These days there’s nothing more attractive than the thought of booking a trip and heading off to some far-flung destination. With the rise of Instagram’s role in fuelling wanderlust, it’s important to remember that quality is more important than quantity.
Most of us want more of the life-enriching and cultural experiences that come courtesy of travel, but there’s a misconception that to have a genuine adventure we need to become digital nomads or sell everything and travel around the world. The truth is that most of us can’t afford to give up our jobs, but all of us can afford to experience more.
Microadventures are on the rise for this very reason. You don’t need to break the bank or walk away from your real-life; all you need is a couple of days and an open mind. Discover more about this unique approach to travel and check out our microadventure ideas to get the ball rolling on your first one.
What is a microadventure?
Microadventures are simply experiences that you can have closer to home over a couple of days. You can thank British adventurer Alistar Humphreys for coining the term.
In fact, Humphreys was crowned as National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his dedication to microadventures. On his website, he stipulates that “you do not need to fly to the other side of the planet to undertake an expedition. You do not need to be an elite athlete, expertly trained or rich to have an adventure. Adventure is a state of mind.”
The joy of microadventures is that you can indulge in the benefits of travel throughout the year: experience new things, head off your own beaten path, go beyond your comfort zone, and do things you wouldn’t normally do. Think of it as a staycation with a little more flair, a weekend getaway with a bit of oomph, or as an add-on to a business trip.
Who should go on a microadventure?
Honestly? Anyone and everyone! However, if you’re looking for more practical reasons, then micro-adventures are great for people that:
- Haven’t been away in a while
- Want more adventures in between trips
- Are short on time or have limited vacations
- Hate flying (because you can avoid planes)
- Need to stay close to home
- Need a hassle-free getaway
- Have yet to explore their backyard
Discover your own microadventure
Whether you’re a new or seasoned traveller, we could all do with a little more adventure in our lives. The purpose of a microadventure is that you shake up your routine, find something off-the-beaten-path in the day-to-day and see something anew.
One of Humphreys’ microadventures saw him walk a lap of the M25, a 118-mile motorway that goes around the city of London. For many commuters, the dull and monotonous rigour of the M25 is hardly a source of inspiration. Yet, there was Humphreys, trying to reimagine it as something that would revitalise him.
Speaking of the experience in a blog, he says “As soon as the idea formed I knew it would be an adventure. Not a massive adventure. But that was fine. I was not looking for that. I wanted something small. I wanted a microadventure. I recruited a friend and fellow adventurer Ron Lilwall to accompany me, we decided to make a film of our experiences, and we set off to walk a lap of the M25.”
Here are some inspiring ways to create your own microadventures. The trick is to embrace spontaneity.
Take a tour in your backyard or travel close to home
If you want to experience where you live in a new way, be a tourist! Having a staycation doesn’t mean staying in your house. Many of us don’t bother with sights and attractions near where we live, and it’s a shame really. You don’t need to stand in a queue for hours to see a famous building, but how about booking a food tour or walking tour, for example? Microadventures are all about trying to experience the familiar in a new way.
If you’re looking to have a microadventure a little further afield, look for short tours in neighbouring cities, states or countries. Long weekends are perfect for taking an extended microadventure. Plenty of companies offer three-day tours that will give you a chance to have in-depth cultural experiences or explore travel styles like hiking and biking or allow you to take a deep dive into a destination’s history and heritage.
If you think it’s only people in Europe that can get away for the weekend, think again! Just choose something within easy reach, a short drive or flight away and open your eyes to what’s around. Whether you live in North America, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Asia or the Middle East, consider the thousands of travellers that visit where you live every day. Borrow a page from their book and follow in their lead by exploring what lies on your doorstep.
Tack a couple of days on to your business trip
Why not be smart and make the most of being in a destination by adding a couple of days on to the end of a trip that’s already been paid for? Because you only need to take one or two days off, it won’t eat into your vacation time or impact your work.
This is an ideal way to have a microadventure and possibly even unwind after business meetings or a hectic conference. If you are usually anxious to get back home after being away for work, having something to look forward to may make your business travel more enjoyable!
You don’t even have to go sightseeing. Make the most of your extra couple of days by booking an experience that resonates with you, or indulge something that you’re passionate about. Take a class, go to a meetup, cook with a local family, do a homestay, spend time on a farm, take a train ride. The options are endless. And remember, you can also pick up any of these microadventures once you’re back home!
Take advantage of flight deals and sales
Sign-up to newsletters or follow blogs that highlight flight deals. Don’t try to travel to a specific place and be inflexible with your dates; instead, be spontaneous and keep your eyes peeled for a cheap flight to an unexpected destination over a weekend.
Choose quality over quantity
A couple of days may not seem like much time, but remember microadventures are there to nurture and cultivate your adventurous spirit not check things off a bucket list. If you’re visiting a new place, don’t try to cram everything into one weekend, instead focus on something you want to do and experience it to the fullest.
