Luxury Gold guests are accustomed to a certain level of comfort, but that doesn’t mean they like to scrimp on adventure. If you have a spirit that can’t be quelled and a bucket list that needs tending to in the next year, we have plenty of ideas for luxury adventure vacations that will capture your imagination.

We give each of our luxury adventure tours an activity level: leisurely, balanced or dynamic. And the level of activity is not necessarily equal to the level of adventure. For instance, on a leisurely (short distances, flat surfaces) luxury vacation in New Zealand, you’ll cover cities, caves, hot springs, waterfalls, and a treewalk made up of 28 suspension bridges, and on a dynamic luxury journey to Italy, the Cinque Terre is more intrepid than it looks (longer distances, trickier terrain). Here are six bucket list trips to get you thinking.

Look for the big five in Kruger National Park

Safaris tend to be quite high on everyone’s list of luxury adventure vacations – is it finally time? If your bucket list priority is to see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo (the big five) in one trip, this epic national park offers a diverse range of terrain including mountains, rivers, savannah and tropical forests. On our Spectacular South Africa journey, the private open-air safaris are led by professional trackers over three days and there are plunge pools, starlit dinners and pampering treatments aplenty back at the Lion Sands Game Reserve in between drives. This journey also includes Table Mountain, wineries and more rare wildlife sightings at Boulders Beach.

Board the Rocky Mountaineer, Luxury Gold-style

Adventure travel and rail travel go hand in hand – there is nothing quite like watching the world from your window, particularly if you happen to be sitting in the glass-domed Goldleaf car of the Rocky Mountaineer, on a reclining seat, eating from the a la carte menu (with local wine pairings), with the option of wandering to an open-air viewing vestibule. On our Majesty of the Rockies journey, you’ll travel from Banff to Vancouver, via glaciers, canyons and lakes. Waking up aboard the train on the home-stretch and eating a gourmet breakfast beside some of the most dazzling scenery in the world completes a luxury journey like no other.

Explore the lesser traveled wildernesses of Japan

You may know (and long for) Japan’s cities, sushi, skyscrapers, shrines and cherry blossom sightings but there are breathtaking wonders further afield, too. Oirase Gorge – within the Towada-Hachimantai National Park on the main island – is an enchanting river valley that encompasses verdant forests, dramatic waterfalls and crystal clear streams. Experiencing an onsen in Tokyo is one thing, but taking a soothing soak in the forest is unforgettable. Our Majestic Japan journey is dynamic, which means four miles of walking on some days, with some steep hills. It includes views of Mount Fuji from a cable car, a tea ceremony and a meeting with a cherry blossom doctor, plus mind-expanding meals and some of the most extravagant and cozy hotels in the world.

Hike to get the best sunset views at Angkor Wat

Together, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam make for one of the most epic luxury adventure vacations you can have. There’s the lush greenery, floating markets and flower farms of the Mekong Delta, the Imperial Citadel of Hue, the sheer magic (and the pho) of Hoi An, the glittering emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, ethereal Luang Prabang (the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage site) and vistas aplenty in between. Nothing beats the golden, glowing view of Angkor Wat, though, at least as good as everyone says it is, reflected in the water below. On our Inspiring Indochina journey, an archaeologist is on hand to guide you to the best spots.

Walk the steep, rugged coastline of the Cinque Terre

In northwest Italy, the Cinque Terre is made up of five pastel-coloured cliffside villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea, connected by narrow walking paths and a few incredibly precarious mountain roads. The Cinque Terre National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site – described as a landscape of great scenic and cultural value. There are 120km of trails along this stretch of coastline, and the breathtaking views alone make it a bucket list walk. See this most rugged, enchanting coastline on our Ultimate Italy journey, which also covers Rome, Umbria, Florence and Venice – truly the luxury vacation to Italy you’ve been dreaming of.

Weave through the cloud forest to Machu Picchu

When one thinks of adventure travel, Machu Picchu comes quickly to mind. In the middle of a tropical mountain forest in Peru, 2,430m above sea level, the sprawling Inca citadel must be seen up close to be believed. On our Grand South America journey, you’ll board the panoramic Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, pausing for lunch above the Vilcanota River followed by a guided walk through the unfathomably lush and mesmerizing cloud forest. This luxury vacation also features wine in Casablanca Valley, Eva Peron’s balcony in Buenos Aires and cocktails on Copacabana Beach.

Unique travel destinations are subjective: Paris, for instance, may not be a unique place to travel for a museum-hopper yet be a hidden gem for one who enjoys exploring the subterranean levels beneath our cities. 

Luxury Gold knows all too well that every group of travelers will have both common interests and diverse passions. We tailor our itineraries to you, first by selecting only the travel destinations with the potential for the most unique experiences.

We then weave these activities together, connecting them with a range of exciting transportation options and luxurious accommodations that have signature surprises in store. If you’re searching for a unique travel destination that speaks to your soul, we invite you to join a Luxury Gold tour and immerse yourself in our favorite unique places to travel every single day.

For the culturally-curious: Japan

If you’re one who dissects an itinerary in hopes of unlocking the smallest differences and details that make a place unique, then Japan will leave you engulfed in an enriching experience.  

Discover a deeper message and meaning to the magnificent and the mundane when you spend 11 days in the Land of the Rising Sun on our Majestic Japan journey. The itinerary is strewn with golden threads linking the past and the present. You’ll speak to a survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb, enjoy a private sake tasting, and engage in a traditional Sendai tea ceremony.

