakistan, describing it as 鈥減leasant and fun,鈥� the immigration experience at the end left her traumatized. 鈥淚 have more racist issues occur with immigration than with people [in the countries] themselves,鈥� she says.

The Easiest Place to Be a Woman Traveler

Throughout her travels, Nabongo said that she found Muslim countries the easiest to be a woman tourist. 鈥淚 felt very comfortable as a woman in Pakistan as compared to India,鈥� Nabongo said.

鈥淎mericans don鈥檛 realize how conservative Americans are compared to the rest of the world,鈥� she added. 鈥淓verybody wants to talk about how Muslim women are oppressed because they have to cover their heads, and I鈥檓 like, Look at the gender pay gap in America.鈥�

The Thing She Never Leaves Home Without

Compression socks. Describing them as essential to her self-care,听she rarely flies without them.听She also loves Allbirds walking shoes and Flight 001听packing cubes.

The Merits of Learning听a Few Local Phrases

In Japan, Nabongo prided herself on her basic language skills. She also speaks French, which has proven useful in her travels.

Everywhere she went, she tried to learn at least how to say hello, goodbye, please, and thank you.

But she wasn鈥檛 always able to communicate, especially in places with different alphabets. Still, Nabongo said,听鈥淚 feel comfortable communicating with people, even if we can鈥檛 speak the same language. In Uzbekistan, we had a great time听even though we couldn鈥檛 speak [the language]. This one woman, we had a conversation. We were not using words either of us understood, but I still understood the meaning of what she was trying to tell me:听that I need to get married very soon, because when I get old I will be very ugly, and that I should have children soon. I was like, OK, thank you.鈥�

Her Favorite Airline听

After years on the road, Nabongo鈥檚听favorite airline is Delta, because she says it has听the best frequent-flier program and consistently good customer service.听Now that she usually flies out of Detroit, a Delta hub, her allegiance to the airline is even stronger. She has Diamond Medallion status.

How to Extend a Layover

Nabongo has always been a layover hacker. The key, she says, is to plan.

鈥淟ong layovers are really great鈥� to get a taste of what a country has to offer, she says. 鈥淲hat if you fly somewhere, you鈥檝e spent all this money, and you don鈥檛 love it?鈥�

National airlines often offer free extended layovers. Specifically, she recommends airlines like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar, as well as Iceland Air.

鈥淒uring the booking process, call the airline and just ask them for a free stopover,鈥� said Nabongo, explaining that a stopover is usually one to two days. 鈥淎 lot of airlines allow for it.鈥�

Read the Reviews

鈥淚 read reviews, reviews, reviews before I pick anything,鈥� Nabongo said. 鈥淵ou can cross-reference Google Reviews and TripAdvisor.鈥�

Find a Good Meal

鈥淭he problem with guides is sometimes they want to take you to 鈥榯he best restaurant鈥� that tourists love,鈥� Nabongo said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 like 鈥楴o, I don鈥檛 want to eat where other tourists eat. I want to eat where you 别补迟.鈥欌赌�

The Most Difficult Place to Travel

鈥淥h my God. The South Pacific is a logistical nightmare,鈥� she said. 鈥淣o one island-hops in the South Pacific, and it is therefore incredibly expensive to fly, and flights are super infrequent. But there are definitely some gems there. Like, Tonga is phenomenal, swimming with the whales. It was a humpback whale and me. It was just right there.鈥�

What鈥檚 Next

After seeing so many local marketers around the world flooded with made-in-China听goods (a notable exception was in Vanuatu, where the government mandates that all goods sold in the main market must be produced on the island), Nabongo wants to create an online store for select, locally produced goods from around the globe.

Calling it the Catch, she plans on launching it this fall. She also wants to sell sustainable goods, like collapsible cups for airport travel.

Nabongo is also galvanized to tackle the world鈥檚 plastic problem, after seeing its effects during her travels. Pointing out that the travel industry is one of the worst culprits, she wants to consult with hotels and airlines to help create solutions to the environmental nightmare.

鈥淭his is a single planet. Forget about national borders,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you drop a plastic bottle in the water, it can end up anywhere in the world.鈥�

The post Jessica Nabongo’s Lessons from Visiting Every Country appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

“And if we all listen to each other, we might just learn something.” When professional model departed for Namibia, she expected to aid in the San tribe's 听to improve living conditions. However, this film, Poverty of Perception,听from t and the , presents a twist in which finds out that the San have much more to offer her instead.听

听

The post The San People Have a Story to Tell, But Nobody Is Listening appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The post The World鈥檚 Oldest, Most Beautiful Cultures Preserved Through Photographs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The first-ever hammocks were听used by to escape snakes, biting ants, and other creatures they鈥檇 prefer not to wake up next to. For most of us today, however, hammocks are the embodiment of hold-my-calls rest and relaxation. Here鈥檚 where to make that happen听no matter your budget.

