15 Summer Adventure Trips You Need To Plan Now

Living a Nomadic life in rural Mongolia for a week can be a challenge. Hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking are often involved. You'll get to see where Genghis Khan set out to conquer the world. You'll live in a Nomad's ger, and ride horses while learning archery and garment-making skills. You may have to get up early to help your hosts with chores like milking the cows and making your own dairy products for breakfast.

Trips to Cambodia usually involve Vietnam, but why not add Thailand to this exotic itinerary? Start with exploring bustling Bangkok. Cross into Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat, an ancient temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. Along the way you'll get to swim, sunbath, and snorkel. There are also boat tours that are readily available. Eventually, make your way to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam's dazzling economic and cultural capital.

Take your family on a week-long adventure to the Galapagos. You'll be hiking and kayaking in one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Highlights of the trip include cruising to pristine islands and walking among colonies of animals and birds; snorkeling with sea turtles, peculiar penguins, and frisky sea lions; and sitting among a colorful band of marine iguanas. Kids can enjoy stargazing, scavenger hunts, and knot-tying lessons.

Avid hikers will love the Greek Isles. Most of the country is mountainous, presenting quite the challenge. But most of the popular routes are well-maintained. The hiking adventure will take you to the serene realms of Tinos and rocky Amorgos. You'll come across churches, cliff-perched monasteries, and tiny beaten villages. Take a break with a picnic on lush landscapes and swims in the azure seas.

Kenya has some of the world's best safaris. Known as one of the best country parks in Kenya, Maasai Mara offers wide range of safaris – hot air balloons, walking, and photography. The reserve, along with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, forms Africa's most diverse eco-system. The best time to visit is between July and October because of the wildebeest migration, famous as one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World" and also known as The World Cup of Wildlife. It's no secret that Kenya has some of the best marathon runners in the world. Go on a running camp for a week of tough but inspirational training.

Sayulita, a small fishing village about 25 miles north of downtown Puerto Vallarta, is very popular for surfers. Go on a reef excursion and stay in villas with plunge pools looking at the Pacific. If surfing is not your thing, you can ride a bike in the jungle or trek the rainforest. Canopy tours, horseback riding on the beach, sailing, and whale watching are also options.

While you're in Morocco, consider making a trip to see the grandeur of the Sahara. Start with Fez. Sign up for a camel excursion. Mountain biking through villages with mud and stone houses is quite the challenge. Don't miss out on the opportunity to see Casablanca and Rabat, the ancient imperial cities in the country. If you have time, visit Marrakesh, a major economic center and home to picturesque mosques, majestic palaces and beautiful gardens.

Start in Moscow, as most people do. Take a day to see the Kremlin and walk around this beautiful city. The famous Trans-Siberian Railway is just one part of the massive Russian railway network. Take the train to Vladivostok. This can be a 6-day trip but the experience and the views are worth it. You can take a lot longer and stop in several cities, such as the beautiful 1,000-year-old city of Kazan or Irkutsk to see Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, along the way. Take it slow and enjoy one of the most famous trips in the world.

With or without official restrictions, visiting is easy. And once you do, the options of wild adventures seem endless – cave and scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking (epic peaks and steep climbs in Cuba), and dancing in the famous Havana salsa clubs. Locals say that to see the "soul" of Cuba, you must visit the "Oriente," which is the region east of Camagüey. You'll see many historic sites, including propaganda billboards. Some of the country's most beautiful beaches exist there as well.

Going on a safari and wildlife spotting are just some of the endless adventurous options you have available in South Africa. Take a River Cruise and see the hippos and crocodiles; you can even kayak with them. Or go open-water swimming.  Witness the gorgeous natural beauty of the famous Garden Route and its beaches, scenic creeks and lakes, hills and mountains. The Cango Caves are probably the oldest tourist attraction in the country and totally worth your time. If you're brave enough, you can dive with white sharks and even ride an ostrich. You can also see the penguins in Simons Town.

If you're the kind of person who never wants the snow to melt, plan a trip to New Zealand. July is the coldest month of the year there. It's between 50-60°F. Snow typically appears during the months of June through October, so plan a ski vacation there. Heli-skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing are also popular. Go on a TranzAlpine train journey; avoid the crowds in the local summer and bike the Hauraki Rail Trail.

Set in northern Italy, the Dolomites were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. This range with more than a dozen major peaks is a top destination for adventurous travelers — offering incredible mountain climbing, hiking, cycling and hang-gliding in the warmer months. Make sure you visit the spectacularly gorgeous man-made caves that sit high among the Dolomites. The area was the front line between Italy and Austria during World War I and as a result these caves still exist in the mountains, and bullet holes still line many of the trees below.

Formed by changes in prehistoric lakes, Salar de Uyuni are the largest and most famous bodies of water in the world. The far-flung site is cast off from major cities, but still attracts many tourists, so there are several hotels there. Other adventures this landlocked Latin American country offers include climbing the Cordillera Real with its ice-capped peaks, mountain biking down the "Death Road," the most dangerous road on a mountain bike in the world, floating down the Bolivian Amazon on boat trips and safaris, and trekking through the ancient Inca trails, to name a few.

This is a special place and the summer is the time to experience it. Hiking, boat tours, trolley tours, ranger-guided programs, swimming, fishing, ranger talks, evening programs, camping, and other activities are offered. Explore old-growth forests or wildflower meadows and climb mountains for great views of the lake or hike to the lake itself. For a longer hike, try a backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Acadia has long been known for its stunningly rugged natural coastline and the best way to take it all in is from the water. It is one of the best spots to paddle the U.S. coastline. Other fun adventures include the Lobsterman Triathlon. After the swimming, the running and the biking, you get a full lobsterbake. Other things to do in the park include biking, climbing (there are routes for all-level climbers), and camping.