For a lot of people, the idea of a great holiday is to sit around on a beach, soaking up the sun and reading a good book; many people find this a good way to unwind from the stresses of their daily life. For others though, this is their idea of hell.
For the thrill seekers, here are a few places worth a visit and some information about the types of adventure holidays that are available there.
California – Surfing
Popular with surfers all over the world, California offers some great waves for surfers. If you are relatively new to surfing then there are plenty of spots that offer ideal conditions for all levels. If, however, you are an experienced surfer and looking for a real challenge then Mavericks, 25 miles south of San Francisco offers a serious challenge with waves reaching up to 50 feet in certain conditions. Whilst the surfer will probably want to do some exact research to find the peak times for huge waves, the Winter months generally offer the best surfing for experienced competitors.
Cuba – Cycling
An increasingly popular destination since the relaxation of laws restricting tourism, Cuba offers some great weather, wonderful people and a sense of venturing into the past.
It also offers some excellent cycling with some great countryside to explore and, of course, given the lack of western money, almost car-free roads, making it a safe place to cycle in general. This destination offers both gentle rolling hills for more leisurely cycling and extreme mountain terrain around El Rosario for those seeking out thrills (and potential spills).
One word of warning though; although cars are fairly rare outside of Havana, the roads can be in a poor state of repair so an eye needs to be kept open for large potholes.
China – The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is one of the largest man-made structures in the world. Whilst some sections of the wall are popular with tourists for photographic opportunities, it can be forgotten that it is over 13000 miles long! This offers some great opportunity for a walking holiday and by stopping in rural areas, it is an ideal opportunity to get a sense of China away from the major cities that it is best known for such as Beijing.
Alaska – Cycling
If China is too hot, you may want to consider the snowy wilderness of Alaska. Not well known for its cycling, it actually offers some amazing scenery, allowing you to spot a great deal of the local wildlife such as Elk and Bald Eagles along the way.
Much of the cycling can be done at a leisurely pace, but for the more adventurous, there are some excellent opportunities around America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley. With over 10,000 miles of fjords too, there are some excellent opportunities to watch out for whales.
Sinai Beach Egypt – Scuba Diving
One of the most popular types of adventure holiday for those with a family is to go scuba diving. This allows those members of the family who wish to relax, a chance to soak up the sun whilst you dive deep into the beautiful waters of the Red Sea. With its fantastic underwater life, this is a place not to be missed and, quite naturally, there are some excellent fish restaurants to dine in when the evening comes around.
As the world becomes a smaller place, there will no doubt be many new adventure opportunities that will open up in various parts of the world. For now though, these offer some of the best that can be found in the world for adventure seekers right now.
Graham Downes is a freelance travel writer and avid cyclist.
