Airbnb recently introduced Airbnb Adventures, dubbed “The perfect trip with none of the planning.” I don’t know about you, but as much as I enjoy planning travel, I sometimes just want someone else to do the work for me. Especially when I’m burned out and in dire need of a break. Airbnb Adventures aims to provide that service.
Essentially, these are travel packages that include the cost of lodging, meals, ground transportation and activities. All you have to do is book your flights, show up and be guided on your adventure.
I looked through the Airbnb Adventures page and found some really fun trips that I personally would love to take. In most cases, the prices are reasonable, though there are some outliers (i.e. $1899 for a 4-day Cajun food tour???). If you’re curious about Airbnb Adventures, below are 11 of their most unique Adventures around the world:
Around the World in 80 Days (Sold Out)
Trip Length: 80 days
Price: $5,000 per person
Accommodations: Hotels, homes, eco-lodges, campsites, boats, trains and more
Transportation: Rides from the starting point and between destinations, including flights, trains, boats, helicopters, cars and more.
Food: Select meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
Drinks: Water, coffee, tea, wine and more
I know, it’s unfair to list a trip that’s sold out. However, based on how much hype the Around the World in 80 Days package generated, I’m sure Airbnb will bring it back.
The trip consisted of 18 countries across 6 continents, making it a pretty good value. It included overnight accommodations and transportation between destinations (including airfare, trains, boats, helicopters, etc.). Additionally, “select” meals were provided along with activities.
The itinerary consisted of literally 70% of my bucket list, so I would have absolutely jumped at the chance to take this trip. As an added bonus, 100% of the proceeds from this Adventure package goes to the Malala Fund. Fingers crossed Airbnb brings this package back.
South Africa Shark Research Adventure
Trip Length: 10 days
Price: $1,222
Accommodations: 10 nights in a house
Transportation: 10 car rides, 1 boot ride
Food: 9 breakfasts, dinners, lunches, snacks
Drinks: Water
Equipment: Outdoor gear, safety equipment
As much as it terrifies me, shark cage diving has secretly been on my bucket list for years. I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do it. There are way too many videos on Youtube of sharks breaking into the cages – it happened to Shaq, for crying out loud! But I weirdly feel like if I do this and survive, nothing will ever scare me again.
If you have the same obsession with sharks, this 10-day shark research adventure in South Africa might be up your alley. Over 10 days, participants get to go cage diving in shark-infested waters, take wildlife tours, and participate in a beach clean-up project all with the guidance of a marine biologist. The end of the trip will include a visit to a hot springs spa – a sort of reward for making it through, I guess.
Explore Western Cuba’s Hidden Gems
Trip Length: 3 days
Price: $537 per person
Accommodations: 2 nights in a hotel, other
Transportation: 3 car rides
Food: Other
Drinks: Juice, coffee other
Equipment: Other
Travel to Cuba has been significantly restricted but is still possible. For the most part, everyone I know who has traveled to Cuba has stuck to Havana. The Western Cuba Hidden Gem tour offers something a little different.
Across three days, travelers can visit a tobacco farm and learn how to roll those famous Cuban cigars. A visit to Al Capone’s former home is included, as well as a tour of Zapata National Park. All of this sounds like a great way to explore outside of Havana.
Farm Stay in Indiana Amish Country
Trip Length: 3 days
Price: $240 per person
Accommodations: 2 nights in a house
Transportation:
Food: 2 dinners, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, snacks
Seeing this listing reminded me of that Oprah episode in Amish country. Their way of life was so peaceful and purposeful. They scoffed at modern society and everything the rest of us just can’t live without.
The idea of living with an Amish family for three days, working the fields, learning how to bake pies and prepare fresh, natural foods sounds like a welcome change for me. If it sounds good to you, all you have to do is book this Airbnb Adventure, head down to South Bend, Indiana and prepare to be completely unplugged for three days.
Surf and Camp on the Great Ocean Road
Trip Length: 2 days
Price: $193 per person
Accommodations: 2 nights in a tipi
Transportation: 1 bus ride
Food: 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Equipment: Outdoor gear, photography
If surfing, camping and taking in the incredible scenery of the Great Ocean Road sounds good to you, look no further than this 2-night package that delivers just that. Participants get to take a 2-hour surf lesson (surfboards and wetsuits provided), see the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, sleep in a tipi, drive through the Otway Rainforest and enjoy delicious bbq along the way.
