History Nerd? Geek Out On These Five Group Tours That Follow In Famous Adventurers’ Footsteps

Active group travel is growing in popularity. Companies like REI Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions are constantly expanding their travel offerings, and companies like AirBnB and Arc’teryx have both recently launched new multi-day trip programs. Group travel can offer more than one individual may be able to plan on his or her own and usually includes a local guide who can open the doors to places it may be difficult to find as a solo traveler. Group trips almost always include transportation, most meals, lodging, and daily activities, which makes it an easy way to see the best of a country when you don’t have time to plan all the logistics yourself.

But group travel isn’t always about just hitting the highlights of a destination and posing for the requisite photos. Several tour companies have begun offering tours based on history, allowing history nerds, antiquity enthusiasts and seekers of knowledge to walk in the steps of historical explorers and trace the paths of ancient adventurers.

Re-trace Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic Expedition with Adventure Canada

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 attempt to be the first to cross Antarctica on foot wasn’t anything close to successful. The two ships that were part of his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition became trapped in winter ice and the crew had to escape to snowy (and still uninhabited) Elephant Island. One they landed, Shackleton and a small crew left once again in a rowboat to get help. His envoy made it to the South Sandwich Islands and found help to go back for his men. Eventually, all members of the expedition were rescued from Elephant Island. 

Hearty and cold-tolerant travelers who want to imagine what it would be like to spend months sheltered on the island should head out on Adventure Canada’s Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands Explorer tour, which retraces part of Shackleton’s route. This expedition, however, only takes three weeks. Setting out from Ushuaia, Argentina, guests follow the Drake Passage to the infamous island. The ship will even attempt to reach Point Wild, where the explorers were stranded, though poor weather can make it inaccessible even on a modern vessel. Travelers will also be able to hike through Tierra del Fuego National Park, kayak past massive icebergs and glaciers and get up close with whales, elephant seals and penguins. Accommodations are a bit more comfortable than those the trailblazers of 1914 would have had – guests stay in cabins aboard the luxury Ocean Endeavor. It’s able to break through ice to sail through ice waters, so there’s no risk of the tour getting an unintended extension as Shackleton’s did.

Trace the Trade Routes of Marco Polo with Ride & Seek Bicycle Adventures

Italian Marco Polo began traveling the world as a merchant. He was a textile trader who traveled to Asia, gained fame and wealth, and eventually became an emissary for the Mongol Empire. He chronicled his experiences traveling between Italy and China along what was known as the Silk Road. His travels took him throughout Europe and beyond, exchanging both goods and culture between various empires.

The Ride & Seek “Marco Polo – Venice to Athens” tour begins in Marco Polo’s homeland: Venice. The full ride lasts 26 days and covers 1,181 miles of terrain through Italy, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. Much like Marco Polo probably did, guests will stay in a variety of lodging options along the way, including boutique inns and farm stays. The adventure has a strong focus on history and culture, so guests will dive deep into the history of the Silk Road and learn what life was like for 13th and 14th-century traders and explorers along the way. 

Sail in the Path of Viking Explorers with Adventure Life

If you asked the average person to name a Viking, they'd probably say Leif Erikson. Born in the 10th century to Erik the Red (hence the name 'Erikson,') he was the first European to "discover" North America. He's credited with establishing a settlement on modern-day Newfoundland after sailing from Iceland to Greenland and eventually across the Labrador Sea.

European-based travelers can join in on Adventure Life's "When the Vikings Discovered America" tour. Starting in Reykjavík, the cruise sails across the Prince Christian Sound to Greenland, where guests can walk around Brattahlíð, Erik the Red's farm. Other destinations along the route include Vinland, which Erikson established, and St. John's, North America's easternmost point. While at sea, guests will enjoy lectures on Iceland and Greenland, tales and stories about Erikson, and presentations on the Vikings and their culture of exploration. On land, Adventure Life experts will provide historical context and guidance while exploring the various historical sites. Adventure Life also offers a Northwest Passage tour for guests who want to venture even further north.

E-bike a Native American Trail with Cycle of Life Adventures

As the name implies, the Natchez Trace trail was likely first used by the Natchez people, native to present-day Mississippi. Bison and deer would travel along the path, creating a convenient route for hunting. Over time, settlements and agriculture developed along the trail. By the 18th century, Europeans settlers were using the road as a trading route and built small inns and outposts and in the early 19th century, the government expanded the route to allow for wagon and passenger traffic between Natchez, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn. Today, it’s the Natchez Trace Parkway, with historic sites, recreation opportunities and historical markers along the 444-mile route.

Cyclists short on time can go on the seven-day Cycle of Life Adventures “Natchez Trail Bike Tour,” which includes meals and picnics, lodging, guides, and a support van in case riders’ legs need a break. The route is mostly over gentle hills rather than steep climbs, and since the parkway doesn’t have any commercial traffic, it’s a relatively calm and mellow ride. Cyclists can rent a modern road bike or opt to instead see the surroundings via e-bike, available for an additional fee.

Follow in the footsteps of Japanese pilgrims with R.E.I. Adventures

Don't worry if you’re a hiker and still haven't heard of the Kumano Kodō trail. However, you certainly would have heard of it if you were born around the 12th century. The trail is a series of five pilgrimage routes once used by priests that lead to Shinto shrines in Kumano. The Nakahechi route is the most popular and has dozens of small temples and shrines once used by ancient travelers along the route.

Hikers can explore both the Kumano Kodō trail and Japan's Nakasendo trail (along a mountainous trading route) with the "Japan Hiking – Kumano Kodo & Nakasendo" trip from REI Adventures. During the 11-day adventure, participants will spend their days hiking along the Nakahechi route, staying in traditional ryokans and visiting small towns along the way. There are several visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout the trip, including the Hongu Grand Shrine. The trip also includes visits to historical homes and castles, soaks in centuries-old onsens (hot springs) and guided walks through ancient cities that once served as stopovers on the trading and pilgrimage routes.