AUSTRALIA, June 23, 2021 -- Today, Tripadvisor® announced the winners of its 2021 Travellers’ Choice® “Best of the Best” Things to Do Awards. Previously called the Travellers’ Choice Awards for Experiences, the revamped Things to Do Awards have been broadened to recognize all the best activities listed on Tripadvisor, so travellers across the globe can look no further for inspiration to make that all important next vacation exceptional. Tripadvisor expanded the awards across a dozen subcategories, from Nature & Hiking to Water Adventures to Out of the Ordinary Experiences, reflecting activities that have been hot since the start of the pandemic. Tripadvisor’s vast inventory of things to do - with nearly 400,000 bookable activities - is the go-to source for anyone looking to elevate their travels. 

The pandemic may have altered many things, but travellers still enjoyed amazing experiences all over the world. Tripadvisor is sharing the activities travellers loved the most, so others can go out and experience them for themselves. Whether travellers enjoy planning in advance, or waiting to see what’s nearby once they’re in-destination, Tripadvisor’s Things to Do Awards surface recommendations for all types of travellers, according to the best guides: other travellers who have been there and done that. 

By booking an experience on Tripadvisor, people not only get to explore a destination, they get custom-designed and unique activities from experts who are highly skilled at what they do. Whether it’s an educational trip to the museum or a cooking class with an executive chef, travellers can leave the details to the professionals and benefit from their expertise so all they need to do is show up, learn, and enjoy. 

“When I think about what makes a trip truly unforgettable, it’s those can’t-miss and truly unique activities like a sunset sail with my family, a bike tour with the most hilarious and knowledgeable tour guide, or doing something out of my comfort zone, like ziplining through the forests of New Zealand,'' said Kate Urquhart, general manager, experiences at Tripadvisor. “With no other accolades of its scale, the Travellers’ Choice Things to Do Awards are in a unique class of their own, highlighting all the activities travellers have determined are essential when visiting a destination.”

Trending Things for 2021

Tripadvisor is awarding Travellers’ Choice to 530 Things to Do this year. The activities cracking the list for 2021 are largely outdoor and water-based, not surprising in light of the outdoors craze prevailing throughout the pandemic. Winners also include more than your traditional guided city walking tours, with things like a husky safari in Finland, French wine and cheese tasting in Paris, and a private boat through the crystal blue lagoon of Malta ranking among travellers' favorites. 

In addition to world and country-level winners, this year Tripadvisor is also ranking the best Things to Do in 10 major cities around the world, inclusive of experiences, tours, activities and attractions. It’s the first time Tripadvisor has combined attractions and bookable experiences into one major award category, giving travellers a full picture of the best things to do in popular cities globally - according to those who’ve visited.

For 2021, Tripadvisor is awarding the Best of the Best Things to Do across 12 subcategories: 

• Top Overall Experiences, inclusive of experiences, tours and activities

  • No. 1 in the world: Jet Ski Tour of Dubai: Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Atlantis, Palm & Burj Khalifa - Dubai, UAE

• Best Things to Do in 10 cities around the world, inclusive of experiences and attractions

• Adventure Activities

  • No. 1 in the world: Hang gliding Experience Rotorfly - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Food Experiences

  • No. 1 in the world:  Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class - Charleston, S.C.

• Nature and Hiking 

  • No. 1 in the world: Ziplining Forest Adventure - The Original Canopy Tour Rotorua - Rotorua, New Zealand

• Water Adventures

  • No. 1 in the world: Jet Ski Tour of Dubai: Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina, Atlantis, Palm & Burj Khalifa - Dubai, UAE

• Out of the Ordinary Experiences

  • No. 1 in the world: Heli Hike Fox Glacier - Fox Glacier, New Zealand

• Sailing & Day Cruises

  • No. 1 in the world:  2 Hour Lisbon Sunset and Wine Sailing Tour - Lisbon, Portugal

• Wine Experiences 

  • No. 1 in the world: Wine Sampler Tour - Queenstown, New Zealand

• Biking Tours

  • No. 1 in the world:  Red Rock Canyon Self-Guided Electric Bike Tour, Las Vegas, Nev. 

• Luxury Tours

  • No. 1 in the world: 3-Days Discovery Of Angkor, Waterfalls,Floating Village and Banteay Srei temple - Siem Reap, Cambodia

• Family-Friendly Fun

  • No. 1 in the world: Exciting Upper Pigeon Smoky Mountains Rafting Trip - Hartford, Tenn. 

Top 10 Experiences in Australia for 2021

1. Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours - Kangaroo Island, Australia

The rocky coves, bushlands, and nature reserves of Kangaroo Island lie just off the coast of Adelaide. On this tour, explore off-road by quad bike and visit deserted beaches and hard-to-reach viewpoints that many visitors don’t get to see. 

2. Aquascene Magnetic Island Discovery Tour - Magnetic Island, Australia

Snorkel colourful fringing reefs, explore hidden bays and beaches, meet some local marine and bird-life "friends" and experience a fun cruise with a blend of adventure, relaxation and education.

3. Margaret River Wine Adventure - Margaret River, Australia

Dubbed ‘The tour for people who don’t do tours’, this experience includes a canoe trip on the Margaret River, a picturesque beach, and an ancient waterhole where you learn about Aboriginal traditions. 

4. 1hr Jet Ski Safari - Gold Coast, Australia

Ride your own jet ski and feel the freedom and exhilaration as you explore the wild blue yonder and the hidden islands of paradise. Meet the local dolphins, turtles, wallabies and wild pigs that inhabit this wonderful Jet Ski paradise. 

