London - Get fit, lose weight… new year resolutions rarely last. What’s needed is a little inspiration to keep us going. Adventure holidays can do just that by putting fun at the forefront of fitness. Stick to your new year resolutions with one of these adventure fitness trips (all prices quotes are based on departures from London).
Mountain bike the Yukon
In the wild north-west of Canada pedal on more than 800km of mountain trails that surround the region’s capital city of Whitehorse. Stay in luxury yurts and dine on home-cooked Yukon food.
H&I Adventures Mountain Biking Worldwide (see mountainbikeworldwide.com) offers an eight-day Yukon mountain biking trip; the price of £1 600 (R22 375) includes guiding, accommodation and all meals; flights not included. Departs July 14 and August 11.
Kayak the coast of Scotland
Kayaking is excellent upper-body exercise and this new trip on the northern section of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail – Europe’s only long-distance sea kayak route – explores the wild, unspoilt coastline of Scotland’s north-west coast. Stay in local family-run guesthouses by night.
Wilderness Scotland (wildernessscotland.com) has a seven-day Scottish sea kayak trail from £895 (R12 520). The price includes guiding, equipment, B&B accommodation and daily packed lunches. Departures between June and September.
Freedive the Red Sea
Freediving conditions the body and relaxes the mind, as you focus on holding your breath underwater rather than relying on scuba gear or a snorkel. Learn the techniques as you explore the underwater world of the Red Sea in Dahab, Egypt.
The company Active Adventures (activeadventures.co.uk) offers an eight-day freediving trip. The price of £456 (R6 510) includes B&B accommodation, a four-day certified advanced freediving course and all equipment. Flights to Egypt are not included.
Hike to Everest Base Camp
Walking is one of the best low-impact exercises, and there are increased benefits to fitness from training at altitude. Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s first ascent of Everest with a trip to Everest Base Camp. Spend a night in Tenzing’s village and visit the school in Khumjung that Hillary founded.
The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk) is offering the 18-day Everest 60th anniversary trip for £1 959 (R30 000), including flights, B&B accommodation, guides and porters. Departs May 24.
Rock climb in Thailand
Rock climbing is a great total body workout that requires skill, as well as physical and mental strength. From Railay, on the west coast of Thailand, scale some of the world’s best climbing cliffs straight from the beach.
Combine expert tuition from local guides with pampering in a world-class spa.
Adventure Temples (adventuretemples.com) offers an eight-day climbing trip from £2 495, including flights, B&B accommodation at the Rayavadee resort, a three-day climbing course and a spa treatment.
Snow yoga
Work mind, body and soul while hitting the slopes. Expert-led morning and evening yoga sessions – specially designed for skiers and snowboarders – bookend strenuous days on the pistes of La Rosière, France.
Adventure Yogi (adventureyogi.com) has an eight-day snow yoga trip. The price of £650 (R9 100) includes half board, local transport, twice-daily yoga sessions and a ski guide for three days. Flights, ski passes and equipment not included. Departs March 9.
Swim the Virgin Islands
Stay in a resort on the marina of Virgin Gorda and explore about 5km of warm open water each day.
Swim Trek (swimtrek.com) offers the seven-day BVI swim trek trip for £1 200 (R16 800), including half board, swim guides and the services of a safety boat. Flights not included. Departs March 23 and 29.
Run the Himalayas
Spend a week running expedition-style, village to village, from the foothills of Helambu, near Kathmandu in Nepal, to the holy lakes of Gosainkunda. You’ll cover 88km on foot, retreating to family-run tea-houses each night.
Wide Open Trails (wideopentrails.com) offers the 10-day Helambu and Gosainkunda trip from £1 595 (R22 330), including half board, transport and running guides. Flights not included.
Snowshoe the Pyrenees
KE Adventures (keadventure.com) has an eight-day central Pyrenees snowshoe trip based at the spa town of Luchon, with easy access to a wealth of superb snowshoe day walks. The price of £695 (R9 730) includes accommodation, equipment, most meals and an expert guide. Travel to France not included. Departs January 20 and February 10.
Kite surf Mauritius
Le Morne in Mauritius is one of the best places in the world for kite surfing, and the newly opened St Regis Mauritius Resort is minutes away from the best breaks. It’s also home to the world’s first luxury kite surf school.
Luxury Holidays Direct (luxuryholidaysdirect.com) offers an eight-day trip to the St Regis Mauritius resort. The price of £1 619 (R22 700) includes flights and half board. Private two-hour kite surf lessons cost £150 (R2 145) (stregismauritius.com). – The Independent on Sunday
* See South African websites nomadicadventures.co.za and divelocker.co.za for adventure tours.