We are ready for summer. We鈥檝e got our lightweight tents and Tevas out, spend our free time examining trail maps, and have been outdoors soaking up the longer days in preparation for all sorts of adventures. Where are we going this summer? Some of us have plans to escape to tropical Caribbean ports and the high peaks of South America, while others are simply road-tripping one county or one state over for a long weekend escape.

Haven鈥檛 nailed down the specifics of your summer vacation yet? It doesn鈥檛 have to be spendy, and you can go with friends, family, or solo. Just pick a place that will offer a sense of wonder, a disconnect from your routine, preferably in nature, which has been shown to improve everything from our psyches to our relationships and even heal heartbreak. Here are the trips we鈥檝e booked.

Northern New Mexico

When the heat hits the country with full force in July, my husband and I will head from our home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, up north to cooler climes near Taos. We鈥檙e eager to stay at , which isn鈥檛 a hotel at all but a grouping of vintage Airstreams all decorated differently. We鈥檝e rented Castor, built in 1972, our best friends have rented the adjacent Pollux, from 1967, and we鈥檒l share a deck. Each trailer has a queen bed, a full kitchen, a bathroom, and views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The hiking around Taos is incredible, too, with trails in nearly every direction.

From Luna Mystica, you can walk to the Taos Mesa Brewery鈥檚 mothership location, which has a stage and live music many summer nights. Early in the mornings we鈥檒l drive the quick 13 miles to the Black Rock Hot Springs on the Rio Grande; my husband will fly-fish from the wide banks while I soak and enjoy the July traffic through the canyon: dragonflies, swallows, kayakers, hawks, and bright-yellow butterflies.

One day we want to tour the nearby , self-sufficient off-grid homes that look like futuristic dwellings. I鈥檓 fascinated by their modern sustainability efforts but also love their incorporation of beautiful, unique design elements鈥攚alls made of used tires and earth or accents of recycled glass bottles that glimmer colorfully in the sun. 鈥�Tasha Zemke, 国产吃瓜黑料 managing editor

Ten Sleep Canyon, Wyoming

At some point over the winter, I decided I sucked at climbing. As I dragged my feet out of the gym, devoid of stoke and prepared to suck again the next day, I had no idea how to cure my melodramatic self-diagnosis. But that changed two months ago when I started climbing with the , a mentor program in the Denver area led by big-wall athlete Jordan Cannon. A dozen of my peers and I have attended clinics, trainings, lectures, and meet-ups to define and achieve our climbing goals, and it all culminates in a final trip in June to Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Why Ten Sleep? This tiny cowboy town in the north-central reaches of the state happens to be the base camp of a massive limestone canyon 15 miles away with more than a thousand sport routes for climbers of every skill level. One of last year鈥檚 mentees called it 鈥淪helf Road on steroids鈥濃�攁 reference to a popular Front Range climbing mecca鈥攁nd noted how the population of the local campground, when filled with climbers, seems bigger than the actual town itself. 鈥�, National Park Trips digital content producer

Saint Lucia

My fianc茅 and I are taking our honeymoon this summer on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, best known for two mountains called the Pitons鈥擥ros Piton and Petit Piton. While we鈥檙e eager to lounge on the white-sand beaches, snorkel, eat jerk chicken and breadfruit, and enjoy a mud bath at Sulphur Springs, in the dormant Soufri猫re volcano, we鈥檙e most looking forward to guided hikes. I鈥檓 especially excited to tackle the Gros Piton Trail (see Gaia GPS map below), which is three miles round-trip, with a little more than 1,800 feet of elevation gain.

We鈥檝e been told this is challenging, but the view from the top of the island and the sea is said to be spectacular. Plus, I plan to set my alarm for an early-morning run just as the sun rises over the sea. 鈥�Mallory Arnold, Run associate editor

Machu Picchu, Peru

I鈥檓 an editor at Backpacker, and the biggest hiking goal of my life has always been Machu Picchu. I first learned about the ruins in Peru in my middle school history class, and the combination of hiking and Indigenous history intrigued me. A trip to South America seemed like a long shot, but I kept dreaming. Flash forward to the end of May: my college friends and I are going international on our annual reunion trekking trip. We鈥檒l fly into Cuzco and spend two days acclimatizing to the altitude鈥攁 little more than 11,000 feet鈥攚hile touring the city before hitting the Inca Trail with , a sustainable-tourism company.

For four days we鈥檒l hike between 7,218 and 13,780 feet before ending at the famous Inca site. With porters carrying our belongings and chefs cooking our meals, this is going to be a lot more glamorous than my usual excursions to the backcountry. I can鈥檛 wait. But there鈥檚 a more personal reason why this trip is particularly meaningful to me: I recently learned that a suspicious mole was actually stage-one melanoma and was sidelined for weeks in between procedures. I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to celebrate being cancer-free. 鈥� Emma Veidt, Backpacker associate editor

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

My theme for the summer is: Stay local, but get far, far away. From our home in Boulder, Colorado, my wife and I can drive to Rocky Mountain National Park in less than two hours, and we鈥檝e exploited that proximity to visit many of the park鈥檚 peaks, lakes, and trails. Not surprisingly, popular spots are often packed with other nature lovers. So this year we鈥檙e taking advantage of a little-used type of wilderness permit to escape the crowds. We鈥檝e reserved long weekends in four of Rocky鈥檚 23 , remote areas without developed trails or campsites, where we鈥檒l likely see more elk and moose than people.

Hidden in some of the park鈥檚 most rugged terrain, typically at elevations of 9,000 to 11,000 feet, these zones require expert navigation skills and total self-reliance. Expect rangers at the backcountry desk to quiz you on bear safety, Leave No Trace ethics, orienteering know-how, and prior wilderness experience before issuing your permit, and expect challenging bushwhacking through dense forest. But the reward is worth the effort: the crisp, star-filled nights, high-country wildflowers, and Alaska-worthy solitude will make you feel much farther from civilization than you actually are.

Fair warning: the park provides scant information about the zones, and trip reports are few and far between. Your best bet is to download the and subscribe to the Premium edition so you can access detailed topo maps for offline use (there鈥檚 typically no cell reception in these zones). Study the terrain closely before you go, and don鈥檛 expect to cover more than one mile per hour. 鈥�Jonathan Dorn, 国产吃瓜黑料, Inc., chief entertainment officer

Switzerland

When I realized I鈥檇 be spending my 30th birthday in Europe, I only had two nonnegotiables: Alpine hiking and cheese. Switzerland, specifically the Lauterbrunnen Valley, perfectly fit that bill. My husband and I are planning to spend four nights in the central Jungfrau region: one in a village hotel at each end of the valley, and two at the remote , an off-grid hut that鈥檚 only accessible by foot through forests and wildflower-filled pastures. (See Gaia GPS map to the hut below.) Reservations can only be made by phone, a charming and slightly confusing experience that secured us a bed in a private room, breakfast, and dinner for two days for about $106 per person per night.

We鈥檒l fill our days ascending the area鈥檚 many trails in the shadow of imposing peaks, past some of the valley鈥檚 72 waterfalls, and our evenings eating hearty meals, including Obersteinberg鈥檚 homemade cheese. I鈥檓 crossing my fingers that raclette is served鈥搈y favorite Swiss dish, it consists of melted cheese scraped over potatoes鈥揵ut if not, I鈥檒l indulge back in town with a celebratory pot of fondue.

