There is a lot of pent-up demand among travelers looking for adventure travel and amazing discoveries in 2022. We’re talking about something beyond the usual six-day sweet adventure travel. If you want to take your travels to the next level and return home with amazing stories and bragging rights, here are five trips to consider.

Cordillera Blanca trek in Peru

MT Sobek created this trip for experienced hikers, a high altitude trek in the Cordillera Blanca. It is the highest tropical mountain range in the world, which the company describes as “a glacial wilderness of translucent turquoise lakes, hidden waterfalls and striking pinnacles.” Trekking through Huascarán National Park is a bragging experience, with over 40 peaks over 19,000 feet high connected by secluded valleys. The trek requires crossing seven mountain passes and camping at elevations of 12,000 to 14,800 feet. This is why this experience is classified as level 5, a “very difficult hike”. The 13-day trip is priced at $ 4,995 and there are departures in May, June, July, and August 2022.

Trans-Caucasus: Baku to Istanbul

If you have 30 days to cycle from the Caspian Sea to the Bosphorus Strait, this amazing trip called Trans-Caucasus: Baku to Istanbul from TDA Global Cycling could be for you. The Canada-based company is known for creating some of the most daring and spectacular long-distance bike tours in the industry. This one, which runs from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey, is one of them. From Baku, the route crosses the Grand Caucus mountain range and includes a drive through Georgia’s famous vineyards and a stay in the capital, Tbilisi. The cost is $ 7,900, the distance is over 1,600 miles, and there is a departure in August 2022.

Secret Sarawak

Biking in Borneo is definitely off the beaten path, and this 14-day trip with Saddle Skedaddle, an adventure travel agency based in England, will give you plenty to brag about when you get home. Beaches, jungle and lush tropical rainforests are the backdrop, with highlights that include a night in a traditional Sarawak longhouse, a hike in Bako National Park, a chance to spot orangs- utans in Semenggoh Nature Reserve and an evening at the Siniawan Night Market. Driving is mostly on paved roads, with modest climbs, and there is also snorkeling and kayaking. Starting at $ 3,680, with departures in April, May, August, September and October. The trip is rated moderate to active.

Uzbekistan Cycling Adventure

Grasshopper Adventures, a Bangkok-based adventure travel company, is arguably Asia’s premier adventure bike company. Their Uzbekistan cycling adventure lasts 14 days and is a mix of the Silk Road, ancient Soviet-era towns and awe-inspiring scenery. The trip includes Samarkand and Bukhara, a quick ascent and descent from Beldersoy Ski Resort, a hike in remote Zaamin National Park, and exploration of the 3,000-year-old Sarmysh petroglyphs. There are 301 miles of mountain biking, on routes that range from well-groomed trails to donkey trails. Activities other than horseback riding include spending a night in a yurt camp and exploring a former Soviet-era space facility. Starting at $ 4,950 per person, with departures in April, May, September and October 2022.

Tatshenshini-Alsek River Expedition – BC / Alaska

ROAM Adventures created its Tatshenshini-Alsek River Expedition years ago and is a recognized master in the region. This 13-day river trip includes running Class III rapids and a good chance to spot bears, moose, goats, and possibly wolves and lynxes. The campsites offer views of the valleys of the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers, flanked by more than 50 different glaciers, and it is possible to paddle in the iceberg-filled waters of Lake Alsek. The trip also offers views of the St. Elias Mountains, the largest concentration of high peaks in North America. The cost is $ 6,995 and there are departures in June 2022.