Summer may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop.
Adrenaline junkies can find a number of dramatic pursuits around the globe, and fewer crowds combined with milder climates mean that getting out and experiencing the great outdoors can be even more comfortable for fall travelers.
Those looking for ideas can head to almost any destination in the world and find something new to add to the bucket list. Here are a few of our favorites:
Fall Colors in Japan
North America isn't the only place transforming into a colorful paradise during the fall. In fact, leaf-peeping in Japan is almost as popular as it is in the U.S.
People may be familiar with Japan's cherry blossom season, but the transformation from summer to fall brings another vibrant change to the country. Plus, there is a better chance to see it: Cherry blossoms last for a few days, but fall colors stick around for two months.
Adventure travelers will love Wilderness Travel's Hiker's Journey to Shikoku during the autumn months, a 13-day tour that follows the 88-temple pilgrimage route across Shikoku Island.
The journey travels in the footsteps of the great 8th-century Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi and includes a hike up one of Shikoku's highest peaks. Visitors have the opportunity to meet fellow pilgrims, experience a thousand-year-old Dogo Onsen (hot spring) and overnight inside a temple.
Great Wildebeest Migration
Adventure enthusiasts should have cameras at the ready for the Great Wildebeest Migration. The annual event takes place between October and November as these giant mammals make their way from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara.
Undertaking this journey in the fall takes the African safari experience to the next level of wildlife viewing. A trip with Peregrine Adventures can put visitors in the heart of the action.
The East Africa Discovery adventure travels through the great grasslands of the region on a 12-day journey that begins in Nairobi, Kenya, and finishes in Arusha, Tanzania.
Wildlife is the primary focus of the overland trek, which will involve some long, bumpy car rides but also incredible sights, including Lake Nakuru National Park, the Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Highlands and more. Experiences for guests feature cultural visits, game drives and a stay in a tented camp.
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Day of the Dead
Oaxaca, Mexico is a stunning city in its own right, but its Day of the Dead festival is heralded as one of the best. The celebration is steeped in rich traditions that date back centuries. The festival in this vibrant city is known for processions, colorful costumes, spectacular food and parties that go beyond just Dia de Los Muertos.
The fun is very accessible to visitors, but going with a group provides even better access and opportunities to discover the culture and meaning behind this important tradition.
With Geckos Adventures, visitors can enjoy a nine-day journey through Mexico that begins in Oaxaca and finishes in the quiet beach town of Playa del Carmen.
La Via Francigena Pilgrimage
Fall's mild temperatures and diminishing crowds mean undertaking adventurous pursuits during this time will avoid many of the pitfalls of the summer months.
Those up for an adventure can follow Italy's pilgrimage route Via Francigena. The name literally means "the road that comes from France," but the trail actually has its beginnings in Canterbury, England.
There is no need to travel that far: Many join the path to stroll through some of Italy's most stunning northern regions, including Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Lazio. The route has far fewer crowds and is less popular than other pilgrimage routes in Europe, such as the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and demarcations of the path have only recently been fortified.
Those looking to follow in the footsteps of ancient wanderers can join Wilderness Travel's Italy's Pilgrim Trail tour, a 10-day journey that travels from Siena to Rome, highlighting some of the most remarkable scenery along the way.
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Halloween
Fall pursuits don't have to take adventure travelers far from home. One of the best Halloween celebrations is right here in our own backyard: Salem, Massachusetts.
Salem's history with witches is well-documented and bloody. And while it's clear that Halloween holds no special meaning to the town, a day that celebrates the macabre is a perfect fit for the haunted locale. Beyond the spooky streets of Salem, lie tales of headless horsemen, ice-skating ghosts and even a kitchen poltergeist.
Geckos Adventures invites travelers on a blood-curdling adventure through America's haunted past on its Halloween in America tour that starts in Boston and finishes in the streets of Manhattan.
Travel if you dare.
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