Roughing It

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

From $6

For the price of a few ,听you can sleep to the sounds of crashing waves on an open-air hammock overlooking the beautiful听white-sand听beaches of听. Located听on Colombia鈥檚 Caribbean, the park is听known for its snorkeling, but听also听check out the 1.5-mile听uphill hike into the jungle to the ,听a perfect precursor to the three-day 听that begins in Santa Marta, about 30听minutes away. Shell out $95 for a private room that also comes with a hammock.听

Paratay, Brazil

鈥�From $30

Paratay is a tropical beach town about four hours from both听Rio听and听Sao Paulo. Base at this bare-bones mansion听cum听guesthouse, about a 20-minute water shuttle from the town center, and you鈥檒l听get a clean, basic room and quiet beachfront bliss with hammocks.听In Paratay, you can trail bike, kayak, dive, snorkel, or hike through the rainforest on the three-hour Gold Trail through听.听

Antigua, Guatemala

From $40

This hillside escape of treehouses overlooking Guatemala鈥檚 vast volcano range听is a 15-minute taxi ride from听Antigua鈥檚 center. Get the 鈥渄eluxe room鈥� and听you鈥檒l have two private hammocks with views. Feeling social? Crawl out of your arboreal home to snag one of six hammocks scattered about the grounds. Or听grab a trail map from the front desk and enjoy wandering the surrounding countryside.

Sharing Community

Topanga Canyon, California
听
From $95

Topanga Canyon听is one of L.A.鈥檚 more bohemian reaches, as well as a paradise for . This 听is a home鈥檚 guest wing (with a private entrance) surrounded by a听native-plant garden where you鈥檒l find听a cushion- and blanket-strewn hammock over a Mexican-tile patio听with views of the Santa Monica Mountains.听

El Zonte, El Salvador
听
From听$315

Incredible breaks and uncrowded beaches make El Salvador one of the most up-and-coming surf destinations. After riding your last wave, unwind with a swing on one of听the three hammocks at this 12-person, five-bedroom cliff听house. It鈥檚 located along the western surfing corridor and comes with a pool.

Big Island, Hawaii

From听$350

If you鈥檝e never road-tripped around Hawaii鈥檚 Big Island, put it on your to-do list. From the turtle听diving in Kona and hiking in 听to the hidden falls near Hilo and sightseeing in听, it鈥檚 one of the most incredible drives in the United States. Afterward, park yourself in this听hammock with unobstructed views of . The house听comes with its own private beach, Jacuzzi, and swimming pool, and sleeps up to eight.

Splurge

Guadeloupe

From $130

One of the lesser-traveled islands in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe is known for its spectacular beaches, great diving in听the听, and top-notch hiking up the 4,049-foot, still-active听La Soufri猫re volcano. Base out of听,听set on a rainforested hill overlooking the sea.听All the brightly colored rooms are open听air and equipped with hammocks for spontaneous napping.听

Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, Belize

From $279

In the open-air听Francis Ford Coppola Villa at the听, one of the walls is actually a hammock听affording private rainforest views and sounds from the river below.听Coppola鈥檚 intimate hideaway in the , the first national park in Belize,听is a great base for visiting Mayan sites like (in nearby Guatemala) and exploring the mysterious听.听

Sumba, Indonesia

From $900

This new, much-buzzed-about retreat on the island of Sumba offers surfing, sportfishing, diving, and sunbathing on a private 1.5-mile white-sand beach鈥攁ll the pleasures that drew travelers to nearby听Bali (a 90-minute flight away) before it became overrun. The best spot for apr猫s-adventure lounging: one of 鈥檚听colorful hammocks, which staff set up with pillows and towels, and then deliver freshly picked coconuts with edible听papaya straws.听

听

Three Free Hammock Parks for City Slickers

Governor鈥檚 Island, New York

Governor鈥檚 Island is听New York City鈥檚 favorite听quirky summer playground. It鈥檚听an uninhabited island a from Manhattan with a garden of听red rope hammocks鈥攁听perfect break between biking around the island and kicking back at the (man-made) beach club.听

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania听

,听a lawn of 38听hammocks听on the , is听relaxing way to end your day听听down lively South Street from the University of Pennyslvania campus to Penn鈥檚 Landing.

Vienna, Austria听

The Viennese sure love their hammocks鈥攖he city has a four-story installation in the 听and a 听in the . But for pure open-air swinging bliss,听the place to go is , where a slew of hammocks have been installed every May to October听since 2011.

The post 12 Hammock-Lovers鈥� Hideaways appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Bleak can be beautiful鈥攁t least when Mother Nature听or mankind听has gone awry. Taking in the juxtaposition of disfigured trees in a desert, rare听beasts on a barren island, a house engulfed in lava, or a听brillant听white desert used for testing end-of-the-world missiles,听one is compelled to redefine the concept of beauty. Here are five rare apocalyptic places that will get inside your head, and stay there, long after you鈥檝e returned to pretty civilization.

Hike the Caribbean Pompeii

Montserrat, Caribbean
When the 听erupted in 1995, it buried two-thirds of this (it鈥檚 just听ten听by听seven听miles wide), including Plymouth, its former capital. Luckily, most of the people in the affected area were safely evacuated.听Recently, islanders who have relocated to the island鈥檚 unaffected northern side听have begun offering the zone of destruction.听, on the lush听northern coast, is a secluded听jungle retreat of villas, some overlooking the sea, that offers full-day tours ($65) to explore听places like the abandoned Montserrat Springs Hotel听and the old airport. Alternatively, get a bird鈥檚-eye view of the devastation on a 听or听. Stick around to try Montserrat鈥檚 excellent diving, hiking, birding, and spearfishing.

