5 Amazing Fall Adventures To Escape The Summer Crowds

In the world of travel, the fall was once the prime shoulder season. No longer. In the last few years, it has emerged as a red-hot travel period, especially for adventures. Blame it on the mass tourism that has led to overcrowded summer destinations and a reluctance among some savvier travelers to join the fray. The autumn months have become so popular, in fact, that some in the travel industry call it “the new summer.”

New summer or not, it’s become the preferred season for many travelers to head off on a fall adventure, grabbing those precious months when summer travelers have diminished and anyone with school-age kids is at home. Here are five amazing fall adventures in Bhutan, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Tibet that still have space available.

Hiking Bhutan’s Hidden Hamlets

This trip from Geographic Expeditions is focused on a remote part of central Bhutan, with hiking through hidden valleys on a 14-day journey. Five of those days are on horse-supported Bhutan trek, through terraced hamlets, exploring Buddhist shrines called “chorten”, monasteries, and dramatic Himalayan scenery. The Hiking Bhutan’s Hidden Hamlets trip also goes to Thimphu and Paro. The cost is $10,685 per person, plus a $1,300 Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee per person (based on double occupancy, as are all trips mentioned here).

New Zealand Multi-Adventure: North & South Islands

EF Adventures is behind New Zealand Multi-Adventure: North & South Islands. The “challenging” 15-day tour includes such North Island adventures as rafting in Waitomo through glowworm grottos, cycling through redwood forests in Rotorua, and trekking in Tongariro National Park, home to three active volcanic mountains. Then, it moves to the South Island, with an adventure menu based around mountains, glacial valleys, and wineries. It includes swing bridges in Te Anau, kayaking through Milford Sound past fur seal colonies and waterfalls, and rafting whitewater rapids on the Shotover River. Priced from $6,299.

Costa Rica: Secluded Wildlife Adventure

Exploring Costa Rica’s biodiverse areas on foot, by boat, and while snorkeling is at the heart of Costa Rica: Secluded Wildlife Adventure from Gondwana Ecotours. This trip is for those who want to immerse themselves in a natural world full of sloths, monkeys, macaws, and toucans on the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The trip also includes a trip to Corcovado National Park and a stay at the venerable Corcovado Wilderness Lodge. The eight-day trip features stays at wilderness eco-lodges, Costa Rica guides, and a Gondwana trip leader. The cost is $7,495 per person.

Cuba Cultural Walking Tour

Classic Journeys has a Cuba Cultural Walking Tour that includes visiting Havana, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos, exploring cobblestoned streetscapes, walking in lush mountains, and snorkeling on a tropical coral reef in the Bay of Pigs. There’s a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home in Havana, Finca Vigia, and interactions with coffee growers, artists, dancers, historians, and everyday Cubans. Guests will visit Fidel Castro’s personal photographer in his home to share stories and anecdotes, see 500-year-old Trinidad on a horse and carriage ride, and meet a husband-and-wife team who restore classic American cars. The seven-day trip is $5,895.

A Spiritual Journey through the Roof of the World

Tibet remains one of the most remote places on the planet, and one of the world’s greatest adventures. This trip from Nomadic Journeys, A Spiritual Journey through the Roof of the World, immerses you in the country’s spiritual, natural, and cultural essence. Starting in the capital city of Lhasa, it’s a chance to explore the Potala Palace, the sacred Jokhang Temple, and the Barkhor bazaar. The trip carries on to the holy Yamdrok Lake, the ancient town of Gyantse, and the city of Shigatse, home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Then, it’s on to the North Base Camp of Mount Everest. After a night there, the journey continues into Nepal and to its capital, Kathmandu. With two to seven miles of walking daily, the 12-day trip costs $8,250 per person plus $495 per person for internal airfare.

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