Beginner-Friendly Soft Adventure Travel Activities You’ll Love

Curious about trying soft adventure travel? We share our favorites here!

Whether it’s hiking to a scenic viewpoint, snorkeling in clear waters, or cycling through charming towns, soft adventure travel activities allow you to immerse yourself in nature and culture while staying within your comfort zone.

We incorporate soft adventure each time we travel, no matter the place. That’s the thing about this travel style – once you start, it’s tough to stop!

If you’re new to adventure travel, you may be wondering where to start. Below, we detail four beginner-friendly activities we personally love and recommend: hiking, swimming or snorkeling, kayaking, and cycling. In our view, they’re the perfect way to experience the world actively – without needing expert skills or extreme fitness.

Four Beginner-Friendly Soft Adventure Travel Activities

Soft adventure travel is all about exploring the outdoors in an active yet accessible way. Whether hiking, snorkeling or swimming, kayaking, or cycling, these activities let you experience incredible landscapes while moving at your own pace.

As you’ll see, the great thing about each of these activities is that you can customize them to your ability level.

1. Hiking: Explore at Your Own Pace

Hiking is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to add adventure to your travels.

The great thing about hiking as a soft adventure travel activity is that you really don’t need much in terms of equipment. Especially if the trail isn’t very technical, you may just need a pair of sneakers – which you’re probably taking on your trip anyway. We love to pack a pair of shoes with good traction, such as our beloved Altra Lone Peaks or Bedrock sandals.

Whether you’re trekking through a forest, following a coastal path, or climbing to a breathtaking viewpoint, you can choose trails that fit your fitness level and interests. In this way, hiking can be accessible for all experience levels.

Using apps like AllTrails, we manage to find beautiful hikes around the world. You can also check tour booking sites like Get Your Guide and Viator; we’ve found most destinations we travel to offer guided hikes or walking tours.

Some of our favorite types of day hikes include:

🥾 Coastal Walks: Waterfront walks offer scenic views, fresh air, and a peaceful connection to nature, whether along the ocean or the tranquil shores of a lake.

🥾 Waterfall Trails: Waterfall hikes combine the thrill of the journey with the reward of cascading water and the soothing sound of nature’s raw power.

🥾 Urban Hikes: Urban hikes blend history, architecture, and local culture with the energy of the city, revealing hidden gems and diverse neighborhoods along the way.

Check trail difficulty ratings before heading out, and always bring water, a map (or your phone), and weather-appropriate clothing!

2. Swimming & Snorkeling: A Window into the Underwater World

Swimming and snorkeling are fantastic soft adventure travel activities. As long as you’re a comfortable swimmer, you can explore marine life without the need for scuba diving certification or serious equipment.

Enjoying the underwater world is as simple as putting on a mask, snorkel, and fins and floating in clear, shallow waters. Actually, we’d argue you don’t necessarily even need all that gear. If you’re a comfortable swimmer, a pair of goggles alone can often suffice!

With just a little practice, you’ll be gliding over coral reefs, spotting colorful fish, and even swimming alongside sea turtles.

Some of our all-time favorite swimming and snorkeling spots include:

🤿 Honolua Bay (Maui): Maybe be our favorite snorkeling location of all time. Located in West Maui, it offers crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life.

🤿 Calanques National Park (France): Stunning turquoise waters, dramatic limestone cliffs, and secret coves. offering a breathtaking setting for swimming, snorkeling, and coastal hikes.

🤿 Silfra Fissure (Iceland): It’s not every day you get to swim in near freezing water from glacial melt that’s been filtered through lava rock!

If you’re new to snorkeling, start in calm waters, and take your time getting used to breathing through the snorkel.

3. Kayaking: Paddle Your Way to Adventure

Kayaking is a low-impact, beginner-friendly way to explore lakes, rivers, and coastlines. It’s a great way to see wildlife, hidden coves, and landscapes you wouldn’t experience on foot. At the same time, it’s a great alternative to swimming if you don’t feel as comfortable in the water.

Many places offer guided tours, making it easy for newcomers to get comfortable with paddling while taking in stunning surroundings. And if you’ve kayaked before, you can often rent kayaks for self-guided adventure.

We’ve loved kayaking in:

🛶 Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon (Iceland): Navigating through blue waters between towering icebergs while surrounded by Iceland’s glacial wilderness.

🛶 Helgasjon (Sweden): Paddling expansive lake waters, including near the ruins of Kronoberg Castle.

🛶 Minnesota (USA): As proud residents of the land of 10,000 (actually 11,842) lakes, we may be biased – but not much beats being on a Minnesota lake in the summer.

If you’re not experienced, opt for a tandem kayak with a partner to make paddling easier. Also, bring a waterproof bag for valuables!

4. Cycling: See More While Staying Active

Biking is a great way to cover more ground while staying active, whether you’re exploring a city, riding along a scenic coastal path, or cruising through the countryside.

Many destinations offer bike rentals and guided cycling tours, making it easy for beginners to join in the fun.

With the rise of electric bikes, exploring your favorite travel destinations on two wheels has never been easier.

Some of our favorite places to bike while traveling have included:

🚲 Burgundy (France): We rode along vineyard roads, past castles, and stopping in charming villages along the way.

🚲 Tuscany (Italy): We rented electric bikes in Florence to get to football match, and got to see some of Tuscany’s beautiful hills as a result.

🚲 City Bicycle Rentals (Worldwide!): We often rent bikes in cities because we can see so much. From New York to Paris to London, we’ve pedaled our way through.

If you’re worried about long distances, consider renting an e-bike for an extra boost on hills and longer rides.

Ready to Try Soft Adventure Travel?

Soft adventure travel offers the perfect balance of activity and exploration, making it accessible to travelers of all experience levels.

Whether you’re hiking scenic trails, snorkeling in vibrant waters, kayaking through serene landscapes, or cycling past stunning vistas, these beginner-friendly soft adventure travel activities allow you to connect with nature and experience destinations in a more immersive way.

The best part? You don’t need expert skills – just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

So why not add a little adventure to your next trip? Start with one of these activities, and you might just find a new favorite way to travel!