The 50 greatest adventures on Earth

Adventure need not involve scaling Everest or walking the length of the Nile. It is about embarking on something unusual and daring. And while that might require flying to a far-flung destination that’s unpronounceable or completely off the radar, sometimes it’s also about simply heading somewhere close by doing something different and slightly out of your comfort zone.   

Below we’ve selected 50 new itineraries focused on different aspects of adventure: from walking, watersports and cycling to multi-active breaks and something a little unusual, such as a motorbiking trip and a four-wheel drive expedition. While they’re all thrilling, they’re also all eminently doable.

You may wish to head out on your own, but for those who need a little help, we’ve listed some of the best adventure tour operators, including those that specialise in family and sustainable travel. Whether you’re keen on walking in Wales or going off grid in Greenland, we have the ideal adventure for you.

Trisha Andres, commissioning editor, Telegraph Travel

Make for the mountains

1. Go on a bear hunt, Spain

The oft-overlooked Spanish Pyrenees offer an unexpected and authentic wildlife adventure. Brown bears forage here, but there are no feeding stations or hides. Instead, on Adventure Creators’ new trip, you’ll climb to a remote camp to go tracking with an expert guide, who monitors the bears daily, giving you the best chance of a truly wild sighting.

A six-night Bear Tracking trip costs €955 (£845) including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. May-July 2019. Adventure Creators (01202 798443; adventurecreators.com).

2. Unexplored Vietnam and Laos

The over-touristed hilltribe trails around Sapa are heaving. But Inside Asia’s new Northern Vietnam and Laos trip knows nearby areas that aren’t. Trek the rice terraces of Mai Chau, into the Vieng Xai caves (where 20,000 people sheltered during the Vietnam War) and into wildlife-filled Nam Et Phou Louey, Laos’s largest protected park, which sees only 80 hikers a year.

A 14-day Trekking Northern Vietnam & Laos trip costs from £3,580 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. January-May, October-December 2019. Inside Asia (0117 244 3380; insideasiatours.com).

3. Follow an Ab Fab trail, Georgia

Following her ITV series, Joanna Lumley seems to have single-handedly revived the Silk Road. Good for her: it’s epic. Mountain Kingdom’s new Georgia trip follows Lumley on the most spectacular section of the 1,864-mile (3,000km) Transcaucasian Trail, via snow peaks and glaciers, lush valleys, summer wild flowers and little-changed rural life, staying in family homes en route.

An 11-day Svaneti and the Transcaucasian Trail trip costs from £2,250 including accommodation and meals. Flights included. June 20, Aug 15 and Sept 5 2019. Mountain Kingdoms (01453 844400; mountainkingdoms.com).

4. Greet gorillas, Rwanda

Since Rwanda doubled the price of gorilla-tracking permits in 2017, more high-end accommodation has sprung up to match. This includes the new One&Only Nyungwe House, which the Luxury Holiday Company has paired with ridge-top Virunga Lodge in Volcanoes National Park, so you can make the trek with gorillas and track chimpanzees in Nyungwe, in style.

A nine-day Mountain Gorilla Adventure costs from £6,415 including accommodation, most meals and permits. Flights included. Year round. Luxury Holiday Company (020 7590 0674; theluxuryholidaycompany.com).

5. Go east, Bhutan

Bhutan is a Himalayan kingdom with a high price tag. But since 2018 the daily fee for those heading to the country’s little-trodden east has been reduced, to encourage visitors. KE Adventure’s Merak and Sakteng Trek makes the most of this, and a flight from Paro to Yonphula, to explore this region of Brokpa villages, pastoral valleys and yeti legends.

A 16-day East Bhutan trip costs from £3,895 including accommodation and meals. Flights included. March-April, November-December 2019. KE Adventure (01768 773966; keadventure.com).

6. Hike in paradise, St Lucia, Antigua and Montserrat

There’s more to the Caribbean than beaches of course – not least good walking and an abundance of birds. Hike Caribbean’s new three-island Birding and Hiking trip combines varied walks on Antigua with rainforest forays to seek St Lucia’s endemic parrot and time on little-visited Montserrat to trek amid avifauna and the surreal aftereffects of its famed volcanic eruption.

