The year in adventures

Friday, 6 January 2012 11:00 AM

Can’t decide which activities to do this year? Why not have a look at our year in activities guide to help you decide what to do and where best to do it. Follow us as we take you on a year of adventures.

January - Dog sledding, Swedish Lapland
Why not start the year off with something adventurous, thrilling and just that little bit different? Dog sledding is a great way to explore the Lappish wilderness of northern Sweden and Finland, skimming across the white expanse with your team of excitable huskies.

February - Sailing, British Virgin Islands
The waters around the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean are one of the finest and safest sailing areas in the world. The weather is tropical and sunny and the clear aqua marine Caribbean Sea is perfect for jumping off the side of the boat for a swim, snorkel or dive. Explore endless stretches of sugar sand beaches and lush, largely uninhabited volcanic islands. The best time of the year to explore these waters is from January to March when the waters are calm and rain and hurricane free.

March - Scuba diving, Philippines
The Philippines is made up of over 7,100 islands and the waters around these paradise-like islands have some of the best dive locations in the world. The sea is as warm as bath water and teeming with life and pristine coral reefs. Diving here is great all year round but the visibility is at its clearest during March to May.

April - Hiking, Yellowstone National Park, USA
Yellowstone National Park is America’s premier wilderness area, covering over 2.2 million acres of land. There are over 1,100 miles of hiking trails in the park, allowing you to explore its amazing natural sights; soaring peaks, vast lakes, crashing waterfalls and impressive canyons, not to mention a vast array of wildlife including eagles, bears, moose, deer, bison and coyotes. Spring is one of the best and most unique times to the see the park when the land is warming up and life is new and fresh. It’s also a unique opportunity for non-motorised use of the park roads, which will not be possible from the end of April onwards.

May - Mountain biking, British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia is Canada’s most mountainous province, making it also home to some of the world’s most diverse mountain biking terrain. Whether you prefer cross country, free-riding or downhill, the area has it all. Go in May when the weather is warm and dry.

June - Surfing, Bali, Indonesia
One of Indonesia’s best known destinations, the small island of Bali is dream spot for surfers of all levels. The southwest and southeast coasts are littered with excellent surf spots, getting the full force of the southern ocean swells coming in from the Antarctic. The best time of year for surfing here, is the dry season, especially between June and September.

July - Windsurfing, Tarifa, Spain
Tarifa is one of the most renowned windsurfing destinations in the world, located on the southernmost tip of Spain; it is famed for its incredible wind speeds. During the summer the wind blows in from the east and can reach up to 40knots, with beautiful clear skies and warm water.

August - Kayaking, Ardeche Gorge, France
The Ardeche Gorge in southeast France, near the city of Grenoble is one of the most fascinating and spectacular kayaking spots on the planet. It’s full of lush craggy limestone cliffs that rise 1000ft out of the clear cool water. And if it’s nature you’re after, then the gorge is teeming with it. Also stop to see mystical grottos filled with enchanting rock formations. August is great time to go when the weather is hot and balmy.

September - Rock climbing, Kalymnos, Greece
It has been said that Kalymnos has the highest concentration of rock climbing routes in the world, with nearly 1,700 trails ranging in difficulty. The rock here is solid limestone, making it perfect for climbing the island’s 64 crags. The area is best for climbing in autumn through to spring, avoiding February and March due to heavy rainfall. Another great spot to climb in Greece is Meteora, consisting of huge picturesque pinnacles topped with monasteries.

October - White water rafting, Zambezi River, Zimbabwe
Rafting the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe had been described as the wildest and best white water rafting adventure in the world. The stretch for rafting is described as a high volume pool drop river and it has the highest class of rapids going – nearly all grade five. The most thrilling rafting here occurs when the water level is low, generally between July and mid-February.

November - Horse riding, Las Pampas, Argentina
Galloping through the Argentine Pampas has to be one of the most iconic horse rides in the world. Imagine riding gaucho style through the vast grassy plains, the wind in your hair and mane flapping about in the breeze. Go in November and you’ll be rewarded with warm sunny days in the southern hemisphere’s glorious summer time.

December - Sky diving, Taupo, New Zealand
What better way to end the year than with a thrilling sky dive in the skydive capital of the world – Taupo, New Zealand? This is the place where nearly 30,000 daredevils come each summer to try this intrepid sport.