While they might not be for everyone, it’s easy to understand why extreme sports holidays are so popular. There are destinations all over the world where adrenaline junkies can indulge their passion, push their minds and bodies to the limits, and see parts of the globe from a new perspective.
There is plenty of choice around as well, irrespective of your financial constraints or how far you’re willing to travel. This guide highlights five stand-out options that collectively cover every base.
If you’re on a budget
A cycling holiday can give you plenty of thrills, whether you’re on the road, on gravel or even taking on an enduro adventure. There are plenty of places across the UK where you can ‘enjoy’ a test on two wheels – we recommend the Grinduro festival that takes place in Wales each summer.
But if you want warmer weather, then you’re spoiled for choice with riding destinations across the Mediterranean. Our recommendation is the Costa del Sol and the mountains that surround Malaga: there are steep climbs and fast descents to enjoy on the road, and some excellent mountain bike trails too (especially at Benalmadena, where you can take your bike up on the cable car then ride back down). As a tourist destination, flights and accommodation are cheap and plentiful for most of the year.
If money is no option
Alexander the Great wept because there were no more worlds left to conquer… or so he thought. You may find this hard to believe, but in Nepal there are still some Himalayan mountain peaks that have never been fully ascended by a human being.
The reason for this is religious: many peaks were considered holy by the Nepalese government, who forbade climbers from tackling them on that basis. However, in recent years these restrictions have been relaxed, leading to what is quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make your own piece of history. The ‘Unclimbed Peak’ package includes a period of acclimatisation in Kathmandu and all the equipment you need to follow in the footsteps of, well, nobody at all.
If you want to see the world
Adventure trekking is perhaps the best way to get back to nature, and look at parts of the world that are off the beaten track. It’s also an opportunity to observe some of the geographical wonders that exist in every quarter of the planet.
For a trek destination, we recommend Bali, because of the stunning (and in places challenging) landscape you’ll get to explore. It’s as close as you’ll come to being Robinson Crusoe exploring a tropical paradise: birds, monkeys, mountains, jungles, plant life, temples, lakes and even volcanoes in some places. How hardcore you want to go is up to you: you can stay in expensive luxury resorts, or sleep in more basic accommodation instead.
If you want to stay closer to home
One of the nearest destinations for extreme sports to the UK is the Alps. You might consider skiing or snowboarding down them, or trekking up or along them on foot. If you prefer travelling on two wheels, then you’ll naturally be drawn to Alpe d’Huez in France, home to one of the most famous and challenging climbs of the Tour de France. But have you ever considered biking down the mountain… on snow?
Every July, around 2000 mountain bikers pass the 1860m summit of the Tour de France road cycling climb, and head up nearly another 1500 metres of altitude beyond that. At 3330m above sea level, right at the top of Alpe d’Huez, lies the Sarenne glacier and the start of Megavalanche. It’s a mass-start downhill mountain biking race, within which riders drop more than 700 metres of altitude across all-year-round snow and summer gravel, with countless other competitors jostling for position.
To make things even more accessible (and bonkers), there are parallel events for junior riders, and those on e-bikes. Accommodation in the area is plentiful in summer, as long as the Tour isn’t coming through the Alps at the same time.
If you want to test yourself to the limit
Imagine being out in the wilderness of a wintry forest, with nothing but a tent for accommodation, rations for sustenance, and a pack of dogs for transportation? It might not sound like much of a holiday, but if you want to push your physical and mental boundaries, then dog sledding is the way to go.
The Yukon region of Canada is best, as it has a vast landscape to explore, plenty of tourist-focused sledding business, and the advantage of being English-speaking so that there is no language barrier. You’ll definitely need a level of fitness before you go, and you’ll need to feel comfortable dealing with a significant number of dogs (and the cold!). But as an unforgettable and rewarding experience, it’ll be difficult to top.
Get extreme sports insurance with SportsCover Direct
Extreme sports are extreme for a reason: they tend to be dangerous and with a relatively high risk of injury or damage to equipment. Because of this, absolutely no extreme sports holidays should take place without comprehensive insurance cover being taken out before you go.
At SportsCover Direct, we’ve been covering thrillseekers like you across just about every sport you can think of for approaching 30 years. With our affordable policies, you can make sure you don’t lose out financially if you need private medical cover, rescue, repatriation or other emergency services while you’re away. We can also recompense you if your luggage and equipment is lost, stolen or damaged, or if your travel and accommodation arrangements are disrupted.
Take a closer look at our extreme sports holidays insurance here, and check our sports list here to make sure that we cover your chosen activity.