THE JOURNAL

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa. Photograph courtesy of Scott Dunn
For those who don’t want to break sweat on vacation.
There are men who like to test their mettle in punishing conditions and achieve the kind of greatness destined for a TED Talk and a memoir. And then there are those of who want to keep their boots clean, bodies rested and enjoy a negroni at sunset in a comfy chair. If you’re in the latter camp (or should we say “glamp”), you wlll be happy to learn that adventure and laziness are not mutually exclusive. Even the most bone-idle man can enjoy an adventure fix without breaking sweat. Allow us to introduce five thrilling escapades that require you to do little more than turn up, sit back and brag about it on Instagram.

Kwandwe Fort House, Port Elizabeth. Photograph courtesy of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
With 54,000 acres of land and a maximum of 52 guests allowed at one time, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve has one of the highest land-to-guest ratios in South Africa. Accommodation comes in the form of poolside villas and suites with a private deck and plunge pool with views out across the wilderness. You could head out with a team of trackers to search for the Big Five, or sit in your private vehicle while a ranger does it for you. Or you could book one of Kwandwe’s beauty therapists to give you a massage on your deck while you watch the animals come up and take a drink from your pool. The choice is yours.
What to pack


The Urubamba Valley. Photograph courtesy of Black Tomato
Black Tomato’s on-the-ground guides will meet you in Lima and take you on a 13-day trip through Peru by car, train, kayak and horseback. The guides will do all the work. Kayaking across Lake Titicaca? Your chaperone will do the paddling, set up your lakeside picnic and organise a shamanic ceremony. Want to see the Nazca Lines? You will be whisked over them in a privately chartered helicopter. Machu Picchu? Passage there comes courtesy of a luxury suite aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train. The tour’s intrepid guests will spend their nights in a series of stylish boutique hotels, with plenty of time carved out for resting in spas and drinking sundowners.
What to pack


Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses, Kaikoura. Photograph courtesy of Scott Dunn
Over 21 days, Scott Dunn’s team of local guides will take you on a grand tour of the Land of the Long White Cloud, including Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Kaikoura, Queenstown and Mount Aspiring. Every part of the trip can be tailormade, meaning you could replace a car journey with a helicopter transfer, request meals to be set up along your hiking trails, or have a guide carry your gear. And if you want to avoid the strenuous activities altogether, you can opt for more sedate options such as wine tasting or just kick back in one of the several opulent hotels you will be staying.
What to pack


Bora Bora. Photograph courtesy of The Moorings UK
If you dream of a sailing holiday, but have a complete lack of seamanship, The Moorings can help. The UK-based company will organise a knowledgeable team to skipper a boat for you in a tropical location, allowing you and your pals to experience the thrill of sailing, while also giving you plenty of time to pretend you’re in that Duran Duran video. Top pick is the tour of French Polynesia, where up to six people can stay aboard a four-cabin catamaran, taking in islands such as Tahiti, Bora Bora and Raiatea. Your captain will help you plan an itinerary of island hopping and excursions, but since you have personal chef, a fully stocked bar and a long list of watersports and snorkelling gear on board, you could quite happily not disembark at all.
What to pack


Photograph by Mr Thomas Goisque
Grab your most selfless friend and join Vintage Rides for a tour of Mongolia. Why does your travel companion need to be selfless? Because they will be driving a Royal Enfield motorcycle across the Mongolian steppes, while you wrap yourself in a blanket and relax in the sidecar next to them. The 10-day trip begins in Ulaanbaatar, before heading west to Ögii Lake, and then on to the Orkhon Valley, historical Karakorum, Khogno Khan National Park and back to the capital. Your evenings will be spent in fully furnished yurts, and all meals will be prepared by the Vintage Rides team and your hosts.
What to pack

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