A 14-day Birding and Hiking trip costs from £2,995 including B&B accommodation and inter-island flights. International flights not included. Year round. Hike Caribbean (0333 987 4694; hikecaribbean.com).

7. Access all areas, Ethiopia

With Ethiopian Air’s new Manchester-Addis Ababa flight (launched in December) and a new connection from Addis to Goba, it’s never been quicker to access Ethiopia’s wild, remote Bale Mountains. TravelLocal’s Hiking Bale trip heads into the hills, conquering peaks (including 4,203m Mount Batu), dipping in hot springs and ending on the Sanetti Plateau, to look for the Ethiopian wolf.

A nine-day Hiking Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains trip costs from £1,760 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. Year round. TravelLocal (0117 325 7898; travellocal.com).

8. Escape the crowds, Sri Lanka

There’s a real buzz about Sri Lanka right now, with many making a beeline for the country’s highlights. Corinthian Travel’s new Walking in Sri Lanka trip should help you hike away from the crowds. It includes a night-time pilgrimage up sacred Adam’s Peak, climbing Lipton’s Seat for views of Tea Country, a hike to World’s End and trekking in the Knuckles range.

A 13-day Sri Lanka trip costs from £1,995 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. Year round. Corinthian Travel (020 3583 6089; corinthiantravel.co.uk).

9. Aim high, Scotland

It’s always beneficial to seek local advice. But HAGGiS Adventures has gone further, challenging its most experienced guides to create trips showcasing the bits of Scotland they are most passionate about. The new Natural Highs trip – designed by “Grandmaster Guide” Gillian Gill – is a yomp through Cairngorms National Park, bagging peaks and wild camping in the Lairig Ghru.

A three-day Natural Highs trip costs from £469 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. June-July 2019. HAGGiS (0131 557 9393; haggisadventures.com).

Go for a walk

10. Stroll with samurai, Japan

As all eyes fall on Japan’s cities for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, look the other way to one of the country’s least-explored, least-populated parts. Walk Japan’s new San’in Quest explores legend-laced western Honshu. Trails are gentle, leading along rugged shores, through rural countryside and into the Takadono valley, the ancient source of steel for samurai swords.

A nine-day San’in Quest trip costs 428,000 yen (£2,990) including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. April 22 and Nov 3 2019. Walk Japan (walkjapan.com).

11. Be a pilgim, Ireland and Spain

To earn a pilgrim certificate in Santiago de Compostela, you must have walked at least 62 miles (100km). But it’s now possible to clock some of those miles in Ireland. Complete a 16-mile/25km-plus Irish pilgrimage, such as the Kerry Camino, along the Dingle Peninsula, then walk the 11-mile (75km) Camino Inglés from A Coruña, the traditional route to Santiago for peregrinos.

A four-night Kerry Camino/Camino Inglés costs from €374 (£368) including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. March-October 2019. Camino Ways (00353 1 525 2886; caminoways.com).

12. Walk wild, Namibia

Launched late last year, the Etendeka Walking Trail is a multi-day guided hike through the Grootberg, one of Namibia’s most untouched wildernesses. The trip involves climbing Crystal Mountain, looking for desert-adapted wildlife and sleeping on mats under dark skies. Expert Africa can combine the trail with more walking and wildlife in Namibia’s north.

A 13-day Walking & Wildlife trip costs from £2,345 including accommodation, most meals and four-wheel drive hire. Flights not included. February-December 2019. Expert Africa (020 3405 6666; expertafrica.com).

13. Myth and music, Germany

In 1705, J S Bach walked 310 miles (500km) from Arnstadt to Lübeck, in search of musical inspiration. Martin Randall’s new “When Bach went Awol” trip traces an approximation of his route, in the company of Lindsay Kemp, producer of BBC Radio 3’s Bach Walks. It’s mainly a musical road trip, but with frequent stops for strolls in pine forests, medieval towns and the myth-shrouded Harz Mountains.

A seven-day Bach trip costs from £2,460 including accommodation and most meals. Flights included. May 7 2019. Martin Randall Travel (020 8742 3355; martinrandall.com).

