Luxury safari holidays can be tailored by a safari holiday specialist like Aardvark Safaris to provide an African safari package that suits your needs. You could explore the Zambezi River by canoe steering clear of pods of hippos, or fly low over the Rift Valley lakes in Kenya with flocks of flamingos beneath you.

Alternatively you might find yourselves helping baby turtles to the sea, avoiding marauding crabs, or fishing for your lunch just off the coast from Cape Town.

During a stay in Livingstone in Zambia you could meet elephants in the morning, raft in the afternoon and go on the river for a sunset cruise in the evening. The next morning you could head out to the Devil’s Pool on the edge of the Victoria Falls, before bungee jumping in the afternoon followed by a microlight flight to get some aerial shots of where you were in the morning.

Where you stay on a safari holiday

Image courtesy of Aardvark Safaris

Safari holiday accommodation varies widely and can accomodate most preferences.  You could sleep under a cube of mosquito net set up on a beach so you can safely sleep under the stars..  For the ultimate luxury safari holiday, you can stay in a room in a lodge bigger than your house, with a beautiful ensuite marble bathroom and your very own plunge pool.

Traditionally tents have been used on safari holidays, but these aren’t tents as you might have seen them in the scouts or guides. With proper beds, connected loo and shower and wardrobes and chairs, they’re effectively canvas hotel rooms in the bush.

What is a normal safari holiday package?

There is no normal safari holiday package. When you arrange what you want to do with a safari specialist they can alter the holiday to fit your needs.  This includes things such as:

• Your budget
• Your desire to walk, horse ride, canoe etc
• What time of year you are travelling
• What type of accommodation you want to stay in

A combination of safari and beach is quite common.  People use the section of the holiday by the sea to relax after the early starts of the safari days. If you are not a beach lover then you might choose a few days away from wildlife.  You can stay somewhere like Cape Town, in South Africa or Livingstone, close to the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side.

Where should I go on safari at different times of year?

Broadly speaking there are two different climatic zones for the safari areas of Africa.

Image courtesy of Aardvark Safaris

East Africa – Kenya & Tanzania (and to a certain extent Rwanda and Uganda)
Their best weather periods, when they have little or no rain, are June to October and then December to March. So good places to visit for the summer holidays, October half term and Christmas, but not for Easter.

Southern Africa – Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Malawi
They tend to have sunshine from April to November so work for holidays in the summer, at Easter and for the October half term, but not for Christmas (although Cape Town is an exception and is nice at Christmas and not in our summer)

How much does an African safari holiday cost?

It is almost easier to ask what you want to spend as there are safaris to suit all budgets.

Specialist luxury safari holiday operators tend to work with smaller camps and lodges.  Here the guiding and hosting is better and there are fewer people on each game viewing vehicle. These camps are generally in quieter areas ensuring a more exclusive safari.  Clients would typically fly by light aircraft between camps to minimise travel time and increase comfort.

With economy class flights from the UK a two week holiday planned by a safari holiday specialist, with a week on safari and a week on the beach, would generally cost £4,000 per person. This would include all international and internal flights and taxes, accommodation, meals, some drinks and safari activities – very little is excluded.

How do I arrange a safari holiday?

Image courtesy of Aardvark Safaris

There are many companies offering safari holidays; some are purely African specialists, others offer safari holidays throughout the world. You will be able to find many of these by typing African safaris or family safaris into a search engine.

The big question to ask the person who answers the phone is whether they have been to the places they are selling. Discount those who haven’t and work with those who have; they will make sure you are matched to the best safari holiday for you.

Aardvark Safaris

This safari holiday summary was written by African safari specialists Aardvark Safaris who have many years of experience of arranging tailor made holidays for couples, families, honeymooners and singles. Their consultants have incredible knowledge from years of travelling to Africa. They will use their knowledge combined with your thoughts to plan the perfect safari holiday for you

More adventure and activity holidays

The post Safari Holidays appeared first on Active Outdoors.

If you fancy scaring the pants off yourself and your mates, book your advance ticket for a fright night at a theme park. It is such a fantastic thrill going on the rollercoasters during the day, and even more of an adrenalin rush in the dark at night.

October brings you theme park fright nights and scarefests. Most require advance bookings, even if you are a season ticket holder. Towards the end of the month and into November, you will also get fireworks displays as well.

UK Theme Park Halloween Fright Nights

• Alton Towers Scarefest – 19th October to 3rd November.  Book online now for 40% discount tickets – For real terror this Halloween, look no further than the Alton Towers Resort Scarefest! Be confronted by live terror as a chilling combination of indoor and outdoor scare attractions ensure those willing to be frightened this Halloween don’t leave feeling scared – they’ll leave terrified! Book online now and get 40% off.
• Thorpe Park Fright Night – 11th October – 3rd November.  40% discount off tickets. Fright Nights is back and even more terrifying than ever, transforming THORPE PARK into a world of twisted insanity!Only the brave will escape THORPE PARK Penitentiary as
  Fright Nights transform the nation’s Thrill Capital into a dark and twisted prison facility, where society’s most disturbed and dangerous prisoners have broken out and taken control.Take on THE SWARM for the first time in the dark, as you take a death-defying flight for your life on the UK’s first winged rollercoaster and brave all five terrifying live action horror mazes.Dare to Face Your Fears on the ultimate test as SAW – The Ride comes alive! And for the ultimate horror experience brave the terrifying live action horror mazes The Curse, Se7en, The Asylum, and Hellgate.

  If that’s not enough for you, experience exhilarating rides in the dark and take on the ‘Unholy Trinity’ of Stealth, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno in the pitch black of night until 10pm.

  Due to the extreme popularity of this event, Fright Nights is STRICTLY ADVANCE BOOK ONLY.
  LIMITED TIME ONLY: Grab your tickets now for just £24* – that’s over 40% saving!!

• Chessington Halloween Hocus Pocus – 25th October – 3rd November, 10am – 8pmThe whole family can enjoy spooky entertainment this Halloween as wicked witches and naughty Goblins take over the Park! Plus a mythical Fiery Faun will be weaving enchanting tales of his homeland using magic and fire to delight the younger members of your family. With rides in the dark and the chance to get up close and personal with the Zoo’s spiders, snakes and glow-in-the-dark scorpions there’s so much fun to be had it’s scary!

