Some people dream of climbing Mount Everest, others of taking a year off to build homes for the poor. “Adventure is anytime you step outside your comfort zone and do something new,” says Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race and author of No Opportunity Wasted (Rodale, $23, www.amazon.com). (Keoghan, who has no qualms about jumping out of a plane, says one of his biggest adventures was baring all at a nudist camp.) For adventure travel, do your homework, says Lewis Glenn, vice president of safety for Outward Bound; otherwise, “you’ll have a big adventure, but not the one you wanted.” Read travel blogs for best bets and potential pitfalls. And start gradually — before trekking in the Amazon jungle, try some local hikes. An adventure company can reduce risk, but ask about its safety record, insurance coverage, and industry certifications. Exchange copies of valuable documents with a travel companion in case your bags go missing. These two experts agree on the most important item to bring: a sense of humor.