Simon Bouchard

22 Traits Of True Adventure Travellers

Ahhhh adventure, the driving force behind our desire to experience the world in which we live. But at what point are you deemed ‘qualified’ to call yourself an adventure traveller?

What are the personality traits and lifestyle choices which inform us that you’ve crossed over into the realms of perpetual exploration?

Camp out among the grass and gentians of glacier meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of Nature’s darlings.


– John Muir

Here at Wanderlusters HQ we’ve compiled a fail safe check list of tell tales signs you are an adventure traveller.

How many apply to you?

Tell tale signs that you’re an adventure traveller

✈ The prospect of embarking on a journey without any form itinerary leaves you unfazed. Why attempt to plan when life will lead you down the correct path? One likely filled with opportunity and exploration.

Skydiving Guy James via photopin cc
Skydiving by Guy James via photopin cc

✈ Your credit card statement looks like Bear Grylls’ weekly shopping list.

Combi camping by spieri_sf via photopin cc
Combi camping by spieri_sf via photopin cc

✈ Your parents believe that you should invest in a house, put down roots and have children. You think you’d rather invest in some sailing equipment with which to travel the world on a yacht, or super lightweight, breathable, water proof, wind proof camping gear with a built in foot spa, and live as full time as an epic adventurer.

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Off shore sailing by wili_hybrid via photopin cc

✈ You can fashion a suitable pillow from almost anything, and you know you could sleep through a tornado, on a boat, whilst being slapped with a wet fish.

Paragliding by Zanthia via photopin cc
Paragliding by Zanthia via photopin cc

✈ You’ve mastered the art of packing light, and all of your worldly possessions fit into a 55L backpack.

wanaka-sup-charli
Kayaking Lake Wanaka by Benjamin Jones

Wilderness camping is to you what a weekend shopping in NYC is to the Kardashian clan.

Wilderness camping by Zach Dischner via photopin cc
Wilderness camping by Zach Dischner via photopin cc

✈ Long haul flights are a blessing not a terrible bore, they give you time to recuperate and catch up on some sleep.

Flying high by neilalderney123 via photopin cc
Flying high by neilalderney123 via photopin cc

✈ You’ve learnt how to say ‘I’m lost, where am I on this map?’ in at least ten languages.

Tractor hitchhiking
Hitchhiking by Jamie Bowlby Whiting

✈ Home has become a convenient pit stop to re stock and re fuel for your next adventure.

Planning my travels by Khánh Hmoong via photopin cc
Planning my travels by Khánh Hmoong via photopin cc

✈ Your family and friends no longer try and deter you when you tell them of your next great quest, they merely nod and sigh. Don’t feel deflated; those muggles have no sense of adventure…

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Canoe safari by Benjamin Jones

✈ The thought of an all-inclusive resort makes you want to jump off a cliff…wearing a parachute…or perhaps a jet pack.

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Scuba diving the Coral Sea by Benjamin Jones

✈ Tourist traps are to you what kryptonite is to Superman.

Ziplinning by jjay69 via photopin cc
Zip linning by jjay69 via photopin cc

✈ You tell people that there is a skilful art to reusing dirty underwear, it’s all in the rotation pattern.

Hiking the Darien Gap via Expert Vagabond
Hiking the Darien Gap Expert Vagabond

✈ Your feet are the most important part of your anatomy and are groomed more often than your hair. Blisters, painful corns and battered toe nails hamper your ability to explore, bad hair simply means you might not be invited out to dinner that evening.

wilderness camping by nwpuzzlr via photopin cc
wilderness camping by nwpuzzlr via photopin cc

✈ Your bucket list is full of dare devil activities, epic road trips and endurance challenges in far flung corners of the globe.

underworld-adventures-profile
Underground selfie by Benjamin Jones

✈ You often throw caution to the wind and lick the remains of icebergs, sample local delicacies of unknown origin, and your own home brews of unimaginable alcohol content to keep you warm while sleeping under the stars.

charli-tasman-glacier
Iceberg refreshment by Benjamin Jones

✈ You’ve found yourself lost in the wilderness at dusk more times than Homer Simpson has said ‘Doh’.

Mountain climbing by Charlie Stinchcomb via photopin cc
Mountain climbing by Charlie Stinchcomb via photopin cc

✈  You view a hot shower and a flushing toilet as a luxury not a necessity.

white-water-hawea
White Water on the Hawea River by Benjamin Jones

✈ While travelling you’ve never sent a postcard, bought a souvenir or taken a ‘this is me with – insert name of location – style photograph…and then posted it to Facebook.

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Utah adventure by Benjamin Jones

✈ You could pack your life into a bag in less than two minutes, and would be out of the door thirty seconds later if adventure came calling.

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Hiking across an active volcano by Benjamin Jones

✈ You’ve eaten more species of animal than you can count…some of them raw.

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Summit Zach Dischner via photopin cc

✈ And last but not least…ADVENTURE is your middle name.

So what do you think, are you a true adventure traveller?

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Can you call yourself an adventure traveller or do you have a few of your own requirements that we’ve missed out?