U.S. Theme Park Halloween Fright Nights

• Disneyland (Anaheim): Halloween Time with Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Halloween Screams fireworks show. 14th October – 31st October
• Magic Kingdom (Orlando, Fla.): Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with Boo-to-You parade and Happy HalloWishes fireworks show. September through to November
• Universal Studios Hollywood: Halloween Horror Nights with scare zones, live shows and haunted mazes, including the “Saw” maze. Oct. 2 to Oct 31.
• Universal Studios Florida (Orlando): Halloween Horror Nights with scare zones, live shows and haunted mazes, including the “Wolfman” maze. Oct. 1 to Oct 31.
• Six Flags: Fright Fest with mazes, scare zones, nighttime rides and shows at the chain’s amusement parks across the United States including Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia) and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, Calif.). Weekends through Nov. 1.
• SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando: Halloween Spooktacular with animal shows and trick-or-treating for children. Weekends through Nov. 1.
• Legoland (Carlsbad, Calif.): Brick-or-Treat with live shows and trick-or-treating for children. Saturdays in October.
• Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park): Halloween Haunt with 13 haunted mazes, four scare zones and seven shows. Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 31.
• Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio): HalloWeekends with haunted houses, five scare zones and eight shows. Weekends through Nov. 1.
• Kings Dominion (Doswell, Va.): Halloween Haunt with nine haunted mazes, five scare zones and four shows. Weekends through Oct. 31.
• Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio): Halloween Haunt with 13 haunted attractions. Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 31.
• Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.): Scarowinds with haunted rides, mazes and scare zones. Weekends through Oct. 31.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Florida): Howl-O-Scream with seven haunted houses, four scare zones and two shows. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 31.
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia): Howl-O-Scream with six haunted mazes, seven scare zones and six shows. Weekends through Nov. 1.
• SeaWorld San Antonio: Howl-O-Scream with haunted attractions, shows and scare zones. Weekends through Oct. 31 (and Oct. 12).
• Hersheypark (Hershey, Pa.): Hersheypark in the Dark with rethemed rides and live shows. Weekends through Oct. 31.
• Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.): National Gospel and Harvest Celebration with gospel music and harvest foods and crafts. Oct. 2 to Oct 31.
• Kennywood (West Mifflin, Pa.): Phantom Fright Nights with six haunted attractions and four scare zones. Friday and Saturday nights in October.
• Darien Lake (Darien Center, N.Y.): FrightFest with a haunted house and tram tour. Weekends through Oct. 18.
• Queen Mary Dark Harbor, Long Beach, California Queen Mary Dark Harbor celebrates Halloween all month long at the Queen Mary in Long Beach as the annual scare-fest takes on a horrifying new dimension. Join us for 15 fright-filled nights of mazes and madness, food and cocktails, and live bands.

The post Theme Parks Halloween Fright Nights appeared first on Active Outdoors.

What is stand up paddle boarding?

Stand up paddle boarding involves standing up on a board that floats on water and using a paddle to move around. The paddle board looks similar to a surf board and is made from glass-reinforced plastic around a polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam core.

Guy Fisher, Director of SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK explains, “Stand-up paddling has become one of the fastest growing sports all over the world. The water based activity can be enjoyed on any pool of water, be it a river, lake or sea at any time. In addition to the fun that can be had, it is a great sport that provides full body and low impact exercise which improves body balance and overall strength.

How was stand up paddle boarding invented?

Stand up paddle boarding was said to have originated on the African coast where people stood up in their dugout canoes to get a better view of what was around them, especially looking out for danger. This is the reason that lifeguards also use stand up paddle boards to look out for anyone who might need help and to be able to quickly get to them.

Another reason that stand up paddle boarding came into favour as a sport was in Hawaii where it was adopted as a different way to go surfing when there weren’t many big waves. SUP enables you to practice your surfing technique and balance in the sea when there isn’t much swell.

Due to the stability of stand up paddle boards, they have become increasingly popular as a recreational activity, allowing you to get unique views of nature from the water.

What do you wear for stand up paddle boarding?

You can wear whatever you want for stand up paddle boarding, however you might want to think about the temperature and getting wet if you fall in.

In warmer weather, T shirt and shorts will be just fine, but if the water is a bit cold for you, a wetsuit may be required. You can buy wetsuits or rent them from the place you rent your board from.

Where Can I Try Stand up Paddle Boarding in the UK?

Being an island, the UK is a great place to try stand up paddle boarding. There are an enormous range of places where you can go to hire one. But if you fancy trying stand up paddle boarding on a patch of water near you and there isn’t a board hire shop nearby, you can now get a paddle board delivered to your door!

SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK – Stand up Paddle Boards for Hire and Delivered to Your Door

SUP Rentals Ltd is an Oxfordshire based stand up paddle board hire business offering inflatable paddle boards to rent in the UK.

SUP boards are larger boards and the desire to travel with them has led to the development of an inflatable system where the board and pump can be carried in a back pack.

SUP Rentals Ltd offers the rent of stand up paddleboards from one day, up to two weeks with prices starting at £15 per day per paddle board.

Each stand up paddleboard – the Zray Tourer Elite 330 cm / 10’6” – is perfect for adults or families and comes with its own pump, ensuring quick and easy inflation.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards are lightweight and pack down in to a rucksack and the company will deliver to the customer via courier to their doorstep – or customers can collect from their base in Oxfordshire.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards can be rolled up and packed in a lightweight pack for easy transportation. The boards are safe and durable, with a more rigid construction technology than other inflatable boards currently on the market. SUP Rentals have a long history in renting equipment for water based activities and the quality of their equipment and safety of their customers is second to none. It is awesome to be able to rent a stand up paddle board that is delivered right to your door. In addition, when hiring the SUP boards, life jackets and dry bags can be reserved through the online booking process.

If you want to buy your own inflatable stand up paddle board in the UK, it will set you back around £500. You can buy them from stores such as Decathlon, Surf Boutique or Amazon.

The Great Social Stand Up Paddle Boarding Trip

Stand up paddle boarding is pretty straightforward and easy to learn. The boards are very stable and make for a great way to spend your recreational time at the weekends with friends. You can go online and rent a couple of inflatable boards, get them delivered to your door and then have some fun at the weekend.

If you are still wondering if it is easy to learn how to stand up paddle board, this Youtube video explains everything for you.

The post Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards to Get You On the Water More appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Whoever the outdoor man in your life is, trying to find the perfect gift can be a challenge. As an outdoorsy man, I thought you might like a few hints as to what gifts would be very much appreciated.
I have split these outdoorsy gift ideas into categories, just to make it easier for you to find a gift that is most suitable for your boyfriend. One word of advice, always check to see whether he has them already. I have specifically chosen these gifts because any outdoorsy man will appreciate them even if he has one already. Always good to get a newer version.

