When was the last time you went on an Adventure (with a capital A)? Maybe you’re one of those travellers who sees each new trip as a chance to get out and explore the world. At El Camino, we love plotting the next big adventure. 😊
TV presenter Simon Reeve advocates how travel can have a positive impact. "Adventure is a fundamental part of what it means to be a human being," he said in an interview with Wanderlust magazine. “Let's travel greener and get even more out of our journeys and adventures and put even more back into the communities we visit.”
In other words, let’s make travel count! In celebration of the launch of the new El Camino Terrain Steps, here are some of our favourite adventure holidays to experience around the world. Where will your adventures take you?
The Best Hiking Trails
This summer Candace embarked on a van trip around Norway. Her favourite hike during the month-long tour was up Kjerag, the highest peak in the Lysefjord, home to the legendary Kjeragbolten boulder. “It’s a BIG rock,” she laughs, describing the hike as challenging and beautiful. There’s something elemental about tackling uphill hikes, a desire to summit rocks and mountains and glance into canyons. Here are three mountain hiking trails on our hit list:
Kjerag, Norway
Having seen the photos, we couldn’t leave this one off the list! The route to Norway's Kjerag is approx. 11km, a round trip that takes six to ten hours depending on the conditions. The iconic Kjeragbolten is wedged between two cliff faces high on the mountain, dangling 1000m above the fjord. Standing on the boulder is not for the faint-hearted but the hike is an amazing experience that’s well worth it on its own merits.
GR20, Corsica
Dubbed Europe's toughest trek, the GR20 is a 200km hiking trail that runs diagonally across the mountainous Mediterranean French island from Calenzana in the North to Conca in the South. The trail follows the granite backbone that divides the island in two and takes around two weeks to complete. We’re up for the challenge if you are.
The Corbetts, Scotland
A Corbett is a Scottish hill between 2,500 and 3,000ft high, named after John Rooke Corbett who classified them and was the first person known to have climbed all 222 summits. They differ greatly in terms of the difficulty of the hike, but each summit needs a drop of 500 feet on all sides to qualify. It goes without saying that the views are incredible.
Add the Rock Terrain Step to your El Camino here.
Awesome Winter Expeditions
Winter adventures offer another kind of challenge, whether that’s skiing and snowboarding, or ice climbing and dog sledding. There’s nothing like the adrenaline of wrapping up warm, getting outdoors, and seizing the shorter days.
Ski & Snowboard Whistler, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia is one of North America’s largest ski resorts with over 200 runs, the self-proclaimed birthplace of “go big or go home”. For the ultimate challenge head out on a backcountry guided tour or try the new Heli Skiing Dawn Patrol private ‘first tracks’ experience and have the mountain all to yourselves.
Ice Cave, Iceland
How about stepping inside a glacier? Visitors to Iceland can venture into the tunnels and caves of the glaciers by truck or on foot. A tour of Skaftafell blue ice cave necessitates an uphill ice hike inside Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier.
Icehotel, Sweden
Originating in 1989, the first-ever Icehotel was hand sculpted from blocks of ice from the Torne River. Every winter artists gather in the town of Jukkasjäarvi to craft the latest rendition. Then when spring comes, the hotel is left to melt back to nature. Winter adventures on offer for hotel guests include snowmobile tours, ice sculpting, dog sledding and a horseback Northern Lights tour.
The Snow/Ice Terrain Step is ready to celebrate your memories.
Underwater Exploration
From snorkelling coral reefs to learning to freedive, exploring the world beneath our oceans offers endless opportunities for wonder.
Snorkel Cayman Brac, The Cayman Islands
Known for its excellent dive sites, the easternmost of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean offers easy access to fantastic snorkelling. There’s no need to even get in a boat: Simply don flippers and a mask and swim off the bays and reefs dotted along the north coast to become immersed in a world of subaquatic splendour.
Freedive, Indonesia
A tropical paradise made up of 17,000 islands, crystal-clear waters and incredible marine biodiversity, Indonesia is renowned for its underwater adventures. This southeast Asian country is home to dedicated freediving schools such as Freedive Gili, so if you have your heart set on perfecting this extreme water sport there’s nowhere better on the planet.
Scuba dive, Galapagos
For scuba diving with larger, rare marine species few places can rival the Galapagos Islands. Sea lions, turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and hammerheads are just some of the species to encounter.
Celebrate your memories beneath the waves with the Underwater Terrain Step.
Sandy Escapades
If your ideal terrain is more about terra firma, how about camping in the Saharah or laying claim to a desert island?
Desert camping, Namibia
Tours of Namibia can include seeking out desert-adapted wildlife, tackling the world's largest sand dunes in Sossusvlei, and sleeping atop a Land Cruiser. The Sossusvlei region forms a part of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world.
Desert island, Tobago Cays
A remote archipelago to the south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the five uninhabited islands of the Tobago Cays are surrounded by coral reefs and can only be reached by boat. Picture turquoise seas, white sand beaches and hardly another soul around.
Coastal adventure, Cornwall
Sometimes the best part of sinking toes into sand is the adventure of getting there. Cornwall is blessed with a plethora of stunning beaches but often you’ll have to share the experience. Go the extra mile and discover one of the Duchy’s hidden gems – it may involve a trek to get there, but it will be worth the effort. Our favourites include Lantic Bay on the south coast and Nanjizal on the far western tip.
Treasure your footprints in the sand with the Sand Terrain Step.
Into the Jungle
Rainforests make up a tiny part of the planet but are home to over half the Earth’s plant and animal species. Here are three jungle-based adventures we think you’ll love.
Daintree Rainforest, Australia
At over 1,200 square kilometres, Daintree in Queensland is the largest rainforest in Australia. It also lays claim to being the oldest in the world. For an exotic wilderness experience don your hiking boots and head out on one of the trails ranging from half an hour to six hours.
Jungle camp, Thailand
What about sleeping in the jungle? Khao Sok National Park in Thailand is home to the Jungle House, a guest house in the trees. Here you’ll be surrounded by nature amidst Thailand’s largest (and last) uninhabited wilderness.
Temperate rainforest, UK
Closer to home, the west coast of the UK provides ideal conditions for temperate rainforest. In Cornwall, there are a few small pockets including the beautiful Cabilla Cornwall where you can stay and take part in the land restoration project. There’s also the rainforest biome at the Eden Project for more tropical vibes.
Embrace your wildest memories with the Jungle Terrain Step.