The season of vacations is here and everyone is planning their kind of getaways. While some of us look for a calm and relaxing place to reconnect with their inner self, others look for that rush of the thrill to make their hearts go all Vin Diesel on his Impala.
Adventure trips undoubtedly create the most memorable vacation moments and there are many options available from bungee jumping to paragliding. However, an adventure trip requires a lot of careful planning. So before you go all Vin Diesel (or any of your famous action heroes), here is a checklist for that perfectly safe and fun filled adventure trip.
Who are you traveling with
You need to design your activities keeping in mind your travel partner. Traveling solo, with your partner, friends or family? Knowing exactly who is going to be with you on your trip will help you figure out what you need to plan for. If you are traveling with elderly parent or kids in the group, it is advised that your adventure activities should be less exhausting. Also, you need to carefully pack your travel medicine supplies , right snacks for kids for the travel and all the travel products that kids need, and your own outdoor travel gears when planning outdoor adventure with kids.
Pack light (The biggest mantra of all)
I don’t really need to tell you to pack light. This one is definitely the most important aspect of a hassle free travel. To travel comfortably, packing light and packing smart is the most crucial thing. Prepare a packing list beforehand, stick to it and then re-evaluate to see if you really need as much as you have packed. Pack for the kind of place you are headed to. Your research will help you figure out your checklist. Here’s a quick list of what I always carry in my backpack:
Warm clothes (a jacket or a flee), light and easy-to-dry wear trousers, water bottle, first-aid kit (make sure you carry your prescription if you have any), a rain-cover, torchlight, camera, safety equipment and GPS (depending upon the activities I plan to do; only required for extreme adventure sports mostly).
Related read : What to pack for a round the world trip?
Go Google
Research! There is no getting around this. You can break down your research to these three simple steps:
1. The place(s) you want to go.
2. The activities (what exactly you want to do).
3. Budget.
You can plan your trip depending upon your budget or by picking the adventure activity you want to participate in.
Once you have short-listed the places you want to go to and the things you want to do, you need to sort out your accommodation and transport as per your preference and budget. With the internet, there is plenty of information to plan exactly what you want and how you want it. Once you are set with destination, logistics etc., narrow down your options and pre-book the accommodation, tickets and (if there is) your activity slot to avoid any last minute hassles.
That’s half your trip planned already.
Check your fitness levels
How many ambitious souls have jumped the gun and rushed off on an adventure only to return home with bruised egos and knees? Be realistic about your fitness levels. Allow yourself time to train and to attain the best possible fitness level before embarking on physically demanding activities. Prep especially for the terrain you’ll be in – high altitude, choppy waters, hot and arid rocky areas etc.
Ask for help!
The best advice comes from those who’ve been there and done that. Get on to travel forums, ask for advice, read up reviews and suggestions from those who’ve gone before you. Sometimes you might want to even take small courses to prepare well for your adventure trips like snowboarding, skating, surfing etc. For instance, If you or your teen are new to the sport, learn how to SUP before you go on your trip with this handy guide. You’ll be surprised at how many tiny but amazingly helpful hints you’ll receive. And if you find nothing, just contact Soul Trails and I will plan it all for you. (:
Now, what are you waiting for? Do some research, ask your friends, book your tickets, pack your bag and go make your life a grand adventure!
PS: An easy way to add a little adventure to any trip you take is by living like a local! This includes eating foods native to the area, staying in accommodations the locals in and more. Vacation rentals are an easy, affordable way to do this, especially when traveling with friends. Well known companies such as AirBNB offer this accommodation, but area specific companies like CasaGo, or Vacation Rentals India are also a great options.
About the Author
Meet Utkarsh! He wanted to live stories ever since he was put to sleep with the tale of The Little Red Riding Hood. The roads became his home as he continued collecting stories hopping from one place to another. When not traveling or writing in his journal, you will find him planning his next trip, daydreaming about places and people he left behind or just pondering over art or meaning of life in general. He quit his job to travel to and write about the magical lands he visits. He is currently living in New Delhi with his beloved camera and books.
To find out more about Utkarsh and his stories, check his blog out at www.thesoultrails.com
You can also follow him on Instagram at thesoultrails and on Facebook at Soul Trails.
When you walk alone, eat alone, take trains and planes alone, you just learn to believe that the kindness of strangers is sometimes more valuable than the insecurity of long lasting relationships.
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Each advice is on point, something that I’d probably tell anyone who would ask. I’m just really bad at packing light. For some reason, it makes me uncomfortable if I only bring a few stuff. But the rest, I definitely agree. When it comes to doing activities, I always make sure that I can do. I don’t venture into anything in which I am not that confident to do. I do like taking on challenges but I also know my limitations.
I can very much relate to the “not being able to pack light” point. Ever since we had our kid join us in this world, and into the trips, it has been impossible to pack light, even if we pack the minimal for ourselves 🙂
simply great..i loved the detailed write-up,
Ah, the packing light, one of the things that I am really not good at. I can do it, but it makes me feel like I have left some essentials at home. But I do know that not having a heavy bag makes a ton of difference in traveling. It does make things movement easier. I am just bad at it because I like having things that I need.
It comes with practice Marge. I was there at some point, now I am better but still not totally where I want to be 🙂