Feature: Top climbing holidays

Wednesday, 23 March 2011 5:45 PM

Ever imagined standing on a mountain top, having a true Titanic (the film that is!) moment, and shouting ‘I’m the king of the world’? Okay, maybe that’s just us then! Well, even if you can’t picture yourself in Leo’s shoes or see yourself climb some of the highest peaks in the world, there are still a number of exciting climbs to suit your mountaineering skills – even if they might be a bit rusty. Let’s be honest, not all of us can be the next Sir Edmund Hillary (who was the first person to reach the top of Mount Everest, in case you were wondering!).

Here at ActivityAway.co.uk we have gone all in to find you some of the best climbs and rocky adventures available. From cave explorations in Bulgaria to South African mountain action, there is indeed something for everyone to enjoy when it comes to climbing holidays, even we were surprised by the sheer volume of peaks, cliffs and mountain sides just waiting for your next step.

South Africa for active types
Walking, riding, kayaking, there are enough active pursuits to keep even the most activity freak happy and to test your skills at these different activities. But focusing on mountain action, the town of Rustenburg is home to the towering Magaliesberg Mountains. Bordering Magaliesberg nature reserve the scenery here is spectacular, with sheer quartzite cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and lushly wooded slopes and valleys ideal for a spot of birding. For something a little more challenging, why not book a day that starts with a hike and moves on to rock-climbing and abseiling. Root Adventures offers a number of one-day mountain adventures in the area.

Cave exploration in Bulgaria
Strictly speaking this might not be what you had in mind when you read the title of this feature, but climbing is much more than dangling from a vertical cliff-side in one arm (yes, we’ve been there!). There are plenty of rocky and mountain experiences that offer a different way of climbing, and in Bulgaria you will find one of such experiences. It’s called cave exploration in the Rhodope Mountains. KE Adventure’s multi-activity trip gives you the chance to test your skills at easy rock-climbing as well as a night’s wild camping and the 250-metre deep Devil’s Throat canyon of course. Who said climbing can’t take place below the earth surface?

Climbing Ben Nevis
In Gaelic mythology, the winter witch holds the spring nymph captive over the cave where the tallest peak in the British Isles rises 1,344 metres above the sea level. On most days Ben Nevis wears almost like a crown of clouds that hints at its rugged grandeur. It's not difficult to see why the Ben is one of the top draws for mountaineering enthusiasts. The peak can be reached all year round but the best time to go is between June and September, according to the experts. Alan Kimber West Coast Mountain Guides provides instruction, equipment, and even accommodation.

Bouldering through Spain
Even if you have never tried it before, bouldering is an exciting form of rocky adventures and Spain is a great place to start. Set in a remote and tranquil forest near the town of Albarracin, Rock and Sun’s three-day bouldering holiday takes you to the edge. Suited for any level of experience, the bouldering quality here is said to be world-class, new, fresh and vast. This largely unknown area of Spain is gradually becoming a boulder’s paradise because of its beauty, charm and variety of boulders.

Hiking Kungsleden
If you want a hike in the lone wilderness with absolute freedom of choice – how long you take, what trails you hike, what climbs you do, even where you camp – embark on the aptly named ‘King's Trail’. On this epic journey you'll pass through glacier-carved valleys, birch forests, deep lakes and wild reindeer. This is nature in the raw. Extending through four national parks and a natural reserve, the Kungsleden stretches 438 kilometres from Abisko to Hemavan in Swedish Lapland. It requires at least one month to hike in its entirety, so if you haven’t got 30 days to spare, just decide to do a small part of the trail.

The mother of all peaks
Solu Khumbu is the most famous area of Nepal and perhaps in the entire Himalaya. It is the home of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, as well as several other giants. With Responsible Travel you get to experience some of these giants. After flying from Kathmandu to Lukla, you commence your trek along the Dudh Kosi Valley passing numerous small villages and homesteads. Beyond Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa ‘capital’, you’ll pause at the celebrated monastery at Thyangboche before continuing on to reach Everest Base Camp itself. Just being able to say that ‘I have climbed Everest’ is enough to make us sign up (no-one has to know that you didn’t get to the top!).

Scrambling in Snowdonia
Scrambling the great ridges of North Wales with a mountaineering instructor is the ideal introduction to the world of alpine climbing while knowing that you are in safe hands. The Rock Climbing Company can take you to the summits of some of Snowdonia’s highest and most dramatic peaks via some very good scrambling routes. Yes, scrambling? There is also the option to combine the guided routes with learning the technical intricacies involved in scrambling safely. Joining one of the scrambling courses will cover all aspects of the rope work used on scrambles: running belays; moving together; direct belay techniques; abseiling and short roping. Hmm…probably best if we join a course!

Rock climbing in Corsica
The island of Corsica has a stunning alpine landscape with peaks over two thousand metres that dramatically fall away into the sea. This landscape means there is an abundance of beautiful bolted rock to climb, from coarse weathered granite rock, to sandstone or limestone rock. Basically, there are climbing opportunities all across the island and Climb Europe has seen the potential of Corsica as a climbing destination and is offering a number of exciting holidays on the island. From single pitch to multi-pitch routes as well as many bouldering areas, Corsica is claimed to have more unclimbed rock than anywhere else in Europe. We have decided to change that!