Discover Adventure | Blog

When Sam, Discover Adventure's Office Manager, swapped her desk for a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, she discovered that the greatest challenges often lead to the most rewarding moments. Here's her honest, inspiring account of climbing Africa's highest peak via the stunning Machame Route.

Looking out of the plane window at Marrakech sprawled below us in shades of pink and orange – this impossible, film-set like city... I couldn't quite believe it was real. My favourite Disney film has always been Aladdin, and honestly, it felt like we were descending into Agrabah. I was buzzing with excitement!

What I didn't know then, looking down at that beautiful city, was that in a few days I'd be standing on top of North Africa's highest peak at 4,167 metres, having discovered something extraordinary about what I'm capable of.

By Jess, Brand and Marketing Manager at Discover Adventure

We know what it’s like, the moment one adventure ends, your mind starts to wander to the next one. Lucky for you, Team DA are always a few steps (or pedal strokes) ahead when it comes to planning what’s next.

We asked the Discover Adventure crew and HQ team to share their top picks for 2026 - the trips that make their hearts pound and legs ache (in the best way), and the ones that fill up their camera rolls. 

From new treks to cycling routes packed with classic climbs, here’s where our team are heading next year... and why you might want to join them.

2026 is already shaping up to be an unforgettable year.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been designing new journeys that stretch further, dig deeper, and capture that unique Discover Adventure blend of challenge, discovery and reward. Some are returning favourites, refreshed for a new chapter; others are bold new frontiers we’ve been dreaming of bringing you for years.

From the tea estates of Sri Lanka to the volcanic peaks of Japan, the rock-hewn caves of Georgia to the orange-hued mountains of South Africa — these are adventures that will inspire, challenge, and stay with you long after your boots are unlaced and your bike wheels stop turning.

Here’s your first look at the eight brand-new challenges launching in 2026.

As we approach the end of Race Across the World Series 5, we’re left asking the same thing we do every year: what on earth are we going to do with ourselves now?! Over the past few weeks, we’ve watched teams navigate the chaos and beauty of unfamiliar landscapes, battle language barriers, miss buses, find community, and ultimately chase that exhilarating sense of purpose you can only get through travel.

For Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb.

There’s something quietly powerful about the moment a group of strangers becomes a team. If you’ve ever joined a challenge, you've seen it: day one is full of slightly awkward introductions, nervous smiles, and last-minute kit checks. By the time you hit the halfway point, you're swapping snacks, sharing life stories (and toilet anecdotes!) and waiting for each other at the top of every climb.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, with its theme of community, we’re reflecting on those moments and how adventure has a habit of bringing people together when they need it most.