Toys for Outdoorsy Boys

To round up this collection of rather nice gifts for outdoorsy boyfriends, I thought I would include a few toys for those with bigger pockets. I have used all three of these gifts, although I don’t own them, yet (hint hint!).

Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) gives you the ability to get out on the water and control where you go with a spot of paddling. What’s more, you don’t even have to lug around a massive board on the roof of your car anymore because you can rent inflatable stand up paddle boards delivered to your door nationwide in the UK. Fits easily in the boot of your car to add a bit of adventure to your weekend outing with friends or family.

This little beauty is brilliant in that it doesn’t take up much space and can be inflated to provide hours of fun on the water. You can use it on lakes, rivers and in the sea. I have had lots of fun using it in Cornwall where the waves weren’t quite big enough for decent surfing, but were enough to play around in. The beauty of the SUP is that you can then paddle back out into the sea, provided you haven’t fallen off and stacked it coming in on a wave. Oh the days sent with sand in your face.
If you want to find out more, I have a comprehensive review of stand up paddleboarding.

Sublue Underwater Aqua Jet Scooter

The Sublue aqua jet is a battery powered device that pulls you along on or underwater. The WhiteShark MIX PRO can run for 60 mins & fast charging within just 2 hours.  You can capture epic moments using your smartphone by securing it onto the designated phone mount located on the floater. You can still easily attach your action camera onto the universal mount to transform into an underwater filming tool without additional cost.

We have had a few sessions on these at Center Parcs in Eleveden. It is basically a propeller in a secure housing that you hold in front of you. You can position it to move you in any direction. They are awesome fun and allow you to dive under the water and cruise along at quite a good speed.

It makes the perfect gift if you have your own swimming pool or regularly go on holiday near the sea where the water is clear. If you happen to have a golf villa in Portugal, you will probably want to have one.

The Essential Fitness Tracker for The Healthy Man

Now I don’t have my own fitness tracker because I’m not that competitive. I do however know how well I am doing using my phone stats and everyone else’s fitbits. I am such a cheapskate that I use their times and distances from our group runs that they put on Strava. All I have to do is keep up with them.
Having said that, if you want to know exactly how much activity you are doing and how much sleep you get, the Fitbit is the defacto activity tracker. If you get the Fitbit Charge 2 with the heartbeat monitor, you can use it for interval training, and also for calming meditation sessions.
If you want to track routes, distances, times and heartrate, then you might prefer the Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Running Watch with Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitor.

Tools

Swiss Army Knife

If you’re indecisive whether to buy this, I’ll make your mind up for you. Buy it. This version of pocket knife is pretty much the perfect Swiss Army Knife because it has fantastic can/bottle openers which double as screw drivers. The scissors are much better than you think, with both blades being very sharp out of the box, and easy to keep sharp. The saw is quite sturdy and top quality. I have cut through three inch diameter branches with it for backwoods camping easily. Great for cutting through branches for a fire pit.
Some say “but do I really need the cork-screw?” – it’s surprising how many times I’ve saved the day with the cork-screw on one of my Swiss Army Knives over the years, when at a party and the host cannot find his/hers for the wine. Oh, and it’s good for untying knots too as well as tangled necklaces.
All round the Huntsman is probably the most perfect of the range, as it has all the main tools you need/want and none of the tools that you’ll probably not really use.

Leatherman Tool

The Leatherman Wave BLACK (with Free Nylon Pouch) multi-tool is a must have to keep in the glovebox. The Leatherman Wave multi-tool is made famous by its outside-accessible blades that can be deployed with just one hand. The new Wave has larger knives, stronger pliers, longer wire cutters, and all-locking blades. Perfect for any job, adventure, or everyday task.
This is just as good quality as you’d expect from a premium brand and so far it’s done all the minor tinkering I’ve set it to without complaint. It has a good selection of tools and the bit driver works well. I got the bit driver extender as well and this feels good in use. It starts to look expensive when you add in the leather case but it ends up being a really compact combination, which is important for motorcycling, camping etc. Expensive but you pay for quality and I’m not disappointed.

Portable Battery Charger Universal Power Bank

Auto-detect: Detects your device to deliver its fastest possible charge speed with 3.4A (max) output. 20,000mAh Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank for iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung, most other Phones and Tablets
Huge Capacity 20,000mAh: it charges an iPhone 7 six times, Samsung S6 more than five times, a large capacity of iPad Air 2 almost two times
High-Speed Charging: 2A unique input enables the portable charger to recharge itself twice as fast as 1A input; Dual USB output ports can charge 2 devices at the same time
Safety Protection: Built-in multi-protection system protect the power bank against over current and short circuit. It’ll automatically turn itself off when short circuit or overloading occurs.

Torches

Small Compact LED Lenser Pocket Torch

The Boost light delivers an outstanding 320 lumens from the CREE LED and an amazing 50 hours battery life is achievable on the Low Power (still 40 lumens) light. The re-configured Advanced Focus System optics deliver a wider area of light in either flood or spot beam options than its predecessor the T7 and the new larger Dynamic Switch makes the torch easier to use with gloves on.
I am very possessive over this torch as it has become my household torch, my holiday torch, my cycling torch.
It is very good and very bright. It fits on my mountain bike with an attachment and is perfect in that on roads you can use the half power setting and unlit areas on full power which is excellent as with the beam adjustment it lights up a wide field of view.
On holiday it is perfectly sized for carrying out on those dark beach walks and for lighting the walk back to the villa.

I have a detailed guide to choosing the best LED pocket torch to help you decide.

USB Rechargeable Head Torch

I did a 6am off road run this morning (in absolute darkness, no rain) using this USB rechargeable head torch light. I’m delighted with it. It’s super light weight, has excellent ‘brightness’ allowing me to see hazards such as fallen branches and is comfortable to wear ( I had no cap or hat on). I had been concerned that it might bounce around; not a bit of it!
It is simple to use, then again it’s a light, so you’d expect that.
So if you’re looking for a light for a bit of light running in the dark, this product is exactly what you are after. Easy to charge via USB. Love the idea of no batteries. Very powerful for size glows white or red via button selection.