This sounds like the type of trip where you’ll feel compelled to take it all in rather than Instagramming it constantly. Two days is the perfect amount of time for that kind of disconnection from the internet and focus on nature.
Dana to Petra Trek
Trip Length: 7 days
Price: $1,850
Accommodations: 5 nights in a tent, 1 night in a hotel
Transportation: 3 bus ride
Food: 7 lunches, 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners, snacks
Drinks: Water
If you’ve always wanted to visit Petra, you might want to check out this Dana to Petra Trek. It’s a little pricey at $1,850 for a week, but that includes pretty much everything. You get to spend five nights in a tent, one in a hotel, entrance fees and all your meals are covered.
Transportation from Amman to Dana, Wadi Feynan, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea are also part of this package. It sounds like a great way to explore these ancient desert cities with an expert guide.
Track Lions on Foot With Warriors
Trip Length: 3 days
Price: $500 per person
Accommodations: 2 nights in a tent
Food: 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 lunch
Drinks: Tea, coffee
How amazing is that headline? As part of this 3-day Airbnb Adventure, you’ll accompany a wildlife biologist and Samburu warrior as they track lions on foot. I love tours that immerse you into an activity that isn’t just thrilling but also educational. I’ve already bookmarked this tour and if I find myself in our 44th President’s birthplace, I will absolutely look it up. 😉
Atlas Mountains Adventure in Morocco
Trip Length: 3 days
Price: $310
Accommodations: 1 night in a tent 1 night in a hotel
Transportation: 3 car rides
Food: 2 dinners, 1 breakfast
Drinks: Coffee
Equipment: Outdoor gear
Morocco takes the top spot on my bucket list. The problem? By my estimation, I need at least a month to see everything I want. This Airbnb Adventure package takes you from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains into Ait Ben Haddou UNESCO World Heritage Site (i.e. Yunkai for Game of Thrones fans). It’s a great way to pack in some important sightseeing in Morocco.
Walk with Elephants in Chiang Mai
Trip Length: 4 days
Price: $485
Accommodations: 2 nights in a house, 1 night in a tent
Transportation: 2 car rides, other
Food: 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, 3 lunches
Drinks: Water
Equipment: Outdoor gear
Imagine this: You’re walking in a forest among densely packed trees and one of the largest most majestic creatures appears trudging out of the brush. That’s what you’re in for apparently with the Walk with Elephants tour, which is hosted by a conservation group that aims to provide tours that are both educational and respectful towards the elephants’ natural habitat.
Aside from observing elephants, this tour includes culture activities to help travelers connect with local residents and learn about their history and way of life. Best part? You get to camp in the forest. Hopefully far away from the elephants.
Glamp Under the Northern Lights
Trip Length: 6 days
Price: $2,589 per person
Accommodations: 3 nights in a house, 2 nights in a tent
Transportation: Other
Food: 6 lunches, 5 breakfasts, 5 dinners
Drinks: Water, soft drinks
If you’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, this Airbnb Adventure package has all the quintessential activities to go with it. Guests will get a chance to go dog sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, and glamping under the vibrant sky. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about how to get to all the different stops on this tour. All the transportation has been figured out for you.
Himalayan Trek with Views of Everest
Trip Length: 9 days
Price: $1,125
Accommodations: 5 nights in a house, 3 nights in a hotel
Transportation: 5 car rides, 2 plane rides
Food: 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
If you want to see Everest without all the casualties, this 9-day trek might be for you. The package includes a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu and flight to Lukla where you’ll spend two days hiking and exploring villages inhabited by the Sherpa people. In total, there is over 20 hours of hiking involving in this trip, so bring your most comfortable shoes.
Final Thoughts on Airbnb Adventures
So far, Airbnb Adventures seems promising. Their current list of activities isn’t super extensive, but thoughfully curated. As someone who does all the research and travel planning (and it kind of growing sick of it), I love this concept. I’m totally for the idea of having someone who knows what they’re doing (either a local or professional travel guide) put together a well-planned itinerary and arrange all the transportation and activities.
Yes, there are lots of travel companies out there that specialize in putting together complete travel itineraries. But I think these Airbnb Adventures cater better to my demographic. I also think it’s helpful that some of the people putting these itineraries together are locals and not tour operators. That means the money spent goes directly into the local economy.
If you haven’t joined Airbnb, consider joining with my Airbnb referral link and we’ll both receive credit towards future bookings. Have you checked out Airbnb Adventures? Would you book any of these packages or do you prefer to put your travel itineraries together yourself?
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