The Meaning of Remarkable Adventure

17 May The Meaning of Remarkable Adventure

Posted at 15:17h in Tales & Reflections by Marguerite Richards 0 Comments

Combine the two definitions of adventure per Merriam Webster, and you get “an exciting, dangerous, or remarkable experience.” I hinge on the word remarkable because adventure means something different to everyone, though always notable, and always new. For one person, it could mean solo travel through Europe, while for another it could be a 20-day trek into the Himalaya, or a moment in the wild, face to face with an elephant. Still for others, it could mean spending time with the locals of a culture 180 degrees different from their own, or traveling alone in nature in order to leap inward on a journey of self-discovery. Here are five trips that seem remarkable to me, each with a different take on the meaning of adventure.

Survival in the Serengeti
Pride of lions on a rock in the Serengeti
© JohnPitcher

It takes being on safari to truly understand what survival of the fittest means. Bushtracks is honest about witnessing the savage realities in the wild during their animal migration journey in the Serengeti. “You won’t be the only one following millions of wildebeest and zebra. Predators can’t resist such a giant gathering of their prey. The drama of survival will play out before your eyes with lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas playing the main roles. Living their own life dramas, elephants, baboons, bushbabies, giraffes, aardvarks and a huge variety of other animals support one of the best wildlife adventures on earth.”

Reward for Rigor in Bhutan
trekking in Bhutan
© AdventureStock

Imagine a 14-day, high-elevation expedition into Chomolhari, Laya, and Gasa, an area described as a botanist’s paradise, near Bhutan’s northwestern border with Tibet. GeoEx notes that this area sees less than 300 visitors per year. One trip leader describes the path to the Chomolhari peak as having “precipitous towering ridges on each side, bonsai pines adorning the riverbanks, and thick carpets of moss laid to the skies.” At the end of the expedition, trekkers savor a soak in Tsachum hot springs – celebrating the rigorous riches of their adventure, and the divine feeling of post-adventure surrender to total relaxation.

Far Eastern Reaches of Siberia
kayaking in kamchatka
© Olaf Malver

Natural Habitat Expeditions is the only company in the world that offers this itinerary to Kamchatka, a region visited for the most part only by avid trout fishermen. The destination of this journey is described as a place “so deep within the roadless Kamchatka wilderness that our group must use a privately chartered helicopter to safely access it. It’s a stunningly scenic flight with multiple volcanoes in view. Travelers land on the rim of Semyachik Volcano to view the turquoise crater lake a thousand feet below before flying to the base of Karimsky Volcano to begin the backcountry hike.” With a maximum of 12 travelers, this is a genuine wilderness experience.

Exploring the Self in New Zealand
South Island New Zealand Hiking with NOLS
© Lighthouse_Creative

“Experience can be our best teacher,” is the motto at NOLS, National Outdoor Leadership School, where the goal is to master leadership while learning outdoor skills. This 30-day challenging backpacking course “takes you into the South Islands rugged interior: a land of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, tundra, and forests,” where there are few people, and flora and fauna not seen anywhere else on earth. NOLS does not sugarcoat the difficultly of the experience: the normal routes in New Zealand backcountry are already rigorous, and you are leaving those behind.

Challenging Cultural Assumptions in Africa
micato masai visit
© Britta Kasholm-Tengve

Travelers associate safari with learning about animals and visions of the open African plains. On African safari with Micato, you are privy to deeper connection with the people, and guests return surprised to find interactions with the locals to be some of their most memorable moments. For example, “you are introduced to a village elder, the keeper of tribal traditions. Appearing quietly regal in his local garb, he speaks to you about the tribe’s history and their hopes for the future. He tells fascinating tales of rituals that have lasted for centuries, including the initiation of young boys into warriorhood. You listen eagerly, and are encouraged to ask questions and challenge assumptions.”

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Marguerite Richards

Marguerite Richards

Marguerite Richards is a freelance travel writer who can’t seem to control her curiosity. She sometimes misses out on the physical details of a place because she’s so captivated by the people. She travels to understand cultural differences and the nuances that separate us, with the resolve to render it all palpable through her writing. She has lived for a combined six years in Holland, Chile and France, where total cultural immersion instilled a permanent desire to travel. New York was her longest cultural adventure, where she ran the magazines for the French Government Tourist Office for five years. Now, back in her native California, she’s free to write again full time. But, because she can’t shake her love for business, she also collaborates with travel companies on marketing and social media projects as often as possible. Marguerite holds an MA in French Translation, a BA in English Literature, a Certificate for English teaching, and an honorary business degree from the School of Hard Knocks. margueriterichards.com
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