Soft Adventure Holidays: Thrilling Yet Comfortable Travel Experiences
‘Soft adventure’ is quickly becoming one of the biggest trends in long-haul travel. Unlike the traditional physically challenging ‘hard adventure’ trips, soft adventure offers a blend of thrill-seeking and contained comfort. From snorkelling, kayaking, wildlife watching to light trekking, soft adventure allows you to experience new activities at your own pace.
Elaine Learmonth, product leader at Flight Centre UK, says, “Over the years we’ve seen an increase in demand for more tailored, adventurous holidays that don’t compromise on comfort and ease. What our customers find extremely valuable is exploring new destinations and cultures at their own pace. While this is especially true among older couples, we’re increasingly seeing adventurous families with younger children searching for a restful holiday with the right amount of excitement thrown in to keep them occupied.”
Read below for Elaine’s top spots for dipping your toes into the soft adventure trend.
Queensland, Australia
Australia has always been a popular destination for UK travellers, but its sheer size and variety of terrains can be daunting.
Queensland is an ideal place to combine city buzz and coastal relaxation. Travellers can explore top cultural attractions in Brisbane’s laid-back South Bank and then enjoy guided kayaking, surfing lessons, or fishing charter excursions in the Noosa Everglades just a two-hour drive north.
Further up the east coast, you can snorkel clear waters off Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays or experience a Great Barrier Reef cruise and snorkel excursion from Port Douglas.
Australia: Rainforest & Reef is available from £3,029pp. The itinerary combines vibrant city life, stunning beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, and lush rainforests into one immersive, 10-night adventure.
New Zealand
New Zealand is perfect for travellers looking for a mix of gentle adventure and more active pursuits. You might start the day kayaking on Lake Taupo before exploring the Hobbiton Movie Set.
Spend evenings sipping on wine in Martinborough and basking under the bioluminescent glow of the Waitomo Glowworms Caves. For adrenaline seekers, there are plenty of options like challenging hikes over the otherworldly terrains or even tandem skydiving, especially in the South Island’s Queenstown.
Flight Centre UK’s Best of the North Island package combines geothermal wonders, lush nature, and gourmet experiences from £2,539pp.
Thailand
Thailand’s reputation as a backpacker’s playground is clear, but the country also excels in more comfortable offerings. You can experience the two extremes of Thai culture in only a week or two.
Flight Centre UK’s Bangkok, Jungle and Beach package is available from £1,649pp. This adventure allows guests to settle slowing into Thailand by exploring the street food markets, tranquil temples and hillside walks of Bangkok and Chiang Mai for seven nights. Then, it’s five nights in Phuket, where ice-cold cocktails by the beach are the reward for days spent scuba diving, snorkelling, and hiking. Why not take on an extra top-secret mission on a full-day excursion from Phuket to Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island), as seen in The Man with the Golden Gun?
Bali
Bali, the holistic and wellness sanctuary, is the perfect place to have a blissful break with adrenaline fixes peppered in between.
Although renowned for its yoga retreats, ancient temples, and rich cuisine, Bali’s pristine waters are home to countless species which travellers can easily meet armed with just a snorkel and a pair of goggles.
Flight Centre UK’s 11-night Bali Essentials package starts from £1,849pp and includes stays at both the 4* FuramaXclusive Resort & Villas in Ubud and the 5* Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, famed for its advanced spa and fitness centre.
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