Planning your own adventure can be hard work. However, a guided adventure trip into the backcountry can make the entire experience a whole lot easier. It might seem overwhelming, but you’d be surprised to find out how many companies out there offer guided adventure trips. These trips still allow you to see just as much of the backcountry as you would like to see, despite having someone else leading the way. With so many places to visit in the US and Canada, it’s hard to know where to begin looking. Here’s where you can start:

Alaskan Adventure

There are dozens of companies out there that do guided tours throughout Alaska. It’s a perfect way to see all this enormous state has to offer backpackers. These trips provide chances to do everything from wilderness hiking and rafting, to mountain biking and bear viewing. No matter what your interests are or what you want to see in Alaska, a guided adventure tour will guarantee that you don’t miss a thing.

Adventure Photography

Wouldn’t it be cool to learn how to take awesome photos while going on an outdoor expedition? Nat Geo thinks so, and thus offer trips that combine the best of both worlds. Most of these trips use athletes as subjects, where you can take pictures of rock climbers or mountain bikers doing their thing. (Or you can join them!). One of these such tours takes place in Boulder, Colorado; which is arguably one of the best places for a trip like this.

British Columbia

What’s there not to see in British Columbia? Doing a guided adventure tour through this region will take you through every inch of it. If you’d like to just hike BC from start to finish, or prefer to come during the winter months to do a snowshoeing expedition, there’s a trip here for everyone. You’ll be taken through amazing glaciers with crystal-blue waters, while getting to see incredible views of the Coastal Mountain Ranges. Your guides teach you about the incredible natural history that made this place what it is, all in the midst of leading you right through it.

Yellowstone Family Adventures

Bringing your children outdoors is not only a great way to educate them, it’s also the perfect way for your family to bond. If you want to give your children a taste of adventure that you can also enjoy, then take them on a guided adventure tour of Yellowstone or other national parks. These trips incorporate everything from hiking and boat riding, to wildlife viewing and even scavenger hunts. Your kids will love it.

Lewis and Clark Trail

If you really want to see what it’s like to trek like our historic explorers did, then do a guided adventure tour of the Lewis and Clark Trail. These tours have become more popular in the last few years, so much so that you can even find an all women’s canoeing tour of the Lewis and Clark Trail. There’s many things to do while on a guided trip here, like kayaking, hiking, biking, or just admiring the history.

Green Mountains Cross-Country Skiing

Sure, anyone can go to a resort to ski. However, there’s something that’s just better about taking this pastime to a whole new level on a guided cross-country skiing tour. The US and Canada both offer countless versions of these trips, where you can snowshoe, admire gorgeous valleys and snowy tree-tops, explore wildlife in the backcountry of the region, and of course, just ski. A popular area to do this is in the Green Mountains of the northeastern United States.

Outback Desert Adventures

For those who would rather soak up the sun than spend time skiing on a cold winter trail, then consider a guided adventure in the outback of the United States. There’s some amazing trips that will take you into the deserts of the US, like an Arizona Outback Adventure. You’ll see Havasu Falls, the Grand Canyon, and get the chance to kayak on the Salt River. There’s other outback tours that take you through places like Zion National Park, or parts of the Navajo Country. With so much to see in this region, a guided trip is one of the best ways to take advantage of it all.

Camping Adventures

If you want some adventure but don’t like anything too extreme, then opt for a simple guided camping tour. Some of these tours will take you on famous hiking spots in the US and Canada, like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, or even through the backcountry of Alberta. It’s a great way to ease into the outdoors with the help of experienced guides.

Heading out into the wilderness can be a bit stressful when it comes to all the planning and navigating. Take out some of the hassle by going on a guided adventure tour that can let you experience the US and Canada in a way you would never imagine!