Travelling as a couple can be a truly awesome experience. Circling the globe with your best friend, partner-in-crime and lover is in our minds the best form of living one can do and should be seen as a way of strengthening your relationship, trip after trip. We hope that the goals listed below ought to strengthen not only your relationship but your perception of life itself. Seeing the world can make you reflect on what’s truly important in life that there are only a few things that you should hang on tightly and let go of all others. To be able to look at your partner in all the years to come and think, we did this, travelled there, experienced that and that knowing that no matter how far you were from home, it didn’t matter because home was with you all the time every step of the way.
Find Yourselves
Go out together with the idea of finding yourself. That sentence is something of an oxymoron I’ll admit, but it’s important that you find yourself when you travel. Not only is travelling a physical journey but it’s also a spiritual one. We travel to discover the world outside, yet it can hold meaning for an inner journey as well; whether it be finding purpose, balance or overcoming one’s limits. We’re not saying go out together and then split up and each of you does your own thing for the day, not at all. What we are saying is that you should both try to take something individually from doing an activity together. For both of you to seek a different feeling and reflect on what you can take away from that activity or experience. For example, something big could be you both decide to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary together for a week and within yourselves, you should find a little self-reflection when doing so. There are many paths to personal growth and so if you’re still confused, let’s find some more examples:
Seek Vision
In Native American tradition, the vision quest is a rite-of-passage ritual taken by a young man. He ventures into the wilderness alone to fast and pray, trying to attain a vision of his future guardian spirit who will give him clarity on his life’s purpose. A spirit we could all do with at some time in our lives. Learn how to do your own vision quest the next time you venture out into the world: www.native-americans-online.com
Sacred Shrines
Long ago, Kumano, on the mountainous Kii Peninsula, was a sacred forest where emperors and samurai went to worship nature. Shinto temples and shrines appeared, creating the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail. There’s a ton of hiking options, from hours to days and an excellent opportunity to enrich the soul. Give it a go yourself or go with a local outfit suck as Kumano Travel: www.kumano-travel.com/en
Extreme Pilgrimage
Mt Kailash is one of the world’s holiest places, sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It does however welcome only a few thousand pilgrims each year as its remote location requires weeks of difficult travel, and around it are 32 miles of path to circumambulate: www.tibettravel.org
Connect With The Land
For Aboriginal Australians, the spirits of ancestral beings reside in trees, rocks, caves and waterholes. Songs describing the location of the landmarks and telling ancestor stories can be followed for hundreds of kilometres. At once spiritual belief and navigation system, the songlines uncover a profound connection to the land. Learn more ancestor stories down under: www.parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/
Reconnect With Religion
Many people all over the world make their journey to iconic sites of religious meaning like Rome or the ultimate one, Jerusalem and people travel for a number of reasons. For some, it is just another long-distance walk but for many Christians, it’s a chance to find meaning and to set aside time for God and feel closer to him. However, one does not need to be religious to undertake such a journey. Motives may also be historical, cultural, sporting or some combination of all of these. For many people it may also be a significant action or event in their lives: to mark their retirement, perhaps, to fill the gap between studying and taking a first job, or the opportunity to take time out to decide which way to go next after a turning point of some sort in their lives. Find yourself at one of these holy sites: Jerusalem, Lourdes, Rome
Try Something New
As a couple you should be always seeking ways to strengthen your relationship, not to weaken it. Sounds logical right? and yet many of us do the latter, with or without intention. What better way to strengthen your relationship by pushing yourselves out of your comfort zones! This can do wonders for you both and because you would have completed something different and potentially challenging together, you’ll feel like you both are more than just lovers. Don’t allow yourselves to ever be driven by comfort or fear. We all experience uncertainty and fear at times but if we set up our lives to avoid all that, then how will we ever grow? The same goes for your relationship.
