Top Travel Ideas for 2025

8 New & Trending OARS Adventures

From exploring the wilds of Tanzania to floating down a river reborn in Northern California, OARS reveals its top travel ideas for 2025. 

“In 2025, we’re excited to expand our offerings where we see the most demand from our guests,” says Steve Markle, OARS Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “For over 55 years, OARS has been perfecting adventure travel and the evolution of our unique mix of trips is informed most by the interest we see in activities like hiking and learning new skills, demand for far-off destinations, and in some cases, shorter itineraries and affinity trips. We’re also incredibly excited to welcome young families back to the Klamath River after the largest dam removal project in history.”

New trips for 2025 include a bucket-list worthy trek up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, a raft-supported hiking trip on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and an early season dory run in Utah’s Cataract Canyon. OARS is also expanding its LGBTQ+ rafting trip offerings this year with departures on Oregon’s Rogue River, the Green River through Desolation Canyon in Utah and Idaho’s Main Salmon River. Another major highlight for 2025 is the return of the family-friendly multi-day rafting trip on Northern California’s Lower Klamath River. 

Grab your passport and favorite sun shirt, these new and trending adventures around the world will thrill, challenge and amaze you.

Set out on a Global Adventure

Take Wildlife Watching to the Next Level

For those with an eye for wildlife viewing, there’s no more immersive destination than the Galápagos. Think snorkeling with marine iguanas, strolling through the highlands with giant tortoises and watching blue-footed boobies flaunt their feet as part of an elaborate courtship dance. OARS now offers three different itineraries in the Islands, including new, shorter 6- and 8-day options. There’s a perfect trip to the archipelago that inspired Charles Darwin for every style of adventure traveler. These yacht-based tours combine the highlights of the islands with deluxe accommodations and unparalleled access. Naturalist guides will not only help you spot the most iconic species, but will offer their knowledge of the Galápagos’ famous ecology.

Climb Africa’s Iconic Kilimanjaro

New for 2025, we’re heading to East Africa to bag the continent’s most iconic peak. This extraordinary adventure starts with an awe-inspiring hike to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, standing at an impressive 19,341 feet. We take the longer, less-crowded Lemosho Route, which winds through lush rainforest, across the vast Shira Plateau, and beneath the towering southern ice fields before the final ascent to the “Roof of Africa.” The 8-day, 43-mile trek offers a slower pace with safety-conscious guides, allowing more time for hikers to acclimatize and increase the chance of reaching Africa’s highest peak. After your achievement, the journey continues with a safari in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, where you’ll stay in luxury camps and search for the Big Five.

Work Your Way Up to Terminator  

The Rio Futaleufú is well-established among the river community as one of the world’s premier whitewater destinations, renowned for its crystal blue waters and roaring Class IV-V rapids. The region’s spectacular adventure scene is getting noticed, and bookings for OARS’s Futaleufú Rafting Multi-Sport trips have soared in recent months.  On this thrilling itinerary, you’ll experience four distinct sections of the Futaleufú River, culminating with a 4-mile stretch of some of the hardest commercially-run rapids in the world, including “The Terminator.” Other days are spent hiking beneath the snow-capped Andes, inflatable kayaking the Rio Azul, and horseback riding in verdant valleys. During downtime at our exclusive private camp with platform tents, relax in the riverside hot tubs or the wood-fired sauna, luxuriate with a professional massage, and savor authentic Patagonian cuisine prepared by a professional chef.

Wander the Wilds of the Western U.S.

Ride in a Dory through the Big Drops

Utah’s Cataract Canyon is famous for its world-class whitewater, including notorious rapids like Big Drop 2 and 3. Our favorite way to run these massive rapids in the heart of Canyonlands National Park is aboard a hard-hulled dory. Though dories occasionally make appearances on early-season trips, OARS is launching a dedicated 6-day dory trip in 2025. For this special occasion, we’ll put a fleet of the storied boats on the river along with baggage rafts to carry the bulk of the gear in classic OARS Dories style. Don’t miss your chance to experience this wild section of the Colorado River on a thrilling high-water trip, when flows can often exceed 25,000 cubic feet per second.

Hike the Largest Wilderness Area in the Continental US

There’s no shortage of incredible sites and trails hidden along the 95-mile stretch of Idaho’s Middle Fork Salmon River in the heart of the Frank Church “River of No Return” Wilderness. This hiking-focused rafting trip combines action-packed Class III-IV whitewater with ample opportunities to hop off the rafts and hike to places like Loon Creek Hot Springs, Veil Falls, and Johnson Point when the river corridor and trails are at their most vibrant. You’ll also get the chance to see pictographs and visit historic homesteads and Tukadeka cultural sites as you make your way downstream this natural wonderland.

Raft With Community on an LGBTQ Trip

In 2025, OARS is offering LGBTQ+ trips on Oregon’s Rogue River, Idaho’s Main Salmon River and Utah’s Green River through Desolation Canyon. On our dedicated LGBTQ+ river trips, you’ll be with a like-minded group of people who share similar interests, life experiences, and stories. These trips are staffed by OARS guides who identify as LGBTQ+, or consider themselves allies of the community. Because of this, you can expect a safe, welcoming and judgment-free environment for your outdoor adventure. 

Learn to Row on One of the West’s Best Rivers

With more rowing clinics than ever, this is the year to grab the sticks and learn to navigate whitewater. OARS rowing clinics on the Colorado River, Upper and Lower Green River, Salmon River and Rogue River offer hands-on training for those looking to improve their rowing skills or learn the fundamentals of guiding an oar-raft or dory. Led by expert instructors, participants receive personalized coaching on boat handling, river safety, and reading the water. Whether you’re looking for an experiential vacation or want to learn to guide your own boat, these clinics provide an opportunity to practice rowing techniques on a variety of water conditions, from calm stretches to exciting rapids. Perfect for both beginners and those looking to refine their skills, OARS rowing clinics help build confidence on the water while exploring scenic rivers.

Float the Lower Klamath River After Historic Dam Removal

Be among the first to see the newly-restored Klamath River by raft. After the completion of the largest dam removal in history, the famed Northern California river is healing itself. Meant to restore hundreds of miles of prime salmon spawning habitat, the project has already welcomed the first salmon into the upper reaches of the river in over 100 years. While upstream dams still control much of the flow, we’re excited to see healthy spring flows through the spring and early summer. For families who are looking for a river trip, this splashy fun multi-day rafting trip, with an incredible conservation success story, is a great choice.