G Adventures has introduced a new collection of tours dedicated to wellness and adventure, its first new product launch since 2015. The small-group tour operator becomes the largest adventure travel company to make personal wellness and balance a mainstay of adventure travel. The new Wellness product line, which made its commercial debut on the G Adventures website on Oct. 10, offers travel experiences in 10 destinations across the Americas, Europe and Asia. First departures will begin on Global Wellness Day (June 8, 2019).
More than 80 such departures will offer an upgraded level of service that includes more meals and activities in such destinations as Costa Rica, Colombia, Patagonia, Peru, Iceland, Italy, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Nepal. The new Wellness trips range from seven to 13 days in length, and balance “must-see” highlights with a slower, more mindful pace of travel. Each destination was selected for its wellness offerings and the tours were designed to help travelers slow down, find their balance and reconnect with the world, as well as with themselves.
Regular yoga sessions, intention setting and healthy food choices are all offered on the new program of tours so that travelers return home feeling renewed and balanced. They will also participate in local healing and mindfulness rituals such as a purification bath in Bali, a prayer ceremony with monks in Nepal and an ashram stay in India.
Ben Perlo, U.S. managing director for G Adventures, says now is the ideal time to tap into the Wellness trend, as more people look to combine the healthy lifestyles they have cultivated at home with their explorations and vacations abroad. “The wellness industry has skyrocketed in recent years and we’ve been taking note,” he says. “Data we reviewed from the Global Wellness Institute reports that the wellness industry is now worth $3.7 trillion globally, with consumers seeking new ways to alleviate stress, reduce illness and boost their personal wellbeing. Plus, a full 50 percent of the more than 5,000 G Adventures customers we recently polled expressed strong interest in taking a Wellness adventure next year. We designed these tours to meet this demand in a comfortable, inclusive way.”
“We certainly anticipate the Wellness tours will appeal to women, but they are also open to men, and accessible to travelers of most ages and physical abilities,” Perlo says. “The slower pace we designed for them was built to stretch travelers—physically and experientially—whether they are looking to jump start a healthier way of living, or reinforce good habits. They’re for the traveler who wants to get out and explore an amazing destination, while keeping their wellness in mind.”
The 10 new Wellness itineraries are priced from $1,549 to $3,299 per person land only, and are centered around three primary pillars: mindfulness, movement and nourishment.
Mindfulness: Each Wellness trip will be led by a specially-trained G Adventures chief experience officer (CEO), and begins with an intention-setting ceremony where travelers explore their reasons for seeking wellbeing, and set out what they want to achieve from their journey. The slower-paced itineraries give travelers time to ground themselves on arrival and to explore their local surroundings, while the accommodation options provide a quiet and calming base outside city centers.
Movement: A variety of different types of yoga will be led by local experts, including Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa and Aerial, and optional guided meditations will steer guests toward mindfulness, mantra and transcendental practices. Wellness travelers will also connect with their physicality through movement experiences, including natural hikes in Iceland, stand-up paddle boarding in Costa Rica and cycling through rice terraces in Bali.
Nourishment: Operating with the understanding that food is more than a meal, each tour will feature local culinary tours, including market visits, tastings with local guides and cooking classes with fresh ingredients. These healthy dining experiences will be centered on fresh, local and seasonal produce with optional vegetarian and vegan options available. They are meals designed to nourish the body and mind.
Itineraries include: Wellness Costa Rica (eight days, from $1,699 per person); Wellness Colombia (eight days, from $1,799); Wellness Peru-Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley (seven days, from $1,599); Wellness Iceland (seven days, from $2,799); Wellness Patagonia (eight days, from $2,999); Wellness Italy in Rome & Tuscany (seven days, from $2,099); Wellness Nepal (13 days, from $3,299); Wellness Bali (nine days, from $1,549); Wellness India (11 days, from $2,199); and Wellness Thailand (nine days, from $1,799).
