I recently sat down with Leighanne Evans and the team at CTV KW Evening News in Kitchener to talk about one of the biggest shifts Goway is seeing in travel right now: the rise of soft adventure. As the leader of tailor-made travel, Goway spends a lot of time tracking how and why our globetrotters travel, and this one has caught our attention in a real way.
Adventure doesn't always have to mean extremes. A new wave of travellers are embracing a more balanced approach that pairs exploration with comfort, and movement with mindfulness. And honestly? I count myself among them.
What Is Soft Adventure?
Soft adventure is about experiencing the thrill of travel without the intensity. It gives you all the rewards of exploration and discovery without pushing you too far outside your comfort zone. Think of it this way: hard adventure is a multi-day backcountry expedition; soft adventure is a morning trek along a coastal trail. Instead of an open-ocean scuba dive, it's snorkelling in a lagoon. The discovery is still there. The rush is still there. The pressure and physical toll aren't.
We've been covering soft-adventure destinations and itineraries for years in our Globetrotting Magazine and Globetrotting blog. Still, we've noticed a recent uptick in travellers seeking this kind of experience. We believe this reflects a broader trend: people want to be truly present when travelling, not simply enduring it.
I'll admit it's personal for me too. When I was younger, you would have caught me cliff jumping or skydiving. That stuff genuinely terrifies me now. My sense of adventure hasn't gone anywhere, but my appetite for pressure has. Soft adventure is very much my pace these days, and I don't think I'm alone in that.
The key message is simple: it's adventure, redefined for real life. Less pressure, more presence.
Where to Go on a Soft Adventure Vacation
Soft adventure offerings are growing in destinations all around the world, and I always recommend working with our Destination Specialist who can design a tailor-made trip that delivers exactly the experiences you're after while keeping the planning stress-free.
This is my year of soft adventure, and I'm currently planning two trips I'm especially excited about, both designed by the Destination Specialist at Goway Travel, who have lived, worked, or travelled extensively in the destinations they sell.
Active Japan: Ancient Trails, Onsens & Traditions - 12 Days
Japan is one of the top destinations for soft adventure right now, and Goway's Active Japan itinerary is a wonderful example of why. Over 12 days, you move through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with a focus on getting off the well-worn tourist path and into the landscape itself.
The centrepiece for me is hiking a section of the Nakasendo Trail. This ancient mountain route stretches over 500 kilometres across Japan's interior. On this itinerary, you walk just a few kilometres of it into Tsumago. This beautifully preserved post town feels untouched by time.
There are also cycling tours woven throughout the trip, taking you past green tea fields near Mount Fuji and through the winding back alleys of Kyoto. Lastly, the trip also features a visit to a wasabi farm, which, depending on your palate, can absolutely qualify as an adventure.
New Zealand Landscapes & Wonders - 11 Days
My second soft adventure trip this year will take me to New Zealand, which is about as classic a globetrotting destination as it gets. Goway's New Zealand Landscapes and Wonders itinerary covers the entire country over 11 days and is packed with experiences that truly immerse you in the fabric of what makes New Zealand such a unique destination.
A kayak tour of a glacier-carved lake. A nighttime walk through a wildlife sanctuary. Soaking in geothermal pools. And what I think is the single coolest experience on the itinerary: a scenic helicopter flight to the top of the Franz Josef Glacier. You land on ancient ice with the Southern Alps around you, and that is something no amount of comfort-zone stretching could ever prepare you for.
Soft Adventure with Goway
Soft adventure is currently one of the most exciting and accessible ways to travel, and there has never been a better time to start planning your own, personalized soft adventure. If Japan's ancient trails and cycling routes or New Zealand's glaciers and geothermal wonders are calling your name, Goway's family of Destination Specialists will help you design a tailor-made soft adventure itinerary. If your eyes are set elsewhere, Goway offers a wide selection of soft adventure trips and can create custom itineraries in over 115 countries across all seven continents. Make sure you keep an eye out for the upcoming June issue of Globetrotting Magazine, completely redesigned and packed full with even more inspiration for your next great adventure. Subscribe for free at goglobetrotting.com.
Connect with a Goway Destination Specialist to start building your own tailor-made soft adventure, and start travelling like a globetrotter today.
Mitchell's love of travel and adventure was formed during family road trips in a minivan across Western Canada. He has since passionately pursued a career in travel ever since his first job working at the front desk of a Calgary Holiday Inn. He now leads Goway's marketing and serves as Globetrotting's editor in chief. Mitchell thrives on pushing his boundaries and challenging his fears, seeking out travel experiences that promise adventure and excitement. However, above all, Mitchell is driven by his love of food, delighting in the diverse culinary landscapes he encounters around the globe.
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