Off-Peak Travel in 2022: Where and When to Avoid the Crowds

another story angle to consider, take or leave. Of course you know – after a 2-year pandemic pause on vacationing, travel is poised for a record-breaking comeback in 2022. North American travelers are itching to roam free and prepared to pay a premium for that opportunity if need be. 

What does the crowd-wary vacation-seeker do? 

2022 Summer Travel is clearly ON, but creativity and flexibility will be key for anyone aiming to avoid the masses. And with both demand and prices already surging, our circle of travel experts recommends off-peak travel planning as a better bet, at least for this year.

A trusted adventure tour operator can take the worry, complexity, and work from the trip-planning process to deliver an unforgettable vacation that will maximize every travel dollar and minute allotted for one’s precious time away. Here’s what two of the Best in the Adventure Travel business have to say about ways to avoid crowds in 2022:

Wilderness Scotland – Off-Peak Perks: Autumn Colors & Wildlife

Pristine wildland opportunities abound in Scotland and yet it remains a little-known secret that the off-peak months of September-November can deliver exceptional outdoor experiences for visitors who’ve pushed back their arrival dates.

During this late-season window, Scotland explodes in colorful foliage and stunning local wildlife displays, while still offering the chance to experience the same wide variety local activities that drew the attention of international travellers throughout earlier summer months—with a fraction of the crowds. Plus the warm hues of autumn create a particularly cosy backdrop for travellers wishing to end each day’s hike with a dram of Scotch or two by the fire.

Since flights from North America to Europe are often much reduced during these late-season months, visitors can plan ahead to take advantage of off-peak airfares while extending their vacation good times well into the second half of this year. Two Autumn getaways in Scotland that best capture the awe of this later season include Autumn Highlands and Autumn Wildlife. Or, for those who prefer to push their travel dates back even further, get in touch so we can share more about the magic of winter in Scotland.

Natural Habitat Adventures – Shoulder Season Delivers Dreams

Don’t worry if it seems you’ve already missed the boat on a wilderness or wildlife adventure this summer, 2022 is still young and there’s plenty of time and opportunity to get outside and explore. Plus, a little tip from those in the know: some of the best experiences are had well after the heart of the summer travel season. Just a few ideas to get you started: Alaska isn’t on everyone’s radar for fall travel, but it should be.

If you are traveling by boat to experience first-hand the state’s wilderness and grizzly population or stepping out of time on a photo expedition deep in Alaskan Bear country at the Brooks Lodge—after they’ve closed for the season when the bears really take over—Alaska in the fall can seem like a whole world of your own.

Or, if international travel is back on your 2022 bucket list, you can soak in the thermal wonders and romantic colons of autumn in Iceland once the crowds start to disperse and a more leisurely pace settles back over the island. The end of the year is also a great time to explore Africa’s Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert, where the infusion of rain in the green season brings an abundance of migratory wildlife, new-born babes, and dramatically photogenic skies. Of course, fall in the southern hemisphere is equally as magical as our own, with a late March 2023 trip to Patagonia likely to include both gorgeous fall foliage as well as heavily reduced crowds (a win-win in any traveller’s memory book!).