Adventure Travel on a Budget

Editor’s Note: We’re excited to share a guest post from adventure travel enthusiast Kraig Becker. Kraig writes for The Adventure Blog and Gadling.com, covering adventure travel and outdoor adventures from around the globe. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast who has trekked the Sahara, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and camped in the Amazon. He lives by the philosophy that you can never have enough backpacks in your gear closet, and life is too short to not put some adventure into it.

Experienced travelers know that if there are three words that you rarely see together, those being “budget” and “adventure travel”. While it is relatively easy to find inexpensive trips to Europe or the Caribbean, it can be quite a different story when booking a trek through the Himalaya or a backpacking expedition to Patagonia. The remote nature of the destinations associated with adventure travel makes them difficult to get to, which of course adds to the expense. But that said, there are bargains to be had, and ways that you can save yourself some money, while still having an adventure of a lifetime.

When it comes to adventure travel, a “bargain” is often seen in relative terms. For instance, a major travel company that specializes in these kinds of trips recently began running a “two for one” special on their Antarctic cruises. The trip will still set you back more than $6000 per person, which sounds expensive when compared to most trips. But it is doubtful that you’ll find such an amazingly low price for a similar trip in the near future.

These kinds of travel deals are becoming increasingly common, thanks in no small part to the current economic conditions. Throughout 2009, airlines, travel companies, and tour operators have all felt the pinch as travelers elected to stay closer to home this year. As a result, they were forced to cut their rates and offer discounts, allowing those of us who could still afford to travel to reap the rewards. Don’t look for this trend to change in 2010 either, as several adventure travel companies have already begun to announce discounted prices and special deals for the year ahead as well.

Relying on the generosity of travel companies isn’t the only way to save money when it comes to adventure travel however. You may find that you can save a considerable amount of cash by booking your trip with a local guide rather than going with a larger company headquartered in the U.S. or the U.K. These local guides are often far less expensive, while still offering the same level of service as the more expensive companies.

This strategy served me well a few years back when I booked a Kilimanjaro climb and safari on the Serengeti. Not only was the company that I traveled with considerably less expensive, but the group size was much smaller than most and the level of service was exceptional. To top it off, I received a further discount for traveling during the low season, which had the added benefit of smaller crowds as well, and I had the satisfaction of knowing that my money was going directly into the local economy.

Of course, you don’t have to fly halfway around the world to have a great adventure travel experience. You’ll find plenty of long distance hikes, mountain bike rides, and paddling trips domestically too. That can save you thousands on airfare alone, while still giving you an amazing trip, without having to deal with terrible jet lag.

Adventure travel has always revolved around amazing experiences in amazing settings. Those experiences rarely come cheap, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t bargain hunt and find ways to save ourselves some money in the process. In the end, it’ll make those adventurous journeys even that much more rewarding.