STA Travel's Top Ten Adventure Travel Tips for 2016

Thinking about where to go in 2016 to cure your wanderlust? Well, here to whet your travel appetite are the top ten travel tips from the experts at STA Travel.

1. Go on an adventure cruise

Think cruising is pretty dull and staid? Think again! Adventure cruising is one of the very best ways to see multiple destinations in a new light, for a great-value price.

Cambodia and Vietnam are on most backpackers' itineraries, so why not see these incredible countries from a different perspective? Set sail on a 10-day Mekong River Cruise Adventure on a classic riverboat sailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.

Or, see the beauty of India on a Ganges River Cruise, cruising between picturesque villages, stunning temples, tranquil gardens and breath-taking palaces.

The Maldives are world-famous for turquoise sea and pristine beaches, they're also known as being prohibitively expensive. But STA Travel has the answer. Hop on a traditional dhoni for a seven-day cruise, soak up the sun, snorkel in the clear waters and see these extraordinary islands from the sea, for a fraction of the price of one of the ultra-lux land-based resorts.

2. Check out Bhutan

This isolated, mountainous country is still pretty unknown, making it intriguing for travellers looking to go somewhere truly off-the-beaten-track. What it is known for though, is its expensive visitor tariff of US$250 minimum per day, making it out of the price bracket of many.

However STA Travel offers a 21-day overland adventure that starts in Kolkata and finishes in Kathmandu, and includes 10 days in the mystical kingdom of Bhutan. Prices start from £2,510, so start planning your Bhutan getaway…

3. Explore Indonesia; go beyond Bali

Everyone knows Bali, the paradise island for yoga and meditation - with a side-order of nightlife and neon. However it's just one of thousands of islands that make up Indonesia, why limit yourself to just Bali? Go forth and explore this incredible country!

STA Travel has a 16-day island hopping “Best of Sumatra and Java” tour from £1499 which includes the chance to explore coffee plantations, search for orang-utans and marvel at landscapes from volcanoes to rainforest.

Prepare to see the wild side of Indonesia with a nine-day tour of Flores and Komodo; look out for Komodo dragons, and visit Mount Kelimutu - a volcanic crater full of vibrantly-coloured water.

Truly, Indonesia is like nowhere else on earth.

4. Help look after pandas in China

STA Travel has a new “voluntour” option for 2016, looking after pandas in China. The 11-day trip starts in Chengdu and ends in Beijing, and includes 5 days in Dujiangyan Panda Research Centre helping to care for pandas. Other highlights include a Kung Fu lesson from Shaolin Masters, and hiking and camping on the Great Wall of China. Prices start from £1045.

5. Go on tour in Hawaii

Go beyond the beaches in Hawaii; get active and check out the incredible wildlife. STA Travel's new tour, the only one specifically for young travellers between 18 and 38 years' old, starts in April 2016. The eight-day tour starts in Kailuna, ends in Kona, and starts from £774. Highlights include snorkelling with sea turtles, kayak tours to see wild dolphins, camping on the water's edge, and stunning hiking trails.

6. Luxury camping in Airstream campers on the Bolivian Salt Flats

The incredible Bolivian Salt Flats are on most travellers' must-see lists, however for 2016 STA Travel is bringing a touch of luxury to this other-worldly landscape. Spend three days in a cool retro Airstream camper-van as you travel across the salt flats. Each has a double bed, bathroom with hot shower, air-conditioning / heating, iPod dock and fully-stocked mini-bar. Each camper is towed by a 4x4 vehicle, which is driven by your guide, and, on top of all this, there's a chef serving up delicious meals, including cocktails at sunset! Prices start from £1640.

7. Discover Lady Elliott Island

Situated on the very southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott Island is a tiny island with world-class diving and snorkelling, and amazing wildlife, including green and loggerhead turtles which nest on the beaches, manta rays and humpback whales.

For the first time in 2016, STA Travel is offering a 'Lady Elliot Island and Fraser Island Experience' which includes two nights in either an eco-hut or en-suite room on Lady Elliot Island, one night in Hervey Bay and 1 night on Fraser Island. It also includes flights from Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island and 4WD bus to Fraser Island. Prices from £640 per person.

8. Book an adventure in the Philippines

The Philippines is STA Travel's fastest growing destination for 2015, and its popularity shows no sign of abating, however it's still relatively unexplored and unknown. Demand continues to increase for this incredibly diverse country, and so STA Travel has five adventure tours for 2016, plus a selection of 'mini-adventures' of around five days, ideal to incorporate into a round-the-world itinerary, including a five-day 'Borocay Beach break' from £229, and the 'Bohol and the Chocolate Hills' five-day adventure from £422 which includes paddle-boarding, cycling and the chance to see the world's smallest primate.

9. Head to Costa Rica as it becomes more accessible

From May 2016, British Airways is introducing new direct flights from Gatwick to Costa Rica, meaning that this fascinating country has never been more accessible from the UK.

STA Travel has a wide range of adventure tours, from budget options to more luxurious options, taking in the highlights of this diverse country: volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests and beaches. Must-do highlights from STA Travel's experts include: zip-lining through Monteverde cloud forest, soaking in the hot springs of La Fortuna, trekking volcano El Arenal, check out the Caribbean vibes of Puerto Viejo, watch turtles hatch at Tortuguero and catch a wave on the Pacific coast.

10. Tailor your own Colombia itinerary

The number of flights from the UK to Colombia has increased in the past couple of years so it's easier to create your own bespoke Colombian adventure than ever before. Thanks to the new airlift, more and more boutique hotels have opened throughout Colombia, such as hillside bungalows overlooking lush countryside and beaches in Tayrona National Park.

Go beyond Bogota and Cartegena and check out the coffee region from Manizales, take part in The Lost City trek - which has been dubbed the 'new Inca Trail' - and enjoy Caribbean beaches.

All prices quoted are per person and do not include international flights, unless stated.