This week’s #CeritaJalanAsik focuses on being healthy on the road. When travelling, we’re bound to give ourselves “cheat days” just because we’re on a trip (and I know I’m guilty of this too). However, for those who travel for a long period of time, being healthy is important.
Keeping fit while travelling doesn’t have to be hard, you can slip a bit of exercise while sightseeing too. Here are five adventures idea that you can take during your travel while you enjoy a new destination. So, let’s have less cheat days and have more travel adventures:
Cycling
In some cities, cycling is a really good option. Not only that it’s easier to get around from one place to another, to rent a bike for the whole day is quite cheap. Also, by going on bikes it means you are contributing to a greener environment. I’ve done some cycling myself while travelling in Poznan and Groningen. It was a really fun and flexible way to see the cities as I could just stop anywhere and decide my own pace. My friends have done cycling in Switzerland and France, and they were very much accommodated with cycling tracks and beautiful views. In big cities like Paris, Barcelona, Milan and many others, there are bikes that you can rent all over the city at a very low price.
In Asia, I did cycling in Pulau Ubin in Singapore, around the old town of Penang and also in Ubud among the lush rice fields. Cycling in South East Asia means more humid and hot weather but it was surprisingly fun. I was really pleased that I got to see some places that I wouldn’t have seen when travelling by bus or foot. Cycling is definitely a good way of exercising, and when you’re busy getting lost, you won’t feel like exercising.
Hiking
A lot of people do hiking (or even trekking) during their holiday. I love to do small hikes, preferably outside of the city, to enjoy some fresh air. It is best to allocate a full day for this activity since hikes can sometimes be unpredictable. No doubt that this is a great way to get fit while travelling.
Preparation is key. Some places have amazing hiking/walking trails that you can easily follow while others have rough patches here and there, so this is something you need to know beforehand. I love doing hikes especially when you’re rewarded with a beautiful scenery at the top. During my trip to Santorini, I hiked its volcano and could see Santorini from a different angle. The hike itself was not tough but the intense heat exhausted me a lot. Surprisingly, after the hike I felt amazing – heck I just conquered a volcano!
Swimming
Swimming is actually a great way to exercise while you’re on the road, especially during the warmer months. Forget swimming at a normal pool, unless it’s at some unique water parks, think of lakes, rivers and the ocean! I had a blast snorkeling in Bali once. This is a great kind of swimming as you get to see many beautiful fishes and other sea creatures down below too. Many people also love to take a dip in lakes and rivers. I saw this happening in Zurich when I lived there, most of these “pools” are free, so you can make the most of them!
Winter Sports
If you love snow, or winter as a whole, don’t forget to check out winter sports. Staying at places like Grenoble and Brasov, both of which are cities close to many ski resorts, allow you to take a day trip to enjoy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. While I have never tried skiing or snowboarding (since I’m too scared boo), I did learn how to ice skate (very badly). I’m not the best at it but it was great ice skating with my friends plus it really was a great workout for me.
Kayaking
I first did kayaking in the Lake District when I was younger. The thing I loved the most was being on the kayak itself while paddling against the gentle current.
I continued to kayak whenever I got the chance, and it is so far my most favourable workout (on water) while travelling. There are many places that offer kayaking, for example, in Nantes you could do it in the river during summer. It’s best that you check before you go, to see if you need to bring anything in particular.
TIPS:
- Bring a small bag for your things
- Always bring enough water, don’t dehydrate yourself
- Dress accordingly to the weather (if necessary check the weather forecast)
- Bring enough snacks
- Bring a change of clothes just in case
- Always be safe: wear safety gears (like life vest, lights for bikes) when necessary
- For cycling: if you’re renting, ask if you can drop the bike in other locations too. Keep an alarm/reminder on the time you should return the bikes
- For cycling and hiking: if you’re not sure where you’re going, use maps/GPS
- For kayaking: bring waterproof containers for your belongings
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So those are a few adventure ideas for you to take if you want to keep fit during your travel. If you’re not really keen on any of them, you can always walk. Walk everywhere! Walking is also a great form of exercise. Not only does it make you fit, you’ll also save some money too!
Also don’t forget to check out my friends’ posts on their tips on being healthy during your travel:
Febby of Jalan2Liburan gives you tips for keeping fit on the road at all times.
Noni of Nyonya Sepatu has seven very useful tips to stay healthy while travelling
What adventure do you like to do to keep yourself fit while travelling?
#CeritaJalanAsik is a weekly travel theme where we share our travel stories based on a certain theme by Jalan2Liburan, Nyonya Sepatu and Dream Explore Wander. Check out our posts every Wednesday!
This week’s theme: How to Keep Healthy During Travelling
The post Keep Fit While Travelling: 5 Adventures You Can Do appeared first on Dream Explore Wander.
