Travel officially returned in 2022, and you’ve had your fill of “revenge travel” trips. How about venturing further for some new adventures in 2023?
Here, we have five travel experiences that are guaranteed to take you out of your comfort zone, allow you to pick up a new life skill, and provide you with lots of unforgettable memories along the way
Remote work from an RV
The pandemic has made it clear that some types of work are not completely location dependent. Aspiring digital nomads can head to New Zealand – rent a motorhome from a reliable company such as Kiwi Motorhomes, ensure you have complete travel insurance coverage and a solid Internet connection sorted, and embark on this once-in-a-lifetime road trip. Start from Auckland and loop around the North Island’s quaint little towns like Paihia, before crossing over to South Island and checking the majestic Milford Sound off the bucket list. Although your computer wallpaper may stay the same, wherever you choose to work, the stunning New Zealand scenery will be your backyard every day.
Find your inner balance
Working from home increases the feeling of being constantly plugged in, and the endless Zoom calls and seminars can take a toll on one’s stress levels and mental health. Carve out time in your schedule to calm the mind and stretch out the body with a three-day beginner yoga and meditation retreat in Rishikesh, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India. If you have more time to spare, Yoga Vidya Mandiram also offers a variety of seven-, 10- and 14-day courses. Accommodation, meals and excursions to sacred sites during the retreat are inclusive in the course fee.
Take up a PADI diving cert
With 71% of the earth covered in water, scuba diving will open up a whole new, mesmerising world. While enjoying the feeling of weightlessness and hearing just the sound of your own breathing, keep your eyes peeled for reef sharks snoozing on the sandy bottom, turtles gliding effortlessly over the reef, and many colourful fish darting in and out of the corals. Neighbouring countries like Malaysia (Perhentian Island; Semporna Island), Indonesia (Nusa Penida, Labuan Bajo) and Philippines (Moalboal, El Nido) offer great dive sites including shipwrecks, where certification costs are also significantly lower than learning in Singapore though travel insurance is highly recommended. A PADI Open Water Diver certification will take around three to four days to obtain.
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Train like an astronaut at space camp
Located next to NASA’s base in Huntsville, Alabama, Adult Space Academy is an adventurous, 3D2N out-of-this-world experience. Over the course of a weekend, individuals get to suit up, train like an astronaut on the Multi-Axis Trainer, construct their own model rockets, design a protective heat shield, and participate in a simulated space mission! If that isn’t enough to satiate one’s love for space, there is an extended 6D5N camp where wannabe astronauts try their hand at flying jet aircraft simulators, and experience neutral buoyancy while scuba diving in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer.
Power pedal through Slovenia
For those seeking an active holiday, Slovenia has launched a brand-new Green Gourmet Route that only includes destinations holding a Slovenia Green certificate – destinations that are committed to a green future and sustainable tourism development. The 11-day route runs from Ljubljana to Goriška Brda, the Vipava Valley and the Kras region and back through the capital towards Sevnica, Podčetrtek, Ptuj and Maribor. It includes other sustainable ways of travelling to take a break from pedalling, such as hopping aboard a train.
Along the way, sleep in family-run farmstays and quaint boutique hotels, dine at Michelin-star restaurants (Michelin awarded Slovenia its first stars in 2020), indulge in high-quality vintage wines, and taste locally-sourced dishes.
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