| Wherever your lust for travel and adventure may | | | | not going to dissolve when you come face to |
| lead, it is smart to book with an established tour | | | | face with them! Do you dream of a mountain bike |
| company. Going it alone can be an exciting | | | | tour through U.S. National Parks, or scuba diving |
| fantasy, but in practice may not be so easy to | | | | the Great Barrier Reef? Wildlife and bird-watching |
| pull off and you can't learn everything from a | | | | tours are very popular, whether you choose an |
| book. Tour companies hire experienced guides to | | | | overland safari, trek through the mountains, or |
| make the experience easier and more enjoyable - | | | | bird-watching tour in Panama. |
| and bonuses like keeping you away from pretty | | | | Choosing the best time of year to travel will |
| but potentially unfriendly plants and bugs! | | | | obviously depend on which hemisphere you are |
| Much as you might fancy yourself as Indiana | | | | heading for, and what you hope to see and |
| Jones, donning the same outfit will not turn you | | | | experience. Another vital part of planning an |
| into a super hero overnight. The average traveller, | | | | adventure sports holiday is taking out adequate |
| spending most of the year desk-bound, is unlikely | | | | travel insurance to cover all the activities you |
| to have the stamina or savvy to survive an | | | | intend to participate in. Insurance policies vary and |
| adventure holiday unscathed without the benefit | | | | the activities you have planned may only be |
| of an experienced guide. Potential hazards could | | | | covered on an incidental or casual basis (i.e. not |
| include nasty stomach bugs, stings and bites, | | | | the main purpose of the holiday, such as a safari |
| altitude sickness, heatstroke, or worse. Be honest, | | | | or sailing holiday). Check the policy wording |
| how well would you cope on the other side of the | | | | carefully, and make sure the levels of cover are |
| world, away from your mobile phone, PC, email, | | | | suitable - especially the medical cover. If in doubt, |
| and all the gadgets you rely on in your comfort | | | | call and ask. Tropical destinations may mean |
| zone? An adventure sports holiday exists for just | | | | exposure to extreme heat and humidity. |
| about any place on earth and any activity. | | | | Horse trekking could leave you feeling as sore and |
| Trekking holidays come in various levels of | | | | bandy as John Wayne. An inshore sailing trip of |
| difficulty, so choose the one that suits your ability. | | | | the Mediterranean coast may look idyllic - as you |
| Be brutally honest with yourself about your level | | | | picture yourself lounging glamorously on the |
| of fitness and schedule a health check with your | | | | foredeck in your bikini - but what if you get |
| GP before booking. How well you do will depend | | | | sea-sick and end up with serious dehydration? |
| largely on the terrain and grades, as well as the | | | | Chances are that nothing negative will ruin your |
| altitude, temperature and weather. For instance, | | | | trip, but if the worst should happen you will be |
| would you want to carry your own backpack up | | | | glad to have the peace of mind of travel |
| a steep grade? Would you prefer an easier tour, | | | | insurance - and a 24-hour emergency number to |
| with some tea and sympathy - and a Sherpa? | | | | call for help. If your trip might include winter |
| Perhaps trekking in a tropical rainforest, Hawaiian | | | | sports like skiing, boarding, dog-sledding or |
| volcano, or the Iguaçu Falls of Latin | | | | snowshoeing, always check whether winter sports |
| America is your dream? Maybe scuba diving in | | | | cover is included in your travel insurance policy. It |
| Belize, horse riding in Costa Rica, or glacier | | | | doesn't cost much to add, and the benefits are |
| trekking in Patagonia is more your style. Are you | | | | well worth it - considering a broken leg while skiing |
| terrified of spiders and snakes? Your fears are | | | | in Colorado could set you back £20,000+. |