Unexpected Adventures

If you love adventure travel and fancy yourself a bit of a Bear Grylls wannabe (minus the outrageously extreme nature challenges), you don’t necessarily have to find the most obscure, dangerous and uncharted country in the world to get your adventure fix. Here are a few countries which unexpectedly serve up a big dose of excitement.

- Slovakia – Slovakia was recently rated #1 new adventure travel destination amongst a group of developing countries, and is famous for its mountainous terrain. Extremely cheap skiing and snowboarding packages are an opportunity you must take up, as well as week-long mountaineering and hiking trips through the magnificent Carpathian Mountains.

- France – France isn’t just a place for shopping, wine and art galleries. France offers plenty for those who like to adventure travel in style. There are cycling tours around the French countryside and mountains. Destinations include the Loire Valley, with visits to castles, vineyards, and fine dining along the way, or follow in the bicycle tracks of the Tour de France on a week-long Epic Cycling Climbs Trip, previously voted ‘World's Best New Adventure Travel Trip’ by National Geographic. There are flights to Paris on most major airlines from anywhere in Europe, so make sure to set aside some time for romance.

- Greece – If you’re sick of sunbathing on the beach, Greece is also a great adventure travel destination. Almost every area in Greece offers camping, and the country’s hilly terrain makes it perfect for hiking. Corfu Island has long hiking trails with breathtaking views of ancient monasteries and natural landscapes. The Mediterranean Sea is also perfect for water sports. There are daily cheap international flights to Athens from major cities around the world, and Greece’s bus and ferry network connects almost every town and island throughout the country.

What are some of your favourite ways to get the adrenaline pumping when you’re travelling?