Into the Wild: The Edits Edition

If your major hobbies last year included binging Netflix series on repeat and photographing “exotic” parakeets in your local park then we feel you. It’s no surprise that we’re all desperate for a change of scenery, that takes us beyond our four walls and firmly away from our daily park haunts. There really is something to be said about packing your bags and heading into the wildness. That rush of stepping into the unknown, not knowing what panoramic vista, turquoise waterfall or peculiar tropical creature may be waiting around the next corner. So, we’ve collected some of our favourite spots around the world, that will make you feel like you’re truly venturing into the wild.

Venture into the Ajloun Highlands in Jordan

Imagine luxury desert camps, archaeological relics, ancient civilisations and infinite miles of ochre-dusted landscapes. No, this isn’t the set of an Indiana Jones movie, but it is the things you can expect to see on our  Desert to Dead Sea Jordan trip. With epic camel rides through the Wadi Rum desert, treks in the ancient Red Rose City of Petra and snorkelling excursions over coral reefs in the Red Sea, you’ll also get to hike through the Ajloun Forest Reserve. Located in the Ajloun Highlands, this important nature reserve protects the oak, pistachio, carob, and strawberry-tree forests. It also acts as a wildlife sanctuary for the endangered roe deer, stone martens, wild boar, jackals and grey wolves in the area. With archaeological ruins scattered across the woodlands, you can also stop at a local Soap House to see how Orjan soap is made and sample Jordanian delicacies at the villages’ Biscuit House. In spring, you’ll find the reserve is carpeted with wildflowers, including drifts of rockroses and anemones – a true oasis in the middle of the desert.

Spot One-Horned Rhinoceros in Nepal

 If you’re looking for the perfect place to stretch your legs that isn’t your local park, Nepal’s jaw-dropping vistas in the Annapurna Range is bound to impress. After you’ve toured the bazaars, tucked into delicious street food and smelt the waft of intoxicating incense from some of Kathmandu’s most notable temples, it’s time to hit the Himalayas. Our Mountain Vistas & River Quests in Nepal trip takes you on an exhilarating 4-day trek through the Annapurna Range and on a rafting excursion through the jungle along the Seti River, where you’ll stay overnight in a safari-style tented river camp. Next, journey to the sub-tropical Chitwan National Park, one of the most outstanding areas to view wildlife in Asia. In the National Park, you’re likely to encounter gray langurs, rhesus macaques, Indian bison, golden jackals, spotted deer and Bengal foxes. Sloth bears are also common to spot in the area as well, where you may find them feasting on honeycomb, wood apples and mangoes in the forest. If you’re lucky, you may also spot Asian elephants roaming along the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands. The park’s most famous resident however is the one-horned Indian rhinoceros. In fact, 

Chitwan National Park is home to the second-largest population of one-horned rhino in the world and is avidly protected by anti-poaching patrols, to ensure healthy numbers continue to thrive in Chitwan. Trust us, having the opportunity to spot this treasured endangered creature in the wild is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry.

Snorkel with dolphins across Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula

We’re not ones to brag, but our trips in Costa Rica pack a punch. Whether you’re looking to go tubing down the Rio Celeste, plaster on natural mud-masks in Rincon de la Vieja or zipline over narrow river canons – we’ve got you sorted on our Rainforest & Restful Retreats in Costa Rica trip. Of course, we’ve got time to kick back with a couple of well-earned beers on the sun-soaked pacific coast, but for those who want to add more adventurers to their roster, we hop onboard a catamaran on the Nicoya Peninsula, to go snorkelling through some of Costa Rica’s clearest turquoise waters. In their inviting warm waters, you may be able to spot giant schools of yellowtails, angelfish, spotted eagle rays and parrotfish. You may also encounter huge leatherback sea turtles and pods of friendly dolphins on your snorkelling session and even see mammoth gentle whale sharks jump in the distance if you’re lucky. After a truly epic day in the water, you’ll drop anchor on the shores of a deserted beach, where the crew will prepare a mouth-watering South African BBQ feast.

Watch curious Baboons in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, South Africa

Kayaking with penguins in boulders beach, scrambling up Table Mountain and sandboarding down the Atlantis Dunes are just some of the things we tick off on our adrenaline-packed Cabernet & Capers in South Africa itinerary. But one of our favourite days of the trip has to be hiking through the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. This spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies just south-west of Stellenbosch in the Winelands region, offering an epic backdrop of the majestic Jonkershoek Mountains. Covering 9,800 hectares, the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is home to a host of unlikely lodgers like mongoose, honey badgers, klipspringers, leopards and inquisitive baboons. With sugarbirds and orange-breasted sunbirds fluttering through the forests, it’s also not uncommon to see rainbow-coloured rock agama lizards topping up their tan on the rocks. If you’re looking to see a different side to South Africa, then this lush reserve peppered with waterfalls, indigenous forests and jaw-dropping panoramic views of the valley is a must-see. 

Wander past the tallest trees on earth in California

On our Sequoias & SUP in California trip, your adventure starts in San Fran. Making pit stops at the most instagrammable spots along the way including the iconic hairpin-bends in Lombard Street, the sea lions at Pier 39 and the mural splashed walls in Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood, you’ll end the day with a couple of pints in the bustling Mission District. Once you’ve soaked in the sights of the “Golden Gate City”, you’ll get to marvel at ancient giant sequoias just outside San Fran. The Sequoia sempervirens trees, known by the locals as “redwoods” are the tallest living thing on the planet, and can grow up to a staggering 380 feet tall and 18 feet wide. With majestic redwood forests scattered from the Oregon border down to the Big Sur, some of their oldest trees have been around for more than 3,000 years! With a vast network of hiking trails to explore, it’s the perfect place to bask in nature at its finest.

If this blog has inspired you to take a walk on the wild side for your next upcoming adventure, why not browse through our collection of Edits trips to spark your wanderlust.