Body Worn Running Torch

No more holding a torch or having the one strapped to your head bouncing about in that really irritating way. 90-250 lumens of super brightness: High intensity light within 20 meters area illumination distance to ensure you can see potential obstacles or hazards; red taillight with warning triangle for better visibility from oncoming traffic drivers

3 Light Modes With Rechargeable Micro-USB: High beam,low beam, and flashing;synchronous function for headlight and taillight; USB charging only 5 hours, can be used at least 3-5 hours. Please charge every 6 months if you don’t use it for a long time
PERFECT PRESENT: Christmas present or Xmas stocking filler for running lovers. Great birthday gift for men, women or kids
Adjustable Strap With Elastic Chest Band: This running light with flexible strap and adjustable length for comfortable wearing. Fully adjustable fit for runners large and small, just like the straps on a headlamp, you can tighten and loosen the straps to fit your needs
Best Substitute For Headlamp And Flashlight: You’ll Forget You’re Wearing It – It is so comfortable compared to a headlamp that you might just forget you’re wearing anything at all; It keeps your hands free (no holding a flashlight any more)

Food and Drink

Biolite Camp Stove That Recharges Your Phone

Turn fire into electricity! CampStove 2 generates 3 watts of usable electricity and stores it in it’s internal powerbank for USB charging of LED lights, mobile phones, and other devices. The internal, rechargeable 2600 mAh battery stores excess power to charge devices, even without a live fire.
USB charge output with 50% more power than our previous CampStove 1, with updated thermoelectrics creating even more electricity from fire, and Smart LED Dashboard gives you real time feedback on fire strength, power output and fan speed settings
Internal jets have 4 fan speed settings to circulate air for improved combustion and efficiency to boil 1 liter of water in 4.5 minutes
Lightweight aluminum legs fold up for nested portability and durability for camping, backpacking or power outages
The FlexLight is a portable, pliable USB gooseneck for quick, controlled light and internal fire-starter makes setup a breeze.

Drinkpod Pocket Flask for Commuters and Walkers

A 200ml or 300ml flask that is brilliant for taking your favourite hot drink with you when out walking the dog or commuting. A strong and lightweight vacuum-insulated capsule flask made from 18/10 Stainless Steel. This flask keeps liquids hot for 6 hours and cold for 24 hours.
Featuring a plastic lip for comfort – Simply unscrew the lid and enjoy your drink straight from the flask.
100% leak proof even when stored or carried horizontally. Available in a variety of attractive colours and sizes.

Chilly’s Bottles Water Bottle

24 HOURS HOT – 12 HOURS COLD: Carry ice cold water or freshly brewed coffee anywhere you go. Using advanced double wall vacuum insulation, your favourite drink can be kept cold for up to 24 hours or hot for 12 hours no matter what the outside temperature is!
LEAK-PROOF: Designed with an airtight and leak-proof lid to prevent any spills. Feel confident when you throw your Chilly’s Bottle into your bag – No Leaks, ever!

ECO-FRIENDLY & DURABLE: Stop using single use plastic bottles with a reusable Chilly’s Water Bottle. We use premium, food-grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, a metal recognised for its strength and purity. It also protects against flavour transfer. BPA-free, phthalate-free, toxin-free.
TAKE IT EVERYWHERE: The Chilly’s Bottle’s stylish, revolutionary design is lightweight & the narrow mouth makes it easy to drink out of on the go. Perfect for hiking, yoga, sessions at the gym, traveling, long transport, school, & work. The 260ml & 500ml sizes fit most cupholders & the 750ml fits larger cupholders.
CONDENSATION, SWEAT FREE EXTERIOR: Designed for an active urban lifestyle, the Chilly’s Bottle will never cause water rings on your office desk, slippery hands at the gym or a damp mess in your bag.

Comfort

There’s nothing worse than feeling cold when you are out and about. Coats and trousers are a personal preference, but you can always buy a few things to keep your man warm.

Waterproof Beanie Hat

Hats have to work as both a base layer and outerwear, but they should be considered as an important bit of kit. The waterproof beanie is fully breathable and waterproof which can’t be said for all of its competitors, whilst including a micro fleece lining for warmth and comfort. It has knitted acrylic for minimised water absorption, and also maximised water repellency. This close-fitting comfortable beanie is suited to a multitude of outdoor uses. reflective logo on the front.
Sealskinz also make waterproof socks which are ideal for winter cycling on that wet commute.

Rechargeable Hand Warmer

I have a full review of hand warmers detailing the pros and cons of each type.

The XGUO hand warmer is the perfect solution for blending a phone charger with a hand warmer.
If you are outdoor enthusiasts, the hand warmer is good equipment to hike, camp, hunt, fish and other sport events.
And it’s also good choice for outdoor workers and those who have blood circulation problems.
I bought this because I wanted to keep my hands toasty when out walking the dog in all weathers, as well as having a power backup for my phone. This product solves both problems. It takes a couple of hours to charge up fully using the included USB charge lead.
As a hand warmer it has 3 different heat settings. The highest setting is great for rapid warming when your hands have got freezing cold but the second or lowest setting is fine for maintaining temperature when placed in the palm of the glove or in a zip pouch in the back of mitts.
I am getting about 6 hours heat on the lowest setting (not 8 hrs claimed) and about 4 hours on the middle setting.
As a phone charger using a USB to lightening lead it works fine. When I go skiing or climbing in the extreme cold I plan to put it in a pouch alongside my phone on a low setting to keep the phone warm and I can switch it over to phone charge if I run low on battery.
I found it to be an ideal size for a man’s glove (large). My wife finds it fine in a mitt but on the large size for her small palms in a glove.
My only criticism is that it is possible to accidentally change the settings by knocking the button on the face of the warmer. A recessed button or slide switch might be better. However you soon realise it has got too cold or too warm and it is easy to correct.

The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Men who have Everything

If you just can’t find anything to buy the outdoorsy boyfriend or man in your life because he has pretty much everything, this is the solution. Get him this ultimate gift experience voucher from Buyagift. It allows him to choose from thousands of different experiences from cars, adventure, flying, food and weekends away with you. Unbeatable.

The post Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Men appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Skills – Strength: 7, Balance: 6, Flexibility: 3, Agility: 5, Coordination: 6
Time needed: travelling time + 3 hours, Cost to try: £100

If you would like to do something unusual this winter, have a go at dogsledding. Canada and Alaska are the best places to go dogsledding. You can go for a dogsledding weekend, or perhaps you may prefer a dogsledding vacation.

What is Dogsledding?

Dogsledding is where you have a sled that is pulled by one or more dogs across snow and ice. The dogs used for this purpose are usually huskies, chosen for their thick fur that keeps them warm.

There are various different types of dogsled. A basket sled is has a woven bed that is raised above the snow on runners and is used for dogsled racing. A Sprint sled is a short version of the basket sled. A toboggan sled has a lower carriage and uses a closed bed, allowing the sled to slide or float over deep snow.

The sleds have runners that stick out behind the dogsled, and are used by the mushers to stand on.

