Adventure Travel: Where Thrill-Seekers Can Fly for Cheap in 2025

Ready to chase some adrenaline without breaking the bank? After a decade of tracking flight deals and visiting the best adventure travel destinations worldwide, I’ve discovered 2025’s sweet spots where thrills and affordability perfectly align. If you’re dreaming of scaling active volcanoes in Guatemala or mountain biking through Colombian cloud forests, this year’s flight trends are working in your favor.

New airline routes and increased competition have created some surprising opportunities for adventure seekers. I’m sharing 10 destinations where you can find world-class adventure activities alongside incredible flight deals. Each spot offers that perfect combination of authentic experiences, reliable infrastructure, and routes that won’t drain your savings before you even take off.

• ✈️ Pro tip: Want adventure travel deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for Going (it’s free!) to get alerts when fares drop to your favorite domestic destinations. Their free service works great for mainland US flights, and the premium service finds international adventure deals for up to 90% off!

1. Medellín, Colombia

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $200-450 roundtrip 
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Copa Airlines, Avianca, JetBlue 
• 🏃‍♂️ Best Adventures: Paragliding, mountain biking, hiking 
• 🌟 Perfect For: Urban explorers, mountain lovers, coffee cultured adrenaline junkies

Forget what you think you know about Medellín. While everyone else is fighting over $1,000+ flights to European adventure spots, Going just alerted me to deals from Orlando to Medellín for $247 roundtrip on Copa (that’s 58% off normal prices!). Even from major US hubs like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Going regularly catches fares under $350. I’ve paid $400 roundtrip during the off season from Boston!

The real magic happens when you land. Start your morning paragliding over lush valleys from San Felix (where thermals are so good, pro pilots train), then hit world-class mountain biking trails in Parque Arví by afternoon. The next day? Canyoning in Rio Claro or hiking through cloud forests in coffee country. 

After visiting three times now, I still can’t believe how much adventure you can pack into a week here without breaking the bank!

👉 Pro Tip: Keep an eye on Copa Airlines deals through Panama City. These layover routes often offer the best value. Going members consistently get first alerts on these Medellín deals, which usually last 4-5 days. I’ve seen prices as low as $153 roundtrip!

2. Antigua, Guatemala

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $150-450 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Avianca, United, American Airlines
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $50-100 including guided activities
• 🌋 Best For: Volcano trekkers, mountain bikers, culture seekers

Remember when Guatemala felt like a far-off dream for weekend warriors? Those days are gone. Budget carriers have transformed Guatemala City (GUA) into Central America’s adventure gateway, and I’m still amazed by the deals I’m seeing. 

From GUA, it’s a scenic hour’s drive to Antigua, where I recently spent over a week testing every adventure possible (tough job, I know). Here’s what makes it perfect for thrill-seekers on a budget: you can wake up in a 300-year-old Spanish colonial building, hike an active volcano by lunch, mountain bike through indigenous villages in the afternoon, and still make it back for happy hour in the plaza.

In Guatemala, I highly recommend visiting Pacaya Volcano. For $30, you can hike up an active volcano and roast marshmallows over actual volcanic vents. Even better – if you’re looking for the ultimate adventure, do an overnight hike to El Fuego and Acatenango. At night, the temps go down to single digits! The views from the top are absolutely mind blowing.

👉 Pro Tip: Getting to Antigua means flying into Guatemala City (GUA). Going regularly spots deals under $300 from major US hubs, but the real steals come from Florida airports. I’ve seen fares as low as $197 roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The premium and elite service catches these deals first – and trust me, they disappear fast.

3. Banff, Canada

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $150-400 roundtrip to Calgary
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Air Canada, United, WestJet
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $150-200 including lift tickets
• 🏔️ Best For: Skiers, ice climbers, winter hikers

Here’s a secret that European powder hounds don’t want you to know: you can get world-class winter adventures in Banff for half the price of the Alps, and the flight deals are getting better by the month. Recently, Going spotted Boston to Calgary for $173 roundtrip on WestJet (that’s 68% off the usual $550+ fare) – less than most people spend on ski gear!

Let me paint you a picture of my perfect Banff day last winter: Morning ice climbing at Johnston Canyon, afternoon skiing at Lake Louise, and evening wildlife spotting along the Bow Valley Parkway. Dog sledding, snowshoeing, and even helicopter tours are accessible and often cost less than a day pass at some European resorts.