14. Do good, Dominica

Dominica was battered by Hurricane Maria in 2017. It’s recovering – with 2019 seeing the opening of several new/restored hotels – but it still needs help. Mot Mot Travel’s “Dominica Voluntourism Holiday” is focused on restoring the Waitukubuli National Trail, the Caribbean’s first long-distance hike; as well as working on the clean-up, you’ll learn about island ecology and hike along a beach newly formed since the hurricane.

A seven-night Dominica trip costs from £1,900 including accommodation and meals. Flights included. Year round. Mot Mot Travel (01327 359622; motmottravel.com).

15. Amble with elephants, Kenya

Wellness tourism is booming, up six and a half per cent year on year – and more travellers are seeking more mindful experiences. Asilia Africa’s new programme of immersive adventures is a response to that. Its “Traverse the Mara Conservancies on Foot” trip crosses classic Kenyan big-game country; the expert guide, slow pace, attention to details and nights spent fly-camping offer a deeper connection with the bush.

A six-day Mara trip costs from £3,375 including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. May, November 2019-March 2020. Asilia Adventures (0027 21 418 0468; asiliaadventures.com).

16. Walk right around Wales

The Wales Coast Path, the world’s first continuous trail along a nation’s edge, celebrates its seventh birthday with a new walking festival in May 2019. Celtic Trails offers an 80-day itinerary covering the lot; for something more manageable, yet still magnificent, try the Pembrokeshire section, which runs through the UK’s only coastal national park, passing the Preseli Hills, puffins and seals, and Britain’s smallest city.

A 14-night Pembrokeshire Coast Path trip costs from £1,205 including B&B accommodation. Flights not included. March-October 2019. Celtic Trails (01291 689774; celtictrailswalkingholidays.co.uk).

17. Saunter in style, Australia

Since Qantas launched direct flights in 2018, Perth-London takes only 16 and a half hours, and thanks to Walk Into Luxury’s “Best of the Bibbulmun Walk”, Western Australia’s 620-mile (1,000km) trail (40 years old in 2019) can be experienced in just six days. The trip combines wonderful walking via dazzling beaches, Conspicuous Cliff and giant karri trees with gourmet food and a sumptuous villa overlooking the ocean.

An eight-night Luxury Bibbulmun trip costs from £3,399pp including accommodation and some meals. Flights included. Tailor-made. Abercrombie & Kent (01242 547826; abercrombiekent.co.uk).

Get on your bike

18. Recall the Wall, Germany

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – a pertinent moment to trace its route if ever there was one. Explore’s new Cycle the Berlin Wall trip, which covers 127 miles (205km) over five days, takes in sites such as Hitler’s Bunker and Checkpoint Charlie. It’s also guided by a local who grew up in East Germany and can give insight into life behind the barricade.

The seven-day Berlin Wall trip costs from £1,420 including B&B accommodation and bike hire. Flights included. Sept 16 2019. Explore (01252 883621; explore.co.uk).

19. The roads of Mongolia

Mongolia has 8,700 miles (40,000km) of roads; only four per cent are paved. Which makes “road cycling” a rather novel concept here.

Saddle Skedaddle’s new “Route of the Nomads” pedals hard-packed Jeep trails via national parks, high passes and the Orkhon valley, capital of the Mongol Empire. Nights are spent camping under some awe-inspiring starlit skies.

A 16-day Route of the Nomads trip costs from £2,295, including accommodation and meals. Flights and bike hire not included. Departures June 15, July 20, Aug 17 2019. Saddle Skedaddle (0191 265 1110; skedaddle.com).

20. Pedal by the Pacific, Canada

Vancouver Island is the best of both worlds: wild in nature yet culture-rich, foodie-friendly and well set up for adventure. The Pacific Marine Circle cycle ride loops via beaches, lakes and ancient forests. Distances average 40 miles (65km) a day; longer “Burner Routes” can add a bigger challenge. Avoid the burn on your wallet though: from June 2019, Wow Air will fly Gatwick-Vancouver from £129.

The six-day Cycling Vancouver Island trip costs from £1,849 including accommodation, some meals and bike hire. Flights are not included. May-Sept 2019. Grand American Adventures (0333 060 3507; grandamericanadventures.com).

