Choose an Activity Holiday to Really See the World.
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
To really see a country, you need to do more than spend a couple of weeks on one of its beaches. To get to know a country, you need to travel and take some time to explore. Travel by bike or on foot and you will learn much more about your destination and free yourself up to explore and experience.
Activity holidays can take many forms; you can go in a group or set your own agenda. The destination you choose will depend largely on what you want to see as well how challenging you want your break to be. Activity holidays are suitable for everyone, however; you can go alone or take the family, the choice is entirely yours.
Themes.
You can combine a walking holiday with other themes such as a food or wine tour. Choose an appropriate destination and spend a week or two exploring vineyards and restaurants along the route. Locations such as France and Italy are obvious choices for this kind of holiday.
Walking or trekking holidays offer you so much choice. You can either go in a guided group or if you are feeling really adventurous, you can go it alone on an independent tour. Book with a good reputable company who will really look after you, even if you opt for independence. A good company will ensure that you have up to date maps as well as guide books and recommended routes. An independent walking trip is great for those who like to set their own agenda and do things their way, whilst a guided tour is obviously better for those who like company and want to ensure they see the main sights.
History and Culture.
Walking holidays are also great for those who like to explore art, history and culture. Although more commonly associated with beach holidays, Turkey has a great deal of history and culture. The place where east meets west, half of the capital city, Istanbul, stands in Asia whilst the other half stands in Europe.
The Camino de Santiago walk is one of the oldest pilgrimage walks in the world. It is an 800km journey through central Spain, taking in the Pyrenees, Castile, Leon and Galicia. The route has been travelled by pilgrims for at least a thousand years on the trail of the Apostle St James, who was laid to rest in Santiago de Compostela’s magnificent Baroque Cathedral. There is so much more to Spain than the beach resorts and this is a great way to see the real Spain.
Walking holidays are also great for nature lovers, rare plants, animals and birds from all parts of the world. Costa Rica has lagoons, volcanoes, a rainforest and over 850 species of bird, as well as tree frogs, iguanas and spider monkeys. There are also waterfalls and beautiful beaches, a real nature lovers’ paradise. You could just lie on the beach, but which so much to see and explore, this would surely be a crime.
Whether you go with the family or take a solo trip, whether you like woodland walks or mountain hikes, you will find a walking tour that will challenge you physically and satisfy your curiosity.
AUTHOR BIO:
Peter Smith writes regularly on Activity Holidays for a range of travel websites and blogs. “Activity holidays are whatever you want them to be” says Peter. “You can take a trekking or walking holiday or a cycling or canoeing holiday, the activity as well as the destination are your choice”.
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Category: Travel