What I love most about Banff is the accessibility. From Calgary airport, you’re looking at a scenic 90-minute drive to adventure paradise. The shuttle buses run like clockwork, and you don’t need to rent a car to access most activities. I’ve done weekend trips here from both coasts, and the time difference actually works in your favor for maximizing mountain time.

👉 Pro Tip: Don’t bother spending extra for a window seat on your flight to Calgary. Take the 90-minute shuttle from the airport to Banff instead. The mountain views from the Trans-Canada Highway are WAY better than anything you’ll see from 30,000 feet, and the late afternoon light hitting the Rockies is pure magic.

4. Bali, Indonesia

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $750-1100 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $40-100 including guided activities
• 🏔️ Best For: Waterfall chasers, divers, volcano seekers

Think Bali’s just yoga retreats and beach clubs? The island’s rugged east and north hide some of Southeast Asia’s most accessible adventures. The trans-Pacific flight routes have finally caught up too, with competitive carriers, such as EVA Air, driving prices down on routes through Seoul and Singapore.

From the terraced rice fields of Munduk to the manta ray-rich waters off Nusa Penida, Bali’s adventures span from mountains to sea. The Mount Batur sunrise trek might be popular, but there’s a reason it’s a classic. The views stretch across Lake Batur to Mount Agung, and yes, those volcano-cooked eggs at the summit are worth the early wake-up call!

👉 Pro Tip: Book your Mount Batur trek directly through your guesthouse in Ubud rather than online. You’ll pay about 40% less, and the local guides often take more scenic routes than the large tour groups.

5. Porto, Portugal

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $400-700 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: TAP Portugal, United, Iberia
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $80-150 including guided activities
• 🏔️ Best For: Surfers, hikers, river adventurers

Everyone knows Porto for its port wine caves and blue-tiled churches, but Portugal’s northern hub is actually one of Europe’s most affordable adventure gateways. The Douro Valley’s wild landscapes, the Atlantic’s surf breaks, and the rugged Peneda-Gerês National Park are all within easy reach of the city.

The surrounding coastline offers some of Europe’s most consistent surf, with spots like Matosinhos Beach perfect for beginners and Espinho challenging even veteran wave riders. Inland, the Paiva Walkways let you traverse nearly 6 miles of wooden walkways clinging to cliffs above the rushing river – think of it as Europe’s most dramatic boardwalk. I also loved kayaking through the Douro Valley and mountain biking through the world’s oldest wine region.

👉 Pro Tip: Going just spotted TAP Portugal running Chicago-Porto fares for $509 roundtrip (43% off the usual $900+). These TAP deals through Lisbon often pop up with short layovers that let you squeeze in two cities for the price of one.

6. Quito, Ecuador

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $350-550 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: American Airlines, LATAM, JetBlue
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $100-200 including guided activities
• 🏔️ Best For: Mountain climbers, wildlife enthusiasts, rainforest explorers

Want to know the best thing about flying into Quito? The adventure starts before you even land. As your plane descends into this UNESCO World Heritage city nestled at 9,350 feet, you’ll spot snow-capped volcanoes piercing through clouds in every direction. 

Getting here has never been easier or cheaper. Recently, Going alerted me to JFK-Quito deals for $367 roundtrip (that’s 43% off normal fares!)

I still can’t get over how perfectly positioned this city is for adventure. Climb a snow-capped volcano in the morning, then chase waterfalls in a cloud forest by afternoon. The colonial Old Town makes an unbeatable base for exploring Ecuador’s best places – Cotopaxi’s volcanic slopes to the south, the misty Mindo forest nearby, and even quick flights to the Galápagos that’ll save you hundreds compared to booking from the States.

👉 Pro Tip: Get acclimatized before tackling any high-altitude treks. Spend your first two days exploring Quito’s historic center, then hit Rucu Pichincha. It’s an easier volcano climb right from the city with the best views of Cotopaxi you’ll ever get.

7. Puerto Rico

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $200-400 roundtrip 
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: JetBlue, United, Spirit 
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $100-200 including guided activities 
• 🏔 Best For: Rainforest explorers, surfers, cave adventurers

No passport? No problem. Puerto Rico packs a serious adventure punch for a destination that’s technically still the United States. Rappel down waterfalls in El Yunque rainforest, kayak through bioluminescent bays in Vieques, or dive into the third-longest cave system in the Caribbean. The best part? It’s treated as a domestic destination by U.S. airlines, which means more routes, better deals, and zero immigration hassles.

