Adventure Holiday Ideas For The Active Traveller
Step away from the sun lounger
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Not a fan of holidays spent horizontal? We’ve rounded up some of the best adventure travel ideas for those looking for something more active than the classic seaside sojourn, from hiking in the Bavarian Alps to kayaking in St Lucia…
Hiking, Ireland
Explore ancient monasteries, mountains and national parks on an epic hiking adventure around three of Ireland’s most scenic regions. This high-energy trip involves climbing the highest mountain in Ireland, Carrauntoohil, as well as the highest peak in each corner of the country. You’ll also visit three spectacular national parks: Wicklow Mountains, Connemara and Killarney, with plenty of pit stops at hidden glens, cosy pubs and local restaurants along the way.
Book it: From €1,710pp sharing, including 6 nights’ B&B accommodation, daily lunches, 2 dinners, transfers and guiding with Wilderness Ireland. Depart 16 May, 6 June, 15 August or 5 September 2020. Flights extra. wildernessireland.com
Skiing, Verbier
This type of wellness trades in sound baths and facials for plyometric training, systematic stretching and high insensitivity training at even higher altitudes. While the retreats are run across a number of beautiful locations (Sri Lanka, Iceland, and Cornwall included), we’ve found the perfect antidote to sitting in front at a desk from 9-5 is their Winter Ski Touring mini-retreat which will get the blood pumping, muscles burning and mind cleared. Guided ski tours with a qualified professional is followed by ski specific fitness training and active recovery sessions, with bodyweight sessions, HIIT and yoga giving some variety to your days.
Book it: A one night stay from 550CHF per person, with all activities included. Additional 1-to-1 personal training and private fitness training with an in-chalet service is also available to book from 100CHF. mountainbeachfitnessretreats.com
Road Biking, France
Looking for a mixture of adventure and relaxation? Beautiful vineyard estate Château St Pierre de Serjac offer a number of road biking weekends from their prime position in the Mediterranean countryside. Guests will have access to premium road bike hire, with three days of guided rides through the picturesque vineyards and rolling hills of Languedoc. Fuel your rides with three-course dinners in the hotel restaurant, and spend your evenings chilling out in the spa or swimming in the outdoor pool before residing to your gorgeous château bedroom.
Book it: From £975.00 per person including 3 nights in a luxury château hotel room on a half-board basis (full breakfast to fuel you for the days riding, evening 3 course dinner with wine), access to the spa with a 50 minute massage, access to the all of the hotels other facilities. serjac.com
Self-guided Hiking, Bavarian Alps
Need a bit of motivation to get you in your walking boots? On this self-guided tour, each walk will be met with a restful stay at a beautiful alpine-lodge hotel among the lofty peaks of the Watzmann Mountains in the Bavarian Alps. You’ll journey through the spa town of Bad Reichenhall to the dramatic Wimbach Gorge to the pastures of the Jenner Mountain, finishing with a sail across the beautiful Königssee lake. It’s a challenging route, passing through mountain paths, forests and gorges – but your hard work is rewarded with relaxing spa treatments and delicious food amid peaceful Alpine settings.
Book it: Inntravel offers one week’s Where Eagles Soar self-guided walking holiday from £1,190pp based on 2 sharing including 7 nights’ half-board accommodation in beautiful, alpine-lodge-style hotels, 1 picnic, route notes and maps, boat trip on Konigssee and luggage transported between hotels. Flights and transfers extra. inntravel.co.uk
Hiking & Snorkelling, Dominica
Get the best of both worlds at Hike Caribbean’s new yoga and hiking retreat in idyllic Dominica. Launched in collaboration with holistic healer, nutritionist and yoga expert Petra Rakebrandt, this week-long trip places emphasis on reconnecting with the self and nature through an mixture of active and more relaxing pursuits. Located at the newly reopened Jungle Bay Eco Resort, which played victim to Storm Erika in 2015, there will also be plenty of time for spa treatments and resting poolside, as well as getting out to explore the island’s waterfalls, hot water pools, and Ti Tou Gorge.
Book it: Hike Caribbean Dominica rates start from £1999 pp/per double room for seven nights between 26 October to 2 November. hikecarribean.com
Mountain Biking, Namibia
HI Adventures Namibia
Pedal along the red dirt roads of Namibia on this 12-day bike safari tour. Along the way you’ll spot African wildlife from your saddle, camp under star-filled skies, marvel at deep red sunsets and meet indigenous African communities such as the Himba tribe. The trip involves a day at the beautiful Etosha National Park, where rhinos, leopards, giraffes, oryx and zebras roam freely, as well as a visit to the desert town of Solitaire.
Book it: H+I Adventures offers Mountain Bike Namibia from £3,400pp sharing, including 11 nights’ B&B accommodation, 3 lunches, most dinners, support vehicle, guiding and transfers. Flights extra. Depart 23 April, 7 June, 11 July or 8 September 2020. mountainbikeworldwide.com
Multi-Activity, St Lucia
This jam-packed Discover Recover holiday from Health & Fitness Travel includes everything from jungle biking trails to canopy tree top adventures to kayaking tours. You’ll have the chance to explore a tropical rainforest, Segway around the historical wonders of Mount Primard, and climb Gros Piton, one of St Lucia’s most iconic landmarks – a challenging climb, but worth it for the unrivalled views of the Caribbean sea. On the recover side, think spa treatments, yoga classes, and beachside lunches.
Book it: Health and Fitness Travel offers 10 nights in St Lucia from £2,670pp or £2,890 for single occupancy. Price includes a Discover Recover programme, return flights and transfers. healthandfitnesstravel.com
