Spring forward from so-called winter woes into a season full of possibilities! From wildflowers to wildlife, this time of year offers travelers great weather, fewer crowds, blooming landscapes and newborn baby animals. And with a Nat Hab trip, you can always rest assured that you’ll be traveling in a way that helps—rather than hurts—the planet, no matter the destination.
Here are 10 fantastic spring getaways that are sure to put a spring in your step!
1. Explore English Nature in the Cotswolds
Nat Hab travelers photograph vibrant wildflower fields © Hollie Galloway
A visit to the classic British countryside provides a change of scenery—happy sheep, rolling hills and stone cottages—and an invitation to enjoy the heritage and architecture of an area protected as Britain’s largest National Landscape. The Cotswolds include a collection of picturesque towns and villages, luxury inns surrounded by pristine meadows, and unspoiled rural beauty that’s rare to find preserved as it has been here.
With Nat Hab, you, benefit from private tours and special access to estates, farms, gardens and local food purveyors. The Slimbridge Wetland Center here, also referred to as the “avian Serengeti” is a nature reserve established to protect birds and their habitat. Endangered and rare bird species are also bred at the center to later be released into the wild.
Learn More: The Cotswolds: Exploring English Nature
2. View Desert Wildlife in Botswana
Nat Hab travelers experience wild encounters by safari truck, on foot and by boat © David Luck
Head to Botswana to observe intimate animal encounters via 4×4 game drives in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Linyanti Private Reserve and the Okavango Delta. You also get to witness Victoria Falls as it thunders above the Zambezi Gorge, and your special access to a predator researcher at Gomoti Camp via Nat Hab’s expert guides makes this an experience to remember.
Did we mention that Botswana is one of five countries that participate in the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the world’s largest transboundary conservation area, an unprecedented treaty facilitated by World Wildlife Fund. KAZA is home to half of Africa’s elephants, the majority of which are in Botswana.
Learn More: Botswana: Seculded Botswana
3. Visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Travelers photograph the magic of a flooded paper bark forest in northern Australia.
Ranking high on any adventure traveler’s wish list is the chance to snorkel among turtles and manta rays in the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Nat Hab’s Australia North tour, you’ll also visit Kakadu National Park via private chartered flight and Daintree National Park, part of the world’s oldest rain forest. Observing the musky rat kangaroo, platypus and southern cassowary in their natural habitat is a dream for many but a reality one can achieve here.
The Australian Quoll Conservancy here works to protect the spotted-tailed quoll, which is one of four endangered quoll species found in the country. And at the Tolga Bat Hospital, efforts are directed at conserving bats and their habitat through landcare work, education, research and advocacy.
Learn More: Australia North: Kakadu, Daintree & the Great Barrier Reef
4. See Bengal Tigers in India
Experience tigers and other vibrant wildlife on safari in India with our Expedition Leaders! © Surya Ramachandran
Spotting wild cats in the untamed outdoors is an adrenaline rush like no other. If you’ve always wanted to observe lions, tigers and other big cats in their natural surroundings, consider joining Nat Hab on a trip to India’s Ranthambore National Park. The spring season is great for other animal sightings as well, so you may encounter leopards, sloth bears, chitals and more. Our secret weapon is our seasoned Expedition Leaders who are professional animal trackers and experts at finding the best spots for viewing wildlife.
Ranthambore is one of the top conservation spots in India, with the Bengal tiger population steadily on the increase. Your travel dollars spent here aid in the preservation of tiger populations through responsible ecotourism efforts.
5. Traverse the Otherworldly Red Rocks of the American Southwest
A Nat Hab traveler enjoys the warm sunshine in Utah’s Bryce National Park © Jeremy Covert
America’s national parks have a fan following all their own, and a visit to this Southwest trifecta shows why. Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce national parks offer scenic vistas, stunning vantage points, gorgeous topography and a better understanding of the many natural processes that have occurred over the millennia to sculpt these beautiful formations. On our Nat Hab trip, you’ll get an aerial view of it all with a helicopter flight over Bryce Canyon and its brilliant pink hoodoos.
