What is the Allure of a Multi-Day AdventureTrip?

A group of people enjoy a camping trip in a lush, green outdoor setting during daytime. A black Ford truck is parked on the grass, with several mountain bikes resting nearby. Under a tarp shelter, a table is set up with food and camping supplies, while campers relax in folding chairs. A tent is visible in the background, surrounded by trees and rolling hills, creating a scenic and adventurous atmosphere.

Over the last few seasons, we have experienced a steady increase in the number of people taking part in our multi-day trips, whether on the river, horse, or bike.

What is driving this? There will be many reasons, so it’s best to only discuss my experiences and insights. On a personal level, I have long been an enthusiast for longer multi-day adventures, mostly on rivers but increasingly on bicycles. So right now, I am sitting at my desk and pondering: What is it about multi-day adventures that appeals so much?

Is it the camping aspect? Over the years, I have spent a lot of time tenting. While I don’t have any particular likes or dislikes of sleeping in a tent, camping is more of a means to an end. You have to sleep somewhere, and if you are away from towns or dwellings, that invariably means camping.

However, camping these days is vastly more comfortable than I experienced growing up. These days, there are very good sleeping pads, tents, toilet systems, and cooking equipment. There really is no need to be uncomfortable, wet, or cold. Making camp on a lovely afternoon when the sun is shining, the river is gleaming, and the cicadas are in full voice can be a special experience.

So, let’s discount the desire to go camping as the primary driver. On the other hand, being at camp can be a nice bonus. But of course, you don’t have to camp at all on a multi-day adventure trip.

Many trips have other accommodation options. What is a fundamental driver is the desire to see new places, sometimes only found off the beaten track. What is around that next corner on the river, around the next bend on the trail, over the next hill? I have occasionally been accused of dragging a trip along in my wake, but that desire to see the next view is strong. I imagine many early explorers felt something similar: the desire to see new, seldom-seen places.

A serene countryside landscape at dusk, featuring a white glamping tent set up on a grassy hill. In the foreground, tall green flax plants and golden wild grasses frame the scene, while a lone tree stands in the middle. The sky is a soft blue with a faint moon visible above the rolling hills.

Overnight “glamping” set up for the 8 Day River Valley Ride (Our international best-selling horse trek)

Humans are social animals. We like to hang out with other humans, especially friends and family. A multi-day adventure trip can allow you to travel in a bubble away from the crowds, just hanging out with people you like. I think this is a primary driver. The most memorable multi-day trips I have done, for all the right reasons, have always involved being with a nice group of people. A group where everyone pitches in. Where no one is easily offended, Where laughter is quick and spontaneous, and there is a feeling of togetherness.

Reviewing what I have just written, I don’t think I have adequately addressed what is the initial motivator. That motivator, I believe, is the desire for adventure and to experience something different. The desire to get away from everyday life pressures and expectations.

So there we have it.

A group of people wearing helmets and life jackets enjoy a whitewater rafting adventure in a narrow canyon. They are paddling in inflatable rafts smiling and laughing as they navigate the water. Towering rocky cliffs covered in moss and vegetation surround them.

Mountains to Vineyard overnight rafting trip.

Multi-day adventures are about the new, a change from the normal, about seeing new places that are sometimes seldom visited, and about doing it with good people. An adventure that day by day you find yourself more immersed in.

Rafts, dorys, kayaks, horses, and bicycles are some of the tools we use to transport us on these adventures. Each of these tools has its own story, culture, and knowledge that feeds our experience. Being able to talk boats and immerse yourself in boat talk on a river is priceless. Being able to talk about horses and, at the same time, learn more about interacting with horses is precious. Being able to talk about bikes is simply cool.

If this post strikes a chord with you, visit our website and see what multi-day adventure could suit you.

I hope there is one.

Brian Megaw