Multi activity holidays guide

What kinds of activity are involved?

Many of these holidays involve walking, whether full-on scrambles up a mountainside, hiking through tropical forests or walking in the mountains. Cycling is popular, too; from hopping on to mountain bikes to negotiate hillside trails to dodging the traffic to explore vibrant cities such as Bangkok or Chiang Mai. If you’re more of a water baby, many multi activity breaks focus on messing around in boats, with kayaking a popular choice, though sailing and rafting also put in an appearance.

Other than the above well, the sky’s the limit, and you’ll find our operators offer everything the adventurous side of your soul could wish for, whether that’s scrambling and sliding your way through gorges and caves with a bit of canyoning; scaling a mountainside for a day or two of rock climbing; getting in the saddle to explore the countryside on horseback; or steering yourself about the waves with paddle boarding, kite surfing, windsurfing or just regular surfing.

If you don’t fancy spending the entire time as a high octane hostage, many holidays mix physical activity with cultural pursuits. You could be hiking one minute and learning how to cook traditional Catalan cuisine the next.

Small group or tailor made?

“What I’ve learnt over the years is that adventures bring people together and this couldn’t be truer of active adventures. There’s something about learning new things and stepping out of your comfort zones together that creates a really special bond between travellers. And that’s the big reason why everyone enjoys spending time with each other so much on these trips.” - Radek Nowak, from our multi activity holidays supplier, Intrepid

Many multi activity breaks are small group holidays. There’s usually a maximum of 16 people per group and they are a popular choice with solo travellers. As well as the camaraderie of sharing the adrenalin highs (plus the aches and pains) with your fellow travellers, joining a group of likeminded people takes the pressure off on the organisational front. Expert guides know all the secret spots and will ensure that the activities run smoothly and that everyone gets the most out of the experience. Being part of a guided group allows you to hike in remote regions safe in the knowledge that routes and equipment have been tried and tested.

The advantage of taking a tailor made tour is that the range of activities can be selected and tweaked to suit you and any other members of your group. You choose where you’re going, where you want to stay and the activities you would like to do and then hand the organisation over to your tour operator. This option works particularly well when you have young children, need more privacy as a family and don’t want to worry about keeping up with a group when little legs get tired.

Where will I stay?

If you like to come home to familiar comforts after a day’s adventure, a centre based holiday lets you can take part in a different activity every day but return to the same place at night. This allows plenty of time for outdoorsy fun, without the hassle of packing and unpacking every day or two. You’ll have your own room and access to facilities such as a restaurant and, especially in the case of winter breaks, a sauna or a hot tub.

Alternatively, you could choose a trip that takes you from place to place. You’ll stay in a variety of accommodation, such as guest houses, wilderness huts, homestays or campsites, usually with your bags being transferred for you, as you make your way to your next stop on foot, by bike or over water. On our more challenging multi activity holidays you might have to carry your belongings yourself, particularly in remote areas. Opt for a camping trip and you and your fellow trip mates should be prepared to pitch in and help the guide set up and take down the camp, but that’s all part of the bonding experience.