Maybe you’re like me and a little bored of the standard holiday to Europe, visiting the typical attractions, taking some nice pictures and heading home. I’ve been searching for some trips that are a little more thrilling and bound to come with some really good stories to share with loved ones when you return home. Here are my top 5 amazing holiday ideas for adventure lovers:
1. Do the Trans-Siberian Railway
This is usually on the travel bucketlist for most people I’ve met around the world, however many people are put off by the price or the challenge of organising it all. That’s why a Trans-Siberian Tour could be the perfect solution; you’ll get all the excitement and adventure of exploring the Trans-Siberian by train, but without any of the stress, hassle and language barriers that would be bound to happen otherwise. You can choose to start in Russia and make your way all the way to China, stopping in a handful of exotic countries along the way. You can choose to travel in absolute luxury, or something more modest to stick to your budget. You’ll learn so much about history in this diverse and intruiguing part of the world, often overlooked by travellers.
2. Fall in Love With Morocco
Located a very short flight from most of Europe, Morocco is a wonderful place to visit. You can explore the medinas in some of the most famous cities, such as Fez and Marrakech, you’ll get lost in the small alleyways and probably find yourself distracted by a snake charmer or two. A visit to the Atlas Mountains is likely to leave you breathless, as you’re surrounded by immerse natural beauty and can visit women making Argan oil – one of Morocco’s greatest treasures. There’s the desert which you can explore by camel, and numerous beach towns where you can tackle some decent waves. Morocco is so close to Europe but really feels a world away – be warned though, chances are you’ll fall in love with this country.
3. Climb a Volcano in Guatemala
While many people think to visit Mexico or Costa Rica, both countries well regarded for their beaches, I feel that people tend to overlook Guatemala. Warmly referred to as a place of enternal spring, for it’s comfortable year round temperatures, Guatemala has a lot to offer. Lake Atitlan has been frequently regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes and the sunsets here, particularly during November are just to die for. You can go ziplining with striking views out to the lake, make a visit to the smaller towns scattered around the edge of the lake by boat, and indulge in some of the world’s best coffee and most beautiful fabrics. There’s Antigua which is a cute little colonial town lined by volcanoes, two of which you can walk up. In the north there’s Semuc Champey, a series of bottle green colored lakes that seem to be stacked on top of each other. No trip to Guatemala would be complete without a visit to Tikal, some of the world’s most impressive Mayan ruins.
4. Jump Off Something in New Zealand
Three quarters of the way down the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand, you’ll find a small town called Queenstown. Toursits and kiwis alike are smitten with this beautiful town that’s based on the edge of a lake. Known as the adventure capital of the world, you can do almost anything you can imagine here. If you’re into bungy jumping, you’ll be spoiled for options down here as well as white water rafting, zorbing, ziplining, sky diving, paragliding – whatever extreme sport you’re interested in, you’re bound to find down here. The rest of New Zealand has a lot to offer too, from some great mountains to ski on, beautiful beaches, Hobbiton, and more walking trails than you’ll ever have time to explore.
5. Entertain Your Tastebuds in Vietnam
If you’re a foodie, chances are you’re going to be delighted in Vietnam. I love Vietnamese food and felt spoiled to be able to enjoy many of my favourite dishes for a $1 or $2 on the streets of Saigon. Vietnamese coffee is also particularly delicious, usually brewed right in front of you and with a decent splash of condensed milk to sweeten things up. Aside from being a wonderful country to eat your way around, there’s also two of my favourite natural gems in Vietnam: Sapa and Ha Long Bay. If you want to see a little European flavour in Vietnam, head to Hoi An, a charming little colonial town with a lovely river running through it. Vietnam is often overlooked for it’s more popular travel neighbor, Thailand, but I actually think Vietnam has a lot more to offer the adventure traveller.
These are my top picks for different destinations that you will be sure to love.
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