Over in the northwest, Aguadilla’s cliffs offer world-class rock climbing right above crystal-clear snorkeling spots. Meanwhile, the cave systems near Arecibo rival anything in Central America – think underground rivers, rappelling into sinkholes, and proper Indiana Jones-style adventure. And with direct flights from most major U.S. hubs, you can go from your desk to deep in the El Yunque rainforest in just a few hours.

👉 Pro Tip: Going members regularly catch sub-$200 fares to San Juan from NYC, Miami, and most major East Coast cities. The best deals usually pop up 2-3 months out, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday flights.

8. Anchorage, Alaska

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $300-500 roundtrip 
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Alaska Airlines, Delta, United 
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $200-350 including guided activities 
• 🏔 Best For: Mountain explorers, wildlife enthusiasts, glacier adventurers

Alaska’s wildest secrets are suddenly a whole lot closer. Competition between airlines has turned Anchorage into an unexpectedly affordable gateway to America’s last true wilderness. A long weekend here packs in more adventure than a week almost anywhere else. I mean, where else can you kayak past glacier faces in the morning, spot bears in Chugach State Park by afternoon, and still make it back for dinner at a brewery downtown?

Summer brings the real magic, with 20 hours of daylight to pack in the action. Flightsee over Denali, raft Class IV rapids on Six Mile Creek, or hop a bush plane to remote hiking trails where you’re more likely to spot a moose than another hiker. Those endless summer days mean you can start with a midnight sun mountain bike ride and end with a 10 PM surf session at Turnagain Arm.

👉 Pro Tip: Recently, Going alerted me to Seattle-Anchorage flights for $296 roundtrip on Alaska Airlines. For your first Alaska trip, aim for late August through mid-September – it’s my favorite time to visit. You’ll catch the start of fall colors in Chugach State Park, northern lights are beginning to show, and the temps are perfect for hiking. 

9. Iceland

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $300-550 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: PLAY, Icelandair, Delta 
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $200-300 including guided activities 
• 🏔 Best For: Volcano chasers, ice climbers, wilderness photographers

Living in Boston, I’ve made Iceland my second home. It’s closer than California and twice as wild. PLAY Airlines’ new routes mean I can hop on a Thursday night flight, sleep over the Atlantic, and wake up ready for adventure. Even better? Break up your European trip with their free stopover program. I’ve turned routine flights to London into impromptu glacier expeditions more times than I can count!

After a dozen trips, I can tell you Iceland is hands-down one of the best adventure travel destinations in the world – you just need to know where to go. Skip the crowded south and head straight to my favorite playground – the Westfjords. This forgotten corner of Iceland feels like the edge of the world, where you can hike alongside arctic foxes in the morning and soak in centuries-old hot springs by afternoon. 

Last summer, I based myself in the fishing town of Ísafjörður, where midnight sun hikes to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve became a nightly ritual. The nearby Dynjandi waterfall is everything Skógafoss wishes it could be, minus the tour buses.

👉 Pro Tip: Book your internal flights through local carrier Niceair instead of driving. Their Reykjavík to Ísafjörður route cuts an 8-hour drive into a stunning 40-minute flight along the coast, and locals pack these flights, so prices stay reasonable year-round.

10. Albania

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $500-750 roundtrip 
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: American Airlines, British Airways 
• 💰 Average Daily Adventure Cost: $50-150 including guided activities 
• 🏔 Best For: Off-path explorers, peak baggers, coastal adventurers

Remember how Croatia felt 10 years ago? That’s Albania right now, except with better mountains. This Balkan powerhouse packs more adventure per mile than anywhere I’ve been in Europe. I’m talking peaks that make the Alps look tame, beaches that rival the Mediterranean’s best, and ancient shepherd paths that still haven’t seen their first tourist. 

Base yourself in the mountain town of Theth, where $30 guesthouses come with home-cooked meals and million-dollar views. From here, you can tackle the infamous Valbona Pass hike one day, then descend down waterfalls the next. 

The coastal town of Himarë makes a perfect second base. You’ll find world-class climbing above empty beaches, with fresh seafood dinners costing less than a London coffee. It’s easily one of my favorite adventure travel destinations in Europe, and once you land, you’ll see why.

👉 Pro Tip: Flying through London might seem counterintuitive, but it’s the key to scoring the best deals. Going just alerted me to JFK-Tirana flights for $532 roundtrip on American and British Airways – that’s 44% off the usual $950+ fares. The short layover at Heathrow is just enough time to swap your hiking boots for flip-flops.

Looking to travel internationally in 2025? Use my discount code JON20 to save 20% on Going’s Premium Version.