• Introduction
• 1. Hiking
• 2. Climbing
• 3. Kayaking
• 4. Surfing
• 5. Fly Fishing
• 6. Sailing
• 7. Biking
• 8. Scuba
• 9. Horseback Riding
• 10. Rafting

Hiking

SPLURGE: Sofia to Tryavna, Bulgaria
Walk into history – almost literally – with Country Walkers, a Vermont-based specialist with a most unusual 8-day itinerary. Little-known Bulgaria, a new EU member, boasts one-and-a-half millennia-worth of architecture and artifacts, as well as some of Europe’s most splendid scenery: mountain ranges, lush valleys, wildflower meadows, and sandstone pyramids carved by the elements. Hike from a still-active 13th-century Orthodox monastery to a ruined Roman amphitheater; discover the perfectly preserved medieval crafts town of Tryavna and the unique national revival architecture of the 19th century. CW has also unearthed fabulous family-run inns and hotels with home-cooked meals. $2,600 for 8 days, all-inclusive.

VALUE: Cinque Terre and Apennines, Italy
Don’t be scared by the name: Australian outfit Intrepid Travel runs the gamut from gritty, challenging adventures to gentle, accessible trips with English as the lingua franca. This 8-day trek combines hiking the mindblowingly picturesque Cinque Terre coastline paths and Apennine trails with some gentle Tuscan cycling and feasting around Lucca. IT’s helpful “Culture Shock” grading system gives this a 2 – occasional basic hotels or overnight trains, but mostly easy stuff. A 5, by their own admission, “can be tough.” $1,200 for 8 days, breakfasts and lodging included.

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