We've cracked the numbers, made a list and checked it twice. Based on current statistics, here are the destinations you can safely add to your adventure travel list for 2022.
This list is based first and foremost on vaccination rates as of 03FEB2022. The lowest vaccination rate of the countries on this list is 63% of the population fully vaccinated (Canada at the time of writing was at 78%). And countries are inoculating anywhere from 1-5 % of their population each month, so this list is sure to grow.
After evaluating each country's vaccination rate, we excluded countries which during the omicron scare shut down or instigated quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers. After all, this kind of sudden changes can really ruin your holiday. Hence you will not find the UK, Chile, Morocco, Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia and Israel on this list, even though their vaccination rates is close to or even better than Canada's.
This is of course a constantly evolving situation, so always check with us before you plan your trip. And if you do not see the country you want to go to on this list, contact me and I will give you a personal evaluation of that country.
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
Vaccination rate: 89%
Restrictions: Test & travel
History is writ large in Portugal. From its maritime past which fuelled the wealth of Lisbon and Porto, to the walled towns situated on dramatic hills guarding its borders, to its traditional values living strong in a country that has also embraced the future.
Visitors are struck by the friendliness of its people and the affordable food and wine but above all by the sheer diversity of this small nation. Sublime sandy beaches, lush river valleys, rugged mountains and steeply terraced vineyards, pretty stone-built mountain-top villages, cobble-stoned streets, palaces and castles; you find it all in Portugal. Then there are myriad activities, from visiting wine estates to hiking the hills and Camino, or cycling the backroads.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 87%
Restrictions: none
A country where the clock has stood still for 60 years, where road-side billboards declare "Socialism or Death" and where commercialism is still refreshingly absent. A land proud of its heritage where people greet you warmly on every corner. A place where old classic cars mingle with horse-drawn carts, where the beaches are pure white sand and palms and sugar cane sway in a gentle breeze. Throw in a beguiling mix of revolutionary music, salsa and decaying colonial towns and you have a country you do not want to miss.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 81%
Restrictions: none
Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting Barcelona, walking the Camino to Santiago, exploring the white villages of Andalusia or discovering the Alhambra in Granada. Land of fiestas, siesta and Flamenco, of architecture and art, Spain is as diverse as it is beautiful. Come and explore Spain and you will find a passion for fine food, for wild landscapes and indeed for life itself.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 80%
Restrictions: Test & Travel
Whether you want to experience the mountains and wildlife of BC, hike in the Rocky Mountains, cycle the byroads of Quebec and Prince Edward Island, bike in Nova Scotia, hike The Rock or take an adventure cruise in the Arctic, Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world.
Suggested tours:
Suggested blog pots:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
Vaccination rate: 78%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Nature in Iceland is designed to make you feel small - volcanoes covered by ice loom over a verdant green coastline, glaciers grind their way to the ocean, geysers erupt and the northern lights dance in the sky.
All the while culture blooms - from medieval sagas to modern pop-musicians and Nobel-prize winning authors. And then there is the glorious food and the warm, quirky people - what is there not to love about Iceland?
Suggested tours:
Ireland
Vaccination rate: 78%
Restrictions: none
The Emerald Isle, known for its stunning coastal scenery, its marvellous castles, entertaining pub life and engaging people, is also a country well equipped for self-drive holidays, hikes and bike rides.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 78%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Italy, Oh Italy - land of la Vita Bella! Where style and flair live next to Michelangelo and Bellini. Where ancient Roman ruins stand next to Renaissance churches. Where picturesque hilltop towns look over verdant vineyards. Where good food and wine are a way of life. From the canals of Venice to the museums and churches of Rome, from the sheer mountains of the Dolomites to the stunning Amalfi Coast, from the villages and volcanoes of the deep south to the villas of Lake Garda. Come and explore Italy with us!
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 77%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Walk down a winding cobblestone street, lined with vine-covered medieval homes. Follow it from a bustling market square to a wisteria-draped cafe opposite the village church. Sit down and enjoy a plat du jour with a glass of refreshing local wine. Admire the view across the hills: an expanse of vineyards, farmyards and lavender fields, giving way to chestnut and oak forests. This is the quintessential French experience. Bienvenue!
Suggested tours:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
Vaccination rate: 74%
Restrictions: Test & travel
One of the most beautiful countries in the world, Norway is a land of fjords, mountains, glaciers, endless forests and midnight sun. Hiking and scenic drives are around every corner, while the cities display a Scandinavian sophistication and flair for design. In the north, the mountains roll over into tundra, while high up in the Arctic Ocean, the archipelago of Svalbard is a haven for wildlife.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 76%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Urban chic, quaint villages, picturesque lakes and stunning mountains - that is Austria in a nutshell. Hike Tyrol, discover the past in imperial Vienna, or cycle the Danube - you too will find Austria a harmonious tableau of beautiful images.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 77%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Few countries in the world can claim subtropical forests and glaciers, huge waterfalls and deserts, swampy lowlands and high mountains, wide-open spaces and bustling cities, penguins and flamingos. Yet Argentina has all that and more. Thundering Iguazú Falls, the calving glacier at Perito Moreno and the mountains of Patagonia are the most famous draw cards. Then there are football, tango, great steaks and phenomenal wines. Part Latin American and part European, this is one country you do not want to miss.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 100% (depending on cruise operator); 77% (gateway Argentina)
Restrictions: Test & travel (Argentina, Antarctic cruises)
No other destination in the world will leave you feeling as insignificant before nature, yet as alive, as Antarctica does. Giant glaciers calving enormous icebergs; penguins porpoising through the waters; leopard seal chasing their prey; whales feeding and coming up for air, curiously inspecting you in your zodiac. Hike along pristine shorelines and up snowy ridges to experience incredible views. This is Planet Earth at it's best, a proverbial Eden, Earth as it was before the arrival of humankind. This is a journey of a lifetime and Antarctica will change you forever.
