Sporty holidays are not a novelty. Queen Victoria, for instance, far so fun on sports that she and Prince Albert intervene personally to make sure that the Oval cricket ground in Kennington, England would be protected from housing projects. In the late 19th century, many enthusiastic amateurs would travel to Germany to cycle on the first track, built in Erfurt, Germany, in 1885. But these are some of the most modern examples. In the times of Ancient Greece, people would travel to join a sports event, such as running a marathon, for example.

In other words, sports have always been part of human culture. Therefore, organizing a sporty vacation is a natural extension of your favorite hobby. For those of you who are still struggling to get motivated and stick to their fitness routine, introducing sports as a fun activity can help you to develop a healthy habit and make peace with the gym – and, maybe, find out that there are other ways to stay fit than signing up to your local gym.

Surfing vacation

For casual swimming and surfing

If you’ve never tried surfing in the past, you need to plan a beach vacation to give it a go. There’s an apparent wild side to the sport. Surfers are, ultimately, described as cool. But more importantly, surfing is very addictive, which makes it a lot easier to stay fit. Surfers agree that it is rewarding to wait for the right waves; the brain releases dopamine as you anticipate the next wave. At the same time, it keeps you focused too, because if you fall, you can’t taste the sweet reward of a perfect wave. There aren’t many activities that keep your heart bouncing with joy all the time! First-timers can take surfing lessons; try your luck in Australia – Bondi Beach is a favorite – to surf on the perfect wave.

Maybe, you just want to meet your favorite team

Do you have a team you follow? You could plan a discovery holiday to visit the Club and maybe attend some training sessions. More importantly, getting to know and understand your club history – many clubs run a blog or podcasts such as the Arlington News Network to share their personality – can help you to find a new passion. It’s never too late to join a club! You’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of amateur adult teams where you can practice your skills!

Do something you’ve never done before somewhere you’ve never been

A sporty vacation doesn’t have to transform your expectations of holidays. On the contrary, you can still combine exploring and staying fit. If you want to dive into a new culture, have a look at the hiking tours across Japan from Walk Japan. The company offers guided tours through some of the lesser known part of the country, including the UNESCO-registered Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage route that takes you at the heart of a tradition. The Kumano Kodo route is very similar in spirit to the Camino de Santiago route through Spain.

Falling back in love with sports can be tricky, but that’s where your vacation plan can make a difference. Whether it throws you at the heart of the action or let you engage at an intimate level with your favorite club or a different culture, sporty holidays can be the way to re-invent fitness.