Europe is an extremely diverse continent, a continent of rich history, culture and landscapes. But best of all it is home to a huge variety of adventure travel experiences. From trekking and biking to canoeing and water rafting, it has something for everyone.
Below are some of the top adventure travel Europe experiences:
1. Trekking in the Tatra Mountains, Poland - Registered on UNESCO's list of Biosphere Reserves, Tatra National Parks located in the southern part of Poland, and encompasses both Polish and Slovakian parts of the range. Well developed for hikers and winters sports enthusiasts, it is also the largest alpine-type massif in Central Europe with Mt Rysy (2499m) as its Polish high point. In the summertime, hiking, biking, and mountaineering are popular pursuits, whilst winter sports provide the action when the snows arrive. A week could easily be spent walking trails in the High Tatra.
2. Rafting the River Spey, Scotland - Activities, and leisure opportunities are in abundance on the River Spey and in its surrounding area. If you're an adventurous thrill seeker then you'd be crazy to miss the chance to canoe or whitewater raft down the rapids of this fastest flowing river in Scotland for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Or for those seeking more leisurely pursuits there's fishing and fly fishing as the river is renowned for its excellent trout and salmon, or hike the Speyside Way trail which follows the river through lush beautiful forest and mountains.
3. Horse ride on native ponies, Iceland - Explore the vast wilderness of this beautiful country aboard a native Icelandic pony.
4. Enjoy winter activities, Norway - Try your hand at snowmobile rides or dog sledding in a winter wonderland. Also with wide spaces of wilderness, some 22 National Parks, and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Norway is rich in culture, fantastic cuisine and no end of activities from hiking and skiing, to snorkeling orca and swimming with salmon.
5. Explore the breathtaking Pyrenees, France - Popular for walking and trekking the Pyrenees are crisscrossed with trails for walkers and mountain biking. Two of the most challenging is the Haute RandoneePyrenee, and the GR10 from Hendaye to Banyuls. The largest ski area in the Pyrenees stretches from La MongietoBareges and offers those who love winter-sports many opportunities for skiing and snowboarding. Both Cauterets and La Pierre Saint Martin have Nordic ski runs for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Alternatively, you could go to Issarbe, where you can enjoy dog sledding.
Author: Hannah L Green