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.

An African safari is a bucket-list experience for many travelers. Whether you’re trekking with gorillas in the mountains or driving across the savannah in search of lions, elephants, and more, the excitement is almost indescribable. 

There are countless ways to experience Africa’s wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities, but staying at an eco sustainability safari lodge can help you stay more eco conscious, and limit your carbon impact while supporting conservation efforts.

Experience it With Luxury Gold: We invite you to seek out the Big Five in Kruger National Park on Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa Journey. You’ll spend two nights in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve near a waterhole where animals roam day and night. Go on game drives and bush walks where you may spot the Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, and cheetahs.

Top Safari Lodges For Eco Sustainability 

Discover the wonder of Africa’s wildlife while staying at these eco conscious safari lodges that prioritize sustainable practices. As with any stay around the world, do your diligence to determine how truly an eco sustainability property truly is. Taking the extra steps to research the property’s sustainability credentials, its conservation projects, and eco conscious actions such as supporting local communities can help ensure that your travels are limiting your carbon footprint while helping to regenerate our world.

Private Game Drives and Five-Star Stays: How Luxury Gold Does Safari Differently

Cheetah Plains | South Africa

 

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Within the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, Cheetah Plains is the first eco friendly business to offer a zero-emission game drive in the reserve. Their safari lodge runs entirely on solar power and a carbon negative property, which means you can offset part of the carbon footprint your travels create just by staying at Cheetah Plains. 1200 solar PV panels offset over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year by generating an average of 550WMh per year.

Campi Ya Kanzi | Kenya

 

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Accountability is critical in maintaining a true eco friendly business, which is why every night spent at Campi Ya Kanzi directly benefits the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. The trust benefits local Maasai communities through actions like reimbursing tribes when they lose livestock due to predator attacks; this encourages the tribe not to retaliate by hunting the predator, thus keeping the human and animal populations sustained. From an eco sustainability perspective, the lodges at Campi Ya Kanzi are 100% photovoltaic. Harnessing solar power to cut carbon emissions to zero, which leads to carbon neutrality via offsetting with the Chyulu REDD+ Carbon Project.

Usangu Expedition Camp | Tanzania

 

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Similar to the way the Cheetah Plains uses solar power to lead its safaris, the Usangu Expedition Camp in Tanzania is the safari lodge in Ruaha National Park to prioritise eco sustainability by creating safari vehicles that run on ethanol instead of diesel fuel. The ethanol is taken from the molasses production in the south of the country, giving the vehicle a candy-like scent as they drive. This eco conscious camp is near the Douglas Bell Eco Research Station and encourages travelers to help in the wildlife conservation efforts by placing camera traps, tracking lions, and identifying predators in the area. 

How to Safari in Style: The Ultimate Packing Guide

Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp | Namibia

 

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Eco sustainability in all of Africa is important, including places like the Namib Desert where an astounding number of biodiverse species thrive. The Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a luxurious desert oasis and leverages its sun exposure to operate 100% on solar power. Guided walking safaris are an available alternative to game drives to further reduce your impact in one of the world’s oldest deserts. An on-site research center allows you to assist conversation efforts by helping staff track the endangered desert-adapted black rhinoceros. 

Rugged luxury: Why a Trip to New Zealand Might Surprise You

Mount Gahinga Lodge | Uganda

 

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Eco sustainability discussions tend to focus around our natural world, and while the protection of the mountain gorillas is a priority, Mount Gahinga Lodge is also working to sustain the native Batwa tribe that was displaced when the Virunga Mountains were annexed for conservation. The Lodge’s founder built a permanent Batwa settlement where 150 people live off of the land in their own, safe community. You can visit this settlement and support the Batwa people when you stay at Mount Gahinga Lodge, with opportunities to also track gorillas and golden monkeys. 

Read next: Walking With the King of the Big Cats in India’s Royal Hunting Grounds

Don’t limit your safari to one continent. Venture into Ranthambore National Park in search of Bengal tigers on the Luxury Gold Essence of India journey. 

Not only does this 8-day adventure check-off bucket-list visits to the Taj Mahal and the Pink City of Jaipur, it also offers the chance to see tigers in the wild. Your safari through the former private hunting grounds of the maharajas of Jaipur takes you across lakes and palace ruins where the elusive tigers roam. 

The lift of a tiny trunk. The scurry of a panicked warthog as a predator approaches. The ruffle of a lion’s mane in the sunlight. When it comes to safari photography, things move quickly: nature’s quirkiest characters will not wait and pose for us. 

