If travel for you is less about escaping life and more about living it, then consider these vacation ideas:

By Car

East Coast of Australia: There may be no better way to experience this amazing continent than by driving along its east coast, stretching from Melbourne in the south to Cairns to the north. This 2,500-mile drive carries you through rainforests, cities, mountains, and the outback, with the blue waters of the Pacific as a constant companion. Be sure to carve out time for the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking along the way.

By Ship

Northwest Passage: For hundreds of years explorers tried, and failed, to find the fabled Northwest Passage. Travelers can now discover what eluded so many brave adventurers. Begin your journey in Greenland, sail past its fjords, and you’re on your way. As you penetrate deep into the Arctic, you’ll scrape against icebergs and marvel at the harshness and sublime beauty at the top of the world. But, it’s not just ice. See the remains of explorations that came before you and the polar bears that call this home.

By Foot

Camino de Santiago, Spain: Sometimes adventure is a journey to discover ourselves. This medieval pilgrimage through France, Spain, and Portugal to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain can take you weeks or months. Travelers can recover from a day’s walk at one of some 300 refugios that offer food, drink, and a clean place to sleep. It’s a mystical experience that gives you time to reflect on life, learn about yourself, and connect with kindred spirits.

Once in a Lifetime

Botswana, Africa: One of the most sparsely populated nations on earth, Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Okavango is the ideal spot to safari as its waters attract a richness of wildlife that is unmatched on the continent. The country’s focus on minimizing human impact means that your African experience will be both primal and transcendent.