Adventure travel

Previously a pursuit of the youth market or the sport fanatic, ‘adventure’ is now becoming more popular with the average holiday-maker. The economic situation is undoubtedly making us more picky when booking big trips this year, however, adventure travel is one sector actually on the up. In these unsure times it seems we want to distract ourselves – hard to do when faced with a week lying on a beach.

This year travellers are being a little more discerning in their choices. Time away from the grind is becoming evermore precious and when taking a holiday, we want a story to go with it. Yes, we’re looking for the next up-and-coming destination (step forward Guyana, Kamchatka, Papua New Guinea and Greenland), but we want to experience it in a unique way, too. Why? Partly for the brag factor, but also for the invigoration that comes with stepping out of our comfort zone.

Staying one step ahead of the trend allows you to explore secret gems and untouched landscapes before the crowds cotton on. Case in point: Tuva. Never heard of it? Precisely. And, trust us, once the mystical charms of this corner of Siberia become better-known, it’s going to be the region on everyone’s lips. Situated in Southern Siberia, Tuva is the geographic centre of Asia and it has a centuries-old Shamanistic culture, crystal-clear lakes, healing springs and holy mountains hiding ancient stone drawings. This region is perfect for people looking for something a little different, a little special. You can meet with nomadic cattle breeders and settle into lakeside yurt camps, enjoying evening bonfires and traditional ‘throat singing’.

Nowadays it’s less about ticking off a destination, and more about tapping in to an emotion - essentially shaking things up a bit. More people are searching for that "life changing" travel experience. If you are yearning to truly escape the world as we know it, why not venture to the untouched Duke of York Islands in Papua New Guinea where they still use shells as money. Flung in the South Pacific's Ring of Fire, this is an unchartered land of rumbling volcanoes, talcum powder beaches, cloud forests and mysterious birds. Snorkel or dive amongst old Japanese submarine bunkers, trek through virgin jungles, and, best of all, meet the local island communities and witness the Duk Duk traditional dance of the Tolais.

Or if you’re time-poor but adventure-hungry, try your hand at 14 adventure activities in 5 environments, all in one week in one country. There are only three places you can do this: New Zealand, Chile and Canada – and they all hold astonishingly beautiful landscapes to (deep breath) go mountaineering, skiing, snow holing, ice climbing, rock climbing, wild camping, horse riding, abseiling, helicopter riding, mountain biking, white water rafting, sea kayaking, white water kayaking, jet boating, ocean yacht sailing and deep sea diving. But adventure doesn’t always mean fast-paced sports.

Sometimes we’re just looking for a life enriching trip, in one form or another. For this, nothing compares to learning a new skill from the local community, following in the footsteps of a forgotten tribe. If you’re considering visiting the orangutans of Borneo, escape the tourists and combine it with a trek into the heart of the oldest rainforest on earth to meet one of its last remaining, and most remote nomadic tribes: the Penan. Travel in dugout canoes, sleep in traditional village Longhouses, and learn how to live in the jungle environment jam-packed with hornbills, monkeys, orchids and, of course, the orangutan. With local Penan tribesmen as guides, you can practice using blowpipes along the way, stopping off to swim at waterfalls and explore remote bat caves deep in the jungle.

If you want your holiday to dig a little deeper, adventure travel is the future. Whatever your motivation, whatever your action-threshold, a big old dose of adrenaline is undoubtedly good for the body and soul.

Top 5 up-and-coming destinations:

1) Tuva
2) Kamchatka
3) East Greenland
4) Patagonia
5) Alaska

Top 5 must-do adventure experiences:

1) Cave-tubing and jungle trekking in Belize
2) WW2 wreck diving in Papua New Guinea
3) Rock climbing and mountain biking the Wadis of Oman
4) Learning jungle survival skills from the tribes of Borneo
5) Camel trekking with the Bedouins of the Sahara Desert


By Sacha Smith-Laing

Sky2Sea International (www.sky2seainternational.com), Tel+44 (0)131 2208246) provides unique and challenging expeditions and adventure trips around the world, as well as Corporate challenges and all location, expedition management, health & safety and training needs for Film & TV.