Small group adventure travel company G Adventures saw a 16% increase in the number of travellers booking an “active” travel trip in 2024. So, to build on this momentum, it has launched 25 new active trips for 2025.
Taking travellers to new, lesser-explored regions, destinations for the new active trips include Japan, South Africa, Pakistan, the Balkans, Morocco, the Galapagos and Peru, with a strong focus on supporting local communities in the regions travellers visit. Each trip highlights G Adventures’ commitment to providing the very best active experiences, taking travellers deeper into destinations, in the most immersive yet thrilling ways, from hiking and swimming to cycling and paddling – and more.
Within the new launch, there will be eight new trips in Japan, three in Morocco and two in Pakistan, an exciting new destination for G Adventures. The new trips cover three physical grading categories, including 3 (average), 4 (demanding) and 5 (challenging), with options for travellers with varying levels of fitness and differing appetites for higher-octane adventures. Every destination has been specially selected to help disperse tourism within each country; so, not only will the trips take groups to new destinations, they will help take them off-the-beaten track in existing destinations.
Yves Marceau, VP of product for G Adventures, said: “Travellers are seeking authentic experiences, but active ones, too. Interest has soared in this category, with more travellers wanting to switch off and connect with the world on a more physical level. We’ve hand-picked destinations with the intention of looking beyond the usual trails and, instead, are bringing travellers to lesser-visited regions and villages, via incredible hiking routes, kayak trips and biking excursions, helping to support local communities who haven’t been able to benefit from tourism in the past.”
G Adventures’ 2025 active trip highlights
Active Japan: North to South Adventure
This 18-day trip skips Tokyo and takes travellers far off the beaten path, giving them a whole new perspective on a country that’s crammed with epic outdoor adventures and not just bright city lights. There’ll be hiking in Hokkaido’s bucolic national parks, snorkelling in Okinawa’s crystal-clear waters and delicious local eats in Okinawa’s famous “blue zone” – a region where the population has a longer life expectancy than the global average. True to the nature of active trips, there’ll be paddling through Iriomote’s mangroves and cycling the peaceful streets of Taketomi Island, plus a visit to Ainu Kotan village, home to one of two indigenous groups that now remain in Japan. Physical rating: 3 – average. Priced from £6,899pp* for 18 days. See more at gadventures.com
Active South Africa: Cape Town, Kruger & Tugela Falls
There’s so much more to South Africa than safari, and this 10-day trip proves exactly that. Travellers won’t just see Cape Town’s Table Mountain, they’ll step off it – backwards – abseiling the iconic cliff face. There’ll be nights spent in a mountain lodge owned by the local Batlokoa (Sotho) community, where all staff and guides are members themselves. It’s a gateway to the Tugela Falls, the second-highest waterfall in the world, reached by a challenging hike, or travellers may opt for a more gentle hike to Mahai Falls. Of course, a trip to South Africa will include some safari elements – although this is safari with a difference. Think nights spent sleeping beneath the stars in the savannah in an eco-friendly tented camp in the quiet Prideslands Conservancy in Kruger National Park, with heart-racing Big Five-spotting on full-day bush walks with local rangers and adrenaline-pumping mountain biking activities. Physical rating: 4 – demanding. Priced from £2,879pp* for 10 days. See more at gadventures.com
Pakistan: Hike the Karakoram Mountains
This much-anticipated 10-day trip in Pakistan, a new destination for G Adventures, combines challenging treks with peaceful, life-affirming moments. It focuses on the Thallay La Trail, which, for centuries, served as the only link between the ancient kingdoms of Khaplu and Shigar in the Baltistan mountains. Today, it’s a quiet escape that adventurous travellers will share with shepherds, yaks and goats as they hike past glittering glaciers and crystal-clear streams, pausing in local villages and meeting locals who’ve hiked this trail for generations. And at the end of a day’s hiking? Serene valley views at sunset, with a warm cup of tea and chatter with the group’s friendly porters. Plus, a chance to learn about the fascinating cultural significance of Pakistani truck art in the capital, Islamabad. Physical rating: 4 – demanding. Priced from £1,879pp* for 10 days. See more at gadventures.com
Hiking in Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro
See-it-to-believe it Alpine scenery of glacial lakes, lush valleys, rock pinnacles and vast meadows is appreciated from a series of hikes on this nine-day trip through three breathtaking Balkan nations. There’s between seven and eight hours of hiking each day – some are gentle strolls through blueberry fields and forests, while others are more challenging, including a steep ascent to stand on the border of all three countries at once. To fuel all that trekking there’ll be feasts of hearty local cuisine in mountain villages and cosy nights in guesthouses, with the trip’s CEO (Chief Experience Officer) sharing stories about life in these remote regions. Physical rating: 4 – demanding Priced from £1,549pp* for 9 days. See more at gadventures.com
Active Morocco: Rif Mountains
Iconic sites and lesser-known gems combine on this active nine-day journey from Tangier to Marrakech, taking in the unsung Rif Mountains. There’ll be a five-hour hike to Gite Monte Blanco in Tetouan (followed by a replenishing picnic lunch with views), a wander along the picturesque Ouad El Kennar trail and the chance to explore the striking Cathédrale Imsfrane. There’ll be time to explore the largest medina in the world in Fez, with a stop off at the famous Fes tannery, plus several immersive afternoons with local families, getting a hands-on goat cheese making session or settling into a relaxed homemade lunch. Physical rating: 3 – average. Priced from £979pp* for 9 days. See more at gadventures.com
Active Galápagos & Machu Picchu
Active travellers can combine the wildlife of the Galápagos with the fascinating history of Peru’s Inca Trail on this 17-day adventure. In the Galápagos, the group will be kayaking, snorkelling and swimming off the white-sand beaches of Tortuga Bay, spotting seabirds, turtles and sea lions. At the lesser-known Floreana island there’ll be a night spent in a G Adventures-supported community guesthouse, with meals rotated through different community members to spread the benefits of tourism through the island’s 150 residents. On Isabela island there’ll be more opportunities for snorkelling, plus a hike to see the Sierra Negra Volcano, and the second largest crater in the world, before a downhill bike ride. Over in Peru, the group will visit a women’s weaving co-op and pottery-marking communities in rural villages, before the famous three-day Inca Trail trek (which can be swapped for the lesser-known Lares Trek). Physical rating: 4 – demanding. Priced from £3,949* for 17 days. See more at gadventures.com
* Prices exclude international flights