Aside from booking future trips,one way you can inspire the adventure traveler on your listand help the industry this year is to spend your holiday dollars on gifts that supportsmall travel businesses andproperties, as well as regionsand industry employees. Most lodges sell merchandise, so check their websitesand start ordering, or buy a gift certificate toward a trip from an outfitter you love. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite giftideas that benefit the places we can’t wait to visit again soon. At a time when travel has been at a standstill, these thoughtful presentsbring the world to you.
Gift Certificates
For the person on your listwho prizes experiences over material items, a gift certificate from their preferredguiding outfitter, lodge, or travel service is a guaranteed hit. Establishedmountaineering and climbing groupslike ,, andare offering vouchers for 2021 trips, but any of your go-to guiding services will likely be happy to tailor a gift certificate for you. And with camping and road trips predicted to be just as popular next summer, RV rental company is offering that cover any kind of a trip, from an overnighter to a weeklong escape.
Food andDrink
It’s likely that everyone you’re shopping for has gotten into cooking since the start of the pandemic—whether that’s meant perfecting a home brew or discovering new spices. For the friend who wants to take their talents to the next level, “adopt” an olive tree for them through (from $79), an Italian company that works with small-scale grove farmers in the provinces of Liguria, Sicily, and Marche. The company will ship cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil directly to your door, along with information about the grove and farmer. Or opt for a customizable three-spice set from ($36), a woman-led, direct-trade businessthat supports local farms in India that have invested in sustainable agricultural practices.
There are plenty of coffee subscriptions out there, so add a personalized touch by picking a companyin a destination that your giftee has always wanted to explore. Some of our favorites include coffee from Papua New Guinea–based , a tour operator that’s recently established a coffee mill to benefitthe local Native community (from $9, not including shipping), and Colombia-based , which sources from 600 producers across the country, roasts its beans in Medellín, and immediately shipsbags to the U.S. so that they’re fresh upon arrival(from $10, not including shipping). For a gift that’s closer to home, many U.S. breweries, distilleries, and wineries are making deliveryeasier, with some states that prohibit liquor shipments .
Virtual Experiences
Yep, we get it—we’ve all spent a lot of time online this year. But there have been some upsides to that, like access to fitness training, classes, and events we might never get to enjoyotherwise. Some of our favorite virtual experiences include ’s (from $10 for group seminars; private sessions are available, too). The Costa Rica resort is usually booked a year out, but this online opportunity gives you or your budding surfer friend a front seat to excellent instruction.
We’ve dreamed of visiting the , a spa, yoga, and meditation resort in northern India. Now at least we can sign ourselves and others up for its (from $70 for a monthlong subscription; get a 10 percent discount during the holidays by using the code ANYEARENDat checkout).
We’ve been watching a ton of cooking videos during quarantine. Give someone you love a ($25) with a European chef through , and they’ll learn how to make you tapas that taste just like you’re in Spain.
For your strung-out friend who needs a way to relax, how aboutgifting a virtual birding tour in Colombia?The country is known for its enormous variety of avianspecies, and now you can see them, too, through from , which connects you with experts for guided tours ($125 for one person; group experiences are available as well). Email anna@tripsite.comto set it up.We hope to spot a rare blue-billed curassow.
Philanthropy
Giving backto conservation organizations feels especially important this year, as the tourism dollars funding many of these efforts have dramatically declined. There are too many amazing organizations to list here, but these recently caught our eye. Sponsoring an animal is fun and fulfilling for kids and adults alike, and you can adoptan elephant through the in Cambodia, a sanctuary for the formerly captive giants. Theecotourism outfitter., based in Fairbanks, Alaska,is offering , like Sluggo, above, to help support the dogsand the company until itsdogsledding-trip bookings rebound. Meet itsteam of awesome pooches.
If you really want to splurge for someone, let them name a newborn rhino through the program for—gulp—$25,000 to protect the future of species, which has been devastated by poaching. (The organization is happy to receive smaller donations, too.) With fewer tourists in Africa, poaching is on the rise, and rangers don’t have the resources to keep working. In another great offering from the Great Plains Foundation, Project Ranger allows you to to keep them employed and the wildlife protected. Or give a donation in someone’s name to to provide direct economic impactto local guides who’ve been unemployedthis year in destinations around the world.
The grew out of the to contribute toprojects that conserve resources in adventure travel locales. The fund is currently focusingon the acute needs of those in many destinationsright now suffering froma lack of tourism income. in someone’s name to fundprojects, such asprotecting Namibia’s desert lions. Your gift will be matched by other companies in the travel industry.
After a devastating fire season in the West, many communities that rely on tourism dollars are still being rebuilt. Gift a donation in someone’s name to an organization supporting these communities through foundations in , , , and ; the ; or by calling a business you love in one of the hard-hit areas and making an online purchase or buying a gift certificate for future use.
Books
For history buffs and trail lovers, ($55)is a must-give item. Written by , who has authored 13 books on hiking and has completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails, and with stunning photography by , who walked every historic trail mentioned, this coffee-table-worthy book takes you from the Pony Express to the paths of civil right marches and along 17 other trails designated as nationally historic by the National Park Service. The trails range in length from 54 miles to 5,000and are perfect for socially distant adventures—whether you decide to hike, bike, or armchair-dream about them.
Nothing brings you the taste of a place like food. So gift a cookbook this season, especially one that benefitssome fantasticlodges, like the , primely located in Utah near the state’s best national parks and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and its James Beard–recognized restaurant and . The Italian guides who work for the bike-touring company created a ($15) full of their secret family recipes to bestowyour friends. (It’s in a PDF format, so you can giftit right away.) The proceeds support the guides during the travel downturn. The in Nelson, British Columbia, is famed for its Fresh Tracks Café. Try out its chef’s fare in one of . The ($45) gathered up 100 recipes from various local chefs to give back tothe Colorado town’s struggling restaurants. And if you’re missing the taste of the wild frontier, these two Alaskan offerings from chef Kirsten Dixon bring you the cabin feels and fresh-seafood vibes from two awesome places: (from $19) and ($35).
While app travel guides are great, don’t forget good ol’guidebooks that help travel writers and local tourism efforts. Guidebooks still offer the most comprehensive intel about a place, like former New York Times reporter and Denver-based author ’s recently updated ($18). If you’re seeking warmth this winter, check out .
Home Goods
What better travel gift than a souvenir that might not fit into a suitcase? The online marketplace carries everything from ceramics and lampshades to artwork, all created by artisans across Chile. There’s an equally varied selection at , which offers alpaca-wool items handmade by Peruvian craftsmen. The company is currently employing out-of-work guides from the outfitter to help choose the items you import, by having the guides show shoppers around stores through video calls. Based in Ahmedabad, India, works with up to 2,300 women artisans across the country to produce modern pieces inspired by traditional handicrafts, including (from $8) and (from $10). And for the friend who was looking forward to a beach getaway this year, you can’t go wrong with a traditional Mexican hammock from (from $70), a Yucatán-based certified B Corp company.
Apparel andAccessories
Everyone appreciates a gift that has a story and a positive impact. Seattle-based partners with 30 Masai women in Kenya to produce beaded earrings, necklaces, and rings and pays them wages rather than a commission. Safari company recently launched an that showcases items from regional craft makers. Among its luxury home and accessory items are cotton-silk scarves (from $125) from sub-Saharan brand , which feature designs from students enrolled in a program for at-risk youth. For your loved one who dreams of hiking the Himalayas someday, support local outfitter by gifting (from $20); proceeds benefit its guiding staff. And for the friend who’s counting down to the Olympics next summer, the is filled with goodies, including this (from $200) and this (from $72).