Top ideas for an active summer: how to diversify your outdoor hobbies and have an unforgettable leisure time

Sport is life (as if it doesn't sound pathetic and corny), and with the arrival of spring and summer, sport is simply a must-have for mental health and good shape. If you're tired of everything, you hate "locking up" in the gym, then we offer several ideas for interesting sports hobbies in the open air.

Outdoor activities are probably the best combination of nature and sports. If you are not a fan of this type of recreation, then most likely you simply have not found your hobby that suits your needs and preferences. Outdoor sports activities will help you diversify your routine, get new experiences, recharge with energy and cool emotions, maintain good physical shape and stabilize your mental state. And most importantly, all this in the fresh air and surrounded by incredible nature.

The ideal option is to try everything and decide what you like best and what is most comfortable for your physical abilities, or alternate: for example, road biking with mountain bikes, kite surfing with surfing, rafting with rafting, climbing with via ferratas, hiking with camping.

Adventure is closer than you think. Europe's nature offers a wealth of opportunities and dozens of ways to recharge your body and mind: from hiking in the Dolomites to surfing in Portugal.

Hiking: an affordable classic of outdoor activities

Hiking is one of the simplest, most basic and accessible activities. It involves walking in the mountains or in nature, in national parks. In general, the entry threshold is the lowest: you only need sneakers (if you are not planning long distances, then just regular ones, for multi-day hikes you still need special hiking sneakers) and be in more or less normal shape.

Of course, hiking can and often is difficult: on rough terrain, with many climbs and requiring good physical fitness if it is a 6-hour hike. But in Europe there are so many simple beautiful places for hiking, where even after just an hour you will find yourself in the middle of nature with incredible mountain views.

A significant advantage of such walks is that you choose the time of walking, the pace and do everything at your own pace. Of course, you always have to calculate the time and focus on the reviews of others in order to make it before dark. In Europe, hiking is an incredible experience, the paths are in most cases very well marked and many people also follow the route, so it is very difficult to get lost. But if you are looking for solitude with nature, you will have to choose longer and more difficult routes. Such walks are a great stress reliever, help to distract from city noise and problems.

In Italy, Austria and France, for example, there are always mountain hotels-shelters, refugios, where you can eat or spend the night. After a 4-hour hike in the middle of nature, forest and mountains, you can easily eat a delicious soup/pasta or a fresh strudel. And for more experienced hikers, multi-day hikes with overnight stops in refugios/huts are suitable, for example, like the super famous track around Mont Blanc in the French Alps.

Ideal locations for hiking are the Dolomites in Italy, the Alps (Austria, Switzerland, France), the Pyrenees (Spain/France) and the Tatra Mountains (Poland/Slovakia).

Camping: Rebooting under the starry sky

Camping, on the other hand, requires more preparation and equipment. This type of activity will allow you to truly connect with nature: camping under the stars, more remote locations, and more time alone with nature. This type of activity requires more endurance (since you have to carry the extra weight of a tent, sleeping bag, etc. on top of the usual haiku) and more planning.

But, in my opinion, it's worth it. Because even food tastes different when you've carried it on your back for a few hours and then cooked it comfortably in the open air with an incredible view, silence, and nature all around. And only when camping, far from all the light pollution of cities, can you see an incredible, real sky, generously sprinkled with stars.

Camping also requires more mental endurance, because here you have to rely only on yourself and the person you went hiking with, all the organization, calculating the amount of food, route and necessary equipment falls on you. In many countries, it is common practice to need to obtain permits for camping in certain places (for example, in the USA this is done to preserve nature and regulate the number of visitors). You also need to have a certain tolerance for discomfort: not everyone is comfortable sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent or using an open-air "toilet".

But this union with nature, sleeping in the open air like thousands of years ago, gives a special feeling of freedom, total reboot, merging with something primal in you and with faith in your own strength. Tents can also be a great budget alternative for spiritual rest for the whole family (if you plan to make such outings often, then the equipment will not be such a big investment, but will last for years).

