Self-guided
walking
Forget bungee jumping and survival camps—today's traveller is embracing a gentler thrill: soft adventure.
It's about exploring new places without roughing it—whether that’s a countryside walk close to home, a yoga retreat in southern Europe, or a jungle trek followed by a good night's sleep in a proper bed. It might mean venturing off the tourist trail in familiar countries, or joining a small group tour further afield where everything's handled by a guide, blending structure with flexibility. However far you go, soft adventure offers the spirit of discovery with the comfort and reassurance of a well-planned journey.
Read on to discover what soft adventure travel looks like—and how it's helping travellers find meaning in the journey, not just the destination.
Soft
adventure
travel
Immersive
Adventures
Wildlife
Encounters
Wellness
Journeys
A softer way to explore
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The Travelzoo guide to:
Beyond the landscape: Immersive adventures
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Where the story stays with you
Some see a hotel as just a place to sleep after a busy day of sightseeing—but where you stay can be just as memorable as the sights themselves. There's something special about walking into a hotel that surprises you, whether it's the character of the building, the warmth of the welcome, or the view from your window. It's the kind of experience that stays with you—long after the photos fade.
With Trafalgar's Stays with Stories, your accommodation becomes part of the adventure. These handpicked hotels are steeped in heritage and character, often forming a vital thread in the fabric of the local community.
Take the Best of Morocco tour, for instance, where you'll spend a night at the African-styled Xaluca Dades. Perched in the Atlas Mountains with sweeping views over the Dades Valley and nearby Berber villages, it's the kind of place that helps you understand where you are, not just where you're staying.
Travel that gives back
You don't have to stay home to travel responsibly. Sustainable travel is about making choices that support the people, wildlife, and places you visit—so that future generations can enjoy them too.
Trafalgar's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER™ Experiences are designed to leave a positive footprint. They connect travellers with communities and projects working toward a better future. Each one helps support up to two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, bringing conscious travel into the heart of your journey.
One example is the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER™ Experience in Trafalgar's Best of Eastern Canada itinerary. You'll visit Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa, Canada. Here, explore the diversity of Indigenous histories and cultures through guided displays, and take part in the Friendship Dance—a meaningful way to connect, reflect, and learn more about the land and its people. It's soft adventure at its most thoughtful: immersive, enriching, and rooted in respect.
Conversations across cultures
Soft adventure isn't just about landscapes—it's about people, too. Travelling this way gives you the chance to slow down and really connect with local life. From sharing stories to sampling home-cooked meals, cultural experiences bring a deeper understanding of the places you visit.
Trafalgar's Tour Locally approach makes this kind of connection possible. Through more than 100 Be My Guest experiences worldwide, travellers are welcomed into the homes of hosts eager to share their culture and traditions. These are personal moments, shared around the dinner table or in the garden over a glass of wine.
On the Northern Italian Lakes & Countryside itinerary, for instance, you might find yourself dining with a family in Mantua, Italy—tucking into regional dishes while learning about local life firsthand.
After yoga and wild swimming, what better way to unwind than with a session in a wood-fired beach sauna? Jersey's very own sauna, run by Sauna Society, sits beside the sea at St Catherine's Bay. It accommodates up to eight people at a time, with hour-long sessions designed to help you slow down and switch off.
But this isn't your average gym sauna. Here, you can sweat it out with a view of the waves—then take a refreshing dip in the ocean just steps away. Sauna bathing is known to support detoxification, improve circulation, and boost mental clarity. It's a calming ritual that brings both body and mind into balance.
Whether you go alone or with friends, it's a chance to pause, be present, and take the kind of time out that stays with you long after you've left the beach.
Heat, heal, repeat
Rediscover your best self with yoga that goes beyond the studio. In Jersey, classes often take place right on the beach—bringing you closer to nature as you move, stretch and breathe. The sound of the waves, the feel of sea air on your skin, and the open coastal views help quiet the mind and deepen your practice. Beach yoga is a peaceful, grounding way to reconnect with yourself.
For something a little more invigorating, consider cold water swimming in Jersey. Taking a dip in Jersey's chilly sea has a range of proven health benefits—from boosting circulation and the immune system to lowering stress and anxiety levels.
With its sheltered bays and clear waters, the island offers countless spots for wild swimming. Begin the day with a sunrise plunge, or wind down with a calm, bracing swim as the sun sets.
Breathe deep by the sea
Wellness holidays combine relaxation and activities to improve your wellbeing. You might take part in daily exercise classes to boost your physical health, or slow down with guided meditation.
