Discover new horizons and form lasting bonds at these , where shared experiences and unforgettable moments pave the way for 5 Places to Create Lifelong Friendships and enduring connections with fellow travelers.
5 Places to Create Lifelong Friendships
Amazing experiences that are worth sharing with others include seeing the Aurora Borealis, seeing an orangutan deep in the rainforests of Malaysia, and driving through the foggy streets of Havana in an open-air Buick. Luckily, you don’t have to go through these experiences alone thanks to our Exodus guided group tours. Since the founding of Exodus in 1974, when two friends drove a group of travelers to the Minaret of Jam in the Hindu Kush on an overland truck, we have made it a point to bring that same spirit of adventure and friendship to all of our travels. Exploring unfamiliar cultures with other travelers who share your interests is far more thrilling. So continue reading to discover some of our favorite moments that frequently lead to 5 Places to Create Lifelong Friendships.
Fat bike through the desolate Namibian desert
Namibia is a country of breathtaking natural beauty and striking contrasts, from the dead petrified acacia trees and rust-red dunes that dot the landscape in Sossusvlei to the lush watering holes that draw elephants and flamingos to Etosha National Park. Additionally, you get to experience the best of both worlds on our Cycle Namibia adventure.
Namibia is a country of breathtaking natural beauty and striking contrasts, from the dead petrified acacia trees and rust-red dunes that dot the landscape in Sossusvlei to the lush watering holes that draw elephants and flamingos to Etosha National Park. Additionally, you get to experience the best of both worlds on our Cycle Namibia adventure.
After exploring this area, on day six, it’s time to step it up a notch and experience the exhilaration of riding our modified fat bikes over some of the world’s largest dunes. We assure you that participating in this activity with a group of like-minded travelers will be a memory you’ll cherish for years to come. Because of their low tire pressure, additional grip, and traction, fat bikes facilitate easier riding on a variety of terrain. It will take you about 3.5 hours to enjoy the scenery as you ride toward the adjacent Moon Valley landscape.
Gaze at the Milky Way in the Wadi Rum
When you spend a week in Jordan with us, you’ll get to see the Red Rose City of Petra for two full days, stroll through Jerash’s historic Roman streets, take a floating experience in the Dead Sea, and see Mount Nebo, where Moses is buried. In addition to all of this, you and your group will visit one of the Bedouin campsites for a magical night under the stars where you will learn about their nomadic way of life. After spending two hours exploring the Wadi Rum desert in a 4×4 vehicle with your friends on the sixth day, you will return to your private camp for Bedouin tea, live music, and a traditional Zarb dinner.
In order to cook this dish, they use a subterranean “earth” oven in the soft sand. The meat and vegetables, which include sweet pepper, potato, carrot, onion, and eggplant, are allowed to roast for a few hours before being served. Gathering around the fire as dusk falls is a great way to share travel experiences and anecdotes with your group this evening. It’s also the ideal time of year to see the stars.
Wadi Rum, also known as the “Valley of the Moon,” is one of the best 5 Places to Create Lifelong Friendships in the world to see stars at night, with approximately 300 nights of clear visibility annually. Travelers visiting Jordan can see the Milky Way’s core without a telescope because of the region’s high altitude and lack of clouds, which also contribute to its low to nonexistent light pollution. The summer months of March through October are when you can see the stars the best. You might also be able to see Cassiopeia, Polaris (the North Star), and the Big Dipper with the assistance of our knowledgeable guides.
Come face to face with Orangutans in Borneo
Our Borneo Wildlife Discoverer excursion is very powerful. You will see herds of Borneo Pigmy Elephants grazing in Danum Valley, observe a bat exodus in Mulu National Park, and see Proboscis monkeys in the Kinabatangan rainforests. However, for many, spending time with an orangutan may be the most unrestrained experience of a lifetime.
Although they may not look like it, orangutans are among the closest living relatives of humans, with nearly 97% of our DNA being shared, according to scientists. The word “orangutan” itself comes from the Malay phrase “orang hutan,” which translates to “human of the forest.” These amazing primates have a maximum weight of 100 kg and a 30- to 40-year lifespan in the wild. Regrettably, illegal hunting and deforestation have put orangutans on the endangered species list. Fortunately, however, because of ardent conservationists and rehabilitation facilities, orangutan populations are beginning to rise once more.
You and your group will visit Sepilok, which is home to a renowned orangutan rehabilitation center, on days 8 and 9 of our trip. Animal experts at the world’s largest orangutan sanctuary care for and rehabilitate orphans and captured orangutans before releasing them back into the wild. During morning and afternoon feedings, you can observe the orangutan nursery, where experts train young animals to climb and search for food safely.
Stay up late to watch the Northern Lights
While seeing the Northern Lights is not always possible on our Iceland Northern Lights trip, when they do appear, your group will never forget those brief and mysterious moments when celestial lights dance across the sky in vibrant shades of green. Traveling to Iceland in the winter, from September to April, will increase your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis because the long, dark nights provide ideal conditions for spotting solar activity and taking in this breathtaking show. You’ll discover that Iceland is much more than just a place to see the Northern Lights, though, if you have the opportunity to visit.
You and your group will complete the Golden Triangle of Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss Waterfall on our trip. Along the way, you’ll pass by surreal sights like the enormous Skeidararsandur floodplains, the Reynisdrangar black lava sea stacks, and the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. You will also get the opportunity to explore the Falljokull glacier by renting crampons and ice axes during this adventure. Crampon-wearing can be challenging at first, but it’s a humorous experience that you and your group will undoubtedly remember. With a backdrop of vivid blue ice, this glacier is ideal for taking pictures with your friends. The odd sight of ice formations that sparkle like diamonds against the black, volcanic sand is Diamond Beach, which comes next. You have a free day on your final day of travel, so why not take a group excursion to the Blue Lagoon to relax?
Take a ride in one of Havana’s classic cars
There aren’t many places in the world where people can honestly claim that their cars are considered national landmarks, but in Havana, Cuba, where people live in vibrant streets, it’s easy to understand why their colorful vintage cars have taken on the status of historical monuments.
In Havana today, you can find everything from Soviet-era GAZ Volgas and Ladas to iconic American models like Buicks, Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles, and Chryslers. Surprisingly, though, most of these vehicles are probably from the 1950s. But rather than being kept in temperature-controlled garages or museums, the people in the area still use these exquisite vehicles on a daily basis to transport themselves and other people from point A to point B. Why? because all American auto imports were outlawed during Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959, and tight regulations were imposed on Cuban auto owners.
Due to the lack of access to new automobile purchases or the importation of spare parts, the locals had to get inventive with their mechanical know-how in order to maintain these 1950s cars running in order to have a functional mode of transportation. However, as tourism took off, they discovered that these amazing vehicles were now a historical attraction in and of themselves, drawing eager tourists who wanted to take a trip back in time to the 1950s, when stars like Frank Sinatra and well-known writers like Ernest Hemingway would cruise Havana’s streets in open-topped Chevrolets.
Check out our selection of guided group tours on Club TravelScape if you’re eager to travel with a bunch of friends who share your interests.
