Adventure vacations are an increasingly popular form of ‘regular’ vacation, as more people gain access to the information and basic training necessary to almost-literally go out on a limb. The natural world holds so many opportunities for us, from adventurous explorations to adrenaline-seeking exaltations and beyond – but how on earth do you go about planning such a trip?
A good start is to pick a place. Of the many places you could go to find your adventure, there is one that most certainly sticks out – and which is also one of the most accessible holiday destinations on the planet. This place is, of course, Italy – the toast of modern continental Europe, the seat of Western civilization as we know it, and the home to some of the most incredible landscapes on God’s green Earth. But why go all that way for adventure? In this article we’ll discuss outdoor activities in Italy.
Hiking in the Dolomites
Let’s start with one of the more obvious options for the enterprising adventure vacationer: the Dolomites. The Dolomites, or Dolomitic Alps, are Italy’s wedge of the Alpine mountain range that stretches across Western Europe; these mountains, though, are singular in their looks.
They are also singular in their traversability, and an excellent opportunity to stretch your legs as part of a hiking experience like no other. Indeed, for hiking holidays Italy has no equal, and it is with near-sole thanks to the majesty of the Dolomites. There are routes for every level of fitness and ability, from basic walking routes to harder ‘Via Ferrata’ that deliver you to some incomparable peaks.
Cycling through Chianti
If hiking isn’t quite your thing, you needn’t look much further; after all, how about biking? Moreover, how about biking through the rolling hills of Tuscany? Tuscany is, of course, famed for its sightly vineyards – the product of which you could well be tasting during pitstops on a two-wheeled roadtrip through the best of the Chianti region.
The Chianti region is the mountainous part of Tuscany, typified by a lightly rollicking landscape and field upon field of well-maintained vines – both olive and grape. There sheer number of potential stopping-places on any given route should be persuasion enough for you, but if that isn’t – and if the incredible horizons won’t do it either – maybe the thrill of conquering vine-hill after vine-hill will do it for you.
Sailing around Sardinia
We’re leaving the mainland here, for a very different kind of adventure vacationing. If you’re not overly enamored with the prospect of lugging yourself across land to enjoy the best of Italy’s adventure potential, maybe you belong on a catamaran, and sailing around the second-largest island in the Mediterranean. This is Sardinia, a balmy place of endless shores, incredible blue shallows and some amazing coastal landscapes you could easily spend months at a time exploring.
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