When you consider the number of health benefits associated with active travel, it's no wonder so many people are choosing adventure vacations these days. From the obvious physical benefits of hiking, biking, kayaking and other forms of active adventures to the additional mental and social advantages, active travel has a positive impact on many parts of your life. Take a look at just some of the ways that adventure travel can improve your well-being.

Adventure Travel Gets You Active

Although reclining on a lounge chair and sipping a pina colada may seem like a relaxing way to spend a vacation, the sedentary style of resort life fails to provide any physical health benefits. In fact, you're likely to return home feeling burdened by all the extra calories you consumed and fatigued by lack of movement. Embarking on adventure vacations, however, can actually improve your physical health by keeping you active. Whether you choose to go mountain biking in the Rockies or snorkeling in Bermuda, adventure travel helps you burn calories and stay fit, often without you even noticing that you're working out due to all the fun you're having! By choosing an active travel trip, you'll return home in better shape than when you left.

Active Travel Lowers Stress Levels

Thanks to the fast pace of our daily lives, many people experience high levels of stress from attempting to balance work, family, friends and other obligations. Active adventures have been found to help lower stress levels by disconnecting you from your day-to-day struggles and immersing you in a different world. You won't have time to ponder your to-do list back home while you're catapulting across the Nevis Valley in New Zealand or exploring the ruins of Machu Pichu in South America.

Active Adventures Lead to Better Sleep

If you're plagued with sleep issues, active travel may be the answer to a restful night's sleep. The physical activities associated with adventure travel, such as bicycling along Bermuda's Railway Trail or

hiking among the Redwoods of California, are great for improving the quality of sleep. Even as little as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise can help you sleep better so you can imagine the benefits that a full day of adventure travel can bring.

Adventure Vacations Benefits Your Mood

Exploring new places through active travel adds a mood-boosting level of excitement to your life. Adventure vacations are filled with unexpected, awe-inspiring sights that can release endorphins that make you feel happy. From exploring the glacial lakes of Banff National Park in Canada to hiking the lush jungles of Fiji, the wonders of experiencing active adventures can have a long-lasting effect on your mood and outlook on life.

Active Travel Improves Your Memory

Obviously, you'll want to remember the adventure vacations that you've experienced for the rest of your life so it's a good thing that active travel can actually improve your memory too. Physical activity, such as hiking in the Pacific Northwest or surfing in Australia, help grow the hippocampus, which is responsible for storing memories in the brain. Although the hippocampus typically shrinks in late adulthood, increasing the chance of Alzheimer's and dementia, physical activity, like those common in active travel, can reverse the loss and even improve memory.

Adventure Vacations Make You Feel Proud

Anyone can go on a vacation but fewer people can say that they've accomplished a major travel goal, like going on an African safari or hiking to the highest summit in South Korea. Completing a bucket list item on your active travel wishlist is something to feel proud of and gives you a sense of accomplishment that can carry over into other areas of your life. Plus, you can impress your friends and family for years to come with your active travel stories.

Adventure Travel Broadens Your Horizons

Whether it's learning about a new culture or gaining a new skill, adventure vacations are the perfect way to learn something new. Bicycle through Taiwan to immerse yourself in the beauty of the country and meet new people along your journey or pick up a new hobby, like surfing or stand up paddle boarding, in Hawaii. You never know what you may discover while on an active travel trip but you'll undoubtedly return home with more knowledge than when you departed.

Active travel is good for you in so many ways. Start planning your next adventure travel trip today to start reaping the benefits!

Adventure Travel Means Captivating Experiences

There's no doubt that adventure travel has piqued the interest of many globetrotters in recent years. After all, adventure vacations allow you to experience the world in an exciting, immersive way that you simply can't without embarking on an assortment of active adventures. Whether you choose to leisurely sightsee by hiking or biking or take a more daredevil approach by adding rock climbing or whitewater rafting to your active travel itinerary, you're practically guaranteed to have a memorable adventure travel experience.

An industry snapshot report by the Adventure Travel Trade Association found that travelers are increasingly seeking to add cultural experiences to their adventure vacations, which also includes a mix of nature and physical activity. The majority of active travelers hope to experience a transformation that includes personal growth as opposed to simply getting an adrenaline rush or having a unique experience. Being able to make a difference in important humanity issues, such as social justice and poverty, is becoming a big part of the active travel industry. The report also found that popular adventure travel destinations include New Zealand, Australia, South America and Europe.

Hiking

Hiking – Perhaps the most basic form of adventure travel, hiking is one that can be enjoyed by active travelers of all ages and skill levels. By traveling on foot, you can set your own pace and immerse yourself in the culture for as long as you like. Beginning hikers can take an easy day hike to explore the area while more experienced hikers may enjoy overnight backpacking active adventures. Taiwan offers a variety of hiking excursions, from simple trails in Taroko National Park to the strenuous climb of Jade Mountain. You can also find incredible hiking trails in the United States' Pacific Northwest, Southwest and New England.

Biking

Similar to hiking in that you can choose how far and fast you travel, biking allows you to potentially cover more ground while still fully embracing the wonder of the great outdoors and appreciating the local culture. Traditional cycling is perfect for exploring city roads but mountain biking adds an extra element of excitement to adventure travel by letting you chart your own course through remote locations. Take an urban cycling tour around Tokyo in Japan or try an island bicycle tour in Bermuda.

Horseback Riding

Animal lovers will especially love this form of adventure travel as horseback riding gives you the opportunity to get close to nature while bonding with your four-legged tour guide. Explore the South American regions of Patagonia in Argentina or the Atacama Desert in Chile by horseback for a one-of-a-kind adventure travel journey.

Water Adventures

There's no better way to explore an aquatic destination than by spending a day out on the water. Paddle yourself by canoe or kayak to get an up-close view of rivers, lakes and even the ocean or set sail for a more relaxing marine experience. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is one of the most popular sightseeing destinations in the world and perfect for exploring via boat or go kayaking in New Zealand's picturesque Milford Sound. For a more heart-pounding active adventure, consider whitewater rafting along the Fraser River in Canada or Shotover River in New Zealand.

Snow Adventures

For adventure vacations in colder destinations, skiing, snowboarding and other snowy activities are popular active travel activities. If zipping down the side of a mountain sounds too intense, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are less extreme active adventures that you can consider that allow you to enjoy the snow at a slower pace. A European active adventure trip could include a ski safari in the Dolomite Mountains of Spain or skiing in Levi, Finland. The Rocky Mountains in the United States offers plenty of winter sport opportunities too.

Mountain Climbing

Not for the inexperienced, mountain climbing is one of the most extreme forms of adventure travel and should only be done with proper training. Not only does mountain climbing often incorporate the use of tools, like ropes and picks, to scale cliffs but it also requires climbers to know the dangers of high altitude. For a less dangerous yet still thrilling adrenaline rush, try coasterring. This activity combines rock climbing, swimming and cliff jumping and has been gaining in popularity in Europe. While you should still be in good physical condition, it doesn't require as much training as actual mountain climbing.

All of these adventure travel experiences give you the opportunity to interact with locals and make a difference in the world. It's up to you to decide exactly what you hope to gain and what impression you'd like to leave behind while on your adventure vacations. Regardless of the active adventures that you choose, active travel is sure to result in a captivating experience.