You don’t have to travel far to step away from everyday pressures. The island of Jersey, set in the English Channel, is just an hour's flight from 20 UK airports. It's 85 miles (137 km) from mainland Britain and only 14 miles (22 km) from France.
With its fresh sea air, quiet coastal paths, and wide open beaches, Jersey is an ideal setting for a wellness break. At low tide, the island nearly doubles in size—giving you more space to explore, breathe, and reset. Plus, you'll only ever be 10 minutes from a beach.
Jersey is a place where switching off feels effortless, and slowing down comes naturally.
Find your serenity in Jersey
Gentle wellness
journeys
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Living landscapes:
Wildlife encounters
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Epic Australia, New Zealand & Asia
In partnership with:
Natural wonders of The Americas
In Latin and South America, landscapes shift fast—one moment you're on a white-sand beach, the next you're deep in rainforest. This variety of habitats means the wildlife is just as diverse.
On Titan Travel's Natural Wonders of Costa Rica tour, drift through the quiet canals of Tortuguero, surrounded by the sounds of howler monkeys and birds in flight. Watch for sloths curled high in the branches, or explore the rich Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge on a boat safari through still waters and green marshlands. You'll always travel with an expert tour manager or a local guide, ensuring you never miss a thing.
In the Galápagos Islands, you might swim near penguins, iguanas, and dolphins—creatures unbothered by your presence. In the Peruvian highlands, you can meet llamas and alpacas grazing on mountain slopes beneath wide skies.
Wild adventures across Africa
Africa offers some of the world's most extraordinary wildlife experiences. With Titan Travel, your safari adventure is never one-size-fits-all—each itinerary is carefully crafted. And, you'll begin and end every adventure with Titan Travel's nationwide chauffeur return service, making travel effortless. Plus, you'll benefit from hotel porterage throughout.
You might opt for a classic safari in Kenya, where spotting the Big Five—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo—is all part of the thrill. Or, choose Titan Travel's Mabula Game Lodge tour in South Africa, where alongside the Big Five, you'll also look out for the charming Little Five: elephant shrews, antlions, rhinoceros beetles, buffalo weavers, and leopard tortoises.
This vast continent brims with natural and cultural wonders. Hear the roar of Victoria Falls on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border, explore ancient history in Egypt, or discover Mauritius's tropical beauty.
Tread lightly, travel well
Travel doesn’t need to cost the earth. Inntravel's self-guided holidays are designed to tread lightly, reducing your environmental impact while supporting the places you visit.
Inntravel holds B Corp certification—meaning it's been recognised for meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
From choosing independent suppliers to encouraging public transport, every journey is rooted in care. Many holidays also take you to rural areas where your visit helps sustain local communities.
Whether you're exploring Funchal and the Island of Madeira or walking Along St Francis' Way through Umbria, you can feel good about the path you're taking.
Rest well, eat well
After a day of leisurely exploration, what better reward than a stay at a comfortable hotel, with excellent service and plentiful food?
Inntravel handpick each hotel personally, with a focus on charm, comfort, and a warm welcome. They favour locally owned hotels with a strong sense of place—whether that’s an elegant mansion tucked within Lisbon’s castle walls or a heritage hotel set beside a Slovenian mountain stream.
The Cornwall's Forgotten Corner itinerary is a classic example. You’ll stay in carefully selected inns and guesthouses, where you'll be greeted by hosts and welcomed into the local community.
Other Inntravel holidays feature just one highlight hotel. On Mösern & the Hidden Austrian Tyrol you’ll stay at a hotel with excellent spa facilities and a 4-course dinner served every evening.
Exploring the world doesn't have to mean joining a crowd or rushing to keep pace. On a self-guided walking holiday, you can travel on your own terms—pausing when something catches your eye, setting off when you're ready, and truly taking it all in.
With over 40 years of experience, Inntravel curates routes that balance independence with expert planning. Every itinerary is carefully tested by their team, so you can be confident in the quality handpicked hotels, the fantastic local restaurants, and the scenic trails underfoot.
There's no need to carry heavy bags—your luggage is transferred for you, leaving you free to enjoy the journey. And thanks to clear route notes and reliable support from Inntravel's dedicated team, you'll have everything you need to walk with confidence.
Walk your own way
Paths less travelled: Self-guided walking
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Australasia, as we're defining it here, includes Australia, New Zealand, and parts of East Asia—together making up a rich region for wildlife adventures. Your Titan Travel tour always includes flights, so you can reach your destination with ease.
Every itinerary is filled with in-depth excursions, too. In Australia, explore the Great Barrier Reef's vibrant marine life, then head inland to meet koalas and kangaroos at Adelaide's Cleland Wildlife Park. Over in New Zealand, you can spot dolphins, seals, and seasonal whales on a Bay of Islands cruise.