We鈥檙e traveling to Switzerland by car but will leave it parked in Interlaken to take advantage of the valley鈥檚 excellent public transportation (think: trains, trams, and gondolas), as many of the hamlets are otherwise inaccessible. 鈥�Mikaela Ruland, National Park Trips editor in chief

Victoria, British Columbia

Last year my husband and I became rooftop-tent converts in Iceland. I鈥檝e pitched and slept in backpacking tents my whole life, and I never thought I鈥檇 be into a roof rig until our European rental experience went right. We realized it can take us two minutes, instead of twenty, to set up or break down camp. Plus, memory foam is so much comfier than the ground, and our gear stays a helluva lot more organized inside the vehicle.

So we scored an open-box deal on a , and this summer we鈥檙e taking it for a spin from New Mexico up through the Pacific Northwest to Canada. We鈥檒l hit campsites near Olympic National Park along the way, before ferrying to Victoria, British Columbia, to hang out at an oceanside apartment along a 70-mile bike path for six weeks. We鈥檙e stoked to beat the heat, enjoy the nearness of open water, and work from a place that鈥檚 new to us both where we can trail-run through the backcountry.

On our way home, we鈥檒l swing through Banff, in Alberta, then Glacier National Park, in Montana鈥攖wo bucket-list areas I鈥檝e been dying to check out. The best part? My husband is the king of finding last-minute camping reservations, so I barely had to lift a finger to map it all out. 鈥�Patty Hodapp, 国产吃瓜黑料 Online interim digital director

Paris and Annecy, France

I鈥檓 heading to Paris for the Summer Games! I鈥檝e been a huge fan of the Olympics for as long as I can remember, and about a year ago I haphazardly put my name on an email list for the ticket lottery. I didn鈥檛 put much thought into the idea of actually attending, until I beat out thousands of other eager fans (a process that saw me awake at 3 A.M., repeatedly refreshing my browser) to secure two tickets to men鈥檚 rowing in late July.

This will be my third time to the French capital, so after the event concludes and I鈥檝e gotten my fill of Olympic pride, I plan to head southeast to Annecy, a town on the French-Swiss border, for a long weekend in the fresh Alpine air. I鈥檒l brave the frigid temperatures of Lake Annecy, stroll Jardins de 鈥橢urope, and of course do some hiking. Routes to the Citadel of Lake Annecy and the Parmelan Plateau have already caught my eye, but like most things, there鈥檚 something to be said for going in with half a plan and figuring out the rest later. 鈥�Jamie Aranoff, Ski digital editor

British Columbia’s West Coast Trail

Ever since writer Scott Yorko pitched me on the deadly history of Canada鈥檚 (see Gaia GPS map below) a number of years ago, I鈥檝e wanted to see the area鈥檚 storied shipwrecks, beaches, and wildlife for myself. Yorko wrote not only of the dramatic rescue attempts that led to this 48-mile path鈥檚 construction along British Columbia鈥檚 rugged coast but also of sandy campsites, verdant rainforest walks, tide pools brimming with sea life, and a floating crab shack that caters to hungry hikers.

In June, I鈥檒l finally experience the trail for myself. I鈥檓 prepared for slow miles through boot-sucking mud, rickety wooden ladders, cable cars, and changing tides. With any luck, my partner and I will spot sea lions, whales, and otters; bears, cougars, and wolves are also known to wander the shore. The salty air and marine views should be a welcome departure from the alpine hikes I usually gravitate toward in the summer, and I couldn鈥檛 be more excited. 鈥�Zoe Gates, Backpacker senior editor

The Andes, Chile

In 2013, I spent five months living in southern Chile. But that was before I was a skier. In the intervening decade, I鈥檝e spent 100 days on snow almost every year. I rarely travel away from my home in the eastern Sierra to ski these days, but my ultimate dream trip is a ski trip to Chile and Argentina. This is the year that becomes a reality. In August, when the austral winter is in full swing, my fianc茅e and I will fly from Los Angeles to Santiago and enjoy the change of scenery while sipping pisco sours, sightseeing at the Pablo Neruda museum, and checking out the mountaintop zoo. The following day we鈥檒l take a bus to Portillo, a resort nestled among the Andes that鈥檚 famous for runs that empty out at Laguna del Inca, for three days on the slopes, and after that, we鈥檒l travel southeast to Las Le帽as, in Argentina, for a final two days of skiing above wine country. I never much cared for summer anyway. 鈥擩ake Stern, 国产吃瓜黑料 Online digital editor

The post Seize the Summer! 10 Incredible Trips Our Editors Are Taking. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Health and wellness is highly personal. Sometimes our bodies want a challenging mountain trek and a big dose of carbs. Or, after I’ve adventured hard, I might crave a nourishing week of yoga or a few days of planted-based meals and mindfulness sessions, preferably on a beach somewhere. Other times, I long for the support of a like-minded community while exploring a new place.

Whatever your needs, what you’ll find below aren’t your typical . They’re for active people who like to travel in some of the most beautiful places in the world. I chose spots with a variety of price ranges that meet a number of different goals, from hiking in spectacular mountains to surfing perfect swells to chilling out at a zen center. Better yet, I鈥檝e been to many of them and share my personal take on why they鈥檙e the best places to recharge. Here’s to your health. Now get planning.

Aro Ha Wellness Retreat, Glenorchy, New Zealand

Best For: Hikers who want to explore the Southern Alps

The Experience: The Tolkien-worthy views are breathtaking听at this 21-acre, just outside of Queenstown on the South Island. Sparkling Lake Wakatipu and the snow-capped peaks of New Zealand鈥檚 Southern Alps are on full display from the 20 suites, yoga deck, and outdoor plunge pool of its minimalist lodge. Daily, guided hikes immerse guests in the beauty of the mountains. There are treks for all fitness levels, from mindful walks through towering beech and medicinal Manuka trees to quad-burning climbs of up to 10 miles, including a portion of the famed Routeburn Track. Six-to-eight-day retreats are designed around the concept of rewilding mind, body, and spirit.

A typical day starts with a sunrise vinyasa flow class, followed by a bowl of fennel coconut muesli, then a three- to-four hour hike and a well-earned plant-based lunch like veggie Pad Thai. Free time allows for a therapeutic massage or kayak outing before an afternoon workshop in fermentation or journaling. Dinner might be accompanied by a tart cherry and magnesium shot (alcohol and caffeine aren鈥檛 allowed) and all the fresh air and physical exercise guarantees you won鈥檛 have any trouble falling asleep. Aro-Ha虅 bills itself as a mind-body reboot, but it鈥檚 also great conditioning if you want to extend your stay three days and tackle the full 20-mile Routeburn Track.

The Cost: All-inclusive six-day retreats from $4,320

Ojo Caliente Spa and Resort, Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

Best For: Hot spring devotees who love the southwest

The Experience: This located halfway between Abiquiu and Taos is steeped in history and healing. For thousands of years, Northern Pueblo communities made pilgrimages to the area鈥檚 restorative thermal waters. When Ojo Caliente opened in 1868, it was considered the country鈥檚 first health spa. Today, the resort includes a farm-to-table restaurant, suites with kiva fireplaces and vintage trailers, and a spa. But the sulfur-free, therapeutic hot springs are why people come. You can devise a soaking circuit to soothe whatever ails you. A pool of iron-rich water provides an immune boost, while the arsenic spring may help achy muscles. The soda pool promises digestive relief and if you鈥檙e feeling down, the lithia pool is purportedly a natural mood enhancer. There鈥檚 also a mud pool where you can cover your body in purifying clay and new bathhouses with saunas and steam rooms. Drop in for a day soak or create a DIY wellness weekend and join vinyasa flow sessions in the yoga yurt and bike and hike the high-elevation trails right at the resort鈥檚 doorstep. The trailhead for the cottonwood-lined 1.8-mile Bosque Loop is steps from the lobby. Nearby, the Abiquiu Lake Vista Trail system offers sensational views of the 5,200-acre reservoir, Cerro Pedernal mesa, and Georgia O鈥橩eeffe鈥檚 beloved summer home, Ghost Ranch.

