What about a hike through the world’s oldest evergreen forest in Thailand? Ever thought of exploring the Valley of the Moon by bike? And have you ever considered a walk among traditional stilted villages in Vietnam?
All these fantastic worldwide travel destinations do not only offer beautiful settings for relaxing holidays, but are also the locations for some of the world’s best outdoor and rather easy adventure holidays.
Take to the water for example and navigate between mangrove forests in Mauritius by kayak or go for a rafting adventure at Yosemite National Park. We have listed six totally different and popular easy adventure holidays around the world for you.
1) CHILE
Go on an outdoor adventure holiday to experience the very best of Chile’s dramatic scenery. The Maipo Valley is Chile’s best known wine-producing region scattered with colourful vineyards and in the Valley of the Moon (Atacama Desert) you can find a lunar-like landscape. Both destinations are fantastic for cycling. There’s so much more that Chile has to offer adventurers. Easy walks in the country’s Lake District allow you to get face to face with wildlife like Chilean deer, pumas, and the condor! The Petrohue River’s emerald waters are great for kayaking and in the famous Torres del Paine National Park you can go camping in an ecocamp!
2) VIETNAM
Vietnam’s northern ethnic minorities are open to interact with people from around the world and even provide the opportunity to stay with them in their homes. Deep in the valleys of Mai Chau you can find the traditional stilted villages of the White Thai and Hmong minorities, which are great to explore by bicycle and on foot. Other easy and scenic cycling destinations in northern Vietnam are Ninh Binh with its limestone karst mountains, and the backroads on the way to Cuc Phuong National Park. The turquoise waters of Halong Bay are best to explore on a kayaking adventure, swimming or rock climbing.
Grand Canyon at Mathers point in sunset light
3) USA
The quintessentially American cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas are in close proximity to some of the USA’s famous national parks – home to an abundance of easy adventure activities. There’s rock climbing in Utah, walking under giant Sequoias trees – the biggest trees of the planet, canyoneering in Zion National Park, rafting in the Colorado River in Arizona and biking in Yosemite National Park. And don’t forget the Grand Canyon. If you’re still looking for extra outdoor activities, you can even go camping in most of the parks and overnight at an adventure ranch in Zion National Park!
4) JAPAN
Mount Fuji reflected in Lake Yamanaka at dawn, Japan.
Kayaking, cycling and hiking are just another way to experience the real Japan. It’s a land of contrasts and natural wonders and the variety of easy adventure activities is wide. Moments away from downtown Tokyo lies Izu peninsula, known for the onsen hot springs. The peninsula’s coastline makes for fantastic cycling and the emerald waters for great sea kayaking opportunities. A bit more north lies Kamikochi, a resort area in the Nagano prefecture and the entrance to North Japan’s alps mountain range. Taking a hike is arguably one of the best ways to admire the stunning vista and this is also where it is possible to go for Japanese-style camping.
Of course there’s also the futuristic, large cities like Tokyo and charming and traditional Kyoto, which you can decide to explore by bicycle or during a night walk.
5) THAILAND
Escape the tourist crowds of Phuket in southern Thailand by taking a long tail boat to the peaceful island of Koh Yao Noi. On an easy bicycle ride you can pedal through plantations, farm land and communities by the beach. Then there’s the magical Khao Sok National Park, home to the oldest evergreen forest in the world and the stunning Chiew Larn Lake. For an extra bit of soft adventure you can overnight at a floating raft, go kayaking or swimming in the lake and do all kinds of jungle walks to waterfalls, caves and limestone rocks. Phang Nga Bay has even more limestone cliffs and caves that can be explored kayaking. And isn’t waking up in a tent on a white sandy beach of a deserted island the best way to end a soft adventure?
6) MAURITIUS
Away from the luxury resorts and tourist masses hides a different Mauritius. Here is where you can hike along rugged coastlines and soaring cliffs of eroded volcanic rock, walk amidst dense forests with endangered birdlife, and admire endemic flowering plants and beautiful waterfalls at the Black River Gorges National Park. Take a kayak to navigate between mangrove forests and stunning turquoise lagoons not too far away from the cultivated sugar cane plantations (of which rum is made). The highest peak in Mauritius is 828 metre Piton de la Riviere Noire and you can go for an easy walking adventure to reach its summit.