In the past, you may have seen the phrases “active travel” or maybe even “wellness travel” and thought to yourself, “That's really not for me.”
And sure, if your idea of the perfect vacation is sipping a fruity drink on the beach, then perhaps an active trip really isn't for you. But if you've assumed that every active tour out there is only for the super fit or really athletic, think again!
As more and more people seek out unique types of trips and different ways to experience the same old destinations, the concept of active travel has evolved. These days, an “active” vacation may indeed include things like cycling and rock climbing and snorkeling and hiking – but these types of trips can be enjoyed by ANYbody.
Here are five types of “active” vacations you can add to your bucket list:
Yoga
Yoga retreats are certainly not a new concept. But yoga retreats for people who aren't professional yogis are becoming more and more popular – and you can find them literally all over the world. These retreats are usually located in beautiful and relaxing destinations (many of them tropical), and often include the opportunity to do lots of other things besides yoga.
Practice yoga on the beach in the morning in Mexico, and then spend the afternoon releasing sea turtles or exploring Mayan ruins. Salute the sun in the jungles of Costa Rica, and then spend the rest of the day horseback riding or hiking. Wake up early for yoga in Thailand, and then spend a couple hours getting a full-body massage.
A yoga retreat no longer means just going someplace to do yoga and nothing else for a week. You can also expect other wellness activities, sightseeing options, and healthy eating. You can even do yoga on a paddle board!
Check out: There are literally TONS of companies offering yoga-centric holidays all around the world. Check out this list by Coastal Living to get some ideas.
Surfing
Yoga and surfing often go together when it comes to active holidays – the two are well-suited to be matched together. But if it's a surf-centric vacation you're looking for, you can definitely find those, too.
I've taken surfing lessons a few times throughout my travels, and one thing I always find myself thinking at the end of a two-hour lesson is: “I wish I had more time.” Going to a surfcamp or taking a surfing-focused vacation would be the perfect way to really get the details of surfing down.
The great thing about surfing holidays, too, are that you can usually find them in beautiful seaside cities with great beaches and waves. And, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to know a thing about surfing in order to go on a surf vacation. In fact, most of them are geared towards people who want to learn to surf.
Check out: Rapturecamps. This surf camp company offers surfing vacations in Bali, Nicaragua, and Portugal. They cater to both beginners and more experienced surfers, allowing you to get whatever you want out of your trip. Rapturecamps also offers packages for any budget, whether you're looking for an affordable backpacking trip or a luxury resort experience.
Running
I know what you might be thinking. I don't really love running, either, and kind of can't imagine running every single day of my vacation. BUT, I know I don't speak for every single traveler out there, and the rise in active offerings like running tours proves that there are plenty of people out there who *would* love to run – even on their vacations.
In fact, in quite a few cities, running sightseeing tours are popping up as an alternative to the traditional walking tour. You can see the sights AND get in your daily run!
Check out: Running Treks. This Boston-based company takes things one step further, offering running-centric tours to places like Tuscany and Maine. Each tour includes the option to participate in a local race, be it a marathon or 5K. But the great part is you don't have to participate in all the running if you don't want to – you can also just go to enjoy the rest of the off-the-beaten-path itineraries.
Horseback riding
When I was younger, I was obsessed with horses. So obsessed that I actually volunteered for a couple years at a barn up the road from my house when I was in middle school. I've been horseback riding a few times on my travels (most recently in the Spanish Pyrenees), and dream of one day doing a multi-day horseback riding trip somewhere in the world.
Mongolia would be a pretty epic place for an adventure like this, but after learning recently that you can do some serious horse-trekking in Iceland, too, I think that has to be my top choice. (Fun side fact: Icelandic horses are actually related to the small horses you'll find on the Mongolian steppe!)
Check out: Riding Iceland for a wide variety of tours, or Hestasport if you're a little more experienced and want to try your hand at herding from horseback, too!
Cycling
My boyfriend is really into cycling, and every once in a while he'll send me a link to an epic, multi-day cycling trip that he would love to do. These trips are popping up more and more frequently, due to both the increase in interest in active travel, and the increase in number of great cycling routes and trails all around the world.
I frequently go on half-day bike tours when I find myself in a new city (again, as an alternative to the traditional walking tour(, but I haven't yet given multi-day cycling adventures a try. After seeing how many options there are out there, though (and some in my favorite country in the world!), I think I probably need to reconsider. Whether it's cruising through California wine country, riding around the lakes of Chile, or leisurely biking through the lavender fields of Provence, they create cycling tours for all interests and skill levels these days.
Check out: Trek Tours. Trek is the leader in cycling vacations (or so Elliot tells me), and they offer a wide range of trips throughout Europe and the Americas. Their tours are luxury-oriented, but I don't think I would mind a comfy hotel room after a long day on a bike!
Are there any other types of active tours you'd love to try?
*Note: This post was written by me, but brought to you by Rapturecamps.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
That’s really interesting that running sight seeing tours are popping up as an alternative to walking. I bet that’s a pretty fun way to stay active. I think running is a little high impact for me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to the normal walking or photo tour.
Yup, running tours are totally a thing now! I suppose if you were the type of person who runs every day anyway, it might be cool to combine it with sightseeing!
My vacation starts today and I’m so exited! I’ve been planning this vacation for months, and I’m leaving Sweden for the US in a few days. Yay! My first time over there…
Have fun!
I think fishing and camping are also a great idea. I do like to try surfing. Thanks for this list. It really helps in planning for a family trip. Good Read!
I really want to do surfing lessons with my friends it is a excellent idea for hang out and have a different trip
Instead of cycling, I really enjoy mountain biking! Would love to visit anywhere with a good mountain range to spend the weekend at!
Ah, yes, another very active pursuit! I’m too much of a chicken for serious mountain biking, but my boyfriend really likes it!
Cool write-up! It’s great to see people more interested in making their vacations activity based. As an avid outdoors person I know the benefit and enjoyment that I get out of taking breaks like this to reconnect with the sports I love.
Great post!
Jim
Active vacations are definitely becoming more popular! I know I personally could never be happy just sitting on a beach or beside a pool all day – I always want to get out and do stuff!
It would be great to go on a surfing holiday.
It’s just that (this might seem funny) I’ve never been surfing before!
There weren’t many opportunities to learn from where I come from!
It will have to first starting from learning how to do it, and I hope I get to it someday!
🙂
Not funny at all! I grew up in Ohio, and there’s not much surfing there, either! The good thing about most surfing holidays is that most of them are fine for beginners – they’ll give you lessons and everything!
Being active is a great way to spend a vacation and explore a certain locale – especially going on a cycling tour. A multiday cycling tour would certainly seem an enjoyable activity.
I agree! I’ve only done day-long bike tours thus far on my travels, but I would certainly consider the right multi-day one.
I “need” to go on a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. At one point I thought the idea of running marathons around the world would be super cool because it’d give me another excuse to travel more…but I stopped running them! Nothing beats a good hike or horseback ride!!
I have so much respect for people who run marathons around the world – I could never do it, but it’s so cool!
Really wanting to try a yoga-and-surf camp combo! Maybe Rapturecamps will start offering one of those (hint, hint, Rapturecamps!).
YES! I agree. A yoga/surf combo would be great!
Love these ideas! My husband is really into cycling and just finished a 1,000 mile bike tour. Not something I could do and I just drove the RV behind him haha!
Still sounds pretty cool, though! (And congrats to him!!)