You can rent equipment for: €10-20/tent, €5-10/sleeping bag. If you buy your own, a tent starts at €150, a sleeping bag and sleeping mat from €50.

Camping will give you unforgettable experiences in Italy (Dolomites, Lake Garda, Sardinia), in Slovenia (Triglav National Park, Lake Bled), in France (Provence, Alps, Lake Annecy), in Austria, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries.

Mountain biking: drive, nature and endurance

MTB (mountain biking) requires skills, mental strength to overcome obstacles and good physical fitness. For your first attempt, you can choose a fairly easy route just through the forest to feel what it's like to ride a bike over rocks, tree roots and forest paths. And then move on to narrower paths, steep climbs and descents with a lot of rocks.

This is a more extreme type of activity, but it gives not only adrenaline, but also a very good sports load, trains coordination and strength, the constant change of terrain keeps you in shape and interested in the process. It is worth noting that mountain biking requires technique and can be dangerous.

In general, the best mountain biking is in the USA (in Moab Utah, in Crested Butte Colorado, in Sedona Arizona or on Lake Tahoe California), as there are a lot of specially made trails and routes, while in Europe it is mostly natural trails (often unnecessarily more dangerous). But in Europe there are also many places for MTB: Italy (Dolomites), France (Alps), Slovenia, Austria.

Renting a bike, depending on the country, whether it's electric, and how new it is, will cost somewhere between €30–70 per day. A helmet is usually included.

Road bike: speed, freedom and countryside aesthetics

Road cycling is a less extreme type, I highly recommend trying it in Europe, it's the perfect place for it. In Italy, Spain, France there are thousands of kilometers of beautiful roads with excellent surface and incredible views of the countryside, mountains and traditional houses, castles, etc. It's not for nothing that the biggest cycling races Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Catalunya take place in these countries. Road cycling gives you speed and perfectly clears your head, freeing your brain from obsessive thoughts or anxiety.

Often, beginners think that it is very dangerous, because you are driving on a highway with a bunch of cars. In fact, in the countries listed above, there are a lot of secondary roads in good condition, which connect small towns or villages. And here, firstly, there is little traffic, and secondly: drivers are used to cyclists and give them space, go around them or patiently drive slowly on the climbs behind cyclists on narrow serpentines.

Road cycling is great cardio, a good workout for your legs, and can be a fun group activity and a chance to see idyllic rural life. But it also requires route planning, as you probably don't want to end up on a super busy truck route.

Renting a bike costs around €25–50/day. Helmet, gloves, water bottle and special shoes (optional for professional riders) are often included for a separate price.

The most picturesque locations for cycling are Tuscany, the Dolomites and Lake Garda in Italy, Mallorca, the Spanish northern coast, Girona in Spain, the French Riviera Cote d'Azur, the Swiss Alps, and the Slovak Paradise.

Rock Climbing: Mental Strength, Focus, and Overcoming Fears

Rock climbing is a very interesting sports activity, but it is definitely a challenge not only for the body, but also for your brain and mental concentration. Here you need to be as focused as possible, to be in the moment without being distracted by extraneous thoughts, because every wrong "step" on the rock can be very dangerous. Rock climbing is a wonderful sports load on the whole body and the opportunity to feel incredible pride when you reach the top.

If you are not yet ready for mountain climbing, you can try an indoor climbing gym to start, where you will be taught all the safety rules and the correct sequence of actions. Ideally, for a beginner, go on their first mountain climbs with experienced friends or an instructor.

In my opinion, climbing a mountain requires more mental than physical endurance (if we are talking about easy routes). This sport develops strength, endurance, concentration and your ability to overcome your fears. For beginners, the most suitable option is top rope. This is a method of belaying, when the rope is already threaded through the upper hook (anchor) and both its ends are at the bottom: one end is attached to the climber, the other to the belayer. The only thing is that for this you need an experienced partner/instructor.

In this case, if you fall, you will simply hang on the rope. This means you can focus on technique and movements and not be afraid of risks (unless you scratch your knees).

