One of the most eye-opening travel experiences I’ve had was a recent return to Ecuador’s Quilotoa Crater. Ecuador is a treasure trove of nature, culture, and adventure that I’ve explored on four separate trips, and my previous visit to Quilotoa was back in 2013, when a friend and I embarked on a three-day trek through the region.
That journey began at the crater itself, a two-mile-wide, emerald-green caldera ringed by jagged Andean peaks, dotted with llamas and lupine, and framed by snow-capped volcanoes rising in the distance. From there, we meandered through quiet farming villages inhabited by the local Quechua people, moving at a pace that allowed us to fully absorb both the dramatic scenery and the timeless rhythm of Andean mountain life.
A quiet day on the rim of Quilotoa back in 2013.
Fast-forward eight years to my return in 2021, and I found myself in a state of genuine shock. What had once been a largely untouched mountain landscape with just a few rustic huts and a simple hostel or two had transformed into a bustling tourism hub. Paved parking lots, food vendors, rows of handicraft stalls, and a fancy viewing platform now lined the crater rim. The change was so dramatic, and had happened so quickly, that when I returned home, I actually pulled out old photos and journals to confirm I had visited the same place. I had, but it was nearly unrecognizable.
One of the hardest realities of travel (and life) is accepting that change is the only constant. While progress often brings increased safety, opportunity, and access, it can also make revisiting beloved places surprisingly emotional. At Moraway Adventures, we love sending guests back to destinations they haven’t seen in decades. It’s always fascinating to hear how the present day compares to their memories, sometimes for better or worse. I’m admittedly jealous of travelers who climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza in the 1970s (at night!), and it’s remarkable to see how comfortable and luxurious India has become even since the 1990s.
While the Taj Mahal itself hasn't changed much in 400 years, India is a much more pleasant visitor experience today than even 30 years ago, with massive improvements in economic development.
Watching a similar transformation unfold in our own rapidly growing hometown of Bozeman, Montana has me thinking often about places that may be at their very best right now. These are destinations still rich in character and authenticity, but they are also places that will almost certainly feel different twenty years from today. Below is a list of adventure travel destinations we think are best experienced sooner rather than later.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Trekking to see mountain gorillas, one of the world’s rarest and most endangered large animal species, is one of the most profound wildlife encounters that you can have. Observing these gentle giants napping, playing, foraging, and chest-beating (my personal favorite - laugh out loud!) just meters away from you in their natural habitat inspires feelings of awe and wonder.
Watching the family dynamics and playful antics of Uganda's mountain gorillas is one of the most profound wildlife encounters you can have.
Chris and I both love Rwanda and Uganda as gorilla trekking destinations, but we recognize that Rwanda’s $1500-per-person daily permit fee is cost-prohibitive for many travelers. At $800 per trek, Uganda’s current fee is more accessible, but it likely will not always remain that way. Your knees, fitness, and agility will also not likely stay the same - a visit to Uganda’s gorillas is definitely a trip to make sooner rather than later.
Peru’s Choquequirao Ruins
Another must-see destination to consider before your legs and lungs decline is Peru’s Choquequirao Archaeological Park. Often called Machu Picchu’s sister city, Choquequirao is every bit as impressive, and for now, infinitely more rewarding.
The 15th and 16th-century ruins at Choquequirao will never be the same once a cable car cuts access from several days of hiking to just 15 minutes. (Photo © Danielle Pereira, CC BY 2.0)
Reached only by a demanding multi-day trek through the rugged Apurímac Canyon, these 16th-century Inca ruins feel wild, remote, and deeply untouched. Ancient stone terraces lead to timeworn temples, clouds drift overhead in the plazas, and on many days, you may have this sprawling archaeological complex nearly to yourself, as Choquequirao sees just 20 daily visitors compared to Machu Picchu’s 5,000.
A cable car that will cut the trek from two days to 15 minutes is already under construction. Once completed, Choquequirao will be an entirely different experience. If you want to see an Inca site that still feels raw, exploratory, and profoundly uncrowded, this journey is one to prioritize now.
Egypt’s Temples and Pyramids
When we last visited Egypt in September of 2023, just weeks before the Israel-Gaza war broke out, visitor numbers were surprisingly high for shoulder season. Tourism declined sharply in the months that followed, and while visitation is already rebounding, Egypt still enjoys a rare window of relative calm.