Several simultaneous conservation efforts are at work helping protect the habitat and wildlife here, resulting in a rise in the number of peregrine falcons and California condors. The Grand Canyon is part of the Vanishing Treasures program, where architectural remains on-site are conserved through education and research.
Learn More: Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion
6. Encounter Unique Animals in the Galapagos Islands
Ascend from the sea into the highlands of Santa Cruz to reach Nat Hab’s exclusive Tortoise Camp. Amid lush Scalesia forest and subterranean lava caves, travelers have an intimate encounter with nature found nowhere else in the Galapagos.
Giant tortoises, iguanas, blue-footed boobies and sea lions are but a few of the animal species you can find in abundance in the Galapagos. The islands are a premier nature travel destination, and you’ll understand why when you see the pristine swaths of land and ocean that await. On a Nat Hab adventure in the Galapagos Islands, you can look forward to a stay at our private Tortoise Camp on Santa Cruz where wild tortoises get to live their best life right by the Pacific Ocean.
The Charles Darwin Research Station is also located here, part of conservation efforts spearheaded by WWF. The nonprofit conservation organization is involved in wildlife monitoring, innovative fisheries management and implementing sustainable tourism to protect the area’s natural resources.
Learn More: Classic Galapagos: The Natural Habitat Experience
7. Set Sail from Easter Island to Tahiti
If living on island time was always on the agenda, then a sail along the South Pacific from Tahiti to Easter Island and a few other remote archipelagos should do the trick. Ancient ceremonial sites, unspoiled reef systems and rare and endemic birds are but a few highlights of visiting here in the spring. Learn about the local pearl industry, snorkel with coral and tropical fish and visit uninhabited Henderson Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
When you sail with Nat Hab partner Lindblad Expeditions, you’ll enjoy the guidance of expert naturalists and an archaeologist to explain the natural and human history of this very special place on our planet. Fakarava, one of the largest atolls here, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, thanks to the rare plants and birds that call it home. Locals are very involved when it comes to conservation efforts to safeguard the rich biodiversity.
Learn More: Easter Island to Tahiti: Tales of the Pacific
8. Veer Off the Beaten Path in American Samoa
The cultural hub of the Polynesian islands, American Samoa is the only U.S. Territory south of the equator. This tropical haven was settled three thousand years ago by seafaring explorers, who discovered an archipelago replete with inviting shorelines, rugged mountains, colorful coral reefs, warm turquoise waters and dense forests. Spend a few precious spring days hiking, snorkeling and getting to know this piece of paradise with Nat Hab partner Off the Beaten Path.
Learn More: Maimoana: American Samoa
9. Take a Cultural Deep Dive in Italy
Portofino © Megan Brief
Immerse yourself in all things Italia—romantic seaside ports, regional cuisine and historic attractions—during a cultural walking adventure in the Italian Lake District! The area lends itself beautifully to a week-long walking experience of rose gardens, wine tastings, olive groves and more with Nat Hab partner Classic Journeys. Lakes Como, Maggiore and Orta play tasteful hosts to leisurely cruises, fishing villages and exquisite villas and palaces that you may never want to leave.
Learn More: Italian Lakes Cultural Walking Adventure
10. Bike Through the Azores to Discover the Cycling Paradise of the Atlantic
Endless road into Pico Island, Azores.
Want to get a dose of exercise along with your nature? A cycling expedition could be the perfect way to indulge in your passion for adventure travel. Portugal’s Azores are gaining popularity quickly as a star destination for biking enthusiasts. The waterfalls and wildflowers are just part of the attraction—the lush landscape also includes tea plantations and other locally grown specialties. Traveling with Nat Hab partner Duvine means you head out for a dolphin and whale watching experience along with a marine biologist who can share their expertise on the wildlife the area is known for.
