DESTINATIONS ALTERNATIVE OUTDOORS | ACTIVE & ADVENTURE 7 BEST OF THE REST
Swim in Switzerland Wild swimming has become the trend du jour in Switzerland over recent years – the annual Lake Zurich crossing (normally) attracts up to 9,000 swimmers – and at the heart of the scene is the Aare River in Bern. Suggest a weekend break to this picturesque medieval city for clients wanting to join the locals on a summertime dip in the clear, glacial meltwater as they glide past the charming Altstadt (old town).
WALK THE QUIETER CAMINO For clients who like stepping out, few tracks are quite as epic as the Camino de Santiago, the network of ancient pilgrimage routes in Spain and Portugal that date back more than 1,000 years and are now a go-to for hikers spiritual or not. While the majority opt for a section of the Camino Frances, the best-known of the routes, there are plenty of alternatives. Direct clients wanting quieter paths to the likes of the Camino Primitivo, the Camino Portugues or the Camino del Norte, where they’ll find all the history, scenery
and rural tranquillity for which the routes are renowned but without the crowds. Book it: Camino Ways offers a seven-night self-guided trip along the final 70 miles of the Camino Portugues from €621, including B&B accommodation and route maps (luggage transfers extra).
caminoways.com
Hike and horse ride in Morocco Scenic villages, traditional Berber culture and dramatic peaks give the High Atlas Mountains legendary status. For active types wanting to explore, suggest Intrepid Travel’s hike, bike and horse ride trip, which takes guests cycling in Marrakech, hiking in the mountains and horse riding on the beach in Essaouira, hoofs kicking up the sand as they trot along the shore.
Go bear-spotting in Romania If the call of the wild has captured clients’ imaginations during lockdown, the Carpathian Mountains could be the answer. Stretching from the Czech Republic to Romania, the peaks are home to 43% of Europe’s bear population. Explore has a three-night Transylvania Long Weekend trip combining evening sightings of these elusive creatures with visits to castles and cultural musings in this oft-underrated country.
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GO ROCK-CLIMBING IN CROATIA Croatia might have a reputation for sugar-sand beaches and castaway islands, but it’s not only the coastline that appeals. Paklenica National Park, just north of Zadar, is one of Europe’s premier rock-climbing grounds, with dramatic canyon walls and limestone karst formations creating an ideal playground for the daring (there’s a formidable 712m-rockface among the offerings). For those wanting to combine it with other outdoor pursuits, Neilson’s Alana Beachclub lies just around the corner and offers rock-climbing experiences in the
park, as well as lessons at its indoor climbing wall. Book it: A week at Alana Beachclub starts at £735, based on two sharing on a club-board basis, including activities, transfers and flights from Stansted on October 3, 2021.
neilson.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
16 JULY 2020
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PICTURES: Shutterstock/KE Adventure Travel; CJ Hopgood
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