Technology certainly has made our world a smaller place. You’ve seen pictures of Spain; listened to the jungle symphony of rainforest animals in Costa Rica through your speakers; watched a zebra herd stampeding through the Serengeti in a movie clip- all without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. It has allowed us to couch travel. It has also teased our curiosity and longing to have these experiences in person.

Despite the connection that technology provides to the world around, it can never replace the actual smell of the fresh made bread from the Parisian bakery; haggling with the vendors in Morocco; feeling the sand between your toes in a beach in Phuket. What we can thank technology for is allowing us to get a glimpse of these places. With these glimpses comes an opening of a Pandora’s Box of possibilities and options for a different side of travel . You’ve “seen” these places and now you want more. You want more than your typical tour. You want to experience the culture. You want to experience the location. And you want to have a darn good time while you’re at it!

Congratulations. You have just graduated to a growing trend of Adventure Tourism ! This includes anything from rock climbing and white water rafting in the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan; volunteering to build houses with the locals in Tijuana, Mexico; taking a cooking class in Italy; or hopping on board an expedition cruise to Alaska. It’s a hodge-podge mix of off the beaten path traveling , slow traveling, local living and cultural immersion classes. A different perspective, a broader approach, an amazing experience.