Viator Travel Blog

From petting stingrays in Grand Cayman to riding elephants in Thailand, animal interactions sit high on the universal travel bucket list. On the Gulf Coast of Florida, just and hour and a half away from the tourism juggernaut that is Orlando (and yet another creature – a very famous little mouse!) lies another such animal encounter opportunity. The draw? Swim with manatees on the Crystal River.

Created by an act of Congress in 1872 “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” (as the welcoming Roosevelt Arch proudly proclaims), the preservation of Yellowstone National Park’s 3,468 square miles of rugged wilderness is widely considered the world’s first government-mandated effort in environmental conservation.

As a devout nature-lover, the Galapagos Islands had been on my travel bucket list for years before I finally took a week-long, small ship eco-cruise through the archipelago. Made famous by Charles Darwin (who concocted his Theory of Evolution based on his groundbreaking scientific discoveries there), the chain of islands is located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, and 97.5% of their land is devoted to a national park. As a result, the remarkably bio-diverse ecosystems feature a vast array of wildlife that seem to have no fear of humans. Here are just a few of the incredible animals you might see on a visit to the Galapagos Islands.

As the sky streaked orange and yellow, dusk found us in Grassdale National Park surrounded by hundreds of reddy-grey kangaroos in a feeding frenzy; they grazed unconcernedly as we moved among them, bouncing off across the tussocky grassland if we got too close. My husband and I had journeyed to Kangaroo Island, sitting off the south-west coast of Adelaide, South Australia, to see the kangaroos, koalas, Tammar wallabies, echidnas, seals, and sea lions that proliferate here and to sample the island’s famous hospitality. For us Brits it’s about as far away as you can get from Blighty, and it felt like it – remote, tranquil, and seemingly untouched by the 21st century.

When my husband and I arranged to visit Poland’s remote Biebrza National Park I certainly hadn’t expected to find myself two kilometers up in the icy winter air gazing down upon frozen water meadows and peering over the side of a wicker basket suspended from a hot-air balloon.

If your heart melts every time you look into the eyes of an animal, whether it’s a puppy or a frog, then it’s safe to say you’re an animal lover. Luckily for you, there are countless opportunities for animal people to help furry, feathery, scaly or slimy creatures while traveling the world.

How is this possible? By volunteering abroad, of course! Programs for volunteering with wildlife abroad are located all over the world, but we’ve compiled a list of eight countries that are worth a second glance. Take a look at some of the animals you can work with in each country and what you can do as a volunteer to make a difference.

Many travelers pride themselves on their ability to ‘go it alone’ or ‘get off the beaten track’, often bemoaning organized tour groups as unauthentic or formulaic. But while independent travel can be a life-altering experience, there are certain destinations and activities that simply aren’t available to the solo traveler. So whether you’re seeking an adrenaline-charged encounter or looking to tick a few adventures off your bucket list, here are 10 incredible experiences that you can only do with a little help from a tour company.

The London 2012 Olympics doesn’t start until July 27, but we’ve already given out our medals for the Travel Olympics.

With its many boutique shops, spice markets, and fusion of international cultures, you’ll be tempted to spend all of your time in Kochi inside the walls of the fort. But venture north of the city to experience some of Kerala‘s most stunning scenery, from a riverside elephant camp to breathtaking waterfalls.

One of Ocean World’s coolest destinations in St Thomas, The US Virgin Islands, Coral World Ocean Park is a terrific way to get acquainted with the marine life you are, after-all, surrounded by. With a plethora of wonderful exhibits, including the Undersea Observatory Tower, the Caribbean Reef Encounter, the Marine Gardens and the Touch pool, where you get to handle starfish and pet sea cucumbers, but perhaps the most exciting feature is the 30-minute spectacular Swimming with Sharks at Coral World Ocean Park.