Have a homespun adventure: Save time and money by swapping long-haul travels for UK breaks
Five ways to get your pulse racing without breaking the bank
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Your support makes all the difference.From bamboo rafting in Thailand to bungee jumping in New Zealand, epic adventures can end up costing the earth. But switch from a long-haul destination to a UK spot and they don’t have to. You can save money and travelling time by choosing a homespun adventure - without sacrificing any enjoyment.
Feet first
Any adventurer worth their Himalayan rock salt has got trekking in Nepal on their bucket list - but a 10-day trip there will cost upwards of £1,200pp and take around 13 hours to reach from the UK. Closer to home, Maximum Adventure (maximumadventure.com) offers guided one-day ascents to the summit of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Prices start at £199pp including two nights’ B&B.
Catch a wave
With its long sandy beaches and perfect peeling waves, Australia’s Gold Coast is a surfer’s paradise... so much so that that's even the name of a seaside suburb. Flights alone will set you back around £800, with at least one stop along the way and an average travelling time of more than 24 hours, so why not try Surf Snowdonia (surfsnowdonia.co.uk) instead? The inland surfing facility in North Wales has a machine beneath the 300-metre-long lagoon, which produces a glassy wave every minute with different sizes suitable for every ability. Lessons start from £30, and accommodation in an on-site camping pod costs from £25pp, B&B (based on four sharing).
Hunt the Lights
Iceland’s Northern Lights are something to behold - but you’re looking at around £800 for a three-night escorted break including flights. An alternative is to try glamping beneath the International Dark Sky Park in Northumberland, England’s top spot to see the Aurora. You can even glimpse the Milky Way and distant galaxies with the help of the telescopes at Kielder Observatory (kielderobservatory.org), Britain’s largest public observatory. Canopy & Stars (canopyandstars.co.uk) offers self-catering stays in shepherds' huts within the Dark Sky Reserve from £90 per night; Hesleyside Huts, in Hexham, sleep two and come complete with king-sized beds, log burners - and a stash of binoculars and star-gazing books.
Raft up
A white water rafting trip to Idaho’s Salmon River is a must for fans of the sport - yet a six-day trip costs around £1,400, excluding the 20-hour flights, which add a further £750. Happily, Lee Valley (gowhitewater.co.uk), in Hertfordshire, offers a similar thrill for a slice of the price. Don a wetsuit and strap on a helmet as you splash down the rapids that hosted the London 2012 Olympic Games, with a guide helping you navigate the drops and eddies. A three-hour group experience costs from £50pp.
Pedal power
When the snow melts, Whistler is a mountain biker’s playground. It’s a 77-mile drive on top of a 10-hour flight to Vancouver, and a week with guiding, flights and accommodation works out at around £1,500pp. So look no further than the Scottish Highlands. Wilderness Scotland (wildernessscotland.com) has a new, five-night mountain biking trip from Fort William to Inverness. Highlights include pedalling stretches of the recently re-opened Caledonia Way and speeding down trails in the Leanachan Forest, home of the Mountain Bike World Cup. The price of £995pp includes five nights’ B&B, guiding, entry fees, some meals, ride support and luggage transfers. Departures on 28 May and 9 July.
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