Get there: Fly to Antigua, and then take a 20-minute on Montserrat听or a two-hour in Antigua.听

Explore a Silo of Stark Beauty

White Sands, New Mexico
is the world鈥檚 largest gypsum desert. (Gypsum is听the mineral used to make chalk.)听It鈥檚听275 miles of sand so blindingly white that听it looks like you could be in Antarctica. The entire area听was under the sea 100 million years ago,听but even though the ocean left this place for dead, its apocalyptic reputation stems听from being the site of the first nuclear bomb test. The explosion occurred on the Trinity Site, 30 miles from Las Cruces, and is open only two days each year: the first Saturday of April (April 5, 2015) and the first Saturday of October (October 3, 2015). The visitor center,听open six听days a week听year-round, has an eerie听. Since you might need some cheering up after this site, take a 听(the source of White Sands鈥� 4.5 billion tons of gypsum),听see fossilized animal footprints at the bottom of Lake Otero,听or hike the five mile .听

Get there: Fly into Albuquerque and drive 240 straight-shot miles south to Alamogordo, or land听in nearby听Las Cruces and drive 30 miles.

Swim in an Asteroid-Impact Zone

Chicxulub, Mexico
The asteroid impact that may have destroyed the dinosaurs 65听million听years听ago is now a network of swimmable caves called cenotes. They鈥檙e peppered throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, but Chicxulub, about a three-hour听drive west of Cancun, is where scientists believe the occurred. 鈥淗alf of the crater rim is undersea;听the other half forms the cenotes [sinkholes]听which we have all over the peninsula,鈥� says Yuanita Stein, editorial director for .听Base yourself in Cancun (if you can stand the crowds) or stay closer in听, the Yucatan capital. Pop into the to see a history of the crater, and then dive on in. Just be sure to go with an official guide听since .听

Get there: , and听then take a nine-mile听bus ride听to 听or drive west 30 miles to Merida.

See a Polar Bear Sanctuary

Wrangel Island, Russia
Wrangel Island has a curious history. It was one of the only plots of land听that avoided glaciation during the last Ice Age, and scientists believe this Arctic tundra is听where the last wooly mammoths roamed. Today听this 2,900-square-mile听island 88 miles off the coast of Siberia is a veritable Galapagos of the Arctic, with unusual plants and wildlife, like musk听ox, Arctic fox, Pacific walrus, snowy owl, and the relatively large polar bear population ().听Only recently opened to tourists鈥攚ho largely come to see the gathering sites of polar bears鈥攖ravelers are otherwise forbidden without proper visas and park passes. Outfitters like facilitate the process,听but it comes at a price: A听15-day excursion costs $11,200, excluding flights.听

Get there: Fly 听direct from Moscow to Anadyr,听the port to Wrangel Island.听

Camp at the Gates of Hell

Erta Ale, Ethiopia
Erta Ale is as inhospitable to human life as you can imagine. As the sun sets, smoke emerges from the cracks beneath your feet听and an eerie red glow emits from a gurgling lava lake (one of only five听on earth) located in the center of one of the world鈥檚 only . San Francisco鈥揵ased writer听Jill Perambi says camping in the Denali Depression, in the northeastern region of Ethiopia,听was one of the most intense experiences she鈥檚 ever had:听鈥淭he strong sulphur smell made our eyes water and throat burn, and without headlamps (our main light source was the lava itself), we could鈥檝e easily tripped and fallen into the boiling lava.鈥� Plus, air temperatures . Take a , which听include stays on the surrounding caldera, but only if you鈥檙e looking to .听

Get there: Fly into Mekele, Africa, on听.听From there, it鈥檚 about 80 miles to Erta Ale听with a tour on land.

Surf the Scene of Mad Max: Fury Road

Namib Desert, Namibia
The ocean once covered the arid, unforgiving landscape of this desert in southwestern Africa. Sand, dunes, and rock outcroppings now stretch as far as the eye can see, which made it the perfect set for the postapocalyptic thriller听. Despite the bleak feel, it鈥檚 a popular place for sandboarders, as home to the world鈥檚 tallest sand dunes,听some reaching upwards of 1,000 feet. Check out the hills near Sossusvlei in the ,听which overlooks Dead Vlei, a 550-year-old petrified forest. 听runs a few duneboard-centric tours, or stay at , just at the lip of the park. For bragging rights, hike up the Big Daddy Dune (1,066 feet),听the largest sand dune in the world.听

Get there: Fly into , the capital of Namibia.听From there, it鈥檚 either a six-hour drive or a one-hour air听taxi flight to Sossusvlei with your tour company.

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On the scale of hotel听room awesomeness, outdoor showers rank up there with killer views and private Jacuzzis (and, okay, free minibars). We don鈥檛 need to spell out why,听especially after a day of ripping up waves, pounding mountain trails, zip-lining, safari-ing, or just nursing听margs on the beach. And you know the only thing better than that first sip of coffee in the morning? Waking up with an outdoor shower. That鈥檚 not a scientific fact, but it鈥檚 true. Trust us. To help you make this vacation dream a reality, we scoured the world of adventure hot spots for some of the coolest outdoor showers. That list is right here.

Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Nayara Hotel, Spa, and Gardens
The amazing adventures around Costa Rica鈥檚 Arenal Volcano are no secret:听hiking, rafting, canyoning, biking, hot springs, and, of course, zip-lining. But hidden beneath the shadow of these jungle-clad hills are the gardens of , which are everywhere at this tropical enclave,听even in the romantic rooms鈥� private courtyard showers. Rough stone walls, pebbled floors, and palm fronds add to the natural vibe.

Bahia, Brazil

Uxua Casa Hotel and Spa
From sea kayaking and beach volleyball to听capoeira, fishing, and trail biking, there are听plenty of ways to get your heart racing at , an听intimate, oceanside Bahian hideaway. Each of the ten casas,听ranging from refurbished fishing shacks to treehouses,听has an outside听tropical shower. The one in听听feels most like the ultimate jungle fantasy, where you cool off听in听a stream of water that cascades from a tree. You might have to brush away palm fronds to wash your hair, but doesn鈥檛 that make things more fun?

Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia

Okonjima
is located in a private nature reserve and is home to the , which works to conserve and rehabilitate Namibia鈥檚 cheetah population. It鈥檚 one of the few safari camps with its own self-guided hiking and听. Each of the four bedrooms in the private Grand African Villa, part of a camp with many styles of accommodations, has a dramatic, curvaceous outdoor shower that鈥檚 a big step up from the usual bush shower.听

Phuket, Thailand

Paresa Resort
Bespoke adventures abound at : Hike to secluded villages by starlight, kayak out to caves on the sea or through jungle streams, or take it easy with lunch on a floating raft in the Kho Sok Forest. But first you鈥檒l have to peel yourself out of your room.听Each is perched on the Kamala cliffs amid a tropical forest.听An entire balcony is dedicated to the art of outdoor showering (and includes a private pool). Looking down over the balcony railing, the view is of the indigo waters of the Andaman Sea.

Sonoma, California

Carneros Inn
Exploring the tremendous bounty of wineries throughout Sonoma County,听especially via bicycle,听is possibly听one of the most romantic trips in the United States. The sprawling 听offers a new take on the landscape鈥檚 beauty, with alfresco showers adorned with peekaboo windows that look out onto the property鈥檚 27 acres of grapevines, apple orchards, and farmland.

St.听Lucia

Ladera
听is the only resort located inside the St. Lucia's听UNESCO World Heritage site, and travelers hideaway听here听to sail, snorkel, or climb the famed 2,619-foot Gros Piton听(right next door). While the showers aren鈥檛 strictly open-air, they might as well be: Picture windows let you look out on the view, and the showers feature exuberant mosaic tiles depicting tropical gardens.听

Antigua

Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort
Cars are banned, and everyone gets around by bicycle or on foot at听, a resort on a private island听a few miles from Antigua in the West Indies. But escaping it all doesn鈥檛 mean giving up a luxurious bathroom. The suites all have private courtyards with curvaceous showerheads mounted on pearlescent tiled walls, plenty of room to splash around, eye candy in the form of bougainvillea, and, for more serious bathing endeavors, claw-foot soaking tubs.

Zighy Bay, Oman

Six Senses Zighy Bay
Oman, one of the most visitor-friendly countries in the Middle East, is quietly becoming a hot spot for rock climbers, mountain bikers, and divers looking for an exotic escape. Stay at the 听and you鈥檒l also soak in some of the local culture: The outdoor showers in the Spa Pool Villas are a slightly听glammed-up version of a traditional Omani outdoor bathing area. 国产吃瓜黑料 the walled courtyards, the northern Musandam Peninsula beckons with its mix of stunning nature鈥攋agged mountains on one side and the waters of Zighy Bay on the other.听

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Warning: unless you鈥檙e an annoyingly carefree bon vivant with a hefty trust fund, reading our annual Best of Travel awards may trigger a deep sense of dissatisfaction with the pathetic state of your mundane life. There are so many cool places to go, you鈥檒l think as you scroll through our 30 epic selections. And not enough time! Why am I stuck at this desk! Do not panic鈥攖his is a totally natural reaction. And that鈥檚 the beauty of our annual awards.

国产吃瓜黑料 has been covering the adventure-travel beat for nearly four decades, and our two veteran Best of Travel writers, Tim Neville and Stephanie Pearson, have spent months poring over the latest trip offerings and scouring the globe to uncover surprising new ideas. We know this beat, and now we鈥檝e narrowed your choices of hotels, destinations, and outfitters from approximately 10.6 million to 30. The final choice is still on you, but the task is at least manageable. Or maybe you鈥檒l get that trust fund. 鈥�Chris Keyes

1. Best Island: Bermuda

A subtropical archipelago of 181 volcanic islands, Bermuda won the bid to host the 2017 America鈥檚 Cup, thanks to near perfect North Atlantic sailing conditions. Beyond wind, the British Overseas Territory, just a two-hour flight from New York City, has 75 miles of pink-sand beaches interspersed with jagged limestone cliffs, many of which are perfect for deep-water soloing and hucking into the Atlantic from the top. Stay at , a 50-acre hideaway with a private stretch of sand on the southern shore (from $455).

