Where to travel next, based on your adventure personality
Gear up for one of these unforgettable UnCruise Adventures offerings. (Image: Simon Berger)
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Uncruise Adventures |
Gear up for one of these wildlife adventures and get up close and personal with nature, whatever your style.
Imagine paddling through deep-blue waters surrounded by snowy mountains, exploring remote trails circling ancient ruins, or even getting eye-to-eye with a wild creature. If the call of nature is strong with you, you may already be planning your next adventure holiday and your next wildlife encounter. However, while in theory, you may want to venture into the beyond without a care, the reality is that most of us aren’t made for extreme conditions and long expeditions on freeze-dried food. We’ll leave that to Bear Grylls. Instead, why not enjoy the elements and explore nature with UnCruise?
Spot Alaska’s diverse wildlife.
After a long day exploring pristine landscapes, you’ll be able to return to beautifully cooked meals, a hot shower, and a nice comfy bed every night. Offering big adventures and small ships (22-86 guests max), UnCruise specialises in immersive nature experiences with benefits, including a range of hard-to-pass-up cruise combo options, such as rail and hiking extensions.
Tempted? Here are five unmissable UnCruise moments so you can choose your own adventure.
Enjoy a gushing shower and plump mattress onboard.
1. Paddle on glacial lakes in Alaska
Alaska is a one-stop shop for adventure. Whether you’re looking to explore the epic fjords, icy glaciers, and dramatic waterfalls, or spot eagles, whales or sea lions on the water’s edge, America’s largest state has it all. On the seven-night Wild Woolly & Wow with Glacier Bay experience, you’re even able to stand up paddleboard on the rarely explored Fern Harbor, Dundas Bay, or No Name Cove. You’ll also observe brown bears from a distance on kayaks, snorkel a “cold water tropical reef” in the Bay of Pillars, and hike one of the very few accessible trails in Southeast Alaska to find hidden waterfalls.
Sail into remote bays where you can hike, kayak and paddle board.
Meanwhile, on the new Prince William Sound Explorer safari, you’ll learn about the land of the Indigenous Chenega people, meaning “beneath the mountain,” as you paddle through the glacial waters of Icy Bay. This seven-night adventure also takes in stunning glaciers carving through the Chugach Mountains, forgotten inlets on the Esther Passage, and a native history nature walk through the tiny fishing town of Cordova.
Offering unprecedented access to some of Alaska’s most pristine environments, including the popular Glacier National Park, it’s easy to see why this destination is a perennial favourite for UnCruise travellers.
Spot whales from the deck. (Image: Jocelyn Pride)
2. See living dinosaurs in the Galapagos
From Blue-footed boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and flightless cormorants to green sea turtles and the famous iguanas, the Galapagos Islands has earned its reputation as a “living museum and showcase of evolution”. Walking in Darwin’s footsteps among this famously fearless wildlife is an experience you won’t find anywhere else on earth.
To explore all that the islands have to offer, jump board Darwin’s Discoveries and spend eight days visiting the area’s most intriguing islands. You’ll dodge curious animals as you hike volcanic craters, snorkel off white-sand beaches, and enjoy sunsets from rocky coastlines. Keep an eye out for (and stay out of the way of) the impressive giant tortoise, which can weigh up to 400 kilograms!
Spot the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. (Image: Simon Berger)
3. Hike to Machu Picchu
Once you’ve enjoyed your journey through evolution in the Galapagos Islands, you may choose to add on the Machu Picchu Post-Cruise Expedition in Peru. Taking you from the colonial architecture (and Incan foundations) of Cusco to the amazingly well-preserved Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, this six-night extension also explores the sixteenth-century Incan town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and the tourist town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu.
After discovering the famous Inca Bridge and Sun Gate, you’ll see whether you’re brave enough to hike to the summit of Mount Machu Picchu for jaw-dropping views, 600 metres above the ruins.
Add a six-night extension to MachuPicchu. (Image: Victor Ho)
4. Swim with sea lions in Mexico
Known as the “world’s aquarium”, the warm Mexican waters of the Sea of Cortes are home to dolphins, sea turtles, tropical fish, gray whales, and marine birdlife. To get up and personal with this marine diversity, both above and below the surface, hop on the Baja California’s Whales & Sealife seven-night cruise.
Not only will you be able to snorkel with adorable sea lion pups, kayak in the warm waters off Isla San Francisco and spot fin, blue, and sperm whales from small skiffs, but you may also get the chance to swim alongside the mighty whale shark if you visit between mid-March and April.
Back on terra firma, you’ll be able to visit the town of Puerto Escondido, explore Baja’s historic missions and visit a local ranchero and his family travelling by mule.
Swim with friendly sea lion pups at Los Islotes.
5. Explore an active Hawaiian volcano
While some people may visit Hawaii for the bright lights of Honolulu or the famous surf breaks of the North Shore, there is so much more to this island state. On the Hawaiian Seascapes adventure, you’ll take in island life and the rich Polynesian culture of Molokai, Lana‘i, Maui, and Hawaii the Big Island.
Spend your days exploring Molokai’s ancient Halawa Valley after meeting the locals and learning about the importance of poi making. Spend time on the little-known Hawaiian island of Lana’i; swimming in the volcanic waters, and snorkelling with the busy sea life off the coast of Maui, a known sea turtle habitat.
This expedition also includes an incredible night snorkel with Giant Pacific Manta rays just off Kona on the Big Island, and a day climbing up the active Hualālai Volcano, through untouched cloud forests, trekking past black lava flows, lava tubes and steaming craters.
Explore Hualālai Volcano. (Image: MNStudio / Getty)
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