Five tips for real adventure travel in 2020: it’s not about where or what, but how – leave your comfort zone, be curious and open to the unknown, even if it’s just a bar

Sometimes, “adventure travel” is associated with active, athletic activities, such as hiking, biking, snorkelling and scuba diving. Other times it is used to express the idea of getting off the beaten path, such as taking a safari or visiting a remote village. Then there are tour-operator-created experiences that market directly to the adrenaline junkie – things such as skydiving, zip-lining and cage-diving. But adventure travel does not have to mean athletic travel, nor does it mean you have to sleep on the ground. There are many ways to be adventurous, and all you have to do is find the mix that is right for you. Here are five tips to help you add more adventure to your next trip. 1. Define your own idea of adventure Jumping out of planes will get your blood flowing, and a five-day trek through the Andes will certainly do the trick, but adventure is not limited to things that scare you to death or make you break a sweat. Need a haircut? Why wait until you get home – saddle up with the local barber. Remember, a big part of adventure travel is being comfortable with the unknown The only thing required of adventure travel is that you get a little bit out of your comfort zone. The platform is for you to decide. For some, a remote safari is the perfect idea of adventure; for others, it’s taking a street food tour or a day sail off the coast somewhere. Do not be swayed by marketing that tries to define adventure as one thing or another – you be the judge of what it means to be adventurous. 2. Adventure travel is a mindset, not a sum of activities Being an adventurous traveller is not just about setting up excursions or showing up in a remote place. So much of it is being open to the idea of the unknown. After all, anyone can sign up for a bunch of tours. Adventurers are naturally curious of their surroundings. When I’m on the road, I want to know more about where I am, and who I’m with, and I want to learn something and feel a part of it. I want to have conversations with locals and fellow travellers. I want to bridge gaps. 3. Follow recommendations for better or worse One of the biggest contributors to an adventurous spirit is being open to out-of-the-blue recommendations, for better or worse. That last part is what’s important, because the fear of failure – or rather, fear of doing something that is “not worth it” – often holds us back. We are told by someone about that little place way off in the other part of town, but we do not go, because perhaps it will not be that great, and there are safer bets. Being an adventurous traveller is all about going down these unknown roads. They might not all work out to be the best thing you’ve ever done but following spontaneous recommendations opens you up to new experiences. The restaurant might not ultimately be that great, perhaps you will discover a new part of town, or a bar just next to it. Do not be afraid to fail on the road. For with an adventurous mindset, failure is not possible. 4. Pack like a traveller instead of a holidaymaker When it comes to packing and luggage, less is sometimes more. There are obvious benefits: you are travelling lighter, you are more flexible and you’re less burdened with big bags. But there is something bigger. It might sound counterintuitive, but not having everything you need on hand can lead to unforeseen opportunities on the road. Need an extra shirt or pair of pants? Find out where the locals shop and go be a part of it. Need a haircut? Why wait until you get home – saddle up with the local barber. Remember, a big part of adventure travel is being comfortable with the unknown. You do not have to prepare for every single circumstance because you feel confident enough to solve problems on the road, and you know that solving those problems can lead to learning experiences and local encounters. 5. Choose a destination that will bring out the adventurer in you Adventure can be found anywhere on earth, in any destination. There is not a single country that does not provide an abundance of opportunities for adventure in some way or some form. So do not look for some magical place – just be realistic and pick a destination that aligns with your vision of adventure. And even then, you will probably have trouble narrowing it down. After all, you can hike in Colorado, Chile, Nepal and Australia. You can eat street food in Japan, New York, London and India. Zip-lines are everywhere – so are dive shops. Destinations bring out the adventure within you, they do not supply it. Once this idea is understood, you realise that adventure is not about where you travel. It’s about how you travel.