The Cost: Rooms from $239 + communal soaking from $45

Euphoria Retreat, Peloponnese, Greece

Best For: History buffs who want to sightsee while they sweat

The Experience: Programs at Euphoria combine the physical training of ancient Spartan warriors and the wellness wisdom of Hippocrates, with influences of Taoist philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, and the latest science-based therapies mixed in. The resembles a medieval village on 90 acres of hills in Mystras, a 13th-century town outside of Sparta in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. A sprawling four-story spa complex is built around a heated, sphere-shaped pool with an underwater soundtrack of whale songs. All guests have access to the Byzantine hammam (a type of steam bath), salt therapy room, infrared sauna, sensory deprivation pool, and gym. You can also customize your vacation with a la carte treatments, like a detox cupping massage or sign up for a retreat, like the Spartan Spirit of 国产吃瓜黑料. This multi-sport program doubles as a sightseeing tour over three, five, or seven days. Every day you鈥檒l be challenged with two to three hours of physical exercise. You might trek to the 7,890-foot peak of Mount Taygetus mountain or go rock climbing at Lagada, one of the best sports crags in Greece. Meals are customized for each guest based on a test that looks at metabolic markers such as glucose and glutathione, and can feel, well, a bit spartan. We won鈥檛 tell if you hit up one of the nearby tavernas.

The Cost: From $284 per night, including group activities

Blackberry Mountain, Walland, Tennessee

Best For: Active people who like good food and a tipple of whiskey after a hike

The Experience: Blackberry Mountain鈥檚 deep selection of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon was my first hint that this wasn鈥檛 your typical wellness retreat. The second: I was encouraged to work up an appetite. The spectacular setting makes that easy. Situated 20 minutes from the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this 听feels like a private playground, laced with 36 miles of hiking trails and 8 miles of singletrack. You can get after it trail running, bouldering, and mountain biking, then revive your muscles with fascial flossing (a technique that simultaneously elongates and contracts the fascia) at the recovery lab.

Or slow things down with aerial forest yoga followed by spa treatments like candlelight sound bathing and crystal reiki. An on-site art studio encourages guests to flex their creative side with pottery and watercolors. Blackberry Mountain puts a lighter spin on the decadent seasonal Southern cooking of its sister property, culinary mecca Blackberry Farm. I fueled my days with sweet potato oatmeal cakes topped with honey creme fraiche, then rewarded my efforts at night with dishes like hanger steak, smoked carrots and oyster mushrooms, and a sip of whisky. I left feeling like I鈥檇 just spent an energizing weekend at adult summer camp.

The Cost: Rates start at $1,595 per night based on double occupancy and includes meals and unlimited morning fitness classes

Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Best For: Ayurvedic-focussed healing on a stunning island

The Experience: Founded by a former yogi monk and a master of traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic philosophy, this sits on a dreamy slice of jungle shrouded sand. You could come to the island for a beach vacation and book a la carte therapies. But the majority of guests are drawn to the 20-plus programs Kamalaya offers that range from three to 21 days and address everything from gut health to burnout. A team of in-house experts鈥攊ncluding osteopaths and naturopaths, as well as visiting practitioners鈥� administer treatments like Chi Nei Tsang, a Taoist abdominal massage, in treehouse-inspired rooms.

If you鈥檝e come for the signature detox program, you鈥檒l dine on 鈥嬧�媐lavorful, yet portion-controlled plant-based, low-inflammatory, low-allergenic, and low-glycemic food. Otherwise you can indulge in Thai specialties, like thom kha gai (chicken and coconut soup). All programs have downtime to take advantage of activities, like a half-day cruise aboard a wooden Turkish Ketch along the southern coast.

The Cost: Three-night minimum. Three-night programs start at $1,400, including meals and treatments

Root 国产吃瓜黑料s, Peru + Puget Sound + Banff

Best For: Those seeking outdoor adventure and community

The Experience: A lot of wellness retreats cultivate mindfulness and push us physically, but also emphasizes the importance of being part of a diverse, inclusive community. Domestic and international itineraries combine the knowledge of local guides with the expertise of Root 国产吃瓜黑料s鈥� tour leaders, who include yoga instructors, wilderness therapists, justice advocates, and body positivity coaches. Most trips are capped at 12 people and pre-trip Zoom calls allow participants to bond while post-trip calls keep new friends connected and help reinforce new habits with supportive coaching.

Itinerary highlights for 2024 include:

• A four-day kayak and low-impact camping expedition around Puget Sound ($2,995) with daily yoga and meditation, locally-sourced food, and possible orca sightings.
• A challenging nine-day trek in the Andes of Peru ($4,595) that involves five to eight hours of hiking a day, journaling sessions, and camping in local communities.
• And a six-day backpacking and camping adventure in the rugged Canadian Rockies around Banff ($3,595), where you鈥檒l wild swim and forest bathe.

Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat, Nelson, British Columbia

Best For: Mountain lovers who want to recharge in the Canadian Rockies

The Experience: A good wilderness 颅ramble can do wonders for our health. 听amplifies the benefits by complementing rigorous hikes with holistic healing therapies, lifestyle workshops, and a diet free of processed foods, caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. A team of 40 experts, including nutritionists, naturopaths, and certified forest bathing guides, take care of 15 guests each week. Based out of a timber lodge in B.C.鈥檚 gorgeous Kootenay Range, the daily schedule starts with sunrise yoga, followed by three to four hours of nordic hiking with a break for a picnic lunch. Groups are broken up based on fitness levels and depending on the season, you might trek past meadows of alpine wildflowers or patches of golden larch, and spot bear, moose, or marmots. Back at the lodge, you鈥檒l attend lectures on topics like the art of goal setting and have down time to soak in the hot tub or the natural mineral hot springs just a five-minute walk away. Dinner is at 5:15 p.m. and might feature cedar plank grilled salmon and baby spinach and arugula salad. A post-meal crystal singing bowl session ensures you鈥檒l wind down for a deep sleep.

The Cost: $6,700 a week, all-inclusive

Crestone Mountain Zen Center, Crestone, Colorado

Best For: Those craving solitude and quiet

The Experience: When life gets overwhelming, this Zen Buddhist tucked sixty miles south of Salida between the jagged Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Colorado鈥檚 vast San Luis Valley, is the ultimate escape to still the mind and reset. And a visit doesn鈥檛 resign you to a monastic life of 4:30 a.m. wake up calls and marathon meditation sessions. You can create a custom retreat from four days to three months, be it solitude in the wilderness or a quiet, distraction-free space to read, breathe, hike, or regroup. Accommodation options range from a 10-site campground and a yurt to simple cabins and a five-room guest house. Stays include three garden-grown vegetarian meals per day and guests are welcome to join residents in group meditation. It鈥檚 also a great base if you鈥檙e craving some contemplative solo adventure time. The campus is surrounded by 240 trail-laced acres of pi帽on pine and juniper forest and is at the doorstep of some of Colorado鈥檚 most majestic hikes, like the Spanish Peak Trail and Kit Carson Peak, as well as natural hot springs.