2. Best Dive: Cuba

Already sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department as an educational tour, this 11-day live-aboard yacht excursion helps fund research 鈥╝nd conservation work by trip leader David Guggenheim, a marine scientist, underwater explorer, and founder of the Washington, D.C., nonprofit . The location: , an archipelago of 250 coral and mangrove islands, located 60 miles off Cuba鈥檚 southern coast, that Fidel Castro established as a marine protected area and a no-take fishing zone. Only 1,000 divers are allowed each year, so you鈥檒l be one of the few to see whale sharks, sperm whales, sea turtles, goliath groupers, and some of the most pristine coral reefs anywhere on the planet. The package includes a chartered flight from Miami and a night at the five-star in Havana. From $7,474.

3. Best Street Food: Austin, Texas

The scene here is so fast-paced that today鈥檚 sweet chile chicken lollipops at or kimchi fries at the Korean-Mexican fusion truck may be gone tomorrow. (Though we sure hope not.) Hit eight trucks in one location at the Barton Springs Picnic Park, and find more worth seeking out at and .

4. Best River Trip: Fiji

Lined with vertical cliffs and cascading waterfalls, the 18-mile-long Upper Navua River Gorge on Viti Levu is like a tropical Grand Canyon, which is why formed and worked with local landowners, villagers, a timber company, and the Native Land Trust Board to establish the 10.5-mile Upper Navua Conservation Area in 2000. Bask in the fruits of their labor by paddling this pristine Class II鈥揑II warm-water river lined with swaying palms. As long as you鈥檙e here, add a couple of days kayaking the Middle Navua, sea-kayaking and snorkeling among the coral gardens of Beqa Lagoon, and sprawling out on white-sand beaches. $2,899 for eight days.

5. Best of the Wild West: Montana

Since 2001, the nonprofit has been working to restore the northern great plains to the pristine condition Lewis and Clark found them in more than 200 years ago. The resulting reserve, in northeast Montana, is now 305,000 acres. The aim is to reach 3.5 million by 2030, creating a U.S. Serengeti and the largest wildlife park in the lower 48, where herds of elk, mule deer, and bison thrive. But don鈥檛 wait to go. You can sleep under the stars now at the 11-site ($10), four miles north of the , and take a DIY mountain-biking safari on old ranch roads, passing grazing bison and scanning the skies for American kestrels, Sprague鈥檚 pipits, and Swainson鈥檚 hawks. Or paddle the Missouri River past pioneer homesteads and historic tepees to , a set of five luxurious yurts, each with AC, a hot shower, and a veranda for sundowners (from $4,800 for six days).

6. Best Place to Tie One On: Portland, Maine

The other Portland may have the microbrewery rep, but it distributes its beers to half the country. Many of the best brews in Portland, Maine, can only be quaffed here. , a classic American farmhouse brewery, just opened a tasting room downtown where you can try local favorite Space Cowboy, a low-alcohol ale, and full-flavor European-style beers like the Continental. Then head to , one of the country鈥檚 best beer bars, with 33 rotating taps, including roughly ten Maine brews. Or join , which offers two-and-a-half-hour tours along the Old Port area, with stops at distilleries and breweries like and (from $59).

7. Best Splurge: Greenland

鈥� brand-new eco base camp, with high-thread-count linens, hot showers, and a gourmet chef, is as close to a luxurious safari-style camp as you can get in these parts. Set on Sermilik Fjord at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet, one of the least explored regions of the Arctic, the camp is within view of 5,000-foot peaks that plunge into the sea. Why pay top dollar to sleep in polar bear country in temperatures that barely hit the fifties in August? Because as Olaf Malver, the Danish camp founder who has spent 26 years exploring this coastline, says, 鈥淵ou will be dazzled by its dizzying beauty, strength, and simmering silence.鈥� Guests can take guided ten-mile hikes through tundras, kayak among humpback whales, and visit Inuit villagers who live by centuries-old traditions. From $8,995 for nine days.

8. Best Way to Get Strong Quads: San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Elevation, elevation, elevation. That鈥檚 what I recall about the through the San Juans, from Durango, Colorado, to Moab, Utah. Much as I want to write about the towering vistas and cascading ribbons of singletrack, you have to reach them first, and my memory of the 200-plus-mile ride is the 25,000 feet of elevation gain. The pain is worth it, with climbs ending at huts with glorious views. Note that these aren鈥檛 your gorgeous, timber-pegged cabins鈥攖hey鈥檙e two-by-four-and-particle-board huts, hauled up on trailer frames. But you鈥檙e not here for raclette and a hot-stone massage; you鈥檙e just happy that you don鈥檛 have to carry your own food, water, and shelter. The cabins are well stocked, including cold beer and a warm sleeping bag on a soft pad. A couple of suggestions: carry the hut system鈥檚 maps; where it says singletrack option, take it; and read the log books (some of the comments are hysterical). When you get to Geyser Pass Hut at the end of day six, start smiling, because you鈥檙e at the top of the La Sal Mountains, and a 7,400-foot descent, aptly named the Whole Enchilada, awaits. As do the Colorado River, Moab, and a Milt鈥檚 malted and cheeseburger.
鈥�Dave Cox

9. Best New Jaw-Dropping Hotel: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Oman is one of the most peaceful and stunning nations in the Middle East. Start your exploration of the vast Arabian Peninsula at amid date, peach, and pomegranate trees, perched at 6,500 feet on the edge of a deep gorge in the Hajar Mountains. Ffrom $325.

