Congrats! You finally got some time and money for the vacation you long deserve. Now you’re probably thinking of the best trip you can have to just slow down, relax and unwind. What do you think of skydiving? How about scuba diving? Camping? The world is yours to explore.
Now is the right time to step out of your comfort zone and have some adventures. But if you’re not yet sure whether adventure tourism really is for you, well, then just keep on reading.
What Is Adventure Tourism?
Adventure tourism is just one of the many types of tourism. What makes adventure tourism popular nowadays especially for young age tourists is the adrenaline it gives them. The excitement, the fresh air, the green surrounding, the thrill, and the different cultures to experience are just some perks of adventure tourism.
Physical Activity, Cultural Exchange, and Activities in Nature define adventure tourism.
There’s a lot to explore in nature if you’re just willing to take the risk. Adventure tourism is a new term but the practice is something we are already familiar with.
We have been doing adventure tourism ever since humankind started to roam the earth. We go out to hunt for food so we could eat. Nature gives us adrenaline whenever we fight for our survival. This is probably why every time we go out and experience the outdoors we feel like living again.
Pros of Adventure Tourism
Good For Your Mental Health
Life is boring with your daily routine of waking up, going to work, eating, and then going home. Break this routine because it’s not good for your mental health. Notice that at some point in your life you just feel depressed and hollowed. This is mainly because of boredom.
Viktor Frankl, in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, said that boredom triggers an existential crisis. Introduce something new to your life by going for some adventures. In this way, you kill the boredom and you gain back the sense of having meaning in your life.
Also, nature is a great stress reliever. The fresh air will calm you down and ease your mind. The thrill can also help you by making you feel like living again.
Good For Your Physical Health
Physical activities are a much better way of losing weight than taking supplements or intense cardio workouts. Every activity in adventure tourism will make you sweat (tho most of the time from nervousness). Being exposed to the sun will give you lots of Vitamin D which is good for your skin. Just make sure you don’t stay too long. Physical activities can also help with blood circulation so you’ll not be at risk of heart disease or high blood or diabetes.
Gives You New Experiences
Adventure tourism is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you surely don’t want to miss. Your extreme outdoor experiences are bragging rights you can take pride in. People are always up to new experiences that will become memories they will forever treasure. If you’re looking for some memorable experiences, then go on an adventure. It will give you memories you’ll always want to look back on.
Gives You A Sense Of Accomplishment
If someone asks you what was the biggest accomplishment you had in your life you’ll have something to answer. Conquering our fears gives us a sense of accomplishment and braveness. If you can conquer bungee jumping then there’s nothing you cannot do. The difficult task you once thought was impossible, after experiencing sky diving you just see them as a piece of cake.
Build Stronger Peer Relationships
Taking adventure tourism with your friends is like going on a team-building especially if the activity you chose necessitates cooperation for your team to survive. In order to survive adventures, you will need help from your companions. After you survived every obstacle, expect to become closer to them. This is camaraderie.
Cons of Adventure Tourism
- Expensive
Activities are not free. They cost a lot because they require lots of equipment to ensure your safety. You will not only spend for the entrance fee because in some places they will ask you to pay again for the use of their paraglides or rafts. Now add your accommodation, food, and transportation fare to that expenses.
- Lots of Risks
Adventure tourism is not for people with weakened heart muscles and people dealing with anxiety because extreme activities can trigger them. Also, it’s risky in terms of location and the activity itself. Because the location of these thrilling activities is in nature, which is always in a remote area far from civilization, it will be difficult to get help if unwanted accidents happen.
- Not For People Who Want To Be Alone
People travel because they crave to be just with themselves, a me-time they say. Doing adventures all by yourself may add up to the risks above. When going on an adventure tour, it is best to have some company so you can have someone to depend on.
Adventure Activities To Try
1. Bungy Jumping
If you want to try something extreme and test your limit then you have to try bungee jumping. This activity involves you jumping from a great height such as a bridge, a tall building, or a cliff with an elastic cord attached to your feet.
- Caving
If the dark caves fascinate you then caving is a perfect adventure that you have to try. In caving, you simply explore wild cave systems. The inside of a cave is like a maze and while you’re on the exploring you’ll get to see different limestone formations.
- Paragliding
Want to know what it feels like flying? Then try paragliding. Soar high above and witness how beautiful the world is from high above. To fly, you use a paraglider which is a lightweight, free-flying, and foot-launched glider aircraft.
- Trekking
Breathe some fresh air and clear off your mind. The mountains are your escape. If you want to relax and see some fauna and flora then trekking is for you. Trekking involves a lot of walking that usually takes more than one day. This is rock climbing, hiking, and camping all combined.
- Rafting
During summer all we want to do is to be in the water to cool down our bodies. Rafting not only gives you that but you can also experience some thrill in your water activities. This isn’t just simply boating in the river because you ride the inflatable raft in rough waters.
Final Thoughts
As for me, the pros outweigh the cons. Yeah, there is a risk with adventure tourism but there is also a risk in sitting and doing nothing. Find somewhere to go and have a blast. You won’t regret it.
Here is an adventure tourism company, just to get you started: OAT Travel.
