Author: Alycee Byrd

As we look ahead to 2023, we’re seeing lots of opportunities for travel on the horizon and we could not be more pleased. And so, with that in mind, we’ve come up with a different kind of New Year’s resolution: more epic adventures. Relishing in the great outdoors continues to be one of the biggest travel trends, so if you’re already daydreaming about how to fill up the pages in your brand-new day planner, we’ve got some ideas. Get your heart pumping with a heli-ski outing in Megève, fly like a bird through the forest canopy in Costa Rica, or find your own path with an off-road ride in Los Cabos. No matter where the spirit of discovery takes you, Four Seasons offers exclusive access to the adventure of a lifetime. Here are a few of our favourites:

Soaring skies, majestic mountains, verdant valleys: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole offers easy access to the heart of the American West. Set out with a naturalist in search of bears, bison, elk and wolves during a four-hour private wildlife safari in nearby Grand Teton National Park, or get a bird’s-eye view of the Teton mountain range and Snake River during a hot-air balloon ride over Teton Village. The interest in national parks has spiked over the last couple years, and Jackson Hole makes for an excellent home base. Discover a wide variety of year-round experiences and activities, from skiing and snowshoeing in winter to fly-fishing and horseback riding in warmer months – the Resort’s expert concierge team can arrange a complete itinerary tailored to your interests and skill level, no matter the season. Our top pick: a one-of-a-kind immersive excursion to see the elusive grey wolf population of Yellowstone National Park in their natural habitat.

Take your ski trip to new heights – literally – in Megève, where the Ski Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Megève can arrange a heli-ski adventure around the French Alps, chasing optimal snow conditions and heart-pounding adrenaline. Lift off from the Hotel for an all-access pass to the best slopes in the Alps, including pistes in Courchevel, Chamonix and Val Thorens that are reachable only by helicopter. Or stay closer to home – the views and runs of snowy Mount Blanc are just as thrilling as the turns you’ll discover on untouched powder. 

The 21-day Uncharted Discovery itinerary aboard the Four Seasons Private Jet – taking off in November 2023 – offers exclusive access to some of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations, from the mountaintop ruins of Machu Picchu to the ultra-remote and frozen landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula. One stop you won’t want to miss: the tropical splendour of Costa Rica where the “pura vida” lifestyle reigns supreme. Set atop a hillside overlooking the ocean, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagyo is a haven for both relaxation and adventure, with so much to see and do right outside your doorstep. One of best ways to take in the lush scenery is to strap yourself in for a thrilling ride through the forest canopy on a zip line circuit. You’ll fly above, over and through the surrounding treeline – Superman-style if you’re so inclined – with bird’s-eye views of the Pacific Ocean just a glance away.

Los Cabos is certainly one of Mexico’s trendiest places to visit, but there are still plenty of roads less travelled to explore. Tucked away on the East Cape of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is a little more than an hour away from the lively and popular Cabo San Lucas, but it feels like a world apart. Surrounded by desert, mountains and 3.2 kilometres of pristine beaches, the Resort is the ideal home base for adventure: Dive deep into Cabo Pulmo National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that Jacques Cousteau called “the aquarium of the world” – to spot marine life like schooling jacks, mobula rays, sea lions and turtles, or follow a guide to hidden waterfalls during a hike through the region’s beautiful canyons. Looking for a wild ride? Explore the unspoiled coastline, riverbeds and desert dunes during an ATV off-road adventure. Roll through historic towns like El Triunfo and past spring-fed pools in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, and then make your way back to the Resort to toast your time together during a sunset sail on the Sea of Cortez.

Dip your toes in one of the world’s largest swimmable aquariums: The recently expanded King’s Pond at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is carved into lava rock, with a sand bottom; it holds 1.8 million gallons of salt water and is home to more than 1,000 tropical fish. The extensive upgrade expanded King’s Pond, adding a new elevated infinity-edge pool, a lounge deck and the Kumu Kai Marine Education Center, where five on-site marine biologists can help introduce you to the island’s diverse ecology. Join them for a fish feeding; learn to snorkel during a lesson among the pool’s more than 60 species, like porcupine pufferfish, yellowtail wrasse and white-spotted damsel; and meet the pool’s most famous inhabitant: Kainalu, a spotted eagle ray who has called King’s Pond home for more than 20 years.  

If you’ve been watching “The Crown” like we have, then the desire to ride through an open field on the outskirts of a grand estate must be calling your name, too. Trade the bright lights and bustling streets of the city for the rolling hills of the countryside at Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire: Set on 500 acres of verdant parkland, the Hotel – a restored 18th-century manor – offers a variety of outdoor activities. Explore the rolling hills on horseback, take aim at a few clay pigeons, or traverse through the trees on a highwire adventure. For a truly British experience, try “the sport of kings”: falconry. Get a hands-on introduction to hawks, falcons and owls from the Hotel’s expert, then learn how to call and command the massive raptors like a royal. 

When it comes to tropical getaways, the Maldives is a perennial favourite. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, you’re perfectly positioned to explore some of the world’s most beautiful waters, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve home to a diverse underwater world. Take a deep dive into this fascinating ecosystem with an expert from the Resort’s Marine Discovery Centre and help monitor sea turtles or rebuild endangered coral reefs. Or accompany the Resort’s marine biologists aboard a research vessel, helping to record critical environmental information about the world’s largest known population of manta rays – and improve your free-diving technique as you plunge into the clear blue waters to swim alongside them.