Get ready to throw out boredom and crank up the excitement – OUR SUMMER VACATION 2025 IS CALLING LOUDER THAN EVER! If you want adrenaline-filled thrills, exotic escapes, or culturally distinctive experiences, these travel ideas for 2025 are sure to get your wanderlust going, and whatever idea you’ve set your sights on will hopefully be easy to do! From turquoise coastlines to misty mountains to the vibrant city life, we’ve come up with 11 spectacular locations that will create the sense of a thrilling summer vacation from the past.
Let’s check off your ultimate adventure bucket list!
1. Queenstown, New Zealand—The Adventure Capital of the World
Main Attractions : Lake Wakatipu, Remarkables mountain range, Skyline Gondola
Activities: Bungee jumping, white-water rafting, jet boating, skydiving
Queenstown is where thrill-seekers thrive. With its jaw-dropping alpine scenery and an endless menu of extreme sports, this place is adrenaline-packed from sunrise to sunset. Take a leap of faith off the Kawarau Bridge or feel your heart race on a jet boat ride across Shotover River. It’s the perfect summer vacation destination if you like your travel with a pulse.
2. Costa Rica—Rainforests, volcanoes, and surf
Main Attractions: Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Activities: Ziplining, surfing, waterfall rappelling, wildlife safaris
If you want a summer vacation fueled by lush jungle, smoldering volcanoes, and surf and beach exploits, Costa Rica calls with an active vacation with a conscience—hike to lava fields, canopy swing through the rainforest, and meet sloths in the wild!
3. Iceland—Midnight Sun and Fire & Ice Adventures
Main Attractions: Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Activities: Glacier hiking, volcano tours, whale watching, geothermal spas
A land shaped by ice and fire, Iceland is a surreal destination for your summer vacation. With 24 hours of daylight in summer, you can dip into hot spring baths at midnight and hike glaciers under the sun. And don’t forget to chase waterfalls–over 10,000 to find!
4. Interlaken, Switzerland—Alpine Thrills and Lake Life
Main Attractions: Jungfrau Region, Lake Thun, Harder Kulm
Activities: Paragliding, canyoning, mountain biking, scenic train rides
Nestled between two turquoise lakes, surrounded by the mighty Alps, Interlaken is a wonderland for adventurers. Glide through the sky while paragliding, or barrel down mountainous trails on a bike. This is a summer vacation birthed from the marriage of nature’s finest!
5. South Africa – From Safari to Shark Cage Diving
Main Attractions: Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Cape Town’s Garden Route
Activities: Big Five safaris, cage diving with great white sharks, sandboarding
Why do a normal summer vacation when you can have an epic adventure in South Africa? Spot lions in the morning at sunrise, and by the afternoon, you’re on the water diving with sharks! If the day wasn’t action-filled enough, finish off your day with a wine tasting in Stellenbosch or hike up Table Mountain.
6. Japan – Urban fuzz meets Natural Wonder
Main Attractions: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Okinawan Islands
Activities: hiking, temples, sushi, snorkelling
Enjoy a mix of futuristic cities while incorporating beautiful countryside and mountain landscapes in Japan, a busy yet interesting summer vacation destination that balances Zen and zing. Any way you decide to spend your time in Japan, you can be assured that every corner leads to a story and surprise.
7. Dolomites, Italy— Rugged Peaks and Alpine Adventure
Main Attractions: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Braies, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Activities: Via ferrata climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, alpine hiking
The Dolomites in northern Italy are a dreamscape for adventure lovers. These jagged limestone peaks deliver high-altitude thrills without the crowds of more famous mountain ranges. Tackle a via ferrata route (a mix of hiking and climbing), soar over valleys on a paraglider, or bike through picturesque alpine meadows. It’s the kind of summer vacation that blends Italian charm with raw natural adrenaline.
8. Azores, Portugal—Europe’s Hidden Adventure Haven
Main Attractions: Sete Cidades Lakes, Furnas Valley, Pico Mountain
Activities: Whale watching, volcanic hiking, canyoning, geothermal bathing
Swap desert heat for volcanic islands and emerald landscapes in the Azores, Portugal’s best-kept secret. This mid-Atlantic archipelago offers an untamed summer vacation filled with cliff jumps, hot spring soaks, and treks to misty crater lakes. Whether you’re diving into volcanic lagoons or exploring lava tubes, the Azores promise a wild yet refreshingly cool escape in the heart of Europe.
9. Patagonia, Chile & Argentina – the ends of the Earth
Main Attractions: Torres del Paine, Fitz Roy, Perito Moreno
Glacier Activities: Ice hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, stargazing
A summer vacation in Patagonia will take you to the edge of the Earth. Where jagged peaks, infinite glaciers, and sheer isolation are all part of the experience. Today you will hike among ‘giants,’ kayak next to icebergs, and sleep under a star-studded sky. Raw, remote, and radically gorgeous.
10. Bali, Indonesia – adventure island and spiritual escape
Main Attractions: Ubud, Uluwatu Temple, Mount Batur
Activities: Surfing, volcano trekking, yoga retreats, scuba diving
Bali does an incredible job of combining adventure and serenity as few places can. Morning: surf the waves of Kuta. Evening: Walk an active volcano. Finish the day with a jungle yoga session. Balancing out your adventurous summertime escape.
11. Alaska, USA – Untamed Wilderness and Epic Adventures
Main Attractions: Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords, Glacier Bay
Key Activities: Dog Sledding, Glacier Kayaking, Wildlife Cruises/Viewing, Flightseeing
America’s final frontier offers a summer vacation experience drenched in raw beauty. Spot grizzlies and bald eagles, kayak past glaciers, and take a scenic flight over the towering Denali. Alaska doesn’t just raise the bar—it throws it into the stratosphere.
If your idea of a summer vacation includes thrills, unforgettable moments, and stories worth telling, these 11 destinations are your ticket to living large in 2025. Whether you go full-send off a mountain or soak in the serenity of nature, the world is packed with places that awaken your inner explorer.
Don’t settle for ordinary. This summer vacation, chase the extraordinary.
For more travel inspiration, check out our Travel Guide for 2025, and for travel bookings, check out Booking.com for exciting offers on your travel!
