Knowing that our first big adventure in 2021 is likely to be about reconnecting with somewhere we already know, small group adventure travel operator G Adventures has launched a collection of new active journeys designed to showcase a different side to some of Europe’s most popular destinations.
As OutThere travellers, one of our five ‘calculated moves‘ in travel this year will be returning to somewhere familiar to us; primarily for safety, but also to optimise the enjoyment of our first holiday back on the road in 2021. If like us, your hiatus from travel has given you a renewed appreciation of a destination or experience you love, then you’ll be equally keen to head back there to reconnect with your “happy place.” Knowing you as we do though, you’ll still be interested in expanding your horizons on the trip, to discover something new about the place, or to see it in a new way.
That’s why G Adventures’ new active and sailing trips caught our eye. Beginning this summer, the adventure travel company will add seven new trips to their growingly popular European departures. The idea is to challenge stereotypes around much-loved destinations while picking up on more remote, local experiences that you might have missed on your last visit.
The last time we were in Slovenia, we enjoyed the baroque vibe of old-world Ljubljana and took in romantic Lake Bled. But with G Adventures, a sojourn to the ‘Green nation’ will focus on its more natural wonders: woodland hikes through the Krma valley in the Julian Alps, trail walks along the picturesque Soča river and a visit to Savica waterfall, but also the opportunity to take to the country’s glacial meltwaters to enjoy canyoning or rafting, whilst tasting some traditional Slovenian cuisine and its storied, but rare wines.
The sun-blessed Canary Islands have also long been on the radar for OutThere travellers. With G Adventures, your return to these volcanic outposts will be far more than sun, sea and sangria. Instead, you’ll step onto a 56ft liveaboard yacht and explore the Canary Islands from the perspective of a mariner. Hello, sailor … this bespoke adventure will see your own skipper tailor an itinerary according to the group and the time of year. You can get as involved as you like, or just spend days sunbathing on the deck with your bubble of friends and fellow-experientialists, new or old.
Moreover, all G Adventures’ trips give back to local communities, providing meaningful connections with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, while offering them the freedom and flexibility to explore on their own. It’s all part of their ‘G for Good’ initiatives, underpinned by a high, industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’ to keep as many traveller dollars as possible in the local economy.
Photography by Zinah Insignia, courtesy of G Adventures, Jorge Fernandez-Salas, Juan Alvarez Ajamil. Slovenia images by Janko Ferlic and slovenia.info Jošt Gantar and Boris Pretnar