Dogsledding Adventures in Canada

Do I Have to Be Fit to go Dogsledding?

You don’t have to be an athlete to go dogsledding, but you will need to be reasonably fit. When you go dogsledding, you aren’t on the dogsled for the whole time. Sometimes you will have to get off and run beside the dogsled in snow. This is usually to help the dogs pull the dogsled up hills. You will also have to help load equipment onto the dogsled.

So, how fit do you need to be? It is recommended that you should be able to walk 3km on hilly terrain in less than 45 minutes. You should ideally also be able to run 3km in less than 35 minutes. If you aren’t able to do this now, then gradually build up to it. Consult your doctor before starting any physical exercise programme. You can find more details in Outward Bound Canada – Dogsledding – How Fit do I Have to be?

Where Can I go Dogsledding?

You can go dogsledding in several places in Canada and Alaska. Locations include:

• Algonquin Park, Haliburton Highlands, Ontario;
• Banff;
• Canmore;
• Kananaskis Country
• The Canadian Rockies;
• Alberta, Canada;
• Guelph, Ontario, Canada;
• Port Blandford, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Huskies

Huskies are the breed of dog selected for pulling dogsleds, as they have an amazing ability to survive in the cold winter snow. When you have finished dogsledding for the day and have unharnessed them, they bed down in the snow and their thick fur keeps them warm.

A dogsled team is put together with much thought. The team consists of leader dogs, point dogs, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog is very treasured, and mushers will seldom let these dogs out of their sights.

Dogsledding Holidays

• Exodus Travel Dogsledding – Finland, Sweden and Lapland.
• Ontario Outdoor Dogsledding – Northridge Ranch in Huntsville, Algonquin Park and Temagami.
• Winterdance Dogsledding, north of Haliburton Lake on the doorstep of Algonquin Park
• Whistler Dog Sledding Tours – Soo Valley near Whistler.

If you would like to recommend any other places to go dogsledding, post it on the discussions area, or submit an article about your dogsledding experience.  If you prefer to go sledding somewhere hot, try basket sledding in Madeira down steep cobbled streets.

The post Dog Sledding appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Kayak In Your Backyard – By Andrea Lauren

My kayak glides toward the gray and blue reflection of the white peaks of the towering Alaskan mountains, never cutting through the reflection, but moving through the glassy water as part of the landscape rather than as an intruder. Rising hundreds of feet on the side of Resurrection Bay, I see a hanging glacier nestled in the jagged rock, softened by mounds of snow. To my right, I spot a bald eagle in his nest high up in the tree. Quietly, we paddle along the shoreline to get a closer look, when we find another new friend – a sea otter — floating on her back. We stop paddling for a bit to chat, as our guide shares some hilarious vignettes about tourists trying to “rescue” a bald eagle who was just trying to protect his dinner. Technically, I am a tourist, too. I’m visiting Alaska as a birthday present to myself and romping around the state pretty much solo. But while I am a tourist, I’m also not. We are all inhabitants of this world, although many times getting out in nature, especially when we are so tied to technology, makes you feel like a tourist in your own backyard. Your backyard is a great place to start, though. It’s where I began splashing in the creek, exploring in the fields, and hiking the trails. For this trip, I made Alaska my backyard. I tend to do that – go places and decide they are my new “backyard.” Once you’re comfortable playing in your backyard, you try out new things and new places.

Kayaking is something I started in my “backyard” of graduate school by participating in a whitewater kayaking course. After the culminating run down the whitewater river rapids, I decided that a touring kayak was more my style. Taking a class on how to kayak is a great way to get started because you learn the basics and you get connected with others who are also interested in the activity. However, there are other ways to experience the sport besides taking a class. Several people on my Alaskan kayaking adventures had never kayaked before, but by signing up with an outfitter, like Kayak Adventures Worldwide (that’s the one I used), you get equipment, instruction, navigation, and supervision. If you decide you want to try whitewater kayaking, I strongly encourage you to take a course and/or seek out an experienced whitewater kayaker to help you. Besides attending a course or registering with an outfitter, often local outdoors stores will host an introductory class to kayaking. This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet (sorry, I’m a nerd and that pun had to be interjected somewhere). A lake is also a good place to try out kayaking with a friend.

As you prepare for your kayak experience, your outfitter can be a resource for questions and concerns. What you will pack and wear will often depend on both the weather and water temperature. Whether you are kayaking in Alaska or paddling in the tropics, there are some basics to kayaking. The first thing is this: you WILL get wet. Not that you will tip, because if it’s flatwater, and especially if you are in a double kayak, it is actually highly unlikely, but you will be on the water and water is wet. (If you’re now thinking, “Uh, I already know this.” Then you get it – that’s the point! You already DO know about this! There are just some other details to work out to get you on the water.) There are different types of kayaking, so there are different kinds of equipment as well.

What is Canoeing and Kayaking all about?

You may have seen a bit of sedate canoeing, or even had a go yourself, but there is a wide range of canoeing experiences to be had on a range of types of water.

Canoeing is where you paddle a canoe for the purpose of recreation, sport, or transportation. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe with only human muscle power.

There are a few differences between a canoe and a kayak. A canoe is an open topped craft that you paddle from a kneeling position with a single blade paddle. Canoeing is perfect for wilderness travel and river cruising. Kayaks are paddled from a sitting position using a double bladed paddle. Just some of the extensive environments for kayaking include sea, surf and white-water rafting. Kayaks are usually closed-decked boats with a spraydeck, while canoes are usually open boats. There are also open kayaks and closed canoes.

Internationally, the term canoeing is used as a generic term for both forms though the terms “paddle sports” or “canoe/kayak” are also used. In North America, however, ‘canoeing’ usually refers only to canoes, as opposed to both canoes and kayaks. Paddling a kayak is also referred to as kayaking.

In modern canoe sport, both canoes and kayaks may be closed-decked. Other than by the minimum competition specifications (typically length and width (beam) and seating arrangement it is difficult to differentiate most competition canoes from the equivalent competition kayaks. The most common difference is that competition kayaks are always seated, and competition canoes are generally kneeling. Exceptions include Canoe Marathon (in both European and American competitive forms) and sprint (high kneeling position). The most traditional and early canoes did not have seats, the paddlers merely kneeled on the bottom of the boat. Recreational or ‘Canadian’ canoes employ seats and whitewater rodeo and surf variants increasingly employ the use of ‘saddles’ to give greater boat control under extreme conditions.

