Best Adventure Travel Companies {On Earth}

When WildChina founder Mei Zhang, a Yunnan Province native with a Harvard MBA, found herself contemplating the kora of Tibet's Mount Kailas without a guide, she realized the need for a tour operator in China that would focus on sustainable, off-the-tourist-circuit experiences and cultural interactions. Now the nine-year-old Beijing-based outfitter employs a range of regional experts who take clients into authentic China, whether that's by biking to fishing villages or panda viewing in the Wolong Nature Reserve.

New in 2009

• Name:Marco Polo
• Destination:China
• Duration:8 days
• Price:$2,050