Travel Tips For Adventure Travel Tours

You're not ready for adventure travel tours of any kind until you've read these five tips.

Pack fewer clothes and more money than you think you need. There are two things you don't want to happen during your overseas trip. First, you don't want too much stuff to lug around the world. Travel light, but smart. Second, you don't want to run out of money. Your money will flee fast as you purchase beverages, distribute tips, and take taxis during your adventure tour. Make sure you have plenty of cash on hand. Remote Himalayan base camps don't have ATMs. Before departing, be sure you know your credit card company's policy on overseas travel and cash withdrawal ability.

Read about and research your destination maniacally. You are about to become the guest of another country and culture. Try to understand all you can about your destination. Purchase a Lonely Planet guidebook, explore photos online, and imbibe the experience of the country before you even get on the plane.

Make sure you're secure. Overseas safety should be on your mind. To ensure the security of your belongings, make sure you have a sturdy and reliable suitcase or backpack. Bring along a padlock for in-country travel. Remember not to lock the suitcase before checking your baggage on your overseas flight. If you do, you may end up with a broken suitcase or a smashed lock. Keeping tabs on your money, passport, and other documents once you're in your destination is another concern. Some travelers prefer a neck lanyard or close-fitting shoulder bag. Wearing a fanny pack in the front or a travel waist wallet are other good options.

Have a thorough plan, but be flexible. "Schedule" means something entirely different in other cultures and countries. Your well-planned itinerary may disintegrate into insignificance once you're on foreign soil. Yes, you should plan well in advance, but put some flexibility into your planning. You'll never know if a train ride will be cancelled, a mudslide will wipe out a road, or traveler's diarrhea will strike.

Do some language prep. Along with knowing your destination, understanding the geography, being aware of the culture, and knowing a few facts, you'll need to know some language. Memorize a few key phrases, and become familiar with local language greetings. You probably won't become fluent in Dzongkha during a ten-day adventure tour to Bhutan, but you should be able to at least understand a word or two.