10 Euro adventure weekends

The best short breaks across the contintent

Looking for a great adventure this summer that won't blow your entire holiday allowance? We’ve got the answer. WideWorld has scoured our contacts book for the ten best short breaks you can book right now – weekenders with that little bit of an edge.

Bike and hike the Alps

Rocksresort, Laax, Switzerland

Too many people think of the Alps as a winter stop – well, there’s plenty of hardcore activity going on in the summer months. Rocksresort offers 330km of mountain bike routes, including a new 7K downhill from the curiously named Crap Sogn Gion. There’s also rafting on the upper reaches of the mighty Rhine, 250km of hiking trails, which include routes to the Pinut via ferrata (‘iron way’), the traditional Alpine bolted-ladder climbing method. Finish your day with a spot of wild swimming in the crystal clear lakes of Cauma, Cresta and Laax, before returning to the Wallpaper* magazine award-winning rocksresort hotel.

Stay five nights in a two-bedroom apartment including two guided hiking tours and two two-day lift tickets from only £184.00) per person/stay self catering. (Available now until 24th October 2010)

www.rocksresort.com

Climb cliffs on the Jurassic coast

Swanage, Dorset, England

For years, dino-hunters have swarmed to Swanage like velociraptors on a steak baguette. It’s because the cliffs along this stretch of the Dorset coast are unrivalled in the world for insane rock formations and variety – now you can get a chance to see them really close. Cumulus are a local company offering exclusive guided climbs along the Jurassic Coast, taking 3.5 hours with all instruction and equipment provided. Daredevils can take on long routes that include overhangs, and everyone gets to enjoy the sea view of fishing boats and even the occasional dolphin pod. While you’re there, take advantage of the brilliant campground at Tom’s Field – more of a walled garden on the Isle of Purbeck, with absolutely no nasty caravans.

Climbing £30 per person cumulusoutdoorevents.com

Camping £12 for two people www.tomsfieldcamping.co.uk

Mule trek Morocco

High Atlas mountains, Morocco

These days, getting to Morocco is such an cinch that it’s practically part of Europe. Standing proud across Africa’s northern coast, the Atlas are a range that's steeped in history. Barely changing in a thousand years, it’s an amazing place to get back to basics, even though you’re just over the Med from Europe. This incredible walking and camping trip through the gorges, passes and peaks of the High Atlas takes you through Tizi n’Eddi to Tizi n’Tamatert, and from Tizi Oussem to the Tizi n’Techt Pass, beginning and ending in a Marrakesh hotel to bookend your expedition. Berber guides are employed to lead you through the mountains and assist you in camp, with mules doing the heavy lifting.

The price of a four-night trip is from £650 pp (based on two sharing). This includes return flights from London to Marrakech, a two-night (three-day) Imlil trek with all meals and half a bottle of wine pp each evening, a night either side at the 4-star Hotel Tichka in Marrakech with breakfast, and private transfers throughout. Call Travelzest’s The Best of Morocco on 0845 026 4588 (www.realmorocco.com)

Stag race in Scotland

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Looking for a new race to challenge you? The Chase Race has an impressive historical inspiration. Taken from the Walter Scott poem The Lady in the Lake, the duathlon follows a 40km route that mirrors the poem’s story of James V’s stag hunt. A 15-mile bike race leads you to an orienteering challenge alongside the beautiful loch, with extra challenges and trials thrown in at the last minute, before a medieval banquet at sundown for all.

The Chase Race is held on 25th September 2010. £40 for adult entry. www.thechaserace.co.uk

Visit vast volcanoes

Iceland

Take a close look at massive lava fields, huge moss-filled volcanic craters, serene fjords and trails that lead into the heart of the renowned Skaftafell National Park in bizarre Iceland. This awesome five-day trip includes a trip to Great Geysir geothermal area, a five-hour glacier walk at Öræfajökull, a clamber around the Laki volcano and iceberg-spotting at Jökulsárlón Lagoon.

You’ll also get the opportunity to bathe in the steaming hot springs that this Nordic gem is famous for. The series of day walks are fully supported ensuring rewarding days on the trail while our nights are spent in a comfortable hotel in easy reach of southern Iceland's most inspiring locations. Iceland isn’t exactly cheap, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a tour with such amazing sights that’s just hours from home.