21. Start a female revolution on Skye, Scotland

Aiming to encourage (not exclude), Wilderness Scotland is running several women-only departures in 2019. One of which is a road cycle around Skye and the Inner Hebrides.

A six-night Skye and the Inner Hebrides trip costs from £1,795 including accommodation and most meals. Flights and bike hire not included. May 18 2019. Wilderness Scotland (01479 898513; wildernessscotland.com).

22. Ride without the rabble, Peru

With 2019 Inca Trail permits for peak months selling out within weeks of release, consider an alternative way to explore the Sacred Valley. Discover Adventure’s Inca Cycle charity challenge is a different take on the route to Machu Picchu. The route weaves between quinoa fields, coffee plantations and Andean villages.

An 11-day Inca Cycle costs £499/£2,749 fundraising/full payment options including accommodation, meals and bike hire. Flights included. Nov 2 2019. Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com).

23. Combine cycling with recycling, Holland

Freedom Treks’ new boat and bike trip around Holland’s Hanseatic Route loops from Amsterdam, linking rivers, lakes and coast, medieval cities, national parks and the world’s first bike path made entirely of discarded plastic, which opened in Zwolle in 2018. Each night you return to your cabin on the newly refurbished De Nassau, which floats around with you.

A seven-night Holland’s Hanseatic Route trip costs from £548 including accommodation and meals. Flights and bike hire not included. Freedom Treks (01273 224066; freedomtreks.co.uk).

24. Take the tracks less travelled, Cambodia

It’s now 40 years since the Khmer Rouge fell, and Cambodia is having a moment – new lodges are opening all the time. However, Bspoke’s “Wilds of Cambodia” cycle heads away from the country’s more touristy spots to explore the south coast. Riding quiet roads, ox-cart trails and dirt tracks, you’ll skirt mangroves, beaches and the Cardamom Mountains.

A nine-day Cambodia trip costs from £1,779 including accommodation, some meals and bike hire. Flights not included. February-December 2019. Bspoke (020 3740 3350; bspoketours.com).

25. Bike amid bubbles, Italy

The UK is the world’s greediest prosecco guzzler, knocking back a third of the annual output. Yet the Italian region it effervesces from, in the foothills of the Dolomites, remains remarkably underrated. Exodus’s new “Cycling the Prosecco Hills” trip rectifies this, exploring the rolling, vine-cloaked hills on back roads seemingly designed for cycling. Evenings are spent meeting producers and sampling their wares.

An eight-day Prosecco Hills trip costs from £1,249 including accommodation, some meals and bike hire. Flights not included. May-October 2019. Exodus (020 3733 5819; exodus.co.uk).

Go wild with water

26. Canyons and cliffs, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The 15-mile (25km)-long Rakitnica Canyon is one of Europe’s deepest. A commercial descent has never been done before, so be one of the first on Much Better Adventures’ Mini-Expedition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Abseil down craggy walls, jump off rocks, swim in pure waters, squeeze through the canyon’s narrows (in places, just 1ft 6in/50cm wide) and wild camp on beaches under the cliffs.

A three-day Canyon Descent costs from £485 including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. May-October 2019. Much Better Adventures (020 3826 8256; muchbetteradventures.com).

27. Snorkelling in Indonesia

Indonesia’s remarkable Raja Ampat archipelago is home to the biggest variety of corals and marine fish on the planet. Seatrek’s new Raja Ampat cruise allows for more time in the water – paddling, snorkelling, free-diving, paddleboarding – than any other voyage, maximising your aqua appreciation. There’s time for cave exploring, jungle trekking and spotting birds of paradise, too.

A 10-day Raja Ampat Action and Adventure Cruise costs from US$5,750 (£4,500) including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. Dec 5 2019. Seatrek (0062 361 474 3902; seatrekbali.com).

28. Paddle away from people, Australia

A recent rise in visitors has prompted calls for caps on numbers at Tasmania’s honeypot sites. But by combining some new and remote kayak experiences, you can avoid all the hordes. Paddle down the Derwent river to see wild platypus and float to Wineglass Bay to skip the busy hiking trail. Then fly to Flinders Island for a wild kayak expedition, far from everyone else.