Learn Falconry
Get up close with some of nature’s most majestic and powerful creatures. Work with owls, falcons and eagles in a practice that’s thought to date back to thousands of years. Give it a go yourself anywhere in the world or if you’re in the UK: www.dartmoorhawking.co.uk or www.thehawkingcentre.co.uk
Go On A Safari
Kruger National Park, South Africa has all of Africa’s iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra. The Kruger National Park caters for all budgets and tastes when it comes to accommodation and is perfect for day visitors to take some time and self-drive through and get a real taste of Africa or join a guided open vehicle safari: www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/
Take A Sleeper Train
Ever heard of the expression, it’s not the destination but the journey? Cramped up on a flight or stuck in the back of a bus really isn’t what we all like but usually is an inevitable part of travelling. However, try something different such as a sleeper train and combine the journey with moments to look out of the window at the world that passes you by. Try the epic 2400 mile journey from Chicago to San Francisco and witness the views from the snowy mountains to the hot deserts as you link the Atlantic to the Pacific. There’s something quite romantic about this form of travel: www.amtrak.com/home
Travel On Horseback
Before the days of cars, trucks, buses, planes and trains, riding on horseback was the fastest and most efficient way of getting around. Retrace your old roots and put your trust in one of these magnificent animals as our ancestors have done for thousands of years. Try riding like a cowboy or cowgirl, wild west style in the USA, or give an African safari a go with a horsey twist. There are many options to choose from at: www.horsexplore.com
Save The Planet
At home we often do our bit to help reduce pollution and recycle our goods but why stop when we travel? Whether you’re the sort to take on conservation work or just travel a little more mindfully, it’s all part of a mission that mankind needs to take responsibly. The National Parks in the USA contain some of the world’s most awesome natural wonders and you can get involved by volunteering at: www.nps.gov. Dive with a goal in some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs and help save sharks or care for injured manatees: www.wwf.org.uk/what-can-i-do. Take a vegan tour and prove to yourselves that animal-product-free food can be just as good: www.veganfoodtours.com
Come Home Fitter
Mixing fitness with travel doesn’t have to be too difficult nor should it take up too much of your time. Read our post on keeping fit while travelling: franglaisadventure.com/keeping-fit-while-travelling. Otherwise, give some of these ideas a go and who knows, you may find a new hobby!
Learn To Surf
You will fall more times than you will stand, but it’s all part of the learning process and soon you will begin to get the hang of it. Give this addicting water sport a try next time you hit the beach. The temptation to keep at it will send you home fitter than you’d ever imagined. www.australiansurftours.com.au
Learn A Marital Art
Where better to learn Karate than in Japan? or Kung Fu in China? or Muay Thai in Thailand? Learn from the masters themselves and test yourself with the way of the warrior: www.studymartialarts.org
Walk Everywhere
Avoid public transport as much as you can. Simply choosing to walk can not only improve your fitness but you’ll often see much more as the world doesn’t pass you by quite so quickly. If walking is your thing anyway then why not take it another step further and walk the Great Wall of China? or follow the foundations of the once standing Hadrian’s Wall: www.nationaltrail.co.uk
Kayaking
Can almost be done anywhere in the world and there’s nothing quite close to the harmony that being on a calm river can provide. Hire a kayak and head out or go with a tour group while you take in the scenery as you row through rivers and lakes that make being on the water at times challenging but always a rewarding experience: www.tripadvisor.co.uk
Hit The Slopes
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, skier or snowboarder, there’s always a challenge to be had when tackling the snowy mountains. Skiing and snowboarding works the core muscle groups of your body, helps you to improve your balance, posture and increase body strength – it’s the perfect way to exercise during the winter: www.about-france.com
Experience Culture
If you’re from the West, head out East and vice versa. Chances are you have a rough idea of what the other side of the world looks like, but do go and experience it. You can start small by visiting your neighbouring country for a start and exposing yourself to live like the locals. This could mean eating food that you wouldn’t normally eat at home or dress like a local and change the way you look.
Volunteer
Worried about climate change or feel that you can do your part in a developing community? Be part of the solution and do your bit for the planet and its people. Plant trees in North America, South America, Asia and Africa. Be a part of something with One Tree Planted and their mission to reforest parts of the world. Seek out in helping coastal conservation with cleaners waters and recovered fish populations. Blue Ventures has developed a unique and successful model in doing so. More volunteer opportunities worldwide here: www.goabroad.com/volunteer-abroad
Eat Different Foods
Ditch what you know and eat like a local. If you find yourself in France, try escargots! or give frog legs a go. Most typical French restaurants will serve this and other traditional cuisine that you may find not quite as shocking. Typically most islands serve seafood and done right, it can addictive to eat every evening. For those couples that are brave enough to try out any local dish, eat some of the hottest Indian dishes around (Vindaloo, Phaal Curry) or even eat Insects in Thailand and other Asian countries.