10. Best International 国产吃瓜黑料 Hub: Chile

Running 2,610 miles north to south, Chile is the longest country in the world, and 80 percent of it is covered by mountains. With vast wild spaces like 650,000-acre (which opened to the public this year), pristine rivers with big trout, classic old-school ski areas, and pisco sours and damn good wine, it鈥檚 hard to go wrong. Consider these dream itineraries: (1) Fly into the capital city of Santiago, then work your way south to 370,000-acre in Tierra del Fuego. The former cattle ranch opened in 2013, but very few people have been lucky enough to explore this swath of untouched glaciers and peaks. Be one of the first to take it all in on a 16-day boat-assisted hiking and sailing epic with ($8,000). (2) Mid-country, two hours south of Santiago in the Millahue Valley, stay at the brand-new , a 22-room retreat and wine spa in the middle of an 11,000-acre vineyard with stunning views of the Andes (from $1,200). Mountain-bike the 65 miles of vineyard roads, then laze by the infinity pool. (3) Eleven hundred miles north in the Atacama Desert, explore the lunar landscape on horseback, relax poolside at the luxurious (from $1,350 for two nights, all-inclusive), then set out after dark to to view the universe through the clearest sky on earth.

11. Best SUP Odyssey: Belize

With the 180-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef, this laid-back country has long been a heaven for divers and snorkelers. It just got better with the world鈥檚 first lodge-to-lodge paddleboarding trip. On this through Belize鈥檚 118,000-acre , you鈥檒l paddle four to eight miles per day through calm turquoise waters, jumping off to snorkel where spotted eagle rays and barracuda glide in reef areas too shallow for motorboats. You鈥檒l visit with researchers at Smithsonian鈥檚 to learn about reef biology, stop for a beachside fresh-catch lunch at a Garifuna fishing camp, night-snorkel at Southwater Cut (a deep channel where the coral blooms after dark), and sleep in rustic overwater bungalows on tiny Tobacco Caye and in the seclusion of private Southwater Caye, 12 acres ringed by white sand in the Belize Barrier Reef. $1,829 for six days.

12. Best Place to Get in the Car and Go: India

Mention driving in India to veteran travelers and they鈥檒l recount white-knuckle cab rides and six-hour traffic jams. But on a ten-day driving trip with , you and a caravan of like-minded adventurers gain access to crowd-free luxury lodging and villages far from the tourist hordes. You鈥檒l pilot a Mahindra Scorpio (an Indian four-wheel-drive SUV) up to 90 miles a day, charging through the dirt roads of the Himalayan foothills or over the sand dunes of Rajasthan. A mechanic will be right behind you for on-the-fly repairs. From $1,500 for ten days.

13. Best Beaches: South Carolina

The Palmetto State has over 200 miles of coastline and an ample supply of gorgeous beaches, with comfortable water temperatures from May through October. Start in Charleston and head 20 miles north to uninhabited Bulls Island, part of the stunning 66,000-acre Cape Romaine 鈥∟ational Wildlife Refuge, for a hiking or kayaking tour with (from $40). Farther north lies Pawleys Island and its laid-back beaches, and three miles north of there is our favorite stretch of the state: Litchfield Beach. The northern end is the protected . You won鈥檛 find any putt-putt here, just wide-open white sand for miles.

14. Best Small Cruise: Doubtful Sound, New Zealand

As my wife and I planned our South Island road trip, the big debate was: should we do an overnight cruise into Doubtful Sound on a 70-person, three-masted sailboat? We didn鈥檛 really think of ourselves as cruising types. Then we looked at pictures of Doubtful Sound, which seemed too stunning to be real: ridiculously lush forest clinging to sheer cliff walls, pods of dolphins, towering waterfalls. So we booked the trip with . While we did some unbelievably cool stuff while we were in New Zealand, including helicoptering into a swanky lodge in the Southern Alps, the defining moment came during a rainy afternoon on that boat. Temperatures were in the mid-forties, and we had just returned from a short sea-kayaking excursion, wet and cold. But when I saw a few of my fellow cruisers (who, it should be said, were mostly young and adventuresome) lining up to jump off the rear deck, I stripped down to my skivvies, climbed onto a platform, and launched into the scrotum-searingly cold water. And then I did it again. My wife looked at me like I鈥檇 lost my mind. And maybe I had, at least temporarily. From $310.鈥擲AM MOULTON
鈥�Sam Moulton

15. Best Comeback Country: Sri Lanka

The first decade of the new millennium was rough on Sri Lanka, with a devastating cyclone, the tsunami, and a 26-year civil war that ended in 2009. Today, this largely Buddhist island in the northern Indian Ocean, with 8,000-foot peaks and 830 miles of coastline, has bounced back big time鈥攆oreign travel grew 19 percent in 2014. There鈥檚 no shortage of fun to be had at these base camps: Book a deluxe safari-style tent at and Spa in the center of the country and hike to sacred rock Sigiriya (from $221). , a brand-new clifftop hotel on 12 lush acres, 30 minutes east of the port city of Galle, hovers 100 feet over the Indian Ocean, with mountain biking, diving, and paddleboarding nearby (from $767). On the east coast, the village of Arugam Bay, sandwiched between miles of beaches and an inland tropical jungle, has consistent right breaks. Rent a beach cabana at the (from $38). Twenty miles south is Yala National Park, with herds of elephants and solitary leopards.

