Great Trips That Will Keep You Active

For a lot of people, holidays are the sole reason they go to work in the morning. The feeling of getting away from it all is unique and incredible, though a lot of the time it’s not exactly healthy! A lot of people travel to “touristy” spots and nothing else. Naturally this leads to a lot of junk food, cocktails, and lounging about near the hotel pool. I like this as much of the next guy; what I don’t like is the guilt and calories that comes with it! If you’re looking for a holiday that will keep you a little more active, here are a few great ideas.

First of all, a mountain biking holiday. The very thought of tearing down dirt tracks in the woods might seem daunting. I know a lot of people who haven’t even touched a push bike in decades. However, if you learned to ride in your youth, it’s a skill that never really goes away. Go to anywhere with a large rural area, and you’ll be sure to find somewhere that rents out mountain bikes or even has organised tours. Cambodia has a range of incredible trails which take you past ancient temples and picturesque villages. Italy too has some incredible cycling routes which weave through the foothills and give you some breath-taking views of the coastline. If you really want to push yourself and see as much of the country as possible, then I’d go for a tour. However, if you want to chill out and explore the land at your own pace, then simply rent a few bikes and carve out your own route!

Water sports are another great way to stay active on your holidays. If you want to get a real adrenaline rush and an awesome new cover photo, then surfing is the obvious choice. Australia, the surf capital of the world, has countless beaches to catch some quality waves and a culture that’s eager to get you started. Take your available time into account though. Learning to surf is much harder than it may look, and if you’re a complete novice progress will be slow. Unless you’re planning to spend your entire trip catching waves, then you may come away feeling like you’ve wasted your money. Another great experience is white water and packrafting. You don’t need to chase the sun for these, but they’re sure to get your adrenaline pumping! In white water rafting, you just strap on your gear and hop in, tearing down rapids and over rocks using oars to steady yourself. Even if you’re a complete beginner, a holiday full of white water rafting will be one to remember. If you want to get away from the touristy end of things though, packrafting is a good alternative. These are so named because they can fold up to fit in a backpack. This has made them a hugely popular accessory for hikers, particularly in Scandinavian countries like Finland and Sweden. Plan a pack rafting trip, and you’ll be sure to burn off more than a few calories.

Finally, we have skiing holidays. If you’ve never been skiing before, then you’re seriously missing out! You get up-close with some truly spectacular views of mountain ranges, and get to glide around them at exhilarating speeds. Skiing is not only great fun for the whole family, but is also a fantastic way of getting exercise on your holidays. Your legs may get sore after you’ve spent a whole day on the slopes, and getting up early in the morning might clash with your “holiday” mind set. However, once you’re kitted up and looking down the pistes, you get right back into the spirit of it! Another great thing about skiing is that you can do it just about anywhere in the world. From Canada to Europe to the Middle-East to Asia, there are countless ski resorts scattered all over the globe. If you’ve always wanted to ski and sample the ins and outs of a certain culture, then odds are you’ll be able to do both! The only real drawback about skiing is that it’s pretty expensive, especially in the winter. However, it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are many resorts, particularly in the French alps, that offer affordable package deals.

I hope this post has given you some great ideas for your upcoming active holiday. Remember that these three suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. Taking some time for ourselves doesn’t have to mean a lot of lazing around!