Venture further north into East Asia and you'll encounter wildlife rarely seen elsewhere. On Titan Travel's Japanese Winter Wonderland tour, watch snow monkeys soaking in the steaming hot springs of Jigokudani, and keep an eye out for Hokkaido's snow-white rabbits and elusive Yezo sika deer in Onuma Quasi National Park.
Sample authentic Italian cuisine; image via Trafalga
The city of Bellagio; image via Trafalgar
The Italian Lakes at sunrise; image via Trafalgar
Traditional balsamic vinegar barrels; image via Trafalgar
Quebec City's skyline; image via Trafalgar
Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls, Ontario; image via Trafalgar
The city of Kingston, Ontario, at sunrise; image via Trafalgar
The Toronto skyline at sunset; image via Trafalgar
A couple in Morocco; image via Trafalgar
A mountain village and ancient kasbah in Morocco; image via Trafalgar
The medina in Old Fez; image via Trafalgar
The Atlas Mountains
Soft
adventure
travel
Lofoten, Norway
Liguria, Italy
Mösern, Austria
Cornwall, UK
Istria, Croatia
Expedition
Cruises
Endless horizons: Expedition cruises
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Built for discovery
Your experience on board is just as important as the places you visit. After days spent exploring some of the planet's most remote and remarkable regions, you'll want somewhere quiet and considered to return to.
Swan Hellenic's fleet of boutique ships have been crafted for adventurous minds. You'll stay in first-class accommodation at sea, complete with personal service and genuine hospitality.
Each ship is built with sustainability in mind, meeting the latest environmental standards. Advanced technology and careful protocols help ensure every voyage leaves the waters you explore as pristine as you found them—preserving these extraordinary places for generations to come.
Voyages to the edges of the map
Expedition cruises take you to some of the most remote corners of the world. Journey to Antarctica on a roundtrip voyage from Ushuaia, sailing through the Drake Passage to reach the frozen seventh continent. Watch bustling colonies of gentoo penguins and Weddell seals, set against a backdrop of towering ice and open sea. On the Exploring Svalbard cruise, travel through Norway's far north and explore remote Arctic islands, where you might spot polar bears, ringed seals, and walruses. Alternatively, discover the vast wilderness of the extreme north on the Greenland in depth itinerary.
For warmer adventures, set your course along Africa's east coast. On the Seychelles to Kenya cruise, encounter Aldabra's giant tortoises, explore Zanzibar's layered history, and take to the water by kayak.
Cultural expeditions by sea
Founded in the 1950s, British cruise line Swan Hellenic pioneered cultural expedition cruising. Relaunched in 2020 with the same spirit of curiosity, it now sails to destinations few other ships reach—offering the chance to see what others don't.
Each voyage is accompanied by experts who bring the places you visit to life. On board, lectures led by historians, scientists, and other specialists offer insight into the cultures, landscapes, and ecosystems you'll soon encounter. The ship's library provides quiet space for deeper discovery, whether you're drawn to local traditions, wildlife, or geology.
There's room for creativity, too. With support from on-board experts, you can hone your skills in photography, sketching, writing, or blogging—turning your experiences into lasting impressions.
St Francis' Way, Umbria
Piedmont, Italy
A Zodiac excursion
Explore wildlife itineraries with Titan Travel now.
Head to the Trafalgar website to discover immersive and cultural holidays now.
Visit the Inntravel website to discover self-guided walking holidays now.
Discover Jersey holiday deals at Jersey's official website now.
Browse cultural expedition cruises from Swan Hellenic now.
Catalonia, Spain
A lecture in the Observation Lounge aboard SH Vega
SH Vega's Swan's Nest
SH Vega in Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula
A sloth in Costa Rica
Passengers returning to the ship after an excursion
A puffin in the Borgarfjörður fjord in Iceland
Hunt for the Northern Lights in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Jersey's wood-fired beach sauna
Japanese snow monkeys
The Great Barrier Reef
Spot dolphins on a Bay of Islands cruise
Yezo sika deer in Onuma Quasi National Park
A red-eyed tree frog
A pod of seals in the Galápagos Islands
A Galápagos giant tortoise
Kayaking in the waters off Sprightly Island in the Antarctic
Admire picturesque views of St Catherine's Bay
The sauna is run by Sauna Society
A beach yoga class
Cold water swimming in Jersey
Beach yoga
Warm up with a hot drink after cold water swimming
Cold water swimming in Jersey
Walkers in Switzerland
The Brasvelbreen glacier in Svalbard
A herd of wildebeest
