Mixing wilderness adventures with convenience seems like an oxymoron. After all, isn’t living off nature one of the most challenging things any human being can do?
However, it turns out that it might not be as weird as many people expect. The terms seem contradictory, but the modern travel industry is finding ways to mash them together. It’s now possible to get a “wild” and “luxe” experience wrapped into one.
Reimagining What Wilderness Means
First, many travellers are reimagining what wilderness means. It doesn’t have to be total isolation and rugged survival: some sort of middle ground will often suffice.
For example, many people stay near the Bellevue State Park in Delaware. It offers nearby access to amenities but also provides visitors with somewhere semi-wild they can enjoy.
The same is true in glamping locations across the Appalachians. These provide an element of comfort and luxury while delivering a similar outdoorsy experience.
Catering To Busy Lifestyles
Convenient wild escapes also accommodate most people’s busy lifestyles where every hour of the day seems to include something. These reduce the need to spend hours looking for and buying gear, training for challenging conditions, and working out travel itineraries. Getting a guide to arrange all of this reduces the time investment required by travellers, allowing them to get a “wild” experience without having to do anything else.
Inclusion
Then there’s the issue of inclusion. People want convenient wild escapes because they open up the experience to more people.
For example, most people aren’t capable of surviving in the wilderness by themselves, and many don’t have the mental fortitude to take on nature in all its glory. Families, people with mobility issues, and older adults can all struggle to really feel like they can access genuine wilderness. But more convenient experiences remove this issue. They can experience the thrill of leaving the city behind but also know that support is there if needed.
Improving Eco-Friendly Tourism
There’s also an argument that says that more managed wilderness escapes could also make adventure travel more sustainable. Currently, there are simply too many people on the planet to safely explore nature because of the damage and erosion it can do to some ecosystems. Therefore, concentrating wild-like experiences in specific zones can have a profound effect on the environment while still providing most people with an experience that is 90% of what they want.
Using Tech
Finally, we’re seeing the use of technology to make wild escapes more convenient. Many tourists want to augment their experiences and reduce danger.
For many, a satellite phone is the first port of call. These allow travellers to make calls to the emergency services from any location (as long as they have battery life).
Apps are another piece of helpful technology. These are becoming more sophisticated and allow adventurers to take pictures of objects in their environment and ask machine-learning algorithms what they are (in case they want to forage).
In summary, convenient wild escapes are becoming more popular. These balance comfort with the need to get out into nature and enjoy oneself.