The Cost: Starting at $75 a day for camping

SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain + Riviera Maya, Mexico

Best For: Those looking for a total reboot

The Experience: This is in the middle of Spain鈥檚 Sierra Helada Natural Park. Of every 100 guests who arrive, more than half are repeat visitors who consider this a health check up that doubles as a vacation. SHA鈥檚 sleek, white-washed design and cabana-lined, rooftop infinity pool could be mistaken for a fancy seaside resort in the Mediterranean. But the real draw is a tried-and-true holistic approach to biomedicine backed by a team of 30-some full-time doctors and specialists who work in partnership with Harvard Medical School and NASA. Personalized health programs range from four to 21 days and address nine areas, including nutrition, cognitive stimulation, and physical performance. Diagnostic tests measure everything from nervous system activity to melatonin biorhythms. Based on results, you鈥檙e prescribed a routine that might include sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls, a photobiomodulation session where you wear a helmet of LED infrared lights to stimulate cell repair, and a daily visit to the hydrotherapy circuit where you鈥檒l rotate through the sauna, cold plunge, Roman and Turkish baths, and therapeutic water jets. Customized meals are inspired by Japanese and Mediterranean culinary traditions, and SHA鈥檚 Healthy Living Academy offers cooking classes, as well as workshops on meditation and fitness coaching, to send you home with healthy habits. On January 26th, SHA will open its second outpost in the beach town of Costa Mujeres, Mexico, with a sea-to-table culinary concept and activities like swimming in cenotes and scuba diving in the large coral reef in the Americas.

The Cost: Four-day program, all-inclusive at SHA Wellness Clinic Spain from $7,796 and at SHA Wellness Mexico from $5,770

Eleven Deplar Farm Live Well Retreat, Troll Peninsula, Iceland

Best For: A bucket list splurge packed with adventure and relaxation

The Experience: 国产吃瓜黑料 collective Eleven is known for its high-thrill experiences. But the company鈥檚 new 听bring your body back to baseline with a float tank and yoga nidra sessions after the adrenaline. Deplar Farm, a remote 13-room lodge with floor-to-ceiling windows framing craggy peaks, is the perfect setting for transformation. At a visit here last winter, I braved the extreme elements on Icelandic horseback expeditions, Arctic surf missions, and cross-country ski outings to a silent lunch in a cozy cabin.

Back in the comfort of the lodge, I reset my nervous system with guided breathwork, sound baths, and a Viking sauna ritual that involved alternating between sweating in what looked like a hobbit house, then dunking in the cold plunge. Nourishing meals highlighted Icelandic ingredients in dishes like wolf fish with braised cauliflower puree and deconstructed skyr cake with almond crumble. At night, I鈥檇 watch for the Northern Lights from the geothermally-heated saltwater pool and would lull myself into a meditative state.

The Cost: Four-night retreat from $11,000

The Ultimate Costa Rica Wellness Retreats

A hotspot for wellness and longevity鈥攖he country’s Nicoya Peninsula is one of the world鈥檚 blue zones, a place people regularly live past the age of 100鈥擨 couldn’t leave Costa Rica off this list. Here are four more incredible trips that will leave you re-energized.

Surf Synergy

Best For: Surfers who crave personal instruction

The Experience: This in the beach town of Jac贸 was co-founded by Marcel Oliveira, Costa Rica鈥檚 reigning national SUP champ. Week-long one-on-one surf and SUP immersions include twice-weekly massages, ice baths, daily yoga, breathwork training, and healthy meals featuring ingredients from the on-site permaculture garden. With six beaches within easy reach, programs can be tailored to all experience levels and coaches provide video analysis that breaks down your technique.

The Cost: Seven nights, all-inclusive from $2,765

Hike Coast to Coast Along el Camino de Costa Rica

Best For: Hikers who like to explore

The Experience: I thought all of Costa Rica had been discovered until I trekked el Camino de Costa Rica, a 174-mile trail stretching between the Caribbean and the Pacific. Its 16 stages highlight rural communities, an Indigenous territory, and rarely visited parks and nature reserves. During my hike with I spotted an insane amount of wildlife, from glass-winged butterflies to two-toed sloth and racoon-like coati, dined in the homes of welcoming locals, and overnighted at simple hot springs hotels and low-frills eco-resorts. Be warned, this isn鈥檛 a walk in the park. Each stage averages four to 24 miles and the trail contains some serious elevation gain and requires a few river crossings.

The Cost: 16-day trips on the Camino de Costa Rica with Urri Trek from $1,950

Blue Osa Yoga Retreat, Osa Peninsula

Best For: Yogis who love the beach

This solar-powered in the southwest province of Punta Arenas is steps from a quiet stretch of sand. You can customize your own wellness vacation (beach yoga, a coconut body scrub at the spa, a day-trip to Corcovado National Park) or book a structured retreat. The Best of Costa Rica program is packed with yoga sessions but also takes groups off property on mangrove kayak tours, hikes to waterfalls, and birdwatching. Communal meals are a highlight (there鈥檚 even a Blue Osa cookbook) and showcase produce from the lodge鈥檚 on-site organic garden and local farmers. Start the day with Costa Rican coffee and tropical fruits, midday, refuel with a vegan chimichurri sweet potato bowl, and at night, feast on house-made rosemary focaccia and pesto pasta.

The Cost:听$1,440 for a four-night, all-inclusive retreat

Surf with Amigas

Best For: Solo surfers looking to make new friends

The Experience: This founded by former pro Holly Beck runs trips around the globe, but Costa Rica is hands down the most popular destination thanks to the variety of surf and pura vida vibes. The week-long, women鈥檚-only Northern Costa Rica Surf & Yoga itinerary is perfect for both beginners and shortboard shredders. Your hotel, located 40 minutes outside of Tamarindo, sits on a long sandy beach known for super consistent waves that break both right and left. Daily yoga classes help revive paddle-weary muscles and if the surf isn鈥檛 up, you鈥檒l tour local farms, go on horseback rides, and visit national parks.

The Cost: From $2,400, all-inclusive

国产吃瓜黑料 correspondent Jen Murphy is constantly on the road finding the best places to adventure. Her next stop? Surf Synergy in Costa Rica to work on her surfing skills.听

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During a trip to Nicaragua in September of 2019, I saw the words 鈥淧ray for Surfers鈥� graffitied across a boarded-up restaurant like a desperate plea. The year before that, I鈥檇 shared the waves with crowds of adventure tourists from around the world. Now I paddled out with just a couple of locals. The message was clear: Nicaraguans needed foreign surfers鈥攁nd their tourism dollars鈥攖o return.

During the previous decade, the country had pushed aside its war-torn reputation, acquired in the 1970s and 鈥�80s, and was touted as the next 鈥渋t鈥� destination for adventure travelers. Then, in April 2018, president Daniel Ortega ordered police to silence peaceful urban protests over social-security cuts. Reports of deaths and violence made international headlines, and Nicaragua鈥檚 tourism boom went bust almost overnight.

By early 2019, the U.S. State Department was urging Americans not to head there, 鈥渄ue to civil unrest and arbitrary enforcement of laws.鈥� As a travel writer who frequently explores far corners of the world, I chose to go anyway. I knew from speaking to my contacts on the ground that the political violence wasn鈥檛 aimed at visitors, nor was it taking place in every part of the country. Friends and family, however, questioned my decision. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong with the waves in Costa Rica?鈥� asked my mom. Scolded a friend: 鈥淵our travel dollars are supporting an unjust dictatorship.鈥�

But it鈥檚 my belief that, at the time, local businesses in Nicaragua鈥攕urf instructors, taco shops, and small hotels, among others鈥攏eeded my tourism dollars more than others elsewhere did. Writing about travel provides me access to a global community of guides and outfitters, and I鈥檓 aware just how much tourism can positively impact destinations that have weathered political unrest or natural disasters. Tourism dollars really do improve the lives of locals.

