Feature: Best water sports holidays - beyond diving
The cold and damp British winter is enough to make anyone dream of clear blue skies, white beaches and crystal clear waters. And what better way to enjoy some of the world’s most spectacular coastlines than a sun-filled water sports holiday – above the surface! In fact, most of us here at ActivityAway.co.uk are already planning our next getaway filled with sun, sea and sand. Can you blame us?! We spend most of our days thinking about the best places to travel and quite often, wishing we were there.
This week, we have searched the top water sports destinations, from beaches perfect for windsurfing to wild swimming experiences. Naturally, we don’t all agree on the best ways to enjoy what a water sports holiday can offer. Some of us live for the laid-back atmosphere offered by a surfing holiday while others seek the thrill of white water rafting. What is your dream holiday?
Kite surfing in Brazil
The newest trend in surfing is kite surfing. It offers all the thrill of surfing the waves but with an extra bonus of a kite! And what better way to enjoy the buzz of riding the waves than heading to the dune covered coast of Brazil’s north east, which offers some of the best wind and kite surfing in the world. It might be considered as one of the most beautiful coastlines on the planet, but northern Brazil is not for the faint-hearted or for surfing novices. Regular 25 knot wind speeds make this coast a haven for adventure-seeking wind and kite surfers alike. You might have to spend almost a day on a plane getting there, but the rolling waves make the journey worthwhile.
This is no picnic or luxury holiday escape. You have to leave the city behind and prepare yourself for a land of dusty tracks, enormous white sand dunes and swaying palm trees. Doesn’t sound too shabby, does it?! Surrounded by palms and cashew trees, and like a true surfer, you’ll have the option of staying in your own hut right on the beach – allowing you to dedicate every waking hour to the big blue. But apart from the perfect surfing conditions, the coast also offers some great local cultural experiences, beautiful seafood restaurants and plenty of bars to relax in after a day on the water. You probably have to be a true wind or kite surfing junkie to truly appreciate the beauty of this place but there’s much more to this area than water sports. Horse riding, dune buggying, hiking and fishing are just some of the activities that can be enjoyed on the Brazilian north coast.
Tempted yet? If you are, Brazil is becoming increasingly accessible from the UK with more airlines serving the destination. Both British Airways and TAM Linhas Aeras serves the destination.
Flotilla sailing in Greece
You may have to wait a few months before you head off to Greece if you are looking for sunshine as well as the ultimate sailing experience. But it doesn’t hurt to start planning already now. A sailing experience in Greece is perfect for those wishing to combine a holiday at sea with visits to some of the many Greek islands – the ideal off- and onshore experience! With many organisers offering complete beginners’ courses on how to sail a yacht, this form of holiday can be enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts at all levels. We wouldn’t say no to spending a week or two on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean.
The Greek islands offer some of the most stunning and unspoiled coastlines, which can be enjoyed from the sea. And the Ionian is one of the Mediterranean’s most popular yachting destinations with gentle breezes and a scattering of picturesque islands and sheltered harbours offering the perfect introduction to sailing. The Southern Ionian is ideal for the less experienced sailor due to its sheltered waters and generally shorter routes, while the Northern Ionian offers more adventurous sailing with longer passages, less crowded waters and steady breezes. So, where are you setting sail?
Need to brush up your sailing skills? Don’t worry, there are plenty of sailing holidays with special arrangements for beginners, including Neilson, Sailing Holidays and Paralos Sailing.
Rafting expedition in Madagascar
Yes, you read it correctly, a Madagascan rafting expedition! Madagascar is a one-off; there is no other place like it. Its landscapes, animals and plants are ‘out-of-this-world’ spectacular. Near the equator with an immense range of habitats, ranging from rainforests to deserts and from mountain peaks to mangrove swamps, it is one of the most important countries for biodiversity on the planet. And the tropical climate is the perfect host to a rafting experience out of the ordinary.
The Benahy, a narrow river running through the canyons that are only a few meters wide, is not marked on the maps of Madagascar. But it’s there. And it’s where the unique rafting expedition takes place. It’s remote, it’s fascinating and it introduces travellers to some of the most spectacular wildlife. Following the Benahy River into the Onilahy River, the adventure takes you down through the delta to the coast at Saint Augustin. As you’ve probably gathered from this description, it’s not a relaxing beach break and it’s not your average adventure holiday. But what it lacks in relaxation it more than makes up for in adventure.
Even as there are no direct flights from the UK to Madagascar, KLM and Air France both offer reasonable deals to this spectacular part of the world.
Kayaking holiday in Sardinia
With emphasis on holiday, this kayaking trip offers a much more laid-back water sports holiday option than the one we just explored in Madagascar. But it all depends on what you’re after of course. This is perfect for families looking to experience a different side to the Italian island of Sardinia. The limestone coastline on the east coast, extending for 30 miles, has it all for a true Mediterranean sea kayaking adventure: rugged towering cliffs, small hidden sandy coves, big sea caves, wild birds within an expanse of transparent emerald blue sea.
And yes, here we haven’t forgotten about the ‘relax’ factor many of us are craving when we head off on holiday. After paddling for four to five hours a day, there’s plenty of time to relax on any of the beautiful beaches, enjoying some snorkelling, trying out some rock climbing, exploring the inner canyons or simply sitting back and enjoying the tranquillity offered by the island – or perhaps enjoying a cool drink while viewing the beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean.
For inspiration on a wealth of kayaking holidays available across the globe, Kayaking Holidays offers an array of itineraries and excursions to suit all budding kayakers.
As we said from the start, we at ActivityAway.co.uk don’t agree on the best way to enjoy a water sports holiday that doesn’t involve diving. But with so much choice and exciting places to visit, it’s up to your own imagination to come up with the perfect water sports inspired holiday and the perfect combination of destination and water activity. The sky is the limit...or perhaps the sea is the limit in this case!