There are many types of disciplines within kayaking and canoeing. With so many different types of canoes and kayaks available, it is up to you whether you take a gentle paddle down stream or battle it out in the open ocean. Whitewater kayaking is extreme fun, whether on man made whitewater courses or on rivers.

Getting your kayak to the water can be done either using a trailer or a roof rack. If you don’t have the space, perhaps you might like to look at an inflatable kayak or canoe.

What Do I Need?

• Kayak
• Paddle
• Spray skirt: Many warmer climates with recreational kayaks for rent do not require you to wear a spray skirt, which you wear around your waist that seals around the opening of the boat when you are in the water. You may or may not need one, depending on where you are kayaking.
• Footwear: Water socks/shoes, but sneakers can sometimes work, too.
• Depending on the season and temperatures, you may end up wearing neoprene booties and gloves, or a wetsuit.
• Attire: When I kayak by my house in the summer, I wear shorts, a tank top, a hat, and some sun protection. Weather and temperature matter, so make sure you check that out before you hit the water.
• Personal Floatation Device: The one accessory that I always wear is a personal floatation device (PFD) – a life-vest. I tend to be part of the “Just-In-Case Club”, and this is a badge of honor with its members.

All Geared Up – What Next?

The Paddle:

First, take your paddle and put the shaft on your head so that the blades are equidistant from your head. Yes, I’m serious here. Now, you want your arms to make right angles. This is how you can tell where your hands need to be. If you are using an asymmetrical paddle, you want to hold it the correct way. Usually, the writing on the paddle is a dead give-away (as in, can you read the writing? If it’s upside down, so is your paddle). If there is no writing, know that the horizontal side is the bottom, the more curved edge is the top. You want the smooth concave side facing you. Now you know how to hold the paddle, so let’s get you in the boat – but not in the water . . . yet!

The Kayak:

You also want to fit your kayak before you start paddling. In order to fit your kayak, sit on the back lip of the open hole, with one foot on either side of the boat. Lift your feet up, slide them in, and put your bottom on the seat. Each foot should rest on a little pedal. Your heels should be in toward the bottom center of the boat and your toes out with your feet slightly flexed. Your knees will be bent and rest on the sides of the boat; this will help you balance the boat. Your bottom should be all the way back in the seat. If you need to, you can adjust the foot pedals by moving the lever inside the boat. If you have a spray skirt, you should be wearing that before you begin. Like I said, not all places use them and you may not need one. Once you are all set and in your kayak, you will take the skirt and tuck it under the back lip of the opening, moving forward until it’s all tucked under. Make sure the woven handle is NOT tucked under the skirt. You need this accessible just in case you do tip.
Now it’s time to get in the water! There are a couple of options for how to do this. I usually start right at the water’s edge, get in as described above, and scoot to the water, or have a friend push me in.

Time to Move:

Paddle strokes can be broken down into three steps. Think of yourself as propelling yourself forward, rather than pulling water toward you.

1. Put one blade in the water . Your torso will be turned in the direction of the blade that you have in the water.
2. Imagine pushing the boat forward instead of pulling the paddle back. You can do this by extending your opposite arm (paddle is not in the water) across your body. Imagine you are punching the air in front of you at about shoulder-height. The blade in this hand will be in the air. You blade-in-water arm will be bent, hand by your waist, blade in the water.
3. Rotate your torso as you bring your blade out of the water. Paddling is a continuous motion. Now this hand is going to the punching and the other arm is going to catch the water with the other blade. Your torso should now be facing in this direction.

TIP: Make sure you are extending your arms, otherwise you will look like you have dinosaur arms. (Are you pretending to do it now? See? Just like T-Rex!) Try to focus on pushing with your extended arm as you twist, rather than pulling with the arm with the blade in the water. You want your stroke to be smooth, and the grip on the paddle loose. If your knuckles are white, relax a little!

Will I Capsize?

The major concern I hear about kayaking has to do with capsizing, or tipping over. It CAN happen, but if you are on flatwater, it’s infrequent. Still, it’s always good to have a plan and know what to do in case it does. If you capsize, bang on the sides of the kayak three times loudly to signal to others that you have tipped. Then, put both hands on the edges of the opening on either side of you and run them along the oval until they meet at the front, which is where the handle will be of your spray skirt. Then, when you pull the handle, the skirt pops off, and you push with your feet to easily exit the boat and swim to the surface. Like I said earlier, if you are kayaking on flatwater (like a lake) you mostly likely won’t need to do this, but it’s good to know. There are other ways to right your boat back up, which are great to know if you become an avid kayaker and crucial if you decide to attempt whitewater kayaking.

Kayaking can give you chance to explore nature and see it through a different perspective. It is certainly a unique and fun way to experience the outdoors and the water! Now it’s about time for you to strap on your PFD, grab a paddle, and hop in kayak to explore your new backyard.

Find Out More About Canoeing and Kayaking

A good place to start with any sport is to learn the basics first. Hatt Adventures run kayaking and canoeing experiences that are perfect for getting a feel for splashing about in the boats for a few hours, playing some games and learning basic technique. From there you can progress up the on to the BCU (British Canoe Union) certifications. These are designed to improve upon your skills at each stage, awarding you with a recognised certificate at the end of each assessment.

For further information on the sports, check out the BCU website. Here a comprehensive list of clubs and centres can be found as well as further information on the awards and other resources.

If you want to explore harbours, coastlines, cliffs and caves, you can experience the sea from a different perspective by sea kayaking.

The post Canoeing and Kayaking appeared first on Active Outdoors.

The most popular dream adventure experiences as voted by the UK

1. Travel the world
2. Ride on the Orient Express
3. Swim with Dolphins
4. Go on Safari
5. Experience freefall or zero gravity
6. Drive a racing car
7. Pilot a jet
8. Walk the Great Wall of China
9. Dive the Great Barrier Reef
10. See the Northern Lights
11. Fly in a hot air balloon
12. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
13. See the Grand Canyon
14. See the Taj Mahal at sunset
15. Watch the Serengeti migration in East Africa
16. Visit Antarctica
17. Visit the Galapagos Islands
18. Visit Ankor Wat in Cambodia
19. Drive along Route 66
20. Go on a gondola ride down the Grand Canal in Venice



21. Explore the Forbidden City in China
22. See the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt
23. Watch sunrise at Uluru, Australia
24. A Helicopter flight over Niagara Falls
25. Visit Yellowstone Park
26. Marvel at the Moal statues on Easter Island
27. See the terracotta army in China
28. Go jungle trekking and river kayaking in the Amazon Basin
29. Watch the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
30. Go island hopping in Greece by boat
31. Go camping in Yosemite
32. Travel on the Trans-Siberian railway in Russia
33. Watch the great wildebeest migration on the Masai Mara in Kenya
34. Celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh
35. See the art and treasures in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican in Rome
36. Explore the Rocky Mountain in Canada
37. Visit Lake Garda in Italy
38. Visit Rome
39. Go shopping in New York City
40. Go surfing in Hawaii

The post Top 40 Best Dream Adventure Travel Experiences appeared first on Active Outdoors.