Renting a complete climbing kit costs around €30-50/day in Europe (this includes special shoes, helmet, belt, rope, anchors). Instructor (required for beginners): €50–€100/day.

There are great locations for climbing in Verdon France, Spain, Italy (may be difficult for beginners), Slovenia, Austria and Germany (often well-equipped with top rope routes).

Via Ferrata: a super cool activity – a combination of hiking and climbing

Via Ferrata is a kind of hybrid between hiking and rock climbing. In Austria, Switzerland and especially in Italy you can find many such routes. This is a path along the rocks with insurance. That is, it is more difficult than hiking, but not as dangerous as mountaineering. So here in the mountains there are already installed metal cables and brackets, to which you fasten yourself with two carabiners on your harness. This allows you to pass quite steep sections that could be too dangerous without insurance.

Via ferrata will give you gorgeous views, an adrenaline rush like rock climbing, but at the same time you will feel more protected thanks to the belay. The equipment here is also less: a belt with carabiners and a helmet. Even the shoes can be ordinary sports sneakers.

This is a great activity to see cool, Instagrammable views, improve arm and leg strength, and balance. It's also good cardio, as most of the climbs are uphill. The routes vary in difficulty, for both beginners and more advanced hikers.

Rental is cheap at €15–25 (helmet, slings and carabiners). Gorgeous views and impressions are guaranteed in the Italian Dolomites (home of via ferrata), the French Alps, Austria (Salzkammergut, Heilbronner), Slovenia (Triglav, Logar Valley) and Switzerland.

Rafting: adrenaline on the water and teamwork

In the summer heat, rafting can be a great activity for those who want to cool off and love team fun. Emotions, drive, dynamics and nature around will be a great weekend in the company of friends. Rafting is rafting on mountain rivers in a boat. Usually, it is designed for 4-8 people. If you have no experience, then even beginners can complete a route of medium difficulty with an instructor, the main thing is not to be afraid, to be open to new impressions and to listen to the instructions of the instructors.

This sport has a very pronounced seasonality (much depends on the water level). This activity will pump up your body, arms, and will be a good cardio workout.

The top rivers in Europe are Soča (Slovenia), Salza (Austria), Tara (Montenegro), Austria (Salzkammergut), Italy (Aosta). The price for a rafting trip starts from 60 euros for 2–3 hours (all equipment and even a wetsuit are included).

SUP: water, peace and balance

Stand Up Paddle (SUP) is one of the easiest activities that does not require too much physical exertion, skills or super mental endurance. This calm ride while standing on a board with a paddle can be done on the water in any lake, reservoir or river. Of course, for those who cannot swim or have very poor balance, you should stock up on a life jacket or choose shallow water.

The only downside to this type of activity is that there is no shade and it can be a bit boring as there is no speed or challenge. But this activity is perfect for relaxation and quiet contemplation.

Rental from €10/hour or from €25/day. By the way, the well-known European sporting goods chain Decathlon offers reasonable prices and many locations for renting any sports equipment.

In Europe, great places for grebes would be Lake Garda (Italy), Bled (Slovenia), Balaton (Hungary), or the sea waters of Croatia, Greece, or southern Spain.

Surfing: Catch the waves and the ocean breeze

Surfing is a classic water activity. Probably everyone has dreamed of catching waves while standing on a board at least once in their life. Surfing requires very good physical fitness, since most of the time you are floundering in the water, resisting the waves and trying to swim to the wave, and only for 10-15 seconds you are actually riding this wave (for beginners, the number of seconds is even less). Surfing develops your arms, body and balance.

Today, many agencies organize surf tours throughout Europe, there are separate tours for girls at quite reasonable prices, where you are taught to ride a board for a week. If you want to master surfing on your own, you need to do quality homework, watch a bunch of videos to understand the secrets of technique and getting on the board.

But if you master this sport, you are guaranteed to be in good physical shape, and you will start to get a kick out of the beach not only when you sunbathe like a seal.