5. Yarra Valley wine, bubbles and gin tour! - Yarra Valley, Australia

The Yarra Valley wine region near Melbourne is renowned for its cellar doors and gourmet produce. Visit four venues to taste bubbly, wines, beers, and ciders; stop for lunch, and enjoy a guide’s insight—something you’d miss alone. 

6. Fraser Island Whale Watch Encounter - Urangan, Australia

For an up close and personal experience that you will never forget, see the magnificent humpback whale from the uncrowded deck of Blue Dolphin. See the whales eye to eye and listen as your skipper shares his 30+ years experience working with marine mammals.

7. Bombing of Darwin WWII Heritage Tours - Darwin, Australia

Journey back in time to the sites and relics you would not otherwise get to see and touch. With the stories, names and photos behind it all, we 'bring them back to life'.

8. Best of Fremantle 2-Hour Walking Tour - Fremantle, Australia

Discover Fremantle’s Indigenous culture, early European exploration, British colonisation and convict history through to our hip bohemian present and exciting future. 

9. Byron Stand Up Paddle Nature Tour - Byron Bay, Australia

Explore a little slice of paradise in the Cape Byron Marine Park down the beautiful Brunswick River. You'll feel far away from the hustle and bustle floating along surrounded by nature. 

10. Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight - Flametree, Australia

Combining both the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef in one. Enjoy the iconic scenery as you soar in our specially designed scenic flight aircraft, featuring high wings and large panoramic windows ensuring unobstructed views.

Top 10 Experiences in the South Pacific for 2021

1. Rotorua Rafting - Kaituna River White Water Rafting - Rotorua, New Zealand

Paddle thrilling white-water rapids on the Kaituna River during this rafting excursion from Rotorua. Cliff diving the canyons and rafting over Tutea Falls is not for the faint of heart. 

2. Kangaroo Island Quad Bike (ATV) Tours - Kangaroo Island, Australia

The rocky coves, bushlands, and nature reserves of Kangaroo Island lie just off the coast of Adelaide. On this tour, explore off-road by quad bike and visit deserted beaches and hard-to-reach viewpoints that many visitors don’t get to see. 

3. Aquascene Magnetic Island Discovery Tour - Magnetic Island, Australia

Snorkel colourful fringing reefs, explore hidden bays and beaches, meet some local marine and bird-life "friends" and experience a fun cruise with a blend of adventure, relaxation and education.

4. Ziplining Forest Experience - The Ultimate Canopy Tour Rotorua - Rotorua, New Zealand

This journey takes you deeper into untouched native forest – this experience will show you New Zealand like it once was.

5. Margaret River Wine Adventure - Margaret River, Australia

Dubbed ‘The tour for people who don’t do tours’, this experience includes a canoe trip on the Margaret River, a picturesque beach, and an ancient waterhole where you learn about Aboriginal traditions. 

6. Milford Sound Scenic Fly-Cruise-Fly departing Queenstown - Queenstown, New Zealand

Take a stunning Scenic Flight to Milford Sound from Queenstown. Milford Sound is New Zealand's premier tourist destination, and the sheer scale and staggering beauty of the fiord are experienced from all viewpoints.

7. Reef Discovery Half Day Group Signature Tour - Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Learn about the underwater ecosystem throughout the experience. Get great views of marine life such as manta rays, anemone fishes, and moray eels in this stunning tropical paradise. 

8. Morning Snorkeling Shared Boat Tour in Bora Bora - Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Get a comprehensive tour of Bora Bora's best snorkel sites on this half-day snorkel cruise. The tour will stop at three or four of the island's top sites to see marine life such as barracuda, moray eels, sharks, eagle rays, and manta rays. 

9. Sailing initiation and lagoon discovery with a self-crafted canoe - Moorea, French Polynesia

Experience traditional sailing in a double-sail canoe, which the local tour guide, Vaapiti, built himself on his native island. Learn more about canoe crafting, steering and sailing from a local! 

10. Cook Islands Turtle Tour - Rarotonga, Cook Islands

The ultimate wildlife experience of a lifetime. Explore the hidden underwater gems of the Cook Islands with locals and professional underwater photographers ready to capture that picture perfect encounter. 

Make your next trip your best trip and discover all the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Things to Do for 2021 here: http://tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-ThingsToDo 

Methodology

The 2021 Best of the Best Things to Do Awards are calculated based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, attractions, and activities on Tripadvisor collected from January 1, 2020 - April 30, 2021, specific to each award subcategory, as well as an additional editorial process.

Tripadvisor is proud to serve a broad and diverse community of travelers from all over the world. As such, Tripadvisor reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any property, business, destination or point of interest listed on Tripadvisor for an award based on additional factors that reflect Tripadvisor corporate policies and values. For more details on Tripadvisor's awards policy, see here.

Experiences are classified as bookable tours and activities on Tripadvisor. Non-bookable experiences, or attractions,  are activities on Tripadvisor that travelers can visit without booking any ticket. All Best of the Best Things to Do subcategories are limited to experiences, except the Best Things to Do in 10 cities around the world, where attractions are included, for a bigger picture of the best things to do in that destination.

About Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps hundreds of millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 887 million reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby. As a travel guidance company available in 43 markets and 22 languages, Tripadvisor makes planning easy no matter the trip type. 

The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP), own and operate a portfolio of online travel brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps, including the following websites:

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* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, March 2021

** Source: Tripadvisor internal log file

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