A 12-night Tasmania Paddle trip costs from £2,695 including B&B accommodation, car hire and internal flights. International flights not included. March-April 2019. Tasmanian Odyssey (01534 735449; tasmanianodyssey.com).

29. Sail with bears, Canada

In native Tsimshian, Khutzeymateen means “a confined space for salmon and bears”, which is all the incentive you need to board Prestige Canada’s new trip down this remote British Columbian inlet. Aboard a 68ft ketch, you’ll explore Khutzeymateen Valley, Canada’s only grizzly sanctuary, looking for bears, sea lions, birds and maybe orca and humpback too; launch a kayak for an even closer view.

An eight-night Khutzeymateen Adventure Cruise costs from £4,307 including accommodation and most meals. Flights included. May 2019. Prestige Canada (01502 567222; prestigecanada.co.uk).

30. Take a dive in untouched St Helena

Only accessible by plane since 2017, the British Overseas Territory of St Helena is known for having one of the planet’s most pristine underwater ecosystems, with vibrant and varied dive sites and a wealth of charismatic species, including manta ray, turtles and, in season, humpbacks and whale sharks. Dive Worldwide suggests going between January and March for the best chance of seeing big fish.

A 12-day Untouched St Helena trip costs from £3,095 including B&B accommodation, 10 dives and equipment. Flights included. January-July, Dec 2019. Dive Worldwide (01962 302087; diveworldwide.com).

31. Off the beaten track in Zambia

Take in the lesser-known Liuwa Plain and Kafue National Park for an exclusive game experience. Located in western Zambia, both are characterised by wide open plains, ideal for photo opportunities and spotting wildebeest, cheetah and the Lady Liuwa lion pride. In addition to game drives, there are canoeing safaris and one day spent at the  Victoria Falls.

A nine-night Off The Beaten Track Zambia trip costs from £8,800 including accommodation and meals. Flights and transfers included. May-December 2019. Scott Dunn (020 3733 0631; scottdunn.com).

32. Do laps in the Lakes, England

With 2019 marking the 70th anniversary of the creation of the UK’s national parks, it’s a good moment to explore them from a more unusual perspective. SwimTrek’s “Lakes and Tarns Weekender” is a brief, brisk but brilliant submersion in what the Lake District does best: gloriously sited expanses of water. The manageable distances each day will suit both the novice and seasoned open water swimmers.

A three-day Lakes and Tarns Weekender trip costs from £420 including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. June, August, September 2019. Swim Trek (01273 739713; swimtrek.com).

33 Get active in Antarctica

Aurora Expeditions’ new-for-2019 ship, the Greg Mortimer, has been designed for eco-efficiency, stability (with an innovative bow for cutting through Drake Passage swells) and adventure: a sea-level platform and multiple Zodiac-boarding points make activities easier. On the “Spirit of Antarctica” trip, those activities include kayaking amid bergs, skiing polar mountains and exploring in snowshoes.

A 12-day Spirit of Antarctica trip costs from $9,900 including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. Oct 30, Nov 9 and 19 2019. Aurora Expeditions (0808 189 2005; auroraexpeditions.com.au).

A bit of everything

34. Walks and lake swims, Austria

Austria has been wonderful for “wellness” long before it became a buzzword. On Ramblers’ new centre-based Bad Hofgastein holiday, you can be as “well” as you wish. There are two levels of walks each day – from meadow strolls to alpine trails. Plus there are opportunities for saunas, lake swims, tarn plunges and thermal dips.

A seven-night Bad Hofgastein trip costs from £1,175 including accommodation and most meals. Flights included. June 20, July 25, Aug 8, Sept 5 2019. Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331133; ramblersholidays.co.uk).

35. Travel back in time to crowd-free Thailand

Selective Asia’s “An Insider’s Thailand” trip aims to recall a time when this still-fabulous south-east Asian nation wasn’t overrun by tourists. It focuses on northern areas where you can get immersed in local life: cycle rural Chiang Mai, hike between minority villages in barely visited Fang, cruise by longtail and get hands-on at the ethically run Elephant Valley Project, where eles roam free.

A 12-day Insider’s Thailand trip costs from £1,976 including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. Year round. Selective Asia (01273 670001; selectiveasia.com).