Rental starts from €15-25/board plus €10 wetsuit. Lesson with a trainer starts from €50-€70 for 1.5 hours. The best waves are in Portugal (Ericeira, Peniche, Nazaré for advanced), France (Biarritz, Hossegor) and Spain (San Sebastian, Canary Islands).

Kitesurfing: the element of wind, water and adrenaline

Kitesurfing is a super cool activity, but it requires training, technique, and skills. Generally, anyone with normal physical fitness can learn it, but the question is how long it takes for different people and your fears.

Kitesurfing is a drive, it is the opportunity to almost fly over the water thanks to the wind and the kite. An air kite with a rope system is attached to a special belt, you have a control bar (bar and lines), a board and the entire space of the river for maneuvering. Kitesurfing is about speed, adrenaline and enjoyment of several elements at once: wind, waves, water and sun.

At first it is quite difficult to master and requires good balance and physical effort, as most of the time beginners are resisting the water and wind. But at the stage of an independent and confident user, kitesurfing is much less tiring than surfing. You are simply racing through the water with the rhythm of the waves.

Kitesurfing requires the ability to stay afloat, be able to restart the kite on the water, and understand how the wind works, its directions, and currents. Kitesurfing can be done on rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans, depending on your skills and courage, but kitesurfing requires stable winds, which are found in a fairly narrow range of designated locations.

A 3-day training course (several hours per day) in Europe will cost from 400 euros (usually, the price includes a wetsuit, board, belt, kite). If you have already mastered kitesurfing, but do not have your own equipment, then renting it will cost €50–€80/day.

Top locations in Europe are Tarifa and Tenerife (Spain), Rhodes, Kos (Greece), Lecce/Sardinia (Italy) and Lake Garda in Italy for beginners. Very cool conditions for world-class kitesurfing in the USA – in Hawaii, Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and on South Padre Island. Also super locations in Mexico on the Baja California peninsula.

Which activities are the easiest and which are the most expensive?

In general, if you look at all these activities and take into account having your own equipment, then the most expensive equipment and the most difficult threshold for entry will be kitesurfing, because the equipment is quite expensive, you need several types of kites for different winds, you also need time to learn and practice, an instructor, and the places where you can do it are also quite limited. So there are also the costs of traveling to these places.

Road and mountain bikes can also be very expensive, especially when it comes to electric models. Prices for new, high-quality electric bikes start at 3-4 thousand euros, and for good non-electric ones – from 1000. But you can also start with simple or used bikes. For minebiking, you will also need time to learn and improve your skills, so it is a certain commitment and physically demanding. For roadbiking, a used bike and a desire to ride will be enough at the beginning.

But to try something new, you don't actually have to buy your own equipment right away; you can rent a lot of it on site for a pretty reasonable price. This is convenient and allows you to decide if the activity is right for you before investing more in it.

Renting is definitely the perfect option for getting to know a new sport. For reasons of hygiene and convenience, it is better to have your own shoes (for hiking, climbing), and a wetsuit for water activities.

Rock climbing, if you buy your own equipment, will cost around 500 euros, but also requires skills, lessons with an instructor, and mental preparedness. The most physically demanding are kitesurfing, mountain biking, and rock climbing.

The cheapest activity is hiking, minimal costs, just take water, SPF and a good mood with you. Plus, there are simply many places where you can hike, which significantly expands your geography and makes it more accessible.

For example, the best kitesurfing locations have become a mecca for water sports enthusiasts, and the correspondingly small number of specific places immediately makes services and rentals more expensive. Hiking and climbing will also be the easiest activities that do not require super skills, physical fitness or super careful planning.

How to choose your ideal activity for the summer? Just try and feel what interests you. You can start with the simplest and cheapest types to just be in nature and get in better physical shape, and then move on to activities that are more physically, morally, and financially demanding.

You can also focus on your physical health needs, what traits and qualities you would like to improve first. Your love or dislike of extreme/drive can also be a key factor.