There are as many traveling definitions and philosophies, as there are people in the world. As humanity, we’ve been traveling for dozens of thousands of years — at first, in search of food and better living conditions. In the 16th century, there appeared first documented world travels. Travels that were made not out of need but out of curiosity.
Since the dawn of time, civilizations have been developing accompanied by the lust of adrenaline and thrill — just take a look at the ancient Rome and gladiator games! Many famous travelers share the same lust — they want to and they do see and touch wild animals and climb the highest peaks at any cost.
We, the ordinary mortals, don’t want to risk all we have and cherish. Neither have we as much financial capacity as National Geographic adventurers. We feed our traveling lust and dreams with documentaries on Discovery Channel, adventure novels and movies. Chilling under a blanket with a cup of cocoa, we keep wishing that we were brave enough to turn the blanket into a cape and rush to the top of Mt. Everest before we lie down next to our ancestors forever.
Happily, we live in the 21st century, where everything is possible. You can experience extreme adventures under controlled conditions to give yourself the needed shot of adrenaline. In that spirit, we wrote for you a guide to unconventional ways of traveling. Now, make yourself the cocoa, sit comfortably and let us lead you through your possible future adventures!
Yachting and Kayaking
Always wanted to be a sailor but were too afraid of the long term marine isolation? Yachting is your opportunity to make up for the childhood dreams! Owning a yacht is not necessary to treat yourself the sailing adventure. Boat and yacht chartering became extremely common over the last decade. You can read more here on how to rent a yacht: https://www.sailingeurope.com/en/private-yacht-charter
Sailing through the Mediterranean Sea with your best friends as a crew, or facing the cold waters and fjords of Scandinavia with a hired experienced skipper sound like the leaders of an amazing bucket list.
A few days spent on a kayaking river trip will also be an unforgettable adventure. You’ll float through the woods and mountains, in the sun and rain. Intense rowing combined with camping in the evenings and sleeping under the stars. Your arms and back are tired and a bit sore, but you feel so satisfied and happy with nature all around that nothing else matters.
Water — saline or fresh — is an unpredictable and overwhelming element of Mother Nature. Don’t wait listening to the clock tick-tocking. Start planning and saving up money for your first sailing trip right away!
Camping
You must have heard of digital nomads — a particular group of working people who gave up their office 9-5 careers and permanent address for… living in a camper and traveling around the world.
We’re sure most of us are fed up with their full-time jobs, annoying coworkers and unfair bosses. But very little of all the frustrated employees actually decided to make the impossible dream come true.
Making a cold camping-car into an actual mobile home is a great challenge and a huge expense. Of course, it’s not an overnight transformation. It’s a long and demanding process — not only financially, but also mentally.
Becoming a digital nomad requires loads of self-motivation, self-discipline, and determination. You can exercise developing these attributes every day by yourself, or with the help of a therapist or a coach. Anything that will help you to achieve emotional stability, confirm yourself in your beliefs and goals and will increase your stress tolerance.
Camping nomad’s life is an extremely developing, complex, and winding path to get to know the world, different cultures and yourself better.
Long-Time Railway Travels
Hands up, who watched Snowpiercer and started wondering how it would really be to live on a train? Us, for sure! Thanks to the Trans-Siberian Railway you have the opportunity to have the experience of two weeks long ride by train — through the whole territory of Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok and back.
Actually, you have three different routes of the Railway:
- Trans-Siberian (the main route)
- Chinese Eastern Railway
- Trans-Mongolian Railway
- Baikal-Amur Mainline
They all sound completely different, don’t they? And All the routes have the same departure and final station!
Trans-Siberian Railway is not another ride by train, from point A to point B. This particular train travel is an adventure itself. It makes us think about how big, and yet how small the world is.
Another railway adventure to experience is the Canadian Pacific Railway ride. Just like her Siberian sister, she’s heading across the country and the one-way ride takes almost 7 days.
Consider organizing the sci-fi-like train expedition in winter to make the time spent on the ride even more unbelievable and magical. Canadian and Russian landscapes of wild tundras are just one of a kind.
Although be prepared for a small journey back in time, as well — looking for wifi signal on both of the trains might be pointless. They rarely provide their passengers with Internet access. Don’t look at your phone and make friends on the amazing train ride!
Isn’t it overwhelming how well connected the world is nowadays? If you have the opportunity, keep traveling wherever and however you can! The political and financial possibility to travel is a real privilege that many of us don’t appreciate enough. Don’t take your freedom for granted. Make the best use out of it. Keep traveling, discovering, don’t stop being curious and let the world surprise you every day!