16. Best Outfitted Trips: Anywhere with Wilderness Travel

This 37-year-old team in Berkeley, California, dreams up more than 30 unique trips across 75 countries every year and is known for pioneering adventures that other outfitters copy later鈥攌ayaking tours through remote stretches of Tierra del Fuego, the world鈥檚 highest trek (at 23,000 feet) across Tibet鈥攁nd doing it all with an eye toward supporting locals and minimizing environmental impact. But what makes truly exceptional are the company鈥檚 trip developers and guides. Take Barbara Banks, a polyglot who鈥檚 spent 23 years with the company traveling hundreds of thousands of miles setting up local connections. (Norwegian ferry captains know her so well, they鈥檒l make unscheduled stops to allow Wilderness Travel groups to disembark directly at their waterside hotel after a day of hiking fjords.) Some recent new trips: sea-kayaking and camping on isolated beaches in Palau, visiting little-seen pyramids in Sudan, and tracking desert lions in Namibia with Flip Stander, a Ph.D. who has spent decades living among the big cats.

17. Best Domestic 国产吃瓜黑料 Hub: North Carolina

Take California, make the mountains greener and the beaches and restaurants less crowded, and replace all the digital millionaires with hospitable southerners, and you get North Carolina. On the coast, you鈥檒l find some of the East鈥檚 best breaks on the Outer Banks, and stand-up paddleboarders cruise through the 160,000-acre , filled with salt estuaries and flooded pines. In the west, there鈥檚 world-class singletrack and road riding in the Blue Ridge mountains (pros like local Matthew Busche of Trek Factory Racing train for the Tour de France here), 96 miles of Appalachian Trail, and some of the country鈥檚 best whitewater at the . That鈥檚 to say nothing of cities like Asheville, Wilmington, and Chapel Hill, which are full of farm-to-table restaurants, local breweries, and great music venues. Where to start your trip? Get a room at the two-year-old in Asheville (from $159) and mountain-bike the Big Avery Loop, a challenging 13-mile romp through rhododendron tunnels and way-off-the-back rock steps. Or rent a house on the Outer Banks in the spring or fall and learn to surf with the folks at (from $100).

18. Best Base Camp: Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia

Yes, getting to Namibia involves at least a full day of travel, but the payoff is worth it: no other landscape is like the surreal Skeleton Coast, which was carved out of lava rock 130 million years ago. One excellent way to see it is via , a fly-in oasis that opened last August on the banks of the Hoanib River in one of Africa鈥檚 most extraordinary wildlife-viewing regions. Desert-adapted rhinos, elephants, and other charismatic megafauna like springbok (a gazelle) linger near the camp鈥檚 spacious, fire-warmed common area and eight luxury safari tents (think pitched canvas roofs, big decks, and twin-bed interiors). A small plane can drop you off near the shipwrecks and seal colonies at Mowe Bay. From $500.

19. Best Road Biking: California

The Golden State has 800 miles of coastline and half a dozen mountain ranges鈥攁nd you can ride practically all of it year-round. From coastal tours like the supported eight-day, 525-mile from San Francisco to Los Angeles, to foodie-friendly tours along the back roads of Sonoma (visit for routes, rentals, and outfitters), to epic climbs like the five passes and 15,000 feet of elevation gain through the Sierra Nevada during the annual ($135), California has greater variety than just about anywhere. Get route maps online at the , or sign up with an outfitter like . Its supported, self-directed six-day tours from Yosemite to San Francisco or through Death Valley National Park let you decide where to ride, sleep, and eat, but a leader in a van sets up snack stops and water refills and hauls your gear. It鈥檚 like an egoless, six-cylinder domestique ($1,495 for six days).

20. Best Place for a Meal in Ski Boots: Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

After a morning spent charging Taos鈥檚 famously steep West Basin chutes, there鈥檚 no better place to refuel than the 鈥檚 festive outdoor deck. With its waitstaff in dirndls and lederhosen, German fare, and view of Kachina Peak, this ski-in, ski-out chalet is about as close to the Alps as you can get in the southern Rockies. I start with the soft-doughed pretzels and house-made sweet grain mustard. They鈥檙e the perfect warm-up for the goulash, bratwurst, or spaetzle (a German version of mac and cheese) and an Asam Bock, a beer on tap from Germany鈥檚 . On powder days, I often don鈥檛 end up at the Bavarian until dinner, which is served inside the log-built lodge, where you can still dunk bread in cheese on fondue Tuesdays during the winter. If I鈥檓 sleeping in one of the Bavarian鈥檚 four luxe suites, waking up to easy access to Taos鈥檚 new Kachina lift, which expands the mountain鈥檚 lift-served advanced terrain by 50 percent, is heaven. During summer, trails to Williams Lake and New Mexico鈥檚 highest peak鈥�13,159-foot Wheeler鈥攁re right out your door.鈥�Mary Turner

21. Best Urban Upgrade: Philadelphia

It may be better known for its cheesesteak, hoagies, and underdog sports teams, but lately the City of Brotherly Love has been gaining ground as an outdoor town. This year it鈥檚 launching a bike-share program and adding three miles of multi-use trails to its 220-mile citywide system. In 2014, it transformed 20,571 square feet of cemented wasteland into . You can even do paddleboard yoga along the Delaware River with (from $45).