If you want somewhere to go out and have fun with your friends (or boyfriend or girlfriend), then what you need to do is get yourself to one of the temporary outdoor ice rinks that are becoming ever more popular at this time of year.

You will find them popping up everywhere, from shopping centres such as the Winter Garden Outdoor Ice Rink at Bluewater in Kent, to landmarks such as the ice skating rink in London at the Natural History Museum.

At all of the outdoor ice rinks, they will provide the ice skates. You may need to book tickets for the outdoor ice skating rink in advance, as they are very popular. Plan a trip with your mates and make a day of it at the weekend.

Ice Skating in London

• Natural History Museum
• Tower of London
• Somerset House
• Canada Square, Canary Wharf
• Hampton Court Palace
• Ice skating at Westfield in Stratford
• London Eye

Outdoor Ice skating rinks in the UK

• Winchester Cathedral
• Cardiff
• Windsor
• Alexandra Palace
• Newcastle Life Cantre
• George Square, Glasgow
• Spinningfields, Manchester
• Bristol
• Ice skating at the Pavilion, Brighton
• Eden Project, Cornwall
• Smithfield, Dublin
• East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
• Warwick Castle
• York
• Nottingham
• Millenium Square, Leeds
• Cambridge

Outdoor Ice Rinks Around the World

• Berlin – Winterwelt am Potsdamer Platz www.winterwelt-berlin.de;
• Budapest – City Park Ice Rink www.mujepalya.hu
• Helsinki – Ice Park, Rautatientori Square next to the Central Railway Station.
• New York – The Rockefeller Center, between 47th & 50th Streets and 5th & 7th Avenues www.therinkatrockcenter.com.
• New York – Wollman rink in Central Park, close to the entrance at 59th Street and 6th Avenue www.wollmanskatingrink.com.
• Oslo – Frogner Stadium, Frogner www.visitoslo.com.
• Paris – Rève de Neige, Stade de France, Saint-Denis www.stadefrance.fr;
• Vienna – Vienna Eistraum (Ice Dream), Rathausplatz, boasts 6,000 square metres of pure ice. Located between Hotel Intercontinental and Konzerthaus [More information on places to ice skate outdoors in Vienna].

If you know of any more outdoor ice rinks, let us know and we can add them to the list.

If you don’t want to get your ice skates on and you prefer to slide downhill this winter in a big inflatable ring, you might like to try snowtubing and doughnutting

The post The Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks This Winter appeared first on Active Outdoors.

What is Snow Tubing or Doughnutting?

Most dry ski slopes and ski resorts now have snow tubing lanes so you can race your friends downhill.  You can also buy snow tubes Amazon to use at home when it snows.

Snow Tubing on snow is a wintertime activity that is similar to sledding. Snow Tubing involves sitting in a large inflated inner tube and launching yourself down a snowy hill. This is almost always performed on a hill or slope, using gravity to get you to the bottom. The low friction between most snow tubes and snow allows you to reach considerable speeds while riding, especially on steep slopes.

When you have snow tubed to the bottom of the hill, you either have to walk back up with the snow tube, or get pulled by a drag lift if you go snow tubing at a ski slope or snow tubing activity centre.

You can buy a snow tube, or use something similar. Tractor or truck inner tubes provide the same thrilling experience, but you may want to cover the hole in the middle with a sheet of polythene to keep yourself dry.

An inflatable dinghy will also give you a great downhill ride. The added bonus is that the bed of the boat will be inflated and cushion you from the bumps.

If you want to have control over where you go, perhaps you want to have a go at airboarding.

Lastly, wherever you go sledging or tubing, check where you will end up, and look out for obstacles. You are going to have some serious fun and go home with a massive grin.

Snow Tubing Parties

If you want to have a go or hold a snow tubing party (especially for stag and hen nights!), have a look at what is on offer at the snow tubing venues below.  The locations at ski resorts have specially carved lanes to keep you going in the right direction while you are snow tubing.

One of the best things about doughnutting is racing your friends. You get to bump them and have a real laugh. Guaranteed to end up at the bottom with a big grin.

You can have a snow tubing parties at ski slopes in the UK and US. Places include:

• London (Hemel Hempstead)
• Aldershot
• Chatham
• Trowse, Norwich
• Craigavon
• Chillfactore at Trafford nr Manchester
• Swadlincote Derbyshire
• Plymouth
• Glasgow
• Colorado

Where to buy your own Doughnutting and Snow Tubes

You can buy a great range of snow tubes from Amazonco.uk or Amazon.com
If you are looking for something faster, you have to get an airboard.

The post Snow Tubing and Doughnutting Parties appeared first on Active Outdoors.

It’s not all about the nature watching. The experience of paddling across the waves under your own power is quite soothing to the soul. One of the great things about a sea kayak is that they are wider than normal kayaks, and designed to be much more stable in the waves. Within ten minutes, a complete beginner can work out how to move about in a sea kayak, so it is good for newcomers and experts alike.

Sea kayaking for beginners

Sea kayaking is readily accessible for beginners, however depending on your fitness and coordination it will be easier for some. Talking to a sea kayak instructor I was told that more and more people struggle with sea kayaks because adults and children are so unfit these days. Paddling can be a bit tiring on the arms if you are not used to doing any form of physical activity.

What to Expect When Sea Kayaking

I have been longing to go sea kayaking for a while. Walking the cliff top coastal paths around the UK, I often sea small groups of people in sea kayaks exploring the cliffs and caves. Whilst on holiday in North Devon, I took the opportunity to try it out.

We went sea kayaking with H2Outdoors in Ilfracombe, Devon. We met at the harbour, where we were given wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and a paddle. The wetsuits were nice clean and dry, which is a rarity for doing watersports. Most times I have been on water adventures, the instructor has only a limited supply of wetsuits which will have been used for the previous session and so you have to put on a damp smelly one. Not at H2Outdoors. The instructors make a point of having enough wetsuits for everyone that are in good condition and looked after. A good start to the kayaking experience.