This assertion starkly contrasts with conventional thought, which is to steer clear of such places. Tourists often fear that visiting an afflicted area will impede recovery efforts and further burden resources and infrastructure. (This may be true in some cases, like immediately after a natural disaster, so doing the research before traveling to such areas is crucial. More on this later.) There is also the ethical quandary of sitting on a beach enjoying yourself while locals rebuild their lives. But Jack Ezon, founder of the travel agency Embark Beyond, told me that the period following a calamitous event is often when local communities need tourism dollars most.

鈥淏y visiting, you are literally keeping food on people鈥檚 table. You are giving them the dignity of having a job and helping them get back on their feet,鈥� says Ezon, a 20-year veteran of the adventure-travel industry.

The closure devastated area businesses. Enrique Umbert, CEO of the outfitter Mountain Lodges of Peru, estimates that thousands of tourism professionals were put out of work in a single month. 鈥淚t feels like COVID again,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e lost two months of our key booking season. We typically project $1 million of bookings in a month, and as of mid-February we鈥檙e only selling $100,000.鈥� Umbert had to furlough employees and temporarily reduce salaries鈥攗p to 50 percent for some of his workers. He also deferred his own paycheck. 鈥淢y heart goes out to our indirect staff, like our guides, drivers, and community partners,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really struggling.鈥�

Prior to the unrest, longtime backpacker Jamie Thomas booked a trip to Peru through Condor Travel. In the months leading up to her February departure, she read that more than 50 people had died in battles with police. She also scanned Peruvian-travel Facebook groups and learned that visitors weren鈥檛 being targeted by cops or protestors. Thomas, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, decided to go ahead with her trip, even though the country鈥檚 main attraction was closed. Her tour operator learned that there was a chance Machu Picchu would reopen February 15, the day Thomas and the rest of her group were scheduled to fly home. Everyone voted to extend the trip.

The decision paid off. The group was one of the first to climb the citadel鈥檚 magnificent stone terraces once it reopened. Thomas admits that the large police and army presence in the streets of Lima and Cuzco could be unnerving, but she never felt unsafe. Her group arrived by train in Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu鈥檚 typically overrun gateway town, and found it deserted. 鈥淭o take in those landscapes and ruins without the selfie sticks and other tour groups is a memory that lasts forever,鈥� she says.

Perhaps even more memorable was the welcome Thomas and her group received from locals in Aguas Calientes. Owners of the eco-tourism company Inkaterra gave them a special deal at their top hotel, and staff seemed overjoyed to have visitors鈥攁nd revenue. 鈥淭heir gratefulness is something I鈥檒l never forget,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淭he media scared off so many travelers. It felt good to take a chance and know we were helping show the world Peru was ready to welcome back tourists.鈥�

Of course, journeying to unstable regions can invite danger, and travelers should educate themselves and prepare prior to leaving. Melissa Biggs Bradley, founder of the tourism firm Indagare, extensively researches destinations in advance, digging into matters such as: How did local governments and services prioritize traveler safety during past major events, like the pandemic? Are groups targeting tourists? Is the disaster or unrest happening in the region she plans to travel to, or is it in a different part of the country? Biggs Bradley also recommends investing in a membership with Global Rescue or Global Guardian鈥攃ompanies that provide up-to-date alerts and evacuation services during natural disasters and civil unrest.

The media鈥檚 portrayal of destinations affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, political unrest, war, and other hardship is often what deters tourists from visiting. But Biggs Bradley knows that news reports don鈥檛 always provide the whole picture.

There鈥檚 another benefit of traveling to crisis areas: human-to-human exchanges can lead to a better understanding of locals and a more thoughtful perspective on other countries. 鈥淭ravel gives us the power to make up our own mind about a situation,鈥� says Biggs Bradley. While she doesn鈥檛 support the government policies in Iran, Cuba, or Zimbabwe, she believes that it鈥檚 important to visit those countries. 鈥淧eople are not their government,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad people don鈥檛 judge me based on America鈥檚 politics. I think it鈥檚 important to have an open dialogue with vulnerable communities.鈥�

Then, in 2017, the 国产吃瓜黑料 Travel Trade Association invited me to join other journalists on a trek in Jordan, from the city of Dana to the archeological site of Petra along a portion of the new 420-mile Jordan Trail. Prior to accepting, I reached out to Shannon Stowell, the organization鈥檚 CEO, for reassurance. During the 2011 uprising, Stowell was in Egypt, one of the two countries whose governments were toppled in the wave of protest. He told me that the Western perception of Egypt鈥檚 safety didn鈥檛 jibe with reality.

Stowell says he toured Tahrir Square the same day CNN published a story on Egypt featuring years-old images of tanks and soldiers. 鈥淚 remember thinking, You鈥檝e got to be kidding me. This just set the country back again,鈥� Stowell told me. He saw no violence or weapons of war in Egypt; instead, he toured the pyramids with dozens, rather than thousands, of visitors and never once felt a sense of threat. During a meeting with Margaret Scobey, the U.S. ambassador to Egypt at the time, Stowell urged her to ask the State Department to downgrade its current level-four travel advisory (the most severe). 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 even on her radar,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was adjusted within a month. That one change can have a very direct impact on a region.鈥� (While travelers should check State Department levels, keep in mind that the agency is overly cautious and broad when issuing travel advisories.)

Stowell told me that Jordan鈥攚hich had been mostly peaceful鈥攚as enduring a halo effect from years of violence in surrounding countries. He explained that journalists like me had the power to pierce the veil of misconception. I agreed to join the trip. Weeks later I met a Bedouin staffer at an eco-lodge in Dana. We climbed up to the hotel鈥檚 roof to view the full moon, and he hesitantly asked: 鈥淎re you scared of me? Americans see the news and so they are afraid.鈥�

I鈥檓 not alone in having written off an entire region of the world because of isolated events. If you鈥檙e on the fence about traveling to or near a destination that has been plagued by crisis, I urge you to look closely at a map and investigate the proximity of the conflict or disaster in relation to where you plan to go. News coverage of Australia鈥檚 apocalyptic bushfires in 2019 and 2020 created a perception that the entire continent had burned to the ground. Scores of international tourists canceled their trips. In reality, the blazes affected an area the size of Wisconsin. (Australia is approximately the same size as the contiguous United States.)

Turkey is currently experiencing a precipitous drop in tourism following catastrophic earthquakes in February. Earlier this year the country鈥檚 president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced a three-month state of emergency in ten provinces. After the quake, images of crumbling cities and bodies immersed in rubble circulated the globe. The quakes did devastate huge swaths of southeast Turkey, but most of the rest of the country received little or no damage.

In 2022, 51.4 million tourists visited Turkey, pumping $46.3 billion into the economy, according to tourism board estimates. The country is likely to take a financial hit in 2023 as more travelers decide to stay away. Biggs Bradley told me that she鈥檚 encouraging travelers not to abandon their plans to visit, because it needs that income more than ever. 鈥�Turkey is a huge country,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou can still visit many beautiful parts鈥擨stanbul, Bodrum, Cappadocia鈥攖hat were unaffected, and support the rebuilding efforts.鈥�

She also believes that visitors should seek out area charities. You can give at local donation spots, such as mosques, nonprofits, or clinics across the country. Ask tourism operators whether communities are in need of specific goods that you can bring from the U.S., or which organizations are doing work that you can support. As the country continues to recover, even small gestures from visitors can have positive ripple effects.

My advice is to do your homework before canceling a trip to a troubled region. Talk to the person who manages the hotel where you鈥檙e scheduled to stay. Ask local guides or other connections you have in a country to advise you on what the situation is like. Reach out to locals via Twitter or other social media. Plan your trip with reputable outfitter, since it will track safety information constantly. Weigh all that beta in light of State Department warnings and news headlines. There may be times when it鈥檚 necessary to postpone. But if you decide that it鈥檚 OK to go, your tourism dollars can provide a huge benefit, and the trip may be even more meaningful as a result.

