Hungry for adventure? Europe’s diverse landscapes, eerie history and natural wonders are enough to satisfy every thrill-seeking traveller. Here, we present the best adventure holidays to put on your travel wish-list this year.
Explore the remains of Chernobyl in Ukraine
Not for the faint-hearted, a guided tour of Chernobyl should be on every adventurer’s bucket list. Since exploding in 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine is now one of the most radioactive places on Earth.
Join a guided tour of the area surrounding the exclusion zone, taking in the power plant itself, Kopachi Village and the infamous Reactor 4. You can also soak up the silence of Pripyat town, which is now completely desolate, walking past collapsed schools, hospitals and derelict cinemas.
Don’t worry: visiting the area is safe. However, you will be asked to avoid touching anything while you’re there, and to wash or throw away your clothes after visiting.
Go snowmobiling in Finnish Lapland
Experience the soothing stillness of Finnish lapland at wintertime, and get involved in an array of winter activities that make the most of the region’s thick carpet of snow.
Snowmobiling, one of Finland’s traditional modes of transport, is an absolute must. Not only is it a great way of exploring the snowy landscape without getting tired, but it also allows you to travel great distances in a short time, giving you the chance to see and experience more on your Finnish adventure holiday.
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Try white-water rafting in Bovec, Slovenia
Blessed with outstanding natural beauty, snow-capped mountains and crashing rivers, Slovenia is the perfect backdrop for an action-packed adventure holiday.
Bovec, an unspoilt mountain town in the north, is a great place to start. Zip-lining, mountain biking and trekking are all possible here, but white-water rafting is particularly popular.
Raft down the beautiful turquoise Soča River on your next adventure holiday, soaking up the spectacular scenery and fresh mountain air as you go.
Go mountain-biking in Devin, Bulgaria
A melting pot of natural beauty and age-old traditions, there’s more to Bulgaria than first meets the eye.
Outside the bustling cities, the landscape is blessed with lakes, mountains, meadows and caves – the perfect playground for outdoorsy types on the hunt for an adventure.
The tranquil spa town of Devin in the south of Bulgaria is a great place to base yourself. When you’re not indulging in luxuriant spa treatments, explore the dense green forest on two wheels, taking in crashing waterfalls and the Rodopi Mountains’ major caves: Trigrad and Yagodina.
Step back in time in Azerbaijan and Georgia
Situated at the cultural crossroad where Europe and Asia meet, Azerbaijan and Georgia are countries of confusing contrasts and bewildering beauty.
These post-soviet countries are known for their ancient empires and rich historical narratives, while the landscapes’ lush green valleys and snow-capped mountains make them a perfect playground for explorers.
On your travels, be sure to visit Mtskheta City in Georgia – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Located just 20km from Tbilisi, the ancient monuments and historic churches sprawled across Mtskheta have made it onto UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
Discover ancient ruins in Albania
Head off the beaten track this year to Albania, a small Balkan country which was closed to outsiders for much of the 20th century.
After opening its doors to tourists in 1991, the country’s stunning mountain scenery, crumbling castles and dreamy beaches are starting to make a name for themselves.
In-between exploring the mountain landscapes, waterfalls and medieval towns, head to the south to discover Europe’s best-kept secret: the ancient ruins at Butrint.
Inhabited since pre-historic times, this UNESCO World Heritage site is thought by many to be one of the finest ancient cities in Europe!
Climb Europe’s largest volcano in Sicily
It doesn’t get much more adventurous than trekking the largest and most active volcano in Europe!
Having been erupting for the past 3,500 years, Mount Etna in Sicily has a rich and tumultuous history and continues to expel ash plumes and streams of lava to this day.
Climb to the top to see the crater and soak up the incredible views over the island of Sicily.
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