By Kraig Becker
Adventure and Outdoor Travel Expert, about.com
Sometimes being a smart traveler is all about being opportunistic. At the moment, the U.S. dollar is incredibly strong abroad, resulting in favorable exchange rates that are working in our favor. As a result, some of the world's best adventure travel destinations are currently more affordable than they have been in a very long time. If you've been dreaming about getting away to some place wild, remote, and exotic, now just might be the time.
Here are five such destinations where the dollar is currently going a lot further than it has in recent memory.
South Africa
If you're looking for a great adventure, there are few countries that can compete with South Africa. Not only is it home to such amazing safari destinations as Kruger National Park, but it also offers great surfing in Cape Town, backpacking in the Drakensberg Mountains, and some of the best scuba diving on the planet.
If you're looking for a great adventure, there are few countries that can compete with South Africa. Not only is it home to such amazing safari destinations as Kruger National Park, but it also offers great surfing in Cape Town, backpacking in the Drakensberg Mountains, and some of the best scuba diving on the planet.
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For the truly adventurous (some would say crazy) try cage diving with great white sharks
to truly get your blood pumping. At the moment, the South African Rand
is at a 15-year low in terms of value versus the U.S. dollar, but it is
expected to start rebounding later this year. That means, if you'd like
to go, do it now, before things start to get more expensive again.
Morocco
The value of the U.S. dollar vs. the Moroccan dirham has risen 17% over the past year alone. That means that a visit to the North African country –where you can visit the iconic city of Casablanca– has become a lot more affordable in recent months. Visitors can take advantage of this favorable exchange rate to go trekking in the High Atlas Mountains or visit the vast Sahara Desert.
The value of the U.S. dollar vs. the Moroccan dirham has risen 17% over the past year alone. That means that a visit to the North African country –where you can visit the iconic city of Casablanca– has become a lot more affordable in recent months. Visitors can take advantage of this favorable exchange rate to go trekking in the High Atlas Mountains or visit the vast Sahara Desert.
They may even book a climb to the summit of Mt.
Toubkal, the highest peak in this region of the world. Either way,
right now you can get some of the best deals in recent memory, making Morocco an enticing option for 2016.
Iceland
Similarly, the Icelandic currency is off 16% vs. the U.S. dollar over the past year as well, with an exchange rate that currently stands at approximately 130 krona to $1.
Similarly, the Icelandic currency is off 16% vs. the U.S. dollar over the past year as well, with an exchange rate that currently stands at approximately 130 krona to $1.
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That works out well for adventure travelers looking to visit Iceland, where hiking, backpacking, camping, snowshoeing, kayaking, dogsledding, and skiing are all on the table. And since Iceland Air gives passengers the option of taking a stopover in the country
while on their way to Europe, there is no better time than now to
visit, and hopefully catch a glimpse of the spectacular Northern Lights
while you're there.
Australia
Australia has often been viewed as a very expensive place for travelers to visit, although that is changing rapidly at the moment. The Aussie dollar has fallen to a six-year low against the U.S. currency, which is opening up the possibilities for visitors to plan a trip there too. Why not take a hike in the Outback, visit the world-famous Uluru National Park, climb to the top of Mt. Kosciusko –the country's highest point– or dive the Great Barrier Reef and experience the greatest collection of marine wildlife found anywhere on Earth. Whether you enjoy your adventures on the land, air or sea, there is always something wild to do in Australia.
Australia has often been viewed as a very expensive place for travelers to visit, although that is changing rapidly at the moment. The Aussie dollar has fallen to a six-year low against the U.S. currency, which is opening up the possibilities for visitors to plan a trip there too. Why not take a hike in the Outback, visit the world-famous Uluru National Park, climb to the top of Mt. Kosciusko –the country's highest point– or dive the Great Barrier Reef and experience the greatest collection of marine wildlife found anywhere on Earth. Whether you enjoy your adventures on the land, air or sea, there is always something wild to do in Australia.
Argentina
The gaucho-culture of Argentina has always held an allure for the adventure travelers, but thanks to an 8.5% increase in value for the U.S. dollar vs. the local peso, it is now more affordable too. Visit the Argentine Patagonia region to witness some of the most specular landscapes found anywhere on the planet. Go horseback riding in the Andes, backpack through remote wildernesses, and if you're looking for a real challenge try climbing Aconcagua, which at 6981 meters (22,838 ft) in height is the tallest mountain in the world outside of the Himalaya. And when it comes time to relax, plan a visit to Argentina's wine country. You won't be disappointed.
The gaucho-culture of Argentina has always held an allure for the adventure travelers, but thanks to an 8.5% increase in value for the U.S. dollar vs. the local peso, it is now more affordable too. Visit the Argentine Patagonia region to witness some of the most specular landscapes found anywhere on the planet. Go horseback riding in the Andes, backpack through remote wildernesses, and if you're looking for a real challenge try climbing Aconcagua, which at 6981 meters (22,838 ft) in height is the tallest mountain in the world outside of the Himalaya. And when it comes time to relax, plan a visit to Argentina's wine country. You won't be disappointed.
Other
destinations where the exchange rate is currently favorable include
Greece, Japan, Norway, the Eurozone, Canada, Russia, and Mexico. Any one
of those countries should offer similar adventurous pursuits for
travelers.
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