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Darcie Reed and I had been hiking for four hours along a red- and iron-orange dirt path augured into the steep Andean hillside at almost 15,000 feet when, before a bend in the trail, Gilf Laurente stopped us.

鈥淐lose your eyes,鈥� Laurente, our guide, who is from Huaraz, said, 鈥渁nd hold my hand.鈥�

As we rounded the corner, he ordered, 鈥淥pen your eyes.鈥�

Before us, towering over the lake where we鈥檇 camp that night, was the faceted, glacier-cloaked spire of Jirishanca, known as the Matterhorn of the Andes for its sharp, tilted summit. The air was thin, but the view of Jirishanca, at 19,993 feet the highest peak in Peru鈥檚 Cordillera Huayhuash, took my breath away.

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On the morning of October 26, workers removed a long chain drilled into the side of Uluru, a block of sandstone larger than downtown London in the middle of the Australian outback. Since the 1950s, the chain has led millions of tourists up the rock鈥檚 sheer face to its summit, 2,800 feet above the desert floor. In stark contrast, at the base of the trail, a simple white sign read,听鈥淲e, the Anangu traditional owners, have this to say: Uluru is sacred in our culture. It is a place of great knowledge. Under our traditional law climbing is not permitted. This is our home, please don鈥檛 climb.鈥�

In spite of this plea, a hundred or so tourists climbed the rock every day. Some fell to their deaths, some relieved themselves on the rock, and all walked over a sacred site on their way to the top. Which is why, in 2017, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park announced that it would officially ban climbing by the end of this year. That听spurred a headline-grabbing wave of last-ditch visitors and to the summit.

Ironically, the last surge of climbers is an extension of what鈥檚 plagued the site for so long and only gives credence to the argument for its closure. But it also signals progress in how indigenous sites are viewed at a federal level听and marks a long-awaited victory for the Anangu.

The park, which has been jointly managed by the Anangu government and the Australian National Park Service , has been preparing to close climbing for nearly a decade. A 2010 management plan outlined alternatives to the climb, including a more extensive trail system at the base and better interpretation of the rock鈥檚 spiritual significance. 鈥淲e welcome tourists here,鈥� said Sammy Wilson, an Anangu member who formerly sat on the park鈥檚 board. 鈥淐losing the climb is not something to feel upset about but is a cause for celebration. We are not stopping tourism, just this activity.鈥�

That attitude, says Uluru operations manager Steve Baldwin, has garnered support from both tour operators and the visitors themselves. The percentage of climbers has declined by about half over the past eight years, while total visits have increased, indicating that more people are abstaining from summiting the rock. Indigenous park managers have also developed a curriculum for guides to focus more on the religious aspects of the location. 鈥淎lmost every single tour, someone will say to my guides, 鈥業 wanted to climb, but after hearing that, I鈥檝e changed my mind,鈥欌�� Baldwin says.

Uluru, with its joint management strategy and investment in ethical alternatives, could become a successful example for other culturally sensitive tourist destinations. But such intervention from federal government听is rare and sluggish鈥擜nangu leaders have been pushing for the rock鈥檚 closure for more than 30 years. In many parts of the world, the travel industry is still entwined with a colonial history that continues to exploit local culture and sacred places, profiting off stolen land or degrading sites in exchange for entrance fees. But the answer isn鈥檛听to stay home and watch Netflix. While it might not be possible to practice perfect tourism, there are ways to do better: engage with the culture and history of sacred places, visit听sites interpreted by their traditional owners, and avoid overcrowded destinations. Here, we鈥檝e outlined how you can do your bucket list better.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

In the Yucat谩n鈥檚 Mayan Riviera, home to boozy Cancun to听the north and the ancient temple sites of Chich茅n Itz谩 to the west, the issue is as much about degradation as equity. Many of the most famous pyramids, including听the Temple of Kukulcan, have been closed to climbing in recent years for the sake of preservation, but the larger issue is that Maya听people are largely left out of the interpretation of the sites. 鈥淢aya听people are an active part of Mexico today, but that鈥檚 not a story that鈥檚 told to tourists,鈥� says Richard Leventhal, an anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania who works closely with communities in the region. Instead, he says, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a sense that the great Maya听culture has disappeared,鈥� and the Maya听are excluded from the interpretation of classical historical sites. The country鈥檚 federal system also funnels revenue from popular sites like Chich茅n Itz谩 and Tulum National Park into the national museum system instead of local cultural preservation efforts, and artifacts found in the region are often sent to Mexico City for storage.

Go Here Instead: Traci Ardren, an archaeologist at the University of Miami, recommends taking a trip to Yaxun谩, a small farming town 100 miles inland from the coast, which once sat at the crossroads between several Mexican empires. Unlike the resort towns of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, many of which are owned and operated by expats, there are no formal hotels or restaurants in the area. As an alternative, Ardren recommends that visitors arrange听homestays and food with the help of a local guide. The town features the remains of a , thousand-year-old temples, and an 80-foot听vine-covered pyramid rising out of the jungle, as well as a museum and cultural center that鈥檚 run by the local Maya听community.

For an understanding of how contemporary Maya people听view their archaeological heritage, visit the in Tihosuco, a two-hour drive south from Yaxun谩. The museum is just one piece of a larger Tihosuco Caste War Project, a collaboration between Leventhal, other American researchers, and the community to explore听a little-known 19th-century war of independence fought by the Maya听against the Mexican government. Designed for an international audience, the museum houses spectacular artifacts from the war, and it鈥檚 possible to visit old churches and haciendas in the surrounding jungles. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very different view of tourism to understand the people behind those great things,鈥� Leventhal says.

Machu Picchu, Peru听

More than a million people visit Machu Picchu each year, which forced the Peruvian government to in 2017, though it was double the number recommended by Unesco. And even with the听trains-planes-and-automobiles itinerary听required to reach the Citadel from beyond Cusco, that visitor count still averages 6,000 per听day. Easier access would not only exacerbate that problem听but also threaten another culturally听significant site. In the Incan town of Chinchero, at the mouth of the valley leading to Machu Picchu, an international airport is under development. Despite outcry from archaeologists and locals alike, the government has broken ground. Monica Ricketts, a Peruvian-born historian who helped to stop the airport earlier this year, describes the project as an ecological and cultural disaster: the bulldozing will threaten a pristine archaeological site that鈥檚 known as the gateway to the Sacred Valley, while the resource requirements could drain lakes that provide water to Cusco and surrounding towns. 鈥淭here鈥檚 ancient farming going on, growing some of the best potatoes in the world,鈥� Ricketts听says. 鈥淧eople literally live on this water.鈥�

Go Here Instead: Peru is full of underappreciated destinations, from the in the north听to the Atacama Desert鈥檚 . If you do want to see the center of the Incan empire, however, spend time in the Sacred Valley, which the majority of tourists pass straight through on their way to Machu Picchu. Besides the dozens of temples, farms, and ancient salt flats, Ricketts suggests visiting and supporting the town at the center of the fight against the airport. Chinchero is home to the remnants of an unaltered 500-year-old royal estate, working aqueducts, and terraced farmland dating back to the height of the Incan Empire. It鈥檚 also the home of a thriving weaving community. Women in still use traditional dyes and techniques and offer tours and demonstrations. Some of them are organizing against the airport, which they say could destroy both the tourism they rely on and the ecosystems that fuel their livelihood.

