When many people think of a holiday, the usual crowded beach, sight seeing or winter holidays spring to mind. Since the explosion of the package holiday in the late sixties, it feels like our holiday imagination has been somewhat numbed by bland samey holidays. A cheap package holiday usually consists of staying in a characterless hotel inhabited solely by Brits, never seeing more than the crowded local beach and only eating English food. As a nation we expect to go abroad and talk to locals in English, the whole trip seems like a farce. We spend a lot of money on going to foreign countries, yet never properly leave English culture.



Why dont we at least try and shake things up a bit. Immersing yourself in an alien culture is a thrilling, invigorating and inspiring act which really gives an insight into how the world revolves outside of Britain. Understandably people also do not leaving leaving their comfort zones, which usually means do not try and speak the language, instead rely on the old cliche, if you talk louder, foreigners will be able to understand English. Locals will really appreciate and be a lot more friendly and helpful if you string a few sentences together in their native tongue, also will make you feel satisfied you have tried. You will probably surprise yourself with how quickly a language can start to be picked up, even just on a weeks holiday.

Not everyone has the luxury of going on holiday abroad, certainly not now in the current UK economic situation. More and more Brits are opting to holiday in Britain, which of course can still be just as self fulfilling. Britain has a lot to offer, from vast open rolling hills to the highest peak, Ben Nevis. Television programmes often send feuding families and troublesome teenagers out to bootcamps in the middle of national parks, in order to bring people closer together and get adults and children who have grown apart to form bonds once again. It seems there is some human desire to work together as a family in challenging times, and the success rate is very high.

For whatever personal reasons you might have, a team building or active holiday is one of the most productive, self beneficial and refreshing holidays you could experience. You will find new motivation and confidence to deal with any future problems, safe in the knowledge you have overcome bigger challenges previously. Bringing families closer together, discovering new places and finding new hobbies are all some of the great experiences of an active holiday, I will leave the rest for you to discover!