Soft adventures are still adventures. Combining shorter, more leisurely activities with long, lazy lie-ins, decadent food and blissfully nice hotels, it's adventure travel without the knee-disintegrating backpacks, or 4am starts. You can, in essence, throw yourself into something like hiking, diving or kayaking, safe in the knowledge that a squashy bed and great glass of wine awaits at the other end. We've selected ten such adventures that are new for this year – take your pick below.
Hedonistic Hiking
Hedonistic hiking in Tuscany
Tuscany is best known for Chianti, castles and cooking; top up on all three on this seven-night walking tour. You'll need a reasonable fitness level to tackle the daily hikes, which are between 7.5–10km, but it's well worth the effort when you're clambering around remote castles, quaffing vine-fresh wines, or slurping up spaghetti you made yourself whilst visiting a 16th-century villa. You'll rest your head in either a villa or four-star palazzo before finishing with a flourish at Arnolfo Ristorante – the only restaurant in Italy to receive two Michelin stars.
24th September–1st October; hedonistichiking.com
Classic cars in the New Forest
Classic cars in the New Forest
Everything feels that bit nicer when you're in a classic car. The ignition's click, the engine's purring as it glides along a smoothly tarmacked road, the tingle of adrenaline as the speedometer slowly sneaks up… Get your fix by combining a vintage car experience with a stay in one of the newly converted 1920s chauffeur garages at The Montagu Arms. Oh, and to drive? Take your pick from a 1966 Jaguar E-Type, 1967 Austin Healey 3000 MK III or the Gardner Douglas 427 Cobra.
montaguarmshotel.co.uk
Wildlife conservation in Argentina
Wildlife conservation in Argentina
Kristine Tompkins has been at the forefront of Argentinian conservation for 25 years. This one-off trip sees 12 budding conservationists join Tompkins and her team in Ibéra National Park, where you'll spend eight days helping with projects such as reintroducing native jaguars to the landscape. There's also plenty of time for exploring; each morning, your alarm is the hubble-bubble of scarlet and lime macaws as they soar through the sunrise. You'll amble through the spectacular landscapes on hikes, horse riding excursions, and kayaking trips.
18th–25th September; journeyswithpurpose.org
Hot air ballooning in the Arctic
Hot air ballooning in the Arctic
Glamping goes polar at the world's first Arctic safari, inspired by Kenyan bush camps (despite being in Swedish Lapland). As befits a site founded by a photographer, everything from the snowy, moose-packed forests to the cone-shaped tents are supremely aesthetic. By far the best experience, however, is the hot air ballooning. As the dawn begins to kiss the snow, you are floated above the charcoal trees and into a Christmas card-like scene – equally thrilling, soothing and, of course, photogenic.
Available every winter; aurorasafaricamp.com
Swim with sperm whales in Dominica
Swim with sperm whales in Dominica
Dominica – the small Caribbean nation between Martinique and Guadalupe – is the only place on earth where sperm whales reside year-round, courtesy of its deep-water canyons. This summer, you can come face-to-face with these gigantic creatures – which can grow up to 16m in length – on a seven-day swim-dive safari led by UK adventurer Will Bolsover. Each tour will take just four guests plus a photographer to the depths of the Dominican sea, with nights spent in luxury accommodation right on the seafront.
Dates throughout August; naturalworldsafaris.com
Laos by rail
Laos by rail
The latest addition to China's "Belt and Road" initiative is a 620-mile track linking Laos with China. This facilitates a long, lingering meander through landlocked Laos by rail. Your journey begins amongst Vientiane's temples and red-roofed market stalls before winding through rice fields, sapphire lagoons, and mist-encased mountains before finishing at an elephant sanctuary. Many of the stops are at remote, previously unconnected villages, and you can opt for five-star accommodation at each location.
insideasiatours.com
Snow leopards in Ladakh
Snow leopards in Ladakh
The snow leopard is one of nature's most elusive felines, but a new camp in Ladakh promises to increase your chances of spotting one. The camp itself is in a high valley on the border of India and Tibet – otherwise known as the Roof of the World – and veteran trackers are on hand to alert you to any spotted flashes amongst the snow. Leopards aside, downtime is spent in supreme comfort, with bush-camp style luxury dome tents and an expert team of conservationists and trackers.
1st October–30th April every year; snowleopardcamp.com
The Transcaucasian trail
The Transcaucasian trail
Veteran hikers looking for new turf will likely have heard of the Transcaucasian Trail (TCT), which opens its brand-new routes this summer. The entire TCT is an 1800km thru-hike that weaves around the Greater Caucasus Mountains in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. What's remarkable about the route is its diversity. Each day's plodding brings new, breath-stealing vistas, gushing river canyons blinking into volcanic turf, giving way to desert plains and leafy forests. Accommodation is, we must admit, on the rustic side – but the cultural and ecological diversity is more than worth it.
Guided walks take place in Armenia and Azerbaijan take place in June; transcaucasiantrail.org
Dive for pearls in Bahrain
Dive for pearls in Bahrain
Bahrain's seas are some of the world's most fertile pearl diving beds, with the UNESCO status to prove it. Bahrainis have been freediving to collect pearl oysters since 2000 BC, and you can retrace the historic Pearling Trail on an underwater tour – during which you may be able to collect a lustrous souvenir of your own. Admire your bounty from the sophisticated environs of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, which has a spa, waterpark and Michelin-starred restaurants, amongst other luxurious amenities.
Pearling Trail via Viatour; fourseasons.com
Stargazing in South Africa
Stargazing in South Africa
There's no shortage of copy-and-paste safaris in South Africa, but to find something a little different, cast your gaze upwards. Suspended amongst the trees in the magnificent Misty Mountain Reserve is the Ocean Dome – a just-opened glass orb that opens onto a treetop deck. Spend your days quad biking or hiking through the surrounding nature reserve, and by night, arrange for a braai basket to be winched up and settle in for an evening of stargazing – perhaps over a glass of wine.
mistymountainreserve.co.za
For more information on the above adventures, or to book a holiday, please contact Quintessentially Travel.