Mount Fuji, Japan听

Two years ago, declared that Mount Fuji was 鈥渁t the breaking point.鈥� Since 2013, climbing has been limited to a brief window in late summer to protect tourists unprepared for fickle weather. This means that hundreds of thousands of people pack onto the mountain over a handful of weekends. As seen with Uluru, that鈥檚 led to some predictable problems: thrown just off the trail and traffic jams to the summit.

Do It Right: Mount Fuji, unlike many of the other locations on this list, is sacred in large part because it is a climbing destination. Since the 1600s, religious pilgrims have hiked from temples at the base to watch the sunrise from the 12,388-foot summit. The key is to climb respectfully. To start, visit on a weekday, when the crowds die down. Climbs to the top,听the , 鈥渟hould be accompanied by an overnight stay or a short stay at a mountain hut on the way,鈥澨齛s opposed to so-called bullet climbing,听or racing straight听to the top and down again in a single day. The goal, the council says,听is to preserve those ancient pilgrimage practices. So climb it鈥攂ut also visit a shrine at the base, stop in at the huts on the route, and treat the mountain not just as a peak to be bagged听but a tradition to take part in.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The sprawling temple complex faces many of the same threats as other hyperpopular religious sites in the region. Since the ruins were named a Unesco听World Heritage Site in the early 1990s, the gateway city of Siem Reap has exploded in popularity. Nearly 3 million tourists flocked to the area in 2018鈥攁bout a third of all visitors to Cambodia. While the temple site itself is protected by strict rules on where to walk and what to touch, the traffic has taken a toll on the literal foundations of the region. According to a , hotels and other tourism businesses have tapped the underlying aquifer with thousands of illegal wells, sucking out tens of thousands of gallons per听day. That causes the sandy soil to collapse, threatening both the city and Angkor Wat itself. In other words, pretty soon听the site could begin to sink.

Go Here Instead: Unfortunately, in Southeast Asia face similar threats from overtourism and mismanagement. Sri Lanka鈥檚 Cultural Triangle, in contrast, is less visited and built to accommodate domestic pilgrims and monks. Both Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, which were once capitals of classical Sri Lankan kingdoms, are home to intricately carved temples, historic stupas, and complex systems of aqueducts and reservoirs dating back thousands of years. Between the two cities is Sigiriye, a 600-foot piece of bare rock with an ancient palace carved into its top. Some places, like the temple at Anuradhapura鈥攈ome to a from the sacred Bodhi Tree鈥攁re active worship sites, and you鈥檒l need to respectfully observe local practices, including covering your shoulders and knees听and wearing white.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, United States

There are a couple of strikes against this national memorial. First, it was carved by an alledged white supremacist 听as a monument to a colonial, expansionist, Anglo-Saxon America. That history is especially disturbing when you consider its location: the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sacred to more than 20 Native nations for thousands of years, the originally placed the entire region under indigenous control. But six years later, a few prospectors discovered gold in a Black Hills creekbed. In the subsequent rush, the United States听launched a against the Lakota and other nations to control the area鈥檚 mineral wealth. That history still informs the present: until the 1970s, Native communities were prohibited from holding religious ceremonies in their sacred sites, and resource extraction and tourism development continue to disrupt those practices. To many nearby indigenous communities, Mount Rushmore is a damning reminder of that broken treaty and the ensuing massacres, literally carved on听a sacred mountain range.

Go Here Instead: There鈥檚 not really a comparable replacement for Mount Rushmore, and it鈥檚 hard to find places that tell the Native story of the area. But Teanna Limpy, a tribal historic preservation officer with the Northern Cheyenne Nation, says that鈥檚 slowly shifting. 鈥� is redoing its whole interpretive center with Native input. Now听they don鈥檛 finalize anything until they talk to us,鈥� she says of the complex cave system and surrounding park, an hour south from Mount Rushmore. Limpy also points to , in the northeastern corner of the Black Hills, as a success story. The mountain is an important pilgrimage and prayer site for a number of cultures, including the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho. Jim Jandreau, the park鈥檚 manager and a registered member of the Lower Brule Lakota, says he actively seeks input from surrounding Native communities in managing the area. That鈥檚 meant giving religious visitors more access听and being upfront with tourists about the complicated history of the mountain. 鈥淲e try to enlighten people to why the tribes feel the way they feel, why the dignity of this place was stripped away and is finally coming back,鈥� he says. If you do visit, treat Bear Butte as you would a church鈥攊t鈥檚 possible that people will be praying nearby听or have left offerings off-trail鈥攁nd make time to ask park staff about what it means to manage a religious site on public land.

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From 听and , The River's Call documents a whitewater kayaking adventure through a box canyon on the听Apur铆mac River in Peru.听

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Most 16-year-olds have not traveled to over 20 countries and听all seven continents, skied in Antarctica, climbed Kilimanjaro, summited peaks in Peru and Nepal, been to Mount Everest Base Camp, received a grant from the American Alpine Club, founded a nonprofit, or spearheaded six humanitarian expeditions to remote corners of the globe. Most 16-year-olds are not .

Since Lilliana听was in kindergarten, she鈥檇听been telling her father, Mike Libecki鈥攁n accomplished mountaineer, expeditionist, and National Geographic Explorer鈥攖hat she wanted to ski with penguins. Once Lilliana turned nine, Mike decided it was time they start training. Together, near their home in Utah, the father-daughter duo practiced backcountry skiing and avalanche and crevasse training. When she was 11, they went on a . 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal,鈥� says听her father. 鈥淪ixty-mile-an-hour winds, crevasses, roped up, harness, real deal鈥攏ot just dad-daughter, but she has to be a partner out there.鈥澨�

Mike has been on 87 expeditions and counting to more than 100 countries, bagging first ascents of mountains in exotic locations, often solo. Those experiences as an explorer and mountaineer shape his model for parenting. 鈥淓verything that goes into the equation of an expedition鈥攖he planning, the preparation, the persistence, the discipline鈥攖hat relates to every part of life,鈥� says听Mike. Most of all, he听wanted his life to serve as an example for his daughter to pursue her passions.

And she found her passion on an expedition to Tanzania in 2015, when she was 12. After summiting Kilimanjaro, Lilliana, her dad, and the rest of the team worked on a give-back project for rural communities in Boma Ng鈥檕mbe, Tanzania. They helped build two schools, two churches, and an orphanage and provided shoes and socks, solar power, and computers. The experience was moving for Lilliana, and she wanted to do more.听听

When they returned stateside, Mike created a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with Lilliana as the president, Mike as vice president, and Lilliana鈥檚 grandmother, aunt, and uncles as board members. was born.听鈥淛oyineering is the act of bringing joy to our Mother Earth in all possible ways,鈥� says听Lilliana.听

Since its founding, the fund has raised more than听$500,000 for听its projects. The organization raises money through donations, grant applications, and sponsorships from companies like Clif Bar, Dell Computers, GoalZero, and more.听

The Libecki family, along with a crew from sponsoring companies, ventures to underserved, remote communities to provide basic necessities that much of the world takes for granted鈥攕hoes, socks, clean water, electricity, and education.听鈥淚 know I may not be able to make the biggest difference in the world and change the world,鈥� says听Lilliana, 鈥渂ut I might be able to change their 飞辞谤濒诲.鈥�

A key component of the Joyineering Fund is sustainability, giving people the tools and knowledge to continue the work. In the summer of 2018, a group from the organization听traveled to Jhamtse Gatsal, a remote community in Arunachal听Pradesh, India. It听installed solar panels and lighting in the school buildings and provided computers and an internet connection for 90 orphaned children who live there. It was perhaps the fund鈥檚 most impactful expedition to date. Fourteen of the students there have since gone on to university鈥攖he first ever from the community to do so. For those kids, internet听access and computer literacy were听the difference that helped them earn their way to higher education.