22. Best Outfitted Trips for Families: Anywhere with Bicycle 国产吃瓜黑料s

Roughly 10 percent of 鈥� trips are now geared specifically toward families with preteens in tow. This year the Washington-based company launched three multi-day rides in Oregon, Idaho, and South Dakota that follow car-free bike paths and pass through kid-captivating areas like Mount Rushmore and Idaho鈥檚 Trail of the Hiawatha, with stops for ice cream, rafting, and swimming holes. Have younger kids? They鈥檒l pedal tag-alongs hitched to adult bikes, and toddlers and infants can ride in provided trailers. From $2,295.

23. Best Place to Eat and Drink Yourself Silly: Scotland

A decade ago, when restaurants like Noma ushered in a Scandinavian culinary renaissance, a bunch of Scots headed north and took jobs in those kitchens. Now they鈥檝e returned to make use of their homeland鈥檚 nearly 6,800 miles of coastline, abundant mushroom and strawberry harvests, and massive beef industry. Which is part of the reason the country named 2015 the . Just about every town has at least one restaurant with a creative menu. To experience the best of it, go to the , on the edge of Loch Dunvegan. Chef Michael Smith serves Sconser king scallops, Skye blackface lamb, and lobster from practically right out the door. And don鈥檛 forget to take in a Scotch distillery tour.

24. Best Places to Stretch Your Budget: Japan, Europe, and Brazil

With the economy bouncing back, the dollar is getting stronger鈥攅specially in these three destinations, where the exchange rate has steadily improved over the past 12 months.

Japan

Three nights at the ski-centric

• February 2014: $260
• February 2015: $220

Europe

One-week tour with

• February 2014: $4,000
• February 2015: $3,395

Brazil

Three nights in the Amazon at

• February 2014: $850
• February 2015: $750

25. Best Deal: Kolarbyn Hostel

These , located about 80 miles west of Stockholm, are made from wood and earth (you can pick blueberries off the roof) and set you up in the middle of a spruce forest straight out of Endor. Spend your days napping, hiking, or paddling nearby waterways, and end them with a visit to the floating sauna on Sk盲rsj枚n lake. $120.

26. Best Effort to Mitigate That Carbon Footprint: Indianapolis International Airport

Air travel is tough on the environment. So it鈥檚 nice when there are initiatives like the . Last year, workers more than doubled the number of solar panels at Indianapolis International Airport to 76,000鈥攅nough to power 3,210 homes for an entire year.

27. Best Safari: Kenya

国产吃瓜黑料 GO鈥檚 11-day was put together by owners Sandy and Chip Cunningham, who lived in Kenya for five years, in response to a simple truth: Africa鈥檚 most worthwhile destinations are often some of its most vulnerable. You鈥檒l visit three remarkable locations on the cutting edge of both conservation and accommodation in the wildest sections of East Africa. Take Campi Ya Kanzi, nestled in the shadow of Kilimanjaro, which has exclusive access to 300,000 acres of wilderness with lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes, and not a single tourist in sight. You鈥檒l be hosted by local Masai and sleep in a lavish tent without the humming generators that mar other properties鈥攖he camp gets 24-hour power from solar. The trip culminates in a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust鈥檚 elephant orphanage, where young pachyderms that have lost their parents to poaching are fostered. You鈥檒l get a once-in-a-lifetime, up-close look. From $9,585.

28. Best Viral-Video Opportunity: Bay of Fundy

Go with on a sea kayak with pods of humpback whales in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick. From $85.听

29. Best Airbnb Property: Mary May鈥檚

A morning spent at outside Bozeman, Montana, presents a dilemma. Do you fire up the professional range, swing open the French doors, and have a leisurely breakfast? Do you head out and explore the property鈥檚 100 acres of trails and trout waters? Or do you hop in the car for a quick trip to Yellowstone? There鈥檚 no easy answer, but few places let you experience as much for so little. $125.

30. Best Surf Trip: Baja, Mexico

There are lots of ways to enjoy Mexico. But I鈥檝e found that the very best is to cross the border in a 4×4 truck with surfboards, a few extra tanks of gasoline, and a couple of bottles of mezcal. If you don鈥檛 count the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali鈥攁nd, frankly, you shouldn鈥檛鈥攖he Baja peninsula has a population of just over two million spread across 55,000 square miles. That鈥檚 fewer people than Houston. The region鈥檚 2,000 miles of wild and desolate Pacific coastline are littered with fantastic, almost always empty surf. Many of the most famous breaks鈥擰uatros Casas, Scorpion Bay鈥攏ow have hostels and other amenities on the bluffs, but the rule of thumb is that the farther you get from San Diego, the more challenging and rewarding it becomes. You get to work for your dinner: spear-caught fish for ceviche and a lobster as big as a small dog. Lodging options that far south are limited鈥攚e slept in tents or our truck bed鈥攕o if you go, remember that when the wind starts whipping and the night gets cold, dead yuccas burn hotter than tumbleweeds.
鈥�Matt Skenazy

More of 国产吃瓜黑料's 2015 Best of Travel

• Gear: The 5 Best Pieces of Gear for the Road
• Guides: 5 Travel Guides You Need to Know
• Coming Soon: The Best of Travel Runner-Ups

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