Preparing an Adventure Holiday

You are seeking an adventure holiday that will inspire your adventurous spirit and take you out of your comfort zone. That is wonderful! There are a few things that you need to think about before plunging straight in.

What kind of adventure holiday are you seeking? trekking in the Himalayas, white water rafting in Borneo, elephant riding in Sri Lanka, exploring remote villages in the Andes mountains of Peru? The world is an adventure seekers paradise, so to discover your limitless options, key in ‘adventure holidays’ or ‘adventure holidays for women’ on Google, invest in a relevant guidebook or magazine subscription, or visit an adventure travel agent or tour operator.

Before you settle on a holiday destination – regardless of whether you’re travelling independently or with a company,

some preliminary things to consider:

1. check Visa requirements for your destination and make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity from the date of departure.
2. check vaccine requirements and that the country you’re travelling to is both safe and politically stable.
3. consider travel insurance options, this is mandatory if you are travelling with a company

Fitness

An adventure holiday needs a little more thought than a beach break. You will need to be fit for the trip. Sport-specific training is key: mountain biking and trekking require leg and cardiovascular strength while kayaking and rafting rely on a strong, upper body. Check with your tour operator, or do your own research, to find out what preparation exercises are best for your chosen style of adventure. Being fit can – and often does – make the difference between having a wonderful trip or not.

Different activities and sports make specific demands on your body, so it pays to know which muscles you are going to need and how to make them stronger long before you leave home.

If you’ve booked an entirely new experience – rock climbing, scuba diving, surfing or horse riding, for example – it pays to get an introduction to the sport before you go. A taster session will give you an idea of the muscles you need to prepare, the clothes and equipment you need to pack and the skills you may want to hone before travel.

If your chosen holidays involves trekking, then the best preparation is to get out and start walking. Go for long weekend walks in hilly areas and gradually increase your pace. It is a good idea to walk with a backpack of a similar weight that you would be carrying on your trekking holiday.

Most adventure travel companies have their treks graded from easy that involves about four to six hours’ walking a day, through moderate with the occasional steep path to expedition grade. Different tour companies use different terms.

Packing

Only take what you need, but pack what is advised. Technical clothing, geared to your adventure, will enhance comfort and enjoyment, so is worth the investment. A rash vest or wetsuit will be necessary for water-based activities, padded cycling shorts are a must for mountain biking, and tried-and-tested hiking boots are essential for trekking, for example. Trip organisers should give you a checklist of compulsory items of clothing and equipment; pack them all to avoid regret.

It is amazing how much space you can save in your bag by rolling your clothes instead of folding. I have been rolling for years, clothes pack easier and crease less.

When travelling with your spouse, partner or best friend, split the contents of each travel bag/backpack so that you have some of their items and they have some of yours. Then, if one of your bags goes missing, you will have enough clothing to get by.

It is easier to travel light and take only one piece of hand luggage. But always carry a spare fold-up travel bag for additional purchases. On the trip home, check-in the spare bag with clothes and carry the treasured items onboard the plane. If your luggage is lost, the memorable souvenirs are still safe.

Zippered mesh inserts for the bags make packing and sorting easier. They come in various sizes and are suitable for a range of clothes such as underwear, T-shirts and so on. Keeping groups of clothes separate is great if you’re travelling through a range of seasons or temperatures. They make packing and unpacking very easy and keep you organised on the road, minimising travel stress.

Marika Martinez
Women’s Own Adventure

http://www.womensownadventure.com.au