Call of the wild

For some, holidays are the perfect and well-deserved opportunity to keep close contact with a sun lounger and get to know colourful, frilly drinks by their first name.

Yet for the more adventurous, it’s time to huff, puff and push the adrenaline to the max with rock climbing, surfing, cycling, trekking and taking your body and mind to the limit.

If you belong to the active club, here is how you can spend your summer holiday.

Cycling in Turkey

More than a decade ago, historian and guidebook author Kate Clow traced one of St Paul’s missionary journeys from Fethiye to Antalya, Turkey. This proved to be so popular with adventure-hungry travellers that Clow was encouraged to plot more routes through Turkey’s rural parts.

To follow St Paul’s trail, start from Perge, near Antalya and follow the saint’s footsteps to the ancient Roman site of Adada. Your journey is set against a spectacular backdrop of breathtaking views and wild rose gardens.

Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan

Once forming an integral part of the snaking Silk Road itinerary, Kyrgyzstan in central Asia is a landlocked haven of mountain vistas, marvellous meadows and undiscovered valleys. If you have horse riding experience, exploring this ancient land on horseback is the perfect way to relive the nomadic experience of Silk Road traders. The best time to giddy up is between June and September.

Sea kayaking in Greenland

It’s only fair that you experience sea kayaking in the land where it was invented – Greenland. Originally used to chase seals and whales, nowadays sea kayaking is a popular holiday pursuit. Join a guided group and get up close to the majestic icebergs.

Island-hopping in the Falkland Islands

For many, the Falkland Islands will always remind them of when, on April 2, 1982, Argentina had a major tussle with Britain. Yet nowadays, the islands are gaining popularity with tourists who appreciate the islands for their diversity and unspoilt wilderness. The best way to explore the islands is on board small planes – there are more than 750 islands to discover and on your journey you will meet penguins, orcas and sea lions. Cameras ready.

Going wild in Botswana

South Africa is Mother Nature’s playground where the big five come out to hunt, eat and play. Botswana, only an hour’s flight from South Africa, is no pushover. Visit for some of the best wildlife spotting in Africa – the Chobe National Park is a Jungle Book treat and is home to the largest elephant population in the world. For zebra and wildebeest migration, stay at the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

Trekking in Morocco

If you have the legs and stamina for it, trekking to the summit of Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, is an incredible experience. You can combine with another two peaks – Jebel Ouanakrim and Jebel Adrar n’Dern, where the gorges and peaks are set against spectacular views of the Sahara.

Hiking in Wales

For those of you who are in the mood for a mighty challenge, conquering the 15 peaks of Wales’s craggy face is right up your mountain path. Start from Aber Falls and go up to the Ogwen Valley. The grand finale is Snowdon, which stands at 3,560 feet. The whole slog will take you over three days to complete, and it’s best to do two warm-up days before starting.

Roughing it in Iceland

This wild and beautiful country offers plenty of opportunities for extreme holidays. You can trek, explore by 4WD, do a spot of white-water rafting and participate in snowmobile safaris.

If that’s not enough, finish off with a glacier hiking experience.

Adventures in New Zealand

You can have your Lord of the Rings adventure right here, in New Zealand, which is considered by many to be the world’s playground. Organise your very own Middle Earth tour by combining all that this beautiful country has to offer, from spectacular vistas to wildlife, history, Maori culture and traditional kiwi hospitality.