subject: Your Life With An Adventure Holiday! [print this page] Which adventure? Which adventure?
So you have made the decision that you want some adrenaline on your holiday, or to see parts of the world the average package tourist will never see. Now you have to make a choice. What type of adventure holiday are you after? There is a reassuring variety out there for you to choose from. Consider fishing for piranha in the Brazilian Pantanal or trekking through the Canadian Rockies. The options are truly open to you and only limited by your imagination.
You can pick by location. New Zealand is the home of bungee jumping. Can you imagine throwing yourself off great heights in and around Queenstown? Alternatively, Nevada in America will give you access to treks through the Grand Canyon on horseback.
An adventure does not have to preclude a bit of culture. Get chased by bulls through Pamplona's streets or take in the cultural parades during the Tobago carnival. An adventure holiday will give you the chance to take part in the local scene far more than just being a curious bystander.
Think of the most remote and inaccessible place you can, put a pin in it and aim to go there. Cruise from isolated Ushuia in Argentina to the Antarctic continent or choose the opposite end of the continent, Alaska to watch whales from small canoes.
An interest in history can combine with some adventure with a horse ride to Petra in Jordan to see the ancient city, or brave the clay pot-holed road from the Thai border to Siam Reap to see the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.
Of course, there is always the classic option. Travel to South Africa, Malawi, Kenya or Tanzania and enjoy one of the many safari holidays on offer. See those animals in the flesh rather than through a TV screen. Safari holidays provide terrific scenery as well as wildlife.
Prepare for your adventure
After selecting a life-changing experience, find out as much as you possibly can about all your options. Take particular care over your health. Amoebic dysentery, having crossed into Kashmir through the Himalayan foothills from Manali, can lay you low for a long time. A dose of malaria in the desert oasis of Huacachina in Peru will mean you cannot go trekking. Do not forget to see what the FCO advise for vaccinations and what the country's policies are as well.
Adventure travel is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to see the world and without doubt, endlessly rewarding. There is one word of caution before you set off and change your life. You may need to temper your stories a little when you come home. You don't want to make your friends too jealous. When you come back, you will not be able to stop talking about your experiences.