Egypt's temples and tombs are best enjoyed without the crowds.
Recent Moraway travelers have been awed by the colossal pyramids, exquisitely preserved tombs, and contemplative temples, all much more enjoyable to experience and photograph without the crowds. The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, now home to the complete collection from King Tut’s tomb (alongside more than 100,000 artifacts spanning 30 dynasties), adds a compelling new dimension to an already extraordinary destination. With visitor numbers expected to continue rising, we recommend going now.
Zambia’s Timeless Safaris
As African safari experts, we are frequently asked about our favorite safari destinations, and while we try not to play favorites, Zambia sure is incredible. Both the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi regions are still remote and relatively untouched, with some of the most phenomenal wildlife-viewing on the planet.
Zambia’s tented safari camps strike the perfect balance between luxury and authenticity, and it’s incredible to have the wild dogs, lions, elephants, giraffe, hippos, and leopards all to yourself. Zambia is increasingly on the radar of more tour operators as word is getting out, and with increased access due to new flights, we advise this as a top destination to visit now for luxury travelers hoping to experience a quiet, under-touristed slice of African paradise.
Zambia's pristine parks and phenomenal wildlife, coupled with rustic yet luxurious camps, still offer an authentic safari in a remote and wild corner of Southern Africa.
Into the Wilds of Patagonia National Park
Encompassing over 300,000 square miles of windswept mountains, lenga forests, steppe, and coastline, the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina is one of the most compelling eco-regions on Earth. The vast majority of visitors flock to just two main locations: Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, and Argentina’s Los Glaciares. While both of those parks are worthwhile and well-visited for a reason, travelers looking for a less-touristed mountain escape should consider Chile’s Patagonia National Park.
The Patagonia National Park region of Chile sees a fraction of the visitors of Patagonia's other parks, offering an untapped wilderness escape.
A stay at Explora’s lodge there gives visitors a front-row seat to one of the world’s most inspiring conservation stories, complete with untapped wilderness, unique wildlife, and deeply curated experiences. Getting here requires effort, but that is part of why it remains so delightfully unspoiled. Slow down, stay awhile, and immerse yourself fully in one of the last great wildernesses.
The Atacama to Uyuni Travesia
The Atacama to Uyuni Traverse remains one of the top five trips we have ever done, providing exceptional, untouched nature in one of the most jaw-dropping landscapes on Earth. Starting in the Mars-like deserts of Chile’s Atacama Desert, traversing Bolivia’s colorful altiplano ecosystem surrounded by towering volcanoes, and then ending at the stark Uyuni Salt Flats, every day brings new wonders.
Just you, your private guide, and one of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes on Earth - luxury travel at its finest.
Visitor numbers are astonishingly low, especially on the Bolivia side, offering rare exclusivity. The lack of decent accommodations on the Bolivia side of the Traverse has kept the crowds away, but it’s only a matter of time until this area gets discovered. With new luxury lodges already moving into some of the more authentic, untouched parts of the region, we think this one is worth prioritizing sooner rather than later.
Cruising to Antarctica via South Georgia Island
Speaking of the top five trips we have ever done, our 23-day cruise to Antarctica via the Falkland Islands and South Georgia also makes that list. Whether meandering the penguin-packed beaches of South Georgia on foot or gliding through Antarctica’s icy waters in a Zodiac as humpback whales dive underneath your boat, Antarctica’s up-close wildlife experiences offer a profound sense of discovery and wonder.
The continent’s dramatic, icy landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for observing slumbering seals, ominous orcas, and the daily drama of life in one of Earth’s most untamed regions. Visitor numbers have surged in recent years, and regulations and operational flexibility will likely evolve, maybe not always for the better visitor experience. We are glad we didn’t put this trip off for decades - Antarctica should be a priority for wildlife aficionados who want to experience the continent while it’s still relatively quiet and untouched by tourism.
South Georgia's beaches are packed with penguins, not people, and we hope it always remains that way.
So there you have it, a curated list of journeys to prioritize while these destinations remain at their most authentic and awe-inspiring. It’s not too late to start planning an adventure for 2026, and we’re already helping guests craft extraordinary experiences well into 2027 and beyond. When you’re ready to explore, discover, and create your own unforgettable moments, reach out! We’d love to help make it happen.
Your Wild Adventure Aficionado,
