Smithsonian Journeys has introduced a new collection of culture-rich trips focused on active outdoor excursions such as walking, hiking and biking. “Smithsonian Active Journeys” will open for reservations online in May 2023, and the first trips will depart in February 2024.
With a maximum of 18 participants on each trip, “Smithsonian Active Journeys” will be led by local guides and include a variety of ways to experience the world actively, from hikes amid Iceland’s glaciers and waterfalls to a bike ride through Chile’s wine country. The new collection will launch with 10 itineraries that range in pace and activity level. Each program will have three to five departures available in 2024.
Here are a few highlights:
- Costa Rica Treetops and Trails – Explore the tropical forests of Costa Rica from the base of Arenal Volcano to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, to the beach-lined jungles of Manuel Antonio National Park. Venture into the wilderness on naturalist-led hikes and walks, sample coffee fresh off the tree, and indulge your sense of adventure on canyoneering, zip-lining, and hanging bridge excursions
- Irish Walks – Experience Ireland’s natural treasures, discovering the landscapes and traditional villages of the Burren, the Dingle Peninsula, and Killarney National Park on a range of hikes, walks and bike rides
- Camino de Santiago – Hike the most picturesque portions of the Camino Francés, a World Heritage-listed route of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route. Travel by foot and private vehicle from Burgos to Santiago de Compostela and the coast of Galicia
- Tuscany and Cinque Terre – From the hill towns of Tuscany to the mountainside villages of the Ligurian Coast, experience two of Italy’s most beloved regions from the trail, hiking, walking and biking your way to the Cinque Terre, Lucca and San Gimignano
- Iceland’s Glaciers and Waterfalls – Gain a more intimate view of Iceland’s geology as you hike into wild canyons and narrow gorges, alongside waterfalls and atop Europe’s largest ice cap. Learn about the island’s turbulent geology while descending into a lava tube and hiking across a glacier. Visit a Viking museum, discuss daily life with Icelandic farmers, trace Icelandic history at Thingvellir National Park, home to Northern Europe’s first parliament.
- Gorillas of Rwanda – Observe the mountain gorillas of Rwanda in their natural habitat. Canoe past local communities on the Mukungwa River and spend three days in Volcanoes National Park, trekking through dense forests in search of extremely rare gorillas and golden monkeys and hiking to the grave site of primatologist Dian Fossey. A weeklong Kenya safari extension to Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara National Parks is also available
Other itineraries include “Walking and Hiking Inca Trails: An Active Journey to Peru;" “Tour du Mont Blanc: An Active Alpine Journey;" “Scotland by Trail: An Active Journey to the Highlands and Islands” and “Patagonia Hiking Adventure: An Active Journey.”
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