Trips run all through summer, though if you leave on 23 August you’ll avoid the hefty £248 booking fee and pay £1,090.00 www.utracks.com

Mountain bike the Borders

Macdonald Cardrona, Peebles, Scotland

The Mountain Bikers Special rate at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel in Peebles is designed for people who like life on two wheels and hotels with four stars. Right next door is Glentress, home to some of the UK’s finest mountain bike routes, and one of the 7 Stanes trail that girdles the country. The hotel even provides you with secure bike storage and bike washing facilities – as well as use of the spa leisure facilities for when you get back saddlesore on Sunday night.

Accommodation plus bike hire from £101 B&B per person per night based on two people sharing www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Euro bear safari

Brown Bear Weekend, Finland

Remind yourself that Europe is still home to surprises by taking an incredible bear safari. Sparsely populated Eastern Finland is an untamed expanse of pristine natural beauty, whose vast, dense taiga forest, interspersed with lakes and rivers, offers a haven to the elusive European brown bear. This three-night trip will take you deep into the forest to watch these creatures: one night is spent in an isolated bear hide so we can spot this amazing animal in its natural habitat. You’ll also get the chance to spot wolverine and elk, take a guided canoe tour and enjoy – of course – a traditional Finnish sauna.

Departing 30 July & 6 August 2010, it costs £795 pp includes flights (Heathrow), transfers, three nights’ B&B (2nts lodge, 1nt bear hide), three other meals and guiding. Book with Explore 0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk

Explore distant isles

Sail to St Kilda

Experience the mystical archipelago of St Kilda under sail and see why these abandoned Atlantic islands have a magic of their own. Situated on the very edge of Europe in the North Atlantic, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda boasts breathtaking landscapes, wonderful wildlife and a rich tapestry of history and culture that make this place unlike anywhere else in Britain. Until the arrival of the Victorians, the community of St Kilda lived in isolation for more than a thousand years.  This sailing real journey of a lifetime, and even in summer you have to be prepared for some exciting conditions as you cross through the Outer Hebrides and on to St Kilda aboard the yacht ‘Elinca’.

Departing 12 & 28 July & 9 August, five days cost £550 pp including four nights’ on-board accommodation, all meals, all transport (starting and finishing at Stornoway), equipment and guiding. Graded moderate. Wilderness Scotland on 0131 625 6635 or visit www.wildernessscotland.com

Dive into Croatia

Croatia, Europe

The pristine reefs off the coast of Croatia have been rightly called the undiscovered gems of the dive world. Highly accessible – only two hours flight time from the UK, in fact – cheap and friendly, it’s a great place to take a dive weekend that leaves you plenty of time in the water. The reefs are alive with sardines, bukva and salpa, while striking purple and red gorgonians punctuate the walls and overhangs make for an ideal hideout for scorpion fish, octopus and crustaceans. The wrecks of the region lie on the seabed, upright, in fabulous condition and ripe for exploration.

From £595 with four-star hotel accommodation and flights www.scubatravel.com

Scramble the Roaches

Peak District National Park, Staffordshire, England

The Roaches in the Staffordshire Moorlands region of the Peak District National Park provide the perfect environment for rock scrambling. A combination of climbing and hiking, it’s growing in popularity thanks to the fact that less equipment and training is necessary to get some great results. The gritstone two tiered escarpment overlooking Tittesworth Water is an ideal natural obstacle course for scrambling and "weasling", while rolling Staffordshire countryside to the south and Axe Edge Moor to the north provides a stunning backdrop.

Led by fully qualified friendly Peak Pursuits Leaders you will be guided on a fantastic scramble from the lower tier towards the trig point.  With plenty of exciting challenges and obstacles to climb under, over, and squeeze through, participants of all ages are sure to have a brilliant day to remember!

Only £44.99 per person based on a group of 4: www.peakpursuits.co.uk

A twin room, bed & breakfast at the Three Horseshoes Inn, Leek is £94.50 per night (based on a Friday and Saturday night in July). Blackshaw Moor, ?Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8TW?01538 300 296 www.3shoesinn.co.uk