Challenge Your Perceptions
Movies, books, the News and social media all can portray certain parts of the world in either a negative or positive light and can stain a country’s image for a very long time. However, wars do end, crops do grow, buildings do repair and natural disasters are recovered from. Visiting places with a troubled past will often have friends and family shaking their heads but it’s up to us individually to ascertain and challenge our own perceptions. This said, there are places in the world that you should not necessarily travel to simply enjoy a holiday. For example, some parts of the world are at war and like always do your own independent research before heading out. The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal suffered one of the world’s worst earthquakes in 2015, however, tourism has actually grown since more than in the last 15 years! – Read our top 10 things to do and see in Nepal. The population of gorillas in Rwanda has tripled in the last 15 years and now the national park fee has helped ensure their safety from poachers and contributes to a growing economy once stained with genocide. See the mighty gorillas yourselves and help protect the environment: www.hillsinthemisttours.com
Witness A Festival
Why not celebrate New Year somewhere else in the world or better yet, experience the Chinese New Year! Beijing is one of the most iconic places to witness this event that is also celebrated all over the world. If not Beijing, Hong Kong has one of the most impressive fireworks displays over Victoria Harbour. In Brazil take part in the Rio Carnival. It’s probably one of the most famous festivals around the world, with over two million people a day on the streets. In India. there is the festival known as Holi, otherwise known as the Festival of Colour and features the world-famous throwing of coloured paint. It’s a celebration of good over evil, and of the arrival of spring. The colour throwing comes from the story of Krishna and Radha, in which the blue-skinned god colours Radha’s face with jets of water to make them equals. Today, it’s a seriously fun festival where the atmosphere is one of overwhelming joy. Loving the idea of festivals but looking for something a little closer to home? Well, if Scotland is closer and easier to get to then head on to the Edinburgh International Festival and witness impressive Royal Military Tattoo along with shows from around the world and having the streets fill with performers. If you love beer, but then most of us do, be a part of Oktoberfest. It’s an enormous beer festival celebrated around the world, but the official festival takes place in Munich, Germany.
Seek Out Ancient Civilisation
You may be anything from a few hundred to thousands of years too late to be walking through the cities of the old world. However, these ancient civilisations or rather relics and ruins of these civilisations are still around. It’s easy to forget that we are a mere link in the long chain of human development that goes back to prehistoric times. The pyramids of Egypt, the stones of Stonehenge, the Chichen Itza in Mexico and so much more are amazing monuments to mankind. The most awesome feeling about seeing these places is that it feels like you are not just travelling to a place but to a time!
Giza, Egypt: www.djedegypt.com
Stonehenge, UK: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge
Chichen Itza, Mexico: www.chichenitza.com
Palace of Knossos, Greece: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/palaceofknossos
The Great Wall, China: www.getyourguide.co.uk/great-wall-of-china
Be a Tourist in Your Own Country
You don’t have to journey far to match the adventures of Lewis and Clark or other famous explorers. Many are right on your doorstep. It’s just that we often overlook them when living our busy lives at home. There are many historical sites, scenic trails and famous icons in your own country so why not take advantage of them? Being a tourist in your own country allows you to both appreciate your own culture as well as generally saving you money since you don’t have to pay for long-haul transport or visas. Give a different city a go, or make your own road trip and see where you end up! Remember home, isn’t far away if things do go not according to plan.
Scotland
There’s plenty to do and see in Scotland and we covered the top 10 in another post here: Top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-scotland. Get in the car and drive around the Highlands uncovering the mystery and history that has many wondering their own roots. It’s a land of curiosity with many stories to tell.
