5 Exciting Holiday Ideas for Adventure Seekers
For some people, a holiday is an opportunity to lounge around, relax and forget about the stresses of everyday life. But for others, getaways should combine thrills with physical and mental challenges for truly unforgettable experiences.
If you sit in the latter camp, you’re not alone. The global adventure tourism market is expected to continue growing throughout the 2020s. It’s a diverse area, too, giving you plenty of different ways to get your kicks, hone existing skills or try something new.
Here are five different categories of adventure travel to potentially add to your list this year.
1. Sailing
Sailing holidays – categorised as ‘soft adventure travel’ by experts — may allow you to combine adventure with relaxation, depending on who’s navigating.
You could join a group sailing trip or guide your own vessel, providing that you research administrative elements like boat insurance and regulations.
Whatever the case, the world is your oyster. Glide around the famous Greek Cyclades. For example, tour Italy’s Amalfi Coast or stay closer to home on the perimeter of Scotland.
2. Cycling
Cycling is another popular adventure travel category that aligns with the growing ‘slow travel’ trend, helping you to get under the skin of new places at a more leisurely pace. You’ll cover ground faster than you would walking, of course (assuming that the hills aren’t too steep!).
Popular cycling destinations include Girona in Spain, the Dolomites in Italy, and the Algarve in Portugal. If you want arguably larger (and bumpier) thrills, try your hand at mountain biking instead.
3. Kayaking
Kayaking trips offer another opportunity to see the world by water, albeit with a little more physical effort involved than sailing. The options are even more varied, though, allowing you to explore famous lakes and rivers as well as navigate oceans.
For the hardy adventure traveller, top white-water destinations include the Colorado River in the US, the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, and the Magpie River in Canada.
4. Hiking
Travelling by foot through remote locations is often the only feasible way to do it. Of course, though, you don’t need to dive straight in with a trek to Everest Base Camp.
Heading out on back-country trails and coastal paths can prove rewarding almost wherever you do it.
Hiking or trekking holidays often incorporate overnight camping, too, adding a further sense of adventure and connection with nature.
5. Skiing
Snow holidays offer experiences no other conditions can match. Whether you ski, snowboard, or even snowshoe your way around, these high-octane trips are usually set in spectacular surroundings.
And if you like to let loose after a hard day’s work on the slopes, many popular resorts – such as Val Thorens in France – offer lively Apres Ski scenes.
Final thoughts
Do any of these adventure travel categories tick your boxes? Find the balance for which you’re looking and discover new destinations in different ways this year.
Whether you prefer to explore via ocean, get your adrenaline pumping on a thrilling journey, or simply spend time in the great outdoors, there’s no shortage of exciting holiday ideas to choose from.
So, why wait? Start planning your next adventure today!
