Adventure Travel, Explained: 7 Major Benefits and Helpful Guidance for Travelers

Written by:

Luke Costley

My favorite part of working on the Admissions team is getting to talk to families about the power of adventure travel, and sharing the joys with them at the end of their trip.

Home Overland Stories Independence & Self-Reliance Adventure Travel, Explained: 7 Major Benefits and Helpful Guidance for Travelers

Stepping out of our comfort zone takes guts. But it has its benefits, too. Adventure travel – whether it is a hiking trip, backpacking expedition, or a bikepacking tour – is often far outside of our comfort zone, but the benefits are equally as dramatic.

Through my own travels around the world, and a professional career focused on creating programs for Overland students to do the same, I love the opportunities and experiences created by adventure travel.

What have I learned in the course of sending 6,000 students and leaders into the field? Read on to learn about my 7 main takeaways.

Kayaking on the Snake River builds excitement and confidence

Seven Core Values of Adventure Travel

Broadened horizons. The world unfolds in front of you – brimming with new experiences and bursting with promise.
Screen-free environments. Leave your phone in your pocket or backpack — no need for calling or texting or posting. For the time that you’re outdoors, you’re fully engaged with your environment, your peers, and your trip.
Discovery and inspiration. There’s nothing more stimulating than immersing yourself in a world beyond your day-to-day. Let yourself be amazed by the places you explore.
Relationship to the natural world. You’ll never dismiss the value of wilderness again once you’ve stood on the edge of the tundra, or on the banks of a rushing river.
Lifelong connections. The people you travel with – and those you meet along the way – will forever be imprinted in your memory, and you in theirs. Those relationships capture a specific time and place.
Self-reliance and independence. Adventure travel requires you to be resourceful and creative in solving problems that arise along the way.
Engaged living. Proximity matters, and when you push yourself out into the world, you’ll feel a closer connection to the people you share that space with, and the experiences are more vibrant than ever before.

Luke Costley experiencing the benefits of adventure travel on his High Sierra Explorer trip in 2009

These are tangible benefits that I’ve experienced firsthand as well.

When I arrived in Rocky Mountain National Park for the first time in 2008, I was all of thirteen years old, far from home, and brand new to the world of adventure travel. Fifteen years later, I’ve learned a lot.

As a member of the Admissions team here at Overland, I spend my days working with our families, trying to find a great summer adventure for their children. As I speak with families, I hear over and over about the values and growth at the core of their child’s adventure travel experience.

There are lots of ways to experience the benefits of adventure travel and there’s something for everyone. In my personal time, I scheme about the next route I want to ride on Bikepacking.com. But maybe you’re looking for something a bit more straightforward. Here are three easy ways to get started.

Students on Iceland Explorer find beauty and inspiration in the Skogafoss backcountry

It’s a big, beautiful world – explore it!

Overland leader Audrey Olson harvests potatoes alongside her students on one of our service trips

The very beginning of an outdoor adventure is a magical moment!

Three Primary Types of Adventure Travel

The classic backpacking adventure.
- You set off, with your hiking boots on your feet, and your belongings in your backpack. It’s simple, beautiful, physical, and allows you to trace the lesser traveled paths of a country or region.
- Before you go, consider where in the world you want to find yourself, do your research, and prepare thoroughly. Some, like Overland’s three-week Alaska Expedition trip, will take you to the far corners of the globe and into the shadow of one of the Seven Summits. Others might be a little closer to home; check out your local National Forest website or a non-profit wilderness management organization like the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Community service work, in the United States or abroad.
- Engage with a local community, and contribute to a meaningful service project. Some, like our Service and Hiking New England trip, are based here in the United States and have long-standing relationships with local organizations.
- Some service projects are based abroad. Some of these projects are really great opportunities to lend a hand in a place that values your contribution. Other service projects may not be as closely connected to the community they serve. Carefully research the service partner organizations, as you’ll want to avoid voluntourism, or “volunteer tourism”, a kind of travel that has been criticized as harmful and self-serving.
Language immersion and study.
- What could be more exciting than learning a new language? There are a slew of cultural- and language-immersion opportunities around the world. On Overland’s Language and Hiking France trip, our students embed themselves in France’s Chamonix. From there they are directly exposed to the language and culture of this famous mountain town, and leave their three week adventure with language skills born out of language study both inside and outside the classroom.

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How to Choose a Summer Adventure for your child!

“Okay, I’m sold. What’s next?”

Great! I’m glad you’re excited. But preparation is key. Here at Overland we spend 10 months out of the year preparing our adventure travel programs. There’s a lot to consider, from your packing list to how to pick a route. If you’d eager to reap the benefits of adventure travel, browse our full catalog of adventures or keep exploring below!