Airbnb Adventures looks to make traveling the world easier and more exciting

With air travel being as accessible as ever, why are people so hesitant to leave their bubbles? One company thinks they just need a good reason.

Airbnb is launching a new service, Airbnb Adventures, that gives customers the opportunity to embark on any one of a collection of highly curated, exotic adventures. With mainstream tourist spots becoming more crowded, this program will let consumers choose from more than 200 adventures across the globe at launch, all of which are exclusive to Airbnb or specially selected to send people to the natural wonders everyone else forgets about.

From tracking lions with Sabache Warriors in Kenya to hunting UFOs with Nate in Arizona to exploring the Amazon rainforest with Eduardo, the opportunities appear to be endless. Airbnb is rejecting the old, generalized travel plan in favor of a new, unique experience that’s different for every adventurer. Instead of just providing a place to sleep at night, hosts will act as guides through a foreign land, giving people a taste of their culture and introducing them to the indigenous people eager to greet a friendly face.

As a way to celebrate the launch, Airbnb told six random strangers to put their lives on hold, pack their bags and meet at an airport in London. Where were they going? They had no idea, but they were ready for an adventure. “We are going to be in this life one time, and I think this is going to be the spark that I need,” one of the men says in a video documenting the trip.

Leaving their families behind, the six travelers landed in Oman. There, they camped in the mountains, surfed sand dunes and rode camels through the desert. But most important, they learned what it means to go on an adventure. “In Oman, a long time ago, there used to be traders, and they could see all of the kinds of cultures around the world. That’s why Oman is now open to all cultures,” says the trip’s host. “So, culture is not a barrier. Anytime, we can all be together.”

Airbnb Adventures

One of the biggest reasons people don’t travel more is cost. Airbnb states that it seeks to help its customer’s stay within their budget by democratizing the tourism industry and offering a wide range of price options. With the median price of a three-day trip at $588, one can spend frugally on a $79 overnight trip or go all out on a $5,000, 10-day trek. It is anyone’s adventure to choose, and wherever they decide to go, they will be led by local experts through a once-in-a-lifetime experience that meets certain quality and safety standards, as advised by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).

For those up to the challenge, Airbnb Adventures is launching with a massive adventure, one that will take a limited number of guests across six continents, 18 countries, two oceans, five seas, and eight modes of transportation in 80 days.

“Departing on September 1, 2019, this incredible Adventure looks to satisfy every inch of wanderlust: from glaciers to volcanoes, mountains to desert, houseboats to yurts, mountains to whitewaters. Like all Airbnb Adventures, this [is] crafted to introduce guests to natural wonders, cultures and communities that are hard to reach on their own,” said Airbnb in a statement.

Around The World in 80 Days will be bookable June 20, for $5,000 per person.

Airbnb recently offered a package where people could spend a night at the Louvre.

Source: The Drum