36. Master the mountains, France

Undiscovered Mountains’ new “Winter Wilderness Adventure” explores the Alps in old-school trapper style. Spend a night in a shepherds’ hut with no electricity or running water, travel by snowshoe and husky sled, and learn to build an igloo (which you can sleep in, if you dare). Finish with a nod to luxury: a long soak in a forest-tucked wood-fired hot tub.

A four-day Winter Wilderness Adventure costs from £465 for all accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. February, March and December 2019. Undiscovered Mountains (0345 009 8501; undiscoveredmountains.com).

37. Stay focused in China

Only got a week to spare for the colossus that is China? Intrepid’s new “China: Great Wall Hike, Bike and Kung Fu” trip is admirable in its focus. It travels not far but deep, trekking lesser-visited sections of unrestored Wall, staying in family-run guesthouses, exploring by bicycle (as 500 million Chinese do) and learning martial arts from a local master.

A seven-day Great Wall Hike trip costs from £1,055 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. April-October 2019. Intrepid (0808 274 5111; intrepidtravel.com).

38. On the move safari, Tanzania

Safaris can be sedentary, but not so G Adventures’ new “Tanzania Active Safari”. As well as classic game drives in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, you’ll watch wildlife by foot, bike and canoe. Paddle with hippos in Arusha National Park, cycle in Lake Manyara National Park (home to tree-climbing lions) and hike up the extinct Empakaai Crater for ravishing Rift Valley views.

An eight-day Tanzania Active Safari costs from £1,749 including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. June-December 2019. G Adventures (0344 272 2040; gadventures.co.uk).

39. Spice it up in Oman

Oman isn’t like its neighbours. Rather than Emirates glitz, it’s more about culture and adventures. Imaginative Traveller’s new tailor-made Oman tours can combine abseiling in Snake Gorge, hiking the Grand Canyon of Oman, cycling to Nizwa Fort, reaching the summit of Jebel Akhdar, camel trekking and dune bashing in the desert, watching nesting turtles at Ras Al Jinz and camping beneath the stars.

A 12-day Oman Explorer trip costs from £3,795 with accommodation and meals. Flights not included. Year round. Imaginative Traveller (01728 862219; imaginative-traveller.com).

40. Get into conservation, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is green, biodiverse and ripe for adventure. Natural World Safaris’ Wildcat Conservation Safari makes it easy to help with conservation, too. As well as whitewater rafting to jungle eco lodges and exploring turtle-frequented Tortuguero National Park, you will set camera traps to monitor Costa Rica’s six species of wildcats.

An 11-day Wildcat Conservation Safari costs from £3,195 including accommodation and meals. Flights not included. Year round. Natural World Safaris (01273 691642; naturalworldsafaris.com).

41. Sail, ski, fish and hike, Norway

Reaching the Lofotens is the first adventure. Exploring the Arctic Circle-busting archipelago aboard a 19th-century schooner is quite another. Black Tomato’s new Lofoten trip sails amid the peaks and fjords, stopping to ski, hike pristine trails, sea kayak and spearfish. Then disembark to watch the aurora from a glass cabin.

A seven-night Lofotens trip costs from £5,700 including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. February-June 2019. Black Tomato (020 7426 9888; blacktomato.com).

Something different

42. Ride free, USA

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic movie Easy Rider with a road trip, following Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda’s route from LA to New Orleans on a Harley-Davidson. Accompanied by guides, you’ll roar through Death Valley, the Mojave Desert and Monument Valley with stops at locations seen on screen.

A 15-night Easy Rider Tour costs from £4,350 including B&B accommodation and motorbike rental. Flights included. May 22, Sept 18 2019. Bon Voyage (0800 316 0194; bon-voyage.co.uk).

43. Take a long drive, Chile and Argentina

With Chile announcing its plan to link 17 national parks from the Lake District to the Beagle Channel, it’s a great time to revisit the epic Carretera Austral highway through Patagonia. Pura Aventura’s new Ruta Uncovered self-drive covers it all: Chilean lakes, Torres del Paine, Argentina’s Perito Moreno and Fitz Roy, finishing with a cruise to Tierra del Fuego.

