5 Ways To Bust Out Of Your Travel Comfort Zone
Go on, have an adventure.
Samuel Wynn’s life is a story for the ages, a tale of adventure, daring, risk and reward. His wines are but a taste of that story. Discover the full collection in stores now.
As far as holidays go, lying on a beach, cocktail in one hand, book in another and doing little else can’t really be faulted.
And while we all require a considerable amount of R&R during those four glorious weeks of annual leave, holidays that leave us questioning (in the best way possible) the meaning of life and/or the limits of human achievement can be just as good – sometimes even better – for the soul.
Next time you catch the travel bug, use this list of horizon-expanding, comfort zone-destroying getaways as inspiration for a trip you may not otherwise take. You may never look at the classic beach holiday the same way again.
#1 Night Volcano Trekking, Indonesia
Indonesia is nothing if not versatile – head to the island of Bali for a week and you can eat, pray and even love. But the road less-travelled in Indonesia holds something even more scintillating than a self-help-book-turned-movie in store: volcanoes, obviously.
Indonesia is an archipelago situated on the confluence of tectonic plates, which, for the adventurous traveller, means there are hundreds of volcanoes (active and otherwise) to explore.
Climb Mount Batur on the island of Bali at night, underneath a totally unblemished sky, and catch a perfect sunrise through the surrounding clouds; for a trail that’s clear of tourists, check out the active volcano Kawah Ijen in East Java and spot its famous electric blue flames.
#2 Wilderness Camping, Australia
It’s not uncommon for Australians to travel the world before thoroughly exploring their own backyard for all its eye-opening experiences. Our very own Northern Territory is a quick flight away, yet seems almost otherworldly in terms of its offerings.
Lorella Springs is one such pocket of the NT, where you can be completely transported to an untouched, remote world of gorges, rivers and even open savannah – all without renewing your passport.
Twice the size of the ACT, the Kingdom of Lorella beckons travellers looking to escape the beaten path and test their camping abilities in outback-prepared vehicles.
#3 Canyoning, Morocco
If the rock-climbing wall at your local gym is feeling a little easy, look to the Middle and High Atlas Mountains in Morocco for your next fix.
Frequent travellers will be familiar with the sensory overload guaranteed by Morocco’s big cities, but those who stray from the tourist trail will be rewarded with lesser-known natural assets, like fertile prairies, brilliant blue water holes, waterfalls and stunning rock formations.
A canyoning tour of Morocco will appeal to adrenaline junkies and nature lovers in equal measure. Explore rivers and cascades in the Azilal province, canyon down through Ouzoud Falls, and if there’s still fuel left in the tank, trek around El Ouidane, one of the biggest lakes in Morocco.
#4 The Yukon River Quest, Canada
Who doesn’t want to combine seeing some of the most pristine landscapes in North America with a gruelling test of physical endurance at least once in their life?
The Yukon River Quest is the world’s longest annual canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard race, stretching 715 kilometres from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada.
The Race To The Midnight Sun is not for the faint of heart or mind: time spent paddling on the Yukon can be as much as three days – staying awake is almost as challenging as the race itself.
Of course, the eventual payoff (along with bragging rights) makes this feat worth it. Just make sure you hit the gym a few times in the lead-up.
#5 Gorge Swinging, Zambia
Sure, you could travel to the African continent and keep your feet planted firmly on the ground.
Alternatively, you could free fall for over 50 meters through a very real, very large gorge in Zambia, humming Nelly Furtado’s I’m Like A Bird the entire time.
Gorge swinging, zip lining and rap jumping are popular tourist pursuits in Zambia, attracting thrill seekers/people who love jumping off cliffs from all over the world. We can’t guarantee you won’t fear for your life, but the views will be spectacular.
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Samuel Wynn & Co wines are born of exploration. Find out more here.