Instead, photography enthusiasts need to be ready and equipped to capture them on camera as they frolic, in a fleeting moment, or even from a moving vehicle. If you’re looking for wildlife photography tips, look no further: from the best gear to pack to nifty ways to prepare yourself for snapping a safari holiday, we’ve got you covered.

Practise before you fly

It may sound funny, but training your camera on less exotic beasts can help you prepare. Safaris are often just three or four days long; you don’t want to spend your first 24 hours figuring out your camera. If you’ve got a cat, experiment with photographing it prowling around at home and see how your shots turn out. It will give you a feel for movement and focus, as well as waiting for moments of stillness (to avoid blurring). 

Otherwise, try garden birds. “The rule of thirds in photography is a guideline that places the subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open,” says keen wildlife photographer Callie Smart. IF you want to be super prepared, Udemy runs a four-day online course that digs into wildlife photography tips from specific gear to camera settings (udemy.com).

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Stay right where the wildlife is

Photo credit: @lionsandsgamereserve on Instagram

Across Africa’s safari countries, there are remote properties a drive from official game reserves and properties set within them. Staying in a safari lodge within a national park or protected reserve means you’ll see animals wandering through the grounds, or past the infinity pool, rather than limiting sightings to your daily game drives. On Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa tour, ideal for safari photography, guests stay right within the boundaries of Kruger National Parks and Sabi Sands Reserve, at the elegant Lion Sands lodge.

Time it right

Once in the bush, use the times of day to your advantage, says Smart. “Think of photography as painting with light,” she advises. “If you keep the sunlight behind you, the animal will be lit up and the sunlight reflected back in their eyes, bringing your subject to life. The ideal times of day are an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset, when the sun is low in the sky ‒ these times give a soft, diffused light we know as ‘golden hour’.” If you’re shooting in bright sunshine, she adds, find some shade to stand in to give your shot a less harsh effect.

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Focus your shot

Knowing where to focus your photo is vital, says Smart. Blur is always a risk when you’re dealing with living, moving creatures. “To make your photographs ‘pop’, set the focus point on to the animal’s eye closest to you,” she shares as one of her top wildlife photography tips. Don’t be afraid to contort yourself in order to get the best angle, either ‒ that’s what makes the most unusual and striking wildlife photographs. “Get yourself at eye level to the animal to make a connection: so if it’s a small animal get down on the ground, and if it’s a large animal stick your head out of the top of the jeep or (if you can) climb a tree.”

Know your kit and settings

Safari photography experts know that knowing your camera inside out is the quickest way to the clearest, sharpest and most striking wildlife photos. Smart favours a Nikon D7200 with an 18-300mm zoom lens. “I like light cameras and a light lens, so I don’t need a tripod ‒ I can quickly grab the shot, as animals, such as scurrying warthogs, don’t tend to stand still. It fits easily into hand luggage and is dust and water-resistant.” The benefit of a zoom lens, she says, is the ability to focus close up on a creature, yet keep your distance to avoid disturbing them. For a good basic set-up for your first shooting session, she says, “switch to Aperture Priority f5.6, focus on the animal’s eye and set the camera to automatic ISO.”

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Start with the slow ones

Different rules apply for different subjects on safari. “The easiest animals to photograph are the ones that don’t move too quickly!” says Smart. “Elephants, big cats, zebras, crocs, giraffes, rhinos all tend to stand their ground if you’re quiet and give them room. I love to photograph giraffes & monkeys as they have such expressive faces. Monkeys are going to lead you on a merry dance but that’s fun, too.” They may not seem as exciting as big game, but photos of birds in flight can be striking. They might even give you a rather unappealing clue. “Birds tend to poop just before they take off, so look out for that so you can catch them.”

Ignore smartphone snobbery

It’s a myth that only hefty DSLR cameras can capture a lion’s mane or an elephant’s wrinkly ears in full detail. In fact, current smartphones have incredibly refined cameras; the time they tend to fail users is at dimly-lit dusk (or dawn), when the light is lower. In full sunlight, don’t be afraid to use your iPhone or Android to capture some animal magic, says Smart; for one thing, you won’t need to play with the settings as much. “If the harsh, bright sunlight of the middle of the day is beating down, and you get a great encounter, such as standing face to face with a friendly rhino, you’re better off whipping out your smartphone or, if you prefer a ‘proper’ camera, turning your DSLR onto automatic settings.”

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Luxury Gold’s Spectacular South Africa tour includes a three-day safari in the enchanting Kruger National Park.