Allow your curiosity to go farther with optional experiences like a visit to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum to marvel at the astounding kimono collection or a private sushi-making class that demonstrates why a decade is required to perfect the art of rolling sushi.

For Movers and Shakers: USA

Music history, Black history, and American history converge in the Deep South. A literal soundtrack was written during a chapter which saw the birth of the Mississippi Delta Blues, New Orleans jazz, and Nashville country genres.

Savor a sensory experience like no other when you devote 9 days to music and food on our Southern Grace journey. This itinerary was designed to touch your soul, starting with a lesson in music history in Nashville. Catch a live musical performance at the Grand Ole Opry, take a VIP tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame, then record your own song at the legendary Studio B. 

The King awaits your arrival to Graceland and so do stacks of Memphis BBQ. More exceptional dining is on the menu at Mississippi’s Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens and Dunleith Historic Inn. Finally, explore the Big Easy and dance your way through the streets of New Orleans.

For Soulful Escapists: Australia

Australia is one of the most unique travel destinations if for no other reason than this continent’s varied, and often harsh, geography. The Australian Outback, infamous for its inhospitable nature, is your retreat on our Inspiring Australia journey.

You won’t be without creature comforts for all 13 days: much of this 8-city adventure includes cruising out to the Great Barrier Reef, sipping artisanal wines in the Hunter Valley, and pub crawling through Sydney. But for four days, you’ll venture into the Outback where you’ll take guided walks through Walpa Gorge, seek out an ancestral water snake at the Mutitjulu Waterhole, and reflect during sunrise walks in Kings Canyon.

For Lovers of Rugged Luxury: New Zealand

New Zealand’s remote location makes it a unique travel destination for travelers who tend to visit locations with only one geographical hallmark. New Zealand, however, doesn’t make you choose a landscape for your selfie backdrops: glaciers, fiords, mountains, ancient forests, volcanic craters, and dramatic coastlines are all ready for you to explore on Luxury Gold’s The Long White Cloud journey.

This 19-day excursion is one that will rival even the most picturesque of places you’ve visited abroad. You’ll venture across New Zealand’s islands with opportunities to see the changing landscape from every vantage point possible. A catamaran will sail you past cascading waterfalls and imposing cliffs. You’ll cycle along the Arrow River, descend into the Waitomo caves, and trek across the valleys, glaciers, mountain peaks, and lakes of Milford Track. You’ll also stay in 5-star, luxury hotel, such as the Te Waonui Lodge, pictured. 

For Timeless Romantics: United Kingdom

In the Golden Age of Streaming, we’re treated to period dramas that weave as much historical accuracy possible into every scene. If you’ve ever wanted to travel to the unique travel destinations where these royal shows and period-piece movies are filmed, this 10-day British Royale journey transports you through centuries of royal rule and luxuriant glory.

Begin in London waving to Westminster Abbey while en route to a private Tower of London tour. Pass by other iconic sights you’ve only seen on the screen as you visit Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and medieval York. Tour the 11th-century Alnwick Castle and cruise Ullswater Lake before toasting to an unforgettable trip with a visit to Edinburgh for whiskey tasting. 

For Gourmets (and Gourmands): Italy

What makes Italy such a unique travel destination is that it evokes a different set of feelings and expectations in every traveler. Some envision the ruins of Rome while others think about the fashion trends in Milan. Traditional Tuscan cuisine is at the top of the menu for one traveler while another may desire only white truffles from Alba, pizza from Naples, and gelato in Florence. 

The Luxury Gold Ultimate Italy journey is the ultimate buffet of history, food, and culture for a traveler with an insatiable wanderlust. 12 cities in 12 days means only stopping for the tastiest bites of history and cuisine: viewing the Faraglioni Rocks in Capri, after-hour tour of Doge’s Palace in Venice, and wandering the Vatican Museums. Unexpected delights are also on the menu by way of a journey through the villages of Cinque Terre, an Umbrian tasting experience, and wine sampling in Guardastelle.

For Collectors of Colorful Crafts

From the Sacred Valley to the streets of Lima, artisans long-devoted to their crafts welcome you to admire their handiwork on our Treasures of the Incas journey. Peru is more than Machu Picchu, as you’ll soon discover. Discuss all things art with a local sculptor in Lima. Learn about traditional Peruvian weaving techniques from a Quechua scholar. Break bread with a local family on Amantani Island as you learn about handicrafts that encapsulate thousands of years of Incan culture. And when one of these artisan wares returns home with you, you’ll forever be reminded of this souvenir’s amazing backstory. 

For Drinkers and Thinkers

The French Riviera has a stunning coastline, but if you turn away from the beach, you’ll find a sea of vineyards. If all you need is a bottle of vino, a farm-to-table meal, and a stroll through vibrant, rolling fields, the Luxury Gold Ultimate Southern France journey lets you uncork the French interior. 

Spend a few days under the sun, letting the coastline from Monaco to Saint-Tropez captivate you. Then, begin your wine tasting experience in Aix-en-Provence with organic wine sampling while you learn to make a classic French dessert. More wine awaits with a picnic at Domaine de la Citadelle and a cruise along the Canal du Midi through Languedoc wine country. Finally, savor every last drop of this wine tour opening bottles in Bordeaux and St. Émilion, the oldest active wine-producing appellation in the city. 

Luxury Gold showcases the world’s unique travel destinations through itineraries tailored to diverse travelers. Whatever your age or ability, we have a curated journey featuring the activities and experiences you’re passionate about. Book your vacation today and indulge in your interests.