Be prepared

The incessant humming of insects and chirping of birds in the jungle was broken by a pounding sound that picked momentum at the crack of dawn.

Only through direct contact with locals and nature can the experience be intensified – use public transport, eat local food, dine where locals eat and walk through nature parks, towns and villages.- Josianne Facchetti

As the pounding thudded to a crescendo, it was clear that it would be impossible to sleep further, so I climbed down the rickety stairs of the wooden house on stilts where I had spent the night. As I walked in the cool shadows of the early morning, I was greeted by pigs and a huge water buffalo that flapped its ears as it made eye contact.

The sound was of the natives pounding rice and then passing it through sieves to remove the husks. Noisy, yet this is how the Akha tribal women of South East Asia start their day.

Adventure travel is all about doing what is new, exciting and even extreme – bungee jumping, sailing, kayaking, skydiving off a plane, skiing, climbing hills and mountains, cruising to distant countries, spending time with natives in a jungle, walking from one country to another and diving are but a few of the different kinds of adventure travel.

To enjoy adventure travel to the full, preparations have to be made beforehand.

The strength and stamina needed for such travelling should not be underestimated. For example, when climbing mountains, walking up glaciers or skiing for the first time, you soon realise that you have to use muscles you never knew existed. To prevent yourself from tumbling down the slopes the moment your legs turn to jelly from exhaustion, it is important to do leg and cardio exercises months in advance. Likewise, before any adventure travel specific exercises should be made.

I met a woman while travelling around the South Island in New Zealand whose tent, clothes and utensils weighed just eight kilos in all. I also met pilgrims on the Camino Santiago de Compostela who looked like snails carrying half their home on their backs. Travelling light is not something that most travellers find easy. Before taking too many items, picture yourself lugging an overloaded backpack or case around. A good tip is to lay all the items you would like to take on your bed. Then remove over half of them and if possible take double the money instead.

Equipment, shoes and clothing have to be tried and tested before setting out. Not too long ago I bought a pair of trekking boots a day before I set out to walk 500 kilometres in 15 days. Since I did not break these boots in, my feet used to swell after four hours on the road. I then would walk the next four to six hours in pain because the boots would not give way even though they were a good brand. Buying high quality gear is not enough – it has to be used, tried and tested before you set off on your trip to give good results.

The more remote the country you intend to visit, the more exposure to bugs and insects you will suffer. There are a few basic rules that need to be followed – only drink water from sealed bottles even when brushing your teeth, eat cooked food, use a good insect repellent especially after dusk and take the necessary inoculations before travelling. Nurses at the government polyclinics give good advice on which inoculations have to be taken according to the country you intend to visit.

When planning an itinerary, it is important to use guide books such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guide – these give general information about each country, a list of places where to sleep, eat, book adventure sports and tours, how to get to a place, how to leave and how much everything costs. As these guidebooks quickly become outdated, it is always good to have the latest edition.

Although spontaneity could be part of your adventure, when planning in advance the chances of getting better and cheaper deals are higher. Moreover, there will not be surprises at borders, as a friend of mine found out at the Cambodian border some years ago. The officials did not know where Malta was and couldn’t find it on the map, so they refused to issue a visa.

The journey is as important as the destination because of the many experiences, sights and people you meet along the way. Travelling from one country to another is like stepping into a different world of colours, smells, tastes, landscape, nature and lifestyle. Only through direct contact with locals and nature can the experience be intensified – use public transport, eat local food, dine where locals eat and walk through nature parks, towns and villages instead of using planes and air-conditioned coaches that whizz from one place to another in a short time.

People love the thrill of adventure travel because it stimulates them physically and mentally. The adrenaline rush – when jumping off a plane, diving with sharks, cycling up the Alps, bathing with elephants, walking or cycling from country to country – brings with it a high that can last for days. The more intense, demanding and risky the adventure, the higher the pleasure and euphoria.

Although at times adventure travel can be hard, it is actually a way of building physical and mental strength and confidence. Through adventure travel, people learn to overcome fears and be courageous as they push themselves to their limit. When back home, challenges become an opportunity to prove their ability to themselves as they start doing things they never thought they could do.