Inspiring adventures to challenge your intrepid clients

Running 26.2 miles in a hot desert climate might not be everyone’s idea of a rollicking good time, but there could hardly be a more picturesque backdrop for a marathon than the glowing red earth of the sacred island mountain Uluru. The Australian Outback Marathon, which takes place on July 30 this year, will earn your clients major kudos in their running circles.

Katie Warburton, Austravel destination manager, explains: “The Australian Outback Marathon is special due to its spectacular scenery; with the start and finish line directly in front of Uluru, bystanders and runners alike will witness the shifting colours in the desert light throughout the day. Being in the middle of the Australian winter means the temperatures are a lot less harsh, which adds to the appeal – our hotels are very popular around the time of the marathon, so I would advise to book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.”

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What could be cooler than stepping foot in one of the planet’s least visited nations? Running through it. Held in North Korea’s capital, the Pyongyang Marathon takes place on April 10 this year and loops around the city. The Asian nation only sees some 100,000 tourists a year, the majority of which come from neighbouring China, but Intrepid Travel has this year offered Brits the chance to get up close and personal with the enigmatic country on a nine-day tour that includes the marathon. The operator is yet to confirm whether it will run the tour again in 2017.

Mountains

A perennial bucket list item for hardcore hikers and deskbound dreamers alike, reaching the snow-crested peak of Kilimanjaro is no easy feat. “This is a heart-pumping adventure and only for the seriously fit,” says Daniel Pawlyn, Intrepid Travel’s head of business development. “The better prepared clients are, the more they’ll enjoy it. We recommend preparing with lots of aerobic and strength exercise. We allow plenty of time each day to get between the huts on the mountain so you do not need to rush – in fact they are far better off going slowly and enjoying the spectacular changing scenery and views.” On route to Africa’s highest summit clients will hike through forests, peer into caves and marvel at sunrise over the valleys.

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Adventures don’t have to be confined to exotic climes. At just three hours from London (a 1.5-hour flight to Geneva, followed by a 1.5-hour bus ride to Chamonix), Mont Blanc offers a challenging trek that’s close to home. Guests will travel across high passes, above glacial lakes and through alpine scenery in Italy, Switzerland and France, with stays in mountainside refuges. The 10-day trip leads in from £1,049pp with G Adventures.

For a twist on the classic route through Annapurna in the Himalayas why not hike and bike your way to the top, suggests Richard Goodey, co-founder of Lost Earth Adventures. The operator’s 15-day tour takes in the region’s sub-tropical, high alpine and semi-arid desert landscapes, and leads guests to the planet’s highest mountains. “You’ll be hiking the western side of the circuit before crossing the challenging 5,416-metre-high Thorung La,” says Goodey. “Then we’ll take our bikes along the longest downhill trails in the world, with over 4,000 metres of descent into the depths of the Kali Gandaki Gorge.” The trip leads in from £1,250pp, land-only.

Cycling and motorbiking

Mauritius might be better-known as a honeymoon hideaway, but the island also conceals a surprising number of primordial-looking mountain ranges that are crying out to be scaled. And there’s no better way to do it than by bike, says Mark Boulle, marketing manager at Beachcomber Tours. Now into its third year, the operator’s four-day mountain biking race – Mauritius Tour Beachcomber – takes in the isle’s most scenic routes.

“This is the ultimate mountain bike challenge where your adrenaline will consume all of your senses,” says Boulle. “Physical endurance will be tested over terrain varying from rugged mountain tops, forests and cane fields to beaches and tea estates. The stunning beauty of Mauritius might hinder the riders as they navigate their way around the lush interior and coastal lagoons, but at the end, riders can seek sanctuary in the amazing Shandrani Resort & Spa and enjoy all that the unique island has to offer.”

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Fitness junkies will be keen to know about the sporting developments in the Polynesian isles of Samoa: 2016 heralds the inaugural Savaii Games, a series of three different events designed to test endurance, in a rugged and remote setting. Events including an inter-island swim and a marathon will take place between April 7 and 16, but it is the one-day 112-mile Around Savaii Bike Challenge that is set to get pulses racing.

Lauded as the world’s largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest, the Amazon rainforest has long attracted plucky explorers. But few have likely seen the wild region from behind the handlebars of a motorbike.

“Follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and embark on an epic motor biking journey through the Amazon,” says Jessica Bain, director and co-founder of Latin Routes.

The operator offers a seven-day motorbike tour led by an expert guide, which departs from Manaus in Brazil.

“On this trip clients will journey through the Amazon visiting native communities, learning jungle survival techniques, camping in the Amazon and visiting the Presidente Figueiredo waterfalls. There is also an opportunity for a cave tour and various jungle hikes along the way.” Latin Routes’ 10-day package leads in from £7,497pp and includes international flights, transfers, full board, motorbike hire, a guide, tours and fees, and two nights in Manaus.