As the importance of taking up an active lifestyle has become more apparent in recent years, interest in active vacations has increased.  While many activities available in holiday destinations can be costly, such as skiing in winter, golfing in summer, or SCUBA diving in tropical locales year round, the easiest and most fulfilling activity of all costs next to nothing: walking.

By going along at your own pace, you get your body in motion while picking up on details in your surroundings more easily than if you were speeding along in a tour bus, or on a bike.  All over the world, there are many ideal locations where one can go on walking holidays that will fill them with awe and wonder.

In this article, we focus on five awesome places to walk it out.  Let’s start by focusing on…

1) Pertisau, Austria

Set before a pristine lake and backed by the towering Austrian Alps, Pertisau in Austria stands as one of the best places in the world to get your walk on. Here, you’ll be walking in the former footsteps of aristocrats, kings, and emperors, who favoured this location to get away from the pressures of their responsibilities. Strolling through the alpine fields suspended high above the tour boats of Lake Achensee, you will feel a sense of peace that one simply can’t find in the mundane residential developments back home!

2) Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Situated high in the foothills of the Himalayas, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is a world away from the noise, pollution and chaos of urban India.  This special place will allow you to spot many species of plants and animals that call this protected area their home, such as rhododendrons and leopards. Additionally, the locals that live here lead a way of life completely different from their city brethren, giving an opportunity for a unique cultural exchange that are increasingly tough to come by these days.

3) Faroe Islands

Sitting in the midst of the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are a hauntingly beautiful fortress of solitude that you will remember long after you have been here.  Walking along the tracks of the sparsely inhabited countryside here will lead to many encounter with sheep, as well as waterfalls, cliffs, dramatic coves, and lighthouses. Just be sure to pack a sweater, as conditions are cool even during the peak of the summer (the average temperature is just 11 degrees Celsius at that time).

4) Marrakesh and the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

From walking amongst the lively bazaars of the capital Marrakesh, to the refreshing coolness of the High Atlas Mountains (the roof of North Africa), a walking holiday in Morocco is an experience in exoticism and high country hiking all rolled into one. Bear witness to the immaculate hospitality of the Berbers, then take of their guides into the heart of Morocco’s surprising green heart, as the highest mountains in Africa outside of Kilimanjaro trap moisture from the dry air, creating rain and life where you might not expect it.

5) Cyprus

Boasting exquisite views along the coast and up in the Trodos Mountains, Cyprus has much to offer the active traveler.  Many tracks along the effervescent shore are delightfully unspoiled, with many private beaches begging to be discovered. In the interior, the Trodos Mountains are filled with the scent of pine and festooned with many gorgeous wildflowers on its slopes, and they offer a cooler alternative to the lowlands during the peak summer months.

Overall, many nations across the world offer ample opportunity to get away from the bustle of the big city and to reconnect with nature.  All you have to do is make for the nearest nature preserve, mountain range or coastline, and explore around … you’ll be surprised with what you might find!