A 45-night Ruta Uncovered trip costs from £12,500 including accommodation, some meals and car hire; shorter trips available. Flights not included. Year round. Pura Aventura (01273 676712; pura-aventura.com).

44. Go remote, Azerbaijan

Make a resolution to go somewhere you (and virtually no one else) has heard of. Regent Holidays suggests the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. Discover Nakhchivan’s ancient sites, from the reputed tomb of Noah to a sanatorium built into a salt mine to the Ashabi-Kahf cave, noted in the Koran. Expect to see no other tourists at all.

A six-day Pioneering Nakhchivan trip costs from £1,520 including accommodation and meals. Flights included. April 8 2019. Regent Holidays (020 7666 1244; regent-holidays.co.uk).

45. Veer off-road, Peru

Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest: two of Latin America’s most enticing adventure playgrounds. Bash around them under your own steam on Steppes Travel’s 4x4 Self Drive. Behind the wheel of a Totoya Hilux, but in radio contact with a guide, you’ll master the most thrilling terrain, from the Nazca desert to the Sacred Valley and Jurassic Park-like jungle.

A 16-day Amazon 4x4 Self Drive costs from £4,145 including accommodation, most meals and vehicle hire. Flights not included. May 9, June 15 2019. Steppes Travel (01285 601 050; steppestravel.com).

46. Tour by quad bike, Botswana

For a transcendental experience without resorting to narcotics, try Original Travel’s Desert to Delta trip, which sets off across the immense, mirage-fuzzed, mind-bending Makgadikgadi salt pan on quad bikes. Roar across this strange, arid wilderness, meeting meerkats and flamingoes, sleeping under the stars and visiting Kubu, a sacred Bushman site. Then end in the contrasting lushness of the Okavango Delta.

An 11-day Desert to Delta trip costs from £8,950 including accommodation and meals. Flights included. April-October 2019. Original Travel (020 7978 7333; originaltravel.co.uk).

47. Cross the Himalayas, Nepal and Tibet

After a new road over the Nepal-Tibet border opened in 2018, this year offers fresh possibilities for traversing the roof of the world. Bamboo Travel’s Overland to Everest trip roves from Lhasa, across Tibet and into the Kathmandu Valley via Everest Base Camp, where a stay at Rongbuk Monastery offers the chance to see sunrise on the world’s highest peak.

An 18-day Overland to Everest trip costs from £4,495 including B&B accommodation. Flights included. April-October 2019. Bamboo Travel (020 7720 9285; bambootravel.co.uk).

48. Rev up in Jordan

The law prohibiting foreigners operating motorbikes in Jordan was only lifted in 2018, so riders on Silk Road Adventures’ new trip will be among the first to explore this way. Roar down the King’s Highway, via Wadi Rum, Petra, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, pulling up at Crusader castles and Bedouin camps en route.

A seven-day Motorbiking through Jordan trip costs from £2,850 including accommodation, all meals and motorbike hire. Flights not included. March 10 2019. Silk Road Adventures (0117 427 0129; silkroad-adventures.com).

49. Stare at the skies, Chile and Argentina

A match made in heaven: the best place to see the 2019 solar eclipse is one of best places to look at the sky at any time. Wild Frontiers’ Solar Eclipse trip starts with sublime stargazing in Chile’s Atacama Desert then crosses the Andes to watch the celestial event in Argentina’s Valle Fertil. Finish with a toast in Mendoza’s vineyards.

A 15-day Solar Eclipse guided trip costs from £5,015 including accommodation and most meals. Flights not included. June 21 2019. Wild Frontiers (020 8741 7390; wildfrontierstravel.com).

50. Go off-grid, Greenland

The south is offbeat Greenland’s even more offbeat realm, part Unesco-listed in 2017, rich in Viking tales and real wilderness. Discover the World’s new South Greenland Adventure allows you to explore independently. Based in the small settlement of Narsarsuaq, you can hike to glaciers, take a boat on the fjord or kayak around iceberg-filled bays.

A five-night South Greenland Adventure costs from £2,206 including accommodation and some meals. Flights not included. June-August 2019. Discover the World (01737 888475; discover-the-world.com).

Have you been on one or more of these adventures? What did you enjoy most about them? Are there any that we might have missed? Tell us in the comments section below.

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