Top Ten Adventures on a Shoestring

Get big fun without spending big bucks by using local outfitters. It's better for your bottom line, and it helps the economy of the destination you're visiting.

By Steve Jermanok

Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Our top pick: Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia (Jason Edwards/National Geographic/Getty)

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You don't have to spend your life savings to go on a trip of a lifetime. Many adventure outfitters specialize in one sport in one country like backpacking in Nepal or sea kayaking off the coast of Baja. Not only do these outfitters cost significantly less than big-name travel companies that span the entire globe, but their knowledge and passion for that one destination means that you'll be trekking on trails or paddling to beaches rarely seen by anyone else besides locals. There's no reason to put off that dream vacation until your piggy bank is stuffed. Try these ten affordable adventures for starters.

10. Inn-to-Inn Biking, Vermont, France, and Austria
9. Backpacking Peru
8. Sea Kayaking Baja
7. Safari, Lewa Downs, Kenya
6. Canoeing Wabakimi Provincial Park, Ontario
5. Trekking, Nepal
4. Sailing, Turkish Mediterranean
3. Diving, Fiji
2. Mountain Biking and Sea Kayaking, Thailand
1. Walking the Overland Track, Tasmania

Boston-based writer Stephen Jermanok has authored or contributed to 11 books on the outdoors, including Outside Magazine's Adventure Guide to New England , Discovery Channel's Backcountry Treks , Discovery Channel's Paddlesports , Outside Magazine's Guide to Family Vacations and Men's Journal's The Great Life . His latest book is New England Seacoast Adventures . His many adventures appear in National Geographic Adventure , Outside , Men's Journal , Forbes FYI , Travel + Leisure , Hooked on the Outdoors , and Backpacker . He can be reached at farandaway@comcast.net.

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Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Published: 29 Jun 2009
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.