The Joyineering Fund has carried out one major humanitarian project per year: in Solukhumbu, Nepal, in 2016; Huaraz, Peru, in 2017; and Jhamtse Gatsal听in 2018. Its current project is on the Philippine听island of Palawan. Two new schools are currently being built there by locals, facilitated and funded by the Joyineers. The Libeckis are traveling to Palawan this summer to install solar panels and computer labs. As the organization听grows in resources and experience, Lilliana hopes to fund two undertakings each year, already eyeing projects in Ecuador, Guatemala, Lebanon, and Greenland.听

The Libeckis听always incorporate a secondary adventure component to their work. On the Nepal expedition, after the humanitarian work, they听summited 18,500-foot Kala Patar. In Peru, they scaled 18,100-foot Mount Ishinca. In India, they trekked through peaks on the edge of the Himalayas. And in the Philippines, they听have their听sights set on Mount Cleopatra.

Looking ahead, Lilliana wants 鈥渢o continue to do trips听and Joyineering and going to remote locations in the world听and help out as much as I can.鈥� Her hope is that these efforts will also make it completely ordinary for people to ask themselves, 鈥淗ow can I do more?鈥�

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From , Admissions of an Amateur Bikepacker听features filmmaker and cyclist as he embarks on a self-supported bikepacking trip through听the Andes.

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Travel enough and听most听hotel rooms begin to look the same. Want something different? Venture off the beaten path and you can sleep in a converted train caboose听or a grain silo. You won鈥檛 have to sacrifice comfort, either. From Montana to New Zealand, most of these quirky hotels have all the perks and amenities you鈥檇 find at a standard hotel鈥攂ut with a whole lot more brag-worthy flair.

Sleep in a Snowcat

La Plagne, France

La Plagne ski resort, in the French Alps, has transformed one of its听snowcat grooming machines into a . The vehicle听will pick you up at the base of the mountain at 9 P.M., and a driver will听whisk you and your hotel room听up to an overlook before听leaving听you to your night鈥檚 rest. The heated grooming machine comes equipped with a queen bed, coffee maker, and minibar, and there鈥檚 an enclosed bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and spectacular views of Mont Blanc.听($336)

Stay in a Silo

Little River, New Zealand

In 2013, Kiwi designer and innovator Stuart Wright-Stow turned a harebrained idea to convert former grain silos into听energy-efficient hotel rooms into , a collection of eight suites in Little River, 45 minutes from famed adventure hub of Christchurch. Cook meals in your silo鈥檚 ground-floor kitchenette, then ascend a steel staircase to the second-floor bedroom, where a massive skylight听allows for stargazing. Bring your own bike and hang it from the built-in, personal storage rack, or rent one听on-site to peddle the 31-mile Little River Rail Trail, adjacent to the property. (From $138) 听听

Spend the听Night on a Cliff

Calca, Peru

Reaching Skylodge 国产吃瓜黑料 Suites'听s,听which hang like a portaledge above the ground in the Sacred Valley, requires climbing over 13,000 feet up a via ferrata. Inside each of the 24-foot-long suspended capsules, you鈥檒l find bedding for four people, a dining nook, and听catered three-course dinners and breakfasts to enjoy as you take in an unprecedented view of the region. You鈥檒l depart the next morning by rappelling or zip lining back to the ground. (From $411)

Overnight in an Airplane

Quepos, Costa Rica

Sleep in a 1965 Boeing 727听that鈥檚 been moved on-site and听carefully retrofitted to house a听two-bedroom suite, or book the cockpit of another听vintage听jetliner at , both of which are听perched on the edge of Costa Rica鈥檚 4,014-acre Manuel Antonio National Park. You鈥檒l get ocean views from the plane windows, morning yoga classes on the outdoor pavilion, and surf lessons at nearby Manuel Antonio Beach. If 听isn鈥檛 your thing, the hotel also has standard rooms, studio apartments, and three-bedroom bungalows. (From $107)

Get Cozy in a Caboose

Essex, Montana

Thirty miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park, the has traditional and cozy log cabins. Or you can stay in a renovated train caboose or luxury railcar. As a national historic landmark, the lodge prides itself on its historic character, so you won鈥檛 find cable TV, air-conditioning, or telephones in your rooms, and there鈥檚 no cell service for 30 miles. Don鈥檛 fret: there are phone booths and Wi-Fi in the inn鈥檚 lobby and coffee and food in the dining car. In the winter, over 20 miles of maintained nordic ski trails await outside your door, and in the summer, you鈥檝e got all of Glacier National Park to explore. (From $169)

Post Up in a听Prison

Mount Gambier, Australia

Gaol is Old English for 鈥減rison,鈥澨齛nd at ,听in South Australia, that鈥檚 exactly where you鈥檒l be staying. Rooms inside this defunct 153-year-old jail, which was turned into a in 2013, aren鈥檛 fancy鈥攜ou won鈥檛 find room service or a spa here鈥攂ut they鈥檙e way more comfortable than the former cell blocks, thanks to nice linens, a shared kitchen, and revamped decor. Or you can book the听cottage that once housed wardens and prison staff. The region is home to dormant volcanoes and a water-filled crater aptly named Blue Lake. (Bunks from $21; private rooms from $65; cottage from $135)

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Our team was diving in Lake Sibinacocha, in Peru, which is at about 16,000 feet. We wanted to collect data on the effects of diving at altitude and also look for Incan artifacts. I鈥檇 been a rock climber and a diver most of my life, and I thought of the trip like a first ascent.

My dive partner on the third day was Geoff Belter. We were heading down to around 200 feet, with four tanks each and battery-powered scooters. At about 165 feet, my scooter died, which was a serious enough failure that the dive was essentially over and Geoff would have to tow me up. At about 110 feet, my first tank ran out of gas, so I switched to the other and it immediately ran out. That was a surprise. We weren鈥檛 supposed to get close to blowing through that much gas. We鈥檙e still not sure what happened with the tanks, and in any case it鈥檚 clear our judgement was compromised for some reason鈥攎ost likely we got too cold. Geoff tried to give me a hose so I could share his air, but I realized that his tank was empty, too. We immediately went up to 80 feet, where it was safe to switch to our remaining tanks, problem solved. I signed to Geoff to send a signal bag to the surface, where another diver, Umberto, was standing by in a kayak. But we were really unstable in a water column, suddenly oscillating up and down and away from each other. The last I remember seeing Geoff, he was holding the bag in his hand in a peculiar way that I鈥檒l never forget. Then . His body was never found.

I got pulled all the way back down to 110 feet. I hit a button on my drysuit to use air from my new tank to help me get back to a shallower depth. But I lost control and shot to the surface. I yelled to Umberto, who picked me up in the boat, put me on oxygen, and paddled me frantically to shore. Bubbles were forming in my body, and I was expecting to have a massive stroke. I was hypothermic and shivering violently, so the team put me in a winter sleeping bag. After an hour, I could feel my toes. A helicopter evacuation wasn鈥檛 an option, so they put me on a horse, but after 30 minutes I lost control of my abdominals and fell off. They carried me in an inflatable boat over a 17,000-foot pass, then drove me to a decompression chamber in Cusco. Back in the States, after rehab, I did my first dive in 2015. Last year, to Lake Sibinacocha and recovered an ancient artifact from the bottom. There鈥檚 now a memorial to Geoff in Florida鈥檚 Jackson Blue Springs Cave.

As told to Will Cockrell.听

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