Seeking the Untrodden Path – The Rise of Experiential Travel

In a world of over-tourism and IG-worthy clichés, discerning globetrotters are forging a new experiential travel movement – the pursuit of untrammeled paths to authentic discovery and connection.

Veteran explorers like Cox & Kings are crafting Old World journeys breathing new life into overlooked destinations and local interactions across Europe and Asia. One of their off-the-beaten-path English tours provides access to private farms and kitchens to immerse in rural life. 

Even in relatively trodden regions, operators like Extraordinary Experiences Mongolia are triumphing in remote access. This female-owned company uses nomadic ties to unlock exclusive cultural immersions and wilderness adventures in Mongolia’s most untouched pockets.

Yacht expeditions are ideal for accessing distant shores. EYOS Expeditions masterfully curates discovery sailings to Antarctica, the Russian Arctic and other polar frontiers alongside scientists and explorers. Closer to home, Outer Shores lures intrepid adventurers on small-ship explorations of the Pacific Northwest’s remote islands and wildlife-rich channels.

For true life-changing adventures, one lux operator leverages indigenous connections to grant access to cultures on the verge of extinction – dynasties, skills, and worldviews untouched by the modern world. Their “Mundari Journey” provides exceedingly rare entrée into an ancient Sudanese tribe’s rituals.

With ingenuity and local insights, travel companies are charting routes to our planet’s most authentic, unexpected and transformative corners.