beat the brochure

Let’s face it. Not all of us are the sort of people who have the guts to jump out of a plane or throw ourselves head first off a cliff with just a flimsy rope attached to our feet. But just because you have a fear of dying does not mean that you should be banished to the poolside with the grannies and kids whilst everyone else has adrenaline fuelled fun. So if you want to get your blood rushing a bit, have some cool stories to tell your mates and actually survive the experience, why not try one of these less dangerous but just as enjoyable activities on your next holiday:

Camel Safari in Egypt

A ride on a camel is a real rush. OK, it might not sound like it, but anyone who has ridden one will tell you that these animals are a bit unpredictable and very, very stubborn. So rather than visiting the touristy areas of Egypt by coach or car, take to the sand on the back of your very own camel. Camel safaris are available in many areas of the country and allow you to access places that cars cannot reach. You could even decide to camp out under the desert sky. Now that would be a venture not many people would have experienced – earning you valuable adventure points in the process.

Learn to Surf in Fuerteventura

Don’t think that you have to fly 24 hours to Australia to find the best surf spots. Instead, you could book a cheap holiday to Fuerteventura and take advantage of some of the best surfing conditions around. In the winter months, large Atlantic swells hit the coastline and for this reason the island has become a Mecca for surf enthusiasts and novices wishing to learn. Surfing is a very cool sport and once you get to grips with the basics, you’ll be able to spend all day riding the waves. This definitely qualifies as an action packed holiday. You are surfing in the sea after all – home to man eating and blood thirsty sharks (this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but definitely worth dropping into the conversation when telling friends and family.) If you kept falling off and didn’t actually manage to surf, who cares? It is the trying that counts.

White Water Rafting

Now I know what you are thinking. White water rafting? That’s a bit dangerous isn’t it? Well, if you are talking about the strongest currents in the roughest waters, then yes, it does carry a certain risk. But who said anything about that? Rafting paths present various degrees of difficulty so just pick a level that suits you. In northern Greece for example there are many options open to you, so just pick one that you feel comfortable with. Your work colleagues do not need to know that you selected the easiest level – just say you went white water rafting, who cares that you spent the entire time in tears and clinging on for dear life?

Jumping out of a plane is fine, but less adventurous activities can still be made to look more daring than they actual are – it’s all about exaggeration. A camel ride? Call it a camel safari adventure. A gentle paddle along a tranquil river? Nope, it’s extreme white water rafting. Take this advice onboard when booking your summer 2012 holiday and experience a walk on the ‘wild’ side for once in your life!