Some holidays are about switching off. Others are about doing something you will remember for the rest of your life. If you are looking for an adventure that takes you somewhere extraordinary, challenges you in completely different ways and gives you stories to tell for years afterwards, these three should be high on your list.
- Husky Sledding in Lapland
There are few more magical ways to experience winter than travelling through the snowy wilderness of Finnish Lapland behind a team of eager huskies.
Forget crowded ski resorts and busy pistes. Here, the landscape is almost completely silent. Snow-covered forests stretch into the distance, frozen lakes disappear beneath a blanket of white and, if you are lucky, the Northern Lights may dance across the sky overhead.
The adventure begins when you meet your husky team. The dogs are energetic, friendly and clearly delighted to be heading out. Once the sled is moving, the only sounds are the rhythmic panting of the dogs and the runners gliding across the snow.
Longer husky safaris take you deep into the wilderness, often stopping at remote cabins where you can warm up around a fire and enjoy traditional Lappish food. It is an experience that feels wonderfully removed from modern life.
Lapland is particularly special because there is so much more to do once you arrive. You can combine husky sledding with snowshoeing, reindeer rides, cross-country skiing and exhilarating snowmobile trips. And then there is the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.
For families, Lapland offers the perfect combination of adventure and magic. For adults, there is something equally appealing about escaping into a pristine winter landscape where the pace of life suddenly slows down.
- Trek to Everest Base Camp
For something altogether more epic, few journeys can compete with trekking to Everest Base Camp.
You do not need to be a mountaineer to take on the challenge. The trek is a long-distance hiking adventure through the spectacular Khumbu region of Nepal, following trails that have been used by generations of Sherpa people and climbers heading towards the world’s highest mountain.
The journey is as important as the destination. Starting in the mountain town of Lukla, the trail winds through traditional villages, suspension bridges and rhododendron forests before gradually climbing into the high Himalayas. Along the way, you encounter colourful prayer flags, Buddhist monasteries and spectacular mountain scenery at almost every turn.
As you climb higher, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic. Peaks such as Ama Dablam, Lhotse and, eventually, Everest itself dominate the horizon.
The trek is physically demanding, but that is part of what makes reaching Base Camp so rewarding. The days involve several hours of walking, with altitude making even relatively straightforward climbs feel considerably harder. Rest days and a sensible pace are essential.
Eventually, after days of trekking, you reach Everest Base Camp itself. Standing beneath the world’s highest mountain, surrounded by enormous Himalayan peaks, is a genuinely humbling experience.
And there is no need to rush away. The journey back provides a chance to appreciate the landscapes from a completely different perspective – and perhaps celebrate with a well-earned meal and drink when you finally return to civilisation.
This is a holiday for anyone who wants to achieve something rather than simply visit somewhere. You come home tired, fitter, slightly sunburnt and with an incredible story.
- Sail Around the British Virgin Islands
If the idea of adventure sounds more appealing when accompanied by warm sunshine, turquoise water and a cold drink on deck, set your sights on the British Virgin Islands.
A sailing trip around the BVI is one of the world’s great island-hopping adventures. The distances are short, the sailing is generally straightforward and there is an extraordinary variety of islands, beaches, restaurants and secluded anchorages to discover.
The beauty of chartering a yacht or catamaran is that you can create your own itinerary. Wake up at Norman Island, sail across to Peter Island for a morning swim, stop for lunch somewhere beautiful and then head towards Cooper Island or Virgin Gorda for the evening.
One day might be spent snorkelling over colourful reefs; the next could involve exploring hidden beaches or hiking to spectacular viewpoints. You can drop anchor in a quiet bay, paddle ashore on a tender and have an entire stretch of sand almost to yourself.
The BVI is also made for life on the water. With warm seas, reliable trade winds and relatively short passages between islands, you can spend plenty of time sailing without feeling as though the holiday has become an endurance test.
And then there are the evenings. As the sun drops below the horizon, the boat becomes your own private balcony overlooking the Caribbean. Dinner on deck, warm air, gently moving water and a sky full of stars is a pretty hard way to end a day.
What makes these three holidays so compelling is that they offer completely different kinds of adventure. Lapland delivers winter magic, Everest offers an extraordinary personal challenge, while the BVI combines exploration with the ultimate sense of freedom.
The common thread is simple: none of them feels like an ordinary holiday. They are experiences you actively participate in – and memories that are likely to last much longer than the tan.