Safety is a priority, and you are given top class sit on sea kayaks and safety equipment. All of the Instructors are British Canoe Union qualified and first aid trained. Each instructor is equipped with all the necessary safety gear including tow lines, flares, first aid kits, VHF radio, mobile phones and other such equipment required for the conditions and the group.

We were given a safety brief, and shown how to use a paddle efficiently. Then we carried our kayaks from the boathouse down to the harbour’s edge. Some families had opted for tandem kayaks for younger children. Due to the group mainly being families with younger children, the 2 hour session remained within the protection of the inner and outer harbour at Ilfracombe. For stag and hen party groups, able teenagers and adults, sea kayaking sessions go out exploring the coast around North Devon.

Getting into a Sea Kayak

It was quite easy to get into the sea kayaks, mainly because they were sit on top style. From the shore, you just put the front end of the sea kayak in the water so that the front floats and the back still rests on the shore. You then sit on it, and either shuffle the sea kayak forwards into the water, or get a helpful push.

Fun on the Water in a Sea Kayak

We paddled around the harbour and played a few games such as throwing sponges at each other and British Bulldog/Seadog. This helped us practice our paddling and steering skills and improved confidence. The bit I enjoyed most was kayaking in the channels between the rocks and the cliff. The waves were coming around the rocks which made things a bit more challenging but a lot more fun.

We will certainly go sea kayaking again, but aim to go on a half day trip so that we get to go out along the coast.

Sea Kayaking with H2Outdoors

Regardless of your paddling experience, H2Outdoors offers fun filled tailored sessions. H2Outdoors Sea Kayaking sessions are perfect for small or large groups with varied paddling experience as we use sit-on kayaks which are incredibly stable and easy to paddle and all sessions include an introduction to kayaking before taking to the water for some fun. No experience is necessary and all equipment is provided.

If you have some experience and would like to journey a little further along the coast, they have kayaking options for you to choose from ranging from short journeys using sit-on kayaks to half and full day packages using enclosed cockpit sea kayaks. Multi day sea kayaking in North Devon trips are available on request.

H2Outdoor can arrange one-to-one kayaking sessions for you to have our qualified instructor focus solely on you and provide the opportunity to practice rescues and rolls or develop other skills within the kayaking sport.
They also provide other outdoor adventurous activities such as coasteering, high ropes and mountain biking.

Sea kayaking tips

The book Sea Kayak Handling: A Practical Manual, Essential Knowledge for Beginner and Intermediate Paddlers by Doug Cooper is a great compilation of tips on getting started in sea kayaking.
These are a few things I have learned from experience or observation.

1. It is less tiring if you are more efficient with your paddling. If you can paddle in a straight line, you use up less energy than trying to correct a zigzag course. Aim to put the paddle into the water as close to the side of the sea kayak as possible.
2. If approaching a wave, face your kayak into the wave rather than being side on as it is less likely to tip your sea kayak over.
3. Sea kayaks are not intended for use with surf. If you want to try that sort of thing you need to go wave surfing.
4. Wear a buoyancy aid. If you fall out of your sea kayak, it is one less thing to think about if you don’t have to put in the effort to keep your head above water.
5. Plan ahead and know what the sea and weather conditions are going to be like.
6. Tell someone where you are going
7. Carry a waterproof dry bag with a mobile phone or radio in it so you can call for help if needed.
8. Depending in the weather and time of year, a full body wetsuit will keep you warmer than a short wetsuit.
9. Use a paddle leash so that if you let go of your paddle it doesn’t float away.

Sea kayaking equipment

To go sea kayaking you will need:

• Sea Kayak
• Paddle
• Paddle Leash
• Wetsuit
• Buoyancy aid
• Neoprene Wetsuit boots
• Waterproof dry bag
• Helmet

Places to go Sea Kayaking

The best time to go sea kayaking in Europe is between May and October. In the US, October to May is better for sea kayaking as it is not too hot. August to September is hurricane season and must be avoided.

Sea kayaking in the UK

The UK coastline supports an abundance of wildlife that makes sea kayaking a great experience. The best places to go sea kayaking in the UK are around the Isle of Wight, off the North coast of Cornwall, Devon, and in Scotland.

Alaska sea kayaking

The Kenai Fjords in Alaska offer views of glaciers sliding into the sea. You paddle amongst ice, and can get to see glaciers calving and crashing into the sea. You will definitely need a guide for this trip. The fishing port of Seward is the national park headquarters, and where most sea kayakers go from. You will get to see wildlife such as Sea Eagles, Orca Whales and sea otters. Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking offer trips in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords.

Greenland sea kayaking

Sea kayaking in the Arctic fjords of Greenland in the summer months gives access to perpetual daylight and passageways through channels in and around the fjords. See glaciers and icebergs in the lands of the Inuit, who invented kayaks. In case you are wondering, kayaks are the watercraft that you usually sit inside and are covered. Canoes are open boats more commonly used in warmer waters.

Sea kayaking in Iceland

Sea kayaking in Iceland is ice free all year round because of the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. You can take this tour as part of a trip to see the volcanoes, geysers and ice of this amazing place.

Sea kayaking in the Ionian Sea, Greece.

The Ionian Sea is the calmest sea around Greece and perfect for sea kayaking. The deep blue Mediterranean waters off the southern tip of Italy and Greece provide wonderful coastlines to explore like those around Crete or Corfu. Whilst exploring the coast and sea caves you might get to see turtles, seals or dolphins.

Sea Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

Just south of San Diego off the coast of Baja California lies the Sea of Cortez. There are hundreds of unexplored coves, uninhabited islands and estuary mouths to discover. You can see wildlife including sea lions, turtles and plenty of birdlife. One popular route offered by Baja Outdoor Activities is to kayak all the way around the Isla Espiritu Santo near La Paz. You can go on a trip where you and your sea kayak are taken to the island by motorboat. Tours provide camping spots on the island so you can paddle your way around the island camping overnight at stops along the way. After a hard day paddling, turning up to a delicious cooked meal that awaits you is wonderful. Sea kayaking all the way around Isla Espiritu Santo takes between five and seven days.

Sea Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

If you are lucky enough to travel to Thailand, make an effort to try sea kayaking in Phang Nga Bay. Explore hidden sea caves that only a sea kayak can get into. The bay has been used for films such as The Beach, and James Bond movies. Using inflatable sea kayaks, you get to paddle through caves and narrow passageways into the hidden interior of the islands. The water inside the middle is called a hong (room). You are surrounded on all sides by lush forest vegetation hanging from the limestone cliffs. Access to the caves is tidal, so you should use an experienced guide who knows the area.

The post Sea Kayaking appeared first on Active Outdoors.