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Walking and cycling holidays at your own pace
Date Added: April 16, 2012 12:29:57 PM
Author: joe ellis
Category: Recreation & Sports: Travel: Destinations

Travel guides and enthusiasts will often say walking can be the best way to explore a city, region or indeed a whole country. You can do the same while cycling, just a little quicker. No wonder then that walking and cycling holidays continue to grow in popularity. Spending two weeks sizzling in the sun might be relaxing to some (potentially painful for others!). But lazing on a beach doesn’t get you in touch with the heart and soul of your chosen destination. There’s something deeply therapeutic and rewarding about venturing out on your own two feet. Or indeed-two wheels. Unearthing hidden gems while on foot or being propelled by pedal power is catching on. And it seems you don’t have to be able to run marathons or have cycled the Tour De France to join in. No, all you need are broad horizons, enthusiasm and preferably some comfortable shoes. Although for luxury trips you might be able to get away with wearing high heels! From then on you set the pace that best suits your level of endurance. So, whether you’re trekking in the Tirol, pottering about in the Pyrenees or tearing down a slope in San Gimignano-get on your bike or start walking! Plotting a course on walking and cycling holidays It doesn’t matter whether you have no sense of direction or if you claim to be a map expert: walking and cycling holidays let you choose how you want to plot your own course. Want to wind up back where you started? Perhaps you’d enjoy the freedom to take a load off whenever it suits you? Then a centre-based holiday is probably your best bet. You’ll have the independence to explore nearby towns and villages in your own time. Once you’ve finished the day’s sojourns, it’s back to base camp for a delicious meal and a refreshing glass of wine. Alternatively, a guided holiday allows you to follow an itinerary but puts someone else in charge of showing the way. Its self-guided counterpart, on the other hand, lets you go it alone and provides comprehensive maps and your destination. If you do forget your bearings, wandering around the islands of Bermuda amongst hidden sea grottoes and historical fortsisn’t a bad way to lose yourself. Of course, for calf-busting treks up mountains and challenging cycle routes, there are other options available. Maps come in handy,however a certain level of fitnessis essential! Unrivalled destination variety with walking and cycling holidays You know, there’s more to walking and cycling holidays than a quick drinks break at an exquisite cafe in the French Alps. Although that’s a pleasant enough diversion for most travellers, not all walks, treks or rides have to be so gentle. Neither do they have to be European-based, for that matter. Satisfy your passion for wildlife with an unforgettable walk through the forests of Costa Rica. If you’d prefer, experience the contrasts of Chile, from the vineyards of Patagonia to the high altitude of Atacama. Just because you haven’t done any exercise since secondary school shouldn’t put you off a walking or cycling holiday. Conversely, fitness enthusiasts needn’t think that the experience will be too sedate. The trick is to find a holiday that suits your own pace. The fun part is then choosing where you want to go!