USA
There’s something iconic about road trips in the United States of America. 1970s Mustang, shades, the greatest hits and an open road. Rent a vintage car and head out on the world-famous Route 66: www.roadtripusa.com/route-66
Worldwide
Many travellers have fond memories of camping as a child. So why not pitch a tent or hook up a caravan if you have one and camp in your own country. Whether you’re in Australia, France, USA, Italy, Canada or anywhere in the world, there’s always an adventure to be had when staying in the big outdoors. www.pitchup.com
A Different City
Try staying a weekend in a different city for a change. New York is not Las Vegas, Nice is not Paris and Munich is not Berlin. You’ll be surprised at the differences that people have region by region, county by county, state by state and city by city. If you’re in the UK, visit the old Roman city of Bath or if you’re from the South of the UK, head North for a change or vice versa. See what’s in your country and what your fellow countrymen and women do differently.
Retrace Your Roots
Retract your Jewish roots in Poland or your ancestry in Ireland. I know this subheading talks about how to be a tourist in your own country, but none of us truly do originate from the country we live in. Take it one step further and travel back to your ancestral origins. When undertaking this kind of journey, it is important to manage expectations. Travellers who are retracing family roots can come into the idea with big hopes and ideas and yet many feel more confused and have hundreds of questions unanswered. Whatever happens, retracing your background is always a life-changing experience, no matter the outcome.
Go Wild
Next time do more than just travel to a fancy 4 or 5-star hotel and sit around the pool. Go wild in your next adventure and do things that really are unique. Anything from sleeping under the stars to extreme sports in an effort to feel alive, living and not just existing. Make travelling an adventure by doing things that you certainly wouldn’t be doing at home. Test your character and see what you’re capable of.
Take A Leap Of Faith
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt. This famous quote is something we all ought to do and to be clear no one is saying do anything stupid and straight-up dangerous but get yourself out of your comfort zones. Try something scary – Try skydiving, zip line through a city, tiptoe over a chasm. Research has shown that adventure sports and activities such as these which involve overcoming the fear both have physical and emotional benefits. Seek a desire to change yourself for the better. By completing daring activities really improves your character when you return home. Chances are that you’ll cope better with stress, break out of feeling shy, improve your self-respect and truly understand your new strengths and learn to remedy your weaknesses.
Beginner: Zipline in Las Vegas
Intermediate: Bungee Jumping in Victoria Falls
Advanced: Deep Water Soloing in Mallorca, Spain
Expert: Skydiving in New Zealand
Survive In The Wilderness
It helps to learn some basic survival techniques no matter where you go or for how long. Modern life has made man-kind far too dependant on technology and when the technology fails, knowing basic survival pays off. No one is saying to master the skills of Bear Grylls in order to be prepared for your trip to Spain, but being prepared for the worst-case scenarios is key when heading out into not only wild places but in built-up areas should a natural disaster occur for one. Read more on our post: franglaisadventure.com/wilderness-survival. Seek out an adventure school or take part in a bushcraft course together.
Learn survival courses from beginner to advanced in Wales with Dryad Bushcraft: https://www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk.
Master the ways of the Aboriginal people in Australia: https://www.aussiesurvivalinstructors.com.
Backpacking essentials to wilderness first aid in the USA: https://mountainshepherd.com.
Become An Adventurer
Always wanted to feel like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft? Well, you can, sort of. Next time you venture off do so with the attitude and spirit of an adventurer. Try www.muchbetteradventures.com to see what you can do differently together next time you take on the world.
Feel Out Of This World
Some natural wonders feel more supernatural. Experience the mind-bending awe of some of the earth’s weirdest and wildest phenomena. Witness the aurora lights or seek out at night, the bioluminescent beaches. https://abessnorkeling.com/ https://www.icelandprotravel.co.uk/iceland-holiday-packages/northern-lights
Off The Map
Can you imagine your partner and you alone on a beach as if you own it? I’m sure we have all shared this dream but breaking off from the rest of the world and acting like you two are the only people in the world can be done. Sometimes it isn’t about a detox, but about reconnecting yourselves with nature and having a moment to reflect on what’s important. You could rent an isolated wooden cabin on Airbnb for example, and be sure not to use your phones, laptops or watch TV. Just the pair of you enjoying each other’s company away from the rest of the world. Give it a go: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/