Suggested expedition cruises:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
Germany
Vaccination rate: 74%
Restrictions: None
A country full of wonderful scenery - from the beaches in the north, through the hills to the valleys of the Rhine and Danube and the Alps in the south - Germany has so much to offer. Great cities like Munich and Berlin, romantic small towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Christmas Markets, great food and wines and a host of activities such as cycling and hiking.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 75% (Ecuador)
Restrictions: Test & travel
Pretty colonial towns alive with markets, churches and monasteries; indigenous villages, Amazonian jungle and the Andes mountains running down the spine of the country - Ecuador packs a lot of variety into a small country. The undisputed highlight is the Galapagos, with their otherworldly volcanic landscapes and stunning array of wildlife. Snorkel with sea lions and penguins, come close to boobies and albatrosses, iguanas and tortoises. This is nature in its primordial state, nature as it used to be.
Suggested tour:
Vaccination rate: 75% (Ecuador)
Restrictions: Test & travel
Ecuador packs a lot of variety into a small country. The undisputed highlight is the Galapagos Archipelago, with their otherworldly volcanic landscapes and stunning array of wildlife. Snorkel with sea lions and penguins, come close to boobies and albatrosses, iguanas and tortoises and watch whales. This is nature in its primordial state, nature as it used to be.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 72%
Restrictions: None
A hidden rainforest trail leads to an azure-blue pond, where a waterfall plunges down, inviting you to a refreshing dip. Walk on up the hill discovering a myriad of wildlife and birds along the way. Stand still, awe-inspired at the view over the forest canopy. Zipline down back to your hotel and enjoy a spot of kayaking, rafting, snorkelling or sailing or simply an afternoon on the beach. This is La Pura Vida - Costa Rica style.
Suggested tours:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
The Netherlands
Vaccination rate: 71%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Most travellers will at some point in their life set foot in Amsterdam. But few make it beyond the capital to discover a country of farms, picturesque fishing villages, dunes, forests, canals and rivers and of course windmills. The Netherlands are best explore by bike and/or boat and have the infrastructure to match.
Suggested tours:
Switzerland
Vaccination rate: 69%
Restrictions: none
Who hasn't dreamed of admiring the Alps mountain range in Switzerland? Easily accessible by train, car and on foot, Switzerland is one stunning country and a hiker's paradise. Hike up or down hill or take a cable car up and hike on the level - it is up to you.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 69%
Restrictions: none
Peru, the land where Spanish, indigenous, African and Asian influences mix, where trails wend their way through deep valleys and over high passes, past half-forgotten Inca ruins to reach the citadel at Machu Picchu. Fly over the geoglyphs etched into the desert at Nazca, visit remote communities and see how old ways live on at Lake Titicaca, explore colonial towns such as Cuzco and Arequipa and join the locals tasting the many culinary treats on offer in Lima.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 68%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Miles of turquoise coastline, sun-bleached ancient ruins, great food and a passionate people. Experience our Greece from the tavernas of the Greek islands to the monasteries of Meteora; from the oracle of Delphi to the Acropolis in Athens and from the hills and ravines of Crete to the sheer cliffs of Santorini. Come and discover Greece with us!
Suggested tours:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
The Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
Average vaccination rate: approx. 66%
Restrictions: None
The Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have much in common - geography and a shared history being the most obvious. Yet each country is very different too. There is the Nordic appeal of Estonia, sharing ethnic and linguistic links with Finland, hurling headlong into the cyberage while maintaining beautiful towns like Tallinn and unspoiled nature and islands.
To its south lies traditional Latvia where endless pine forests hide palaces, churches and crusader castles and endless beaches line the Baltic. Its capital Riga is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture.
Rounding off this trio of intriguing destinations is Lithuania where the beaches of the Curonian Spit give way to deep forests sprinkled with lakes and towns loaded with sculpture parks, a Cold War museum and galleries. Its capital Vilnius is a gem known for its Baroque architecture.
Suggested tours:
Vaccination rate: 64%
Restrictions: Test & travel
Sri Lanka, the Resplendent Isle, the Pearl of the Orient. Splendid temples, ancient ruins, welcoming people and flavourful food are all to be found within this small country. Search the jungles for elephant, leopard and water buffalo, walk among tea plantations and waterfalls to rainforest-covered peaks and take a spectacular train ride through the highlands. Top it all off with some time on the dazzlingly white and often untrod beaches.
Suggested tours:
Need more inspiration?
Join our Winter Webinar series
E&OE. The information in this article was correct at the time of publication (03FEB2022) but should be double-checked against relevant government websites before booking a trip.