Now, when we head away on holiday, we don’t always have to spend our days lounging by a pool or paddling in the sea. There are plenty of alternative holidays out there that you might want to try your hand at too. Specialist trips exist for all sorts of areas of interest. So, for the moment, let’s take a look at climbing holidays. These tend to be a lot more intense than your standard trip, as you’re tackling the elements and exerting yourself physically. If you’re already into climbing, you’re probably pretty set and ready to go. But, if you’ve never tried climbing before, you don’t necessarily have to rule yourself out of this kind of trip. There are plenty of ways to prepare yourself. Perhaps the easiest and safest way to get into rock climbing is to participate in indoor climbing closer to home first. Your first visit may feel a little intimidating, but it will be more than worth the effort, as nine times out of ten you’re going to love the activity – it can prove pretty exciting. What’s more? You’ll be set up with all of the safety equipment and supervision that you could possibly need, so you needn’t worry about falling from a height or getting hurt. A tutor will be able to guide you step by step through all of the basic moves, meaning you add some to your inventory every visit. It won’t be long until you have the essential skills to climb unsupervised and can start planning your climbing holiday. So, if this sounds good to you, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this extreme trip!
Packing
When you’re packing for a climbing holiday, you’re going to have to bring along a whole lot more than a swimsuit and a little sunscreen (though the latter is still essential if you’re heading to a hot or sunny destination, as you’re likely to be exposed to the sun throughout the day). Make sure to have some specialist clothing such as that supplied by ClimbThatRock. This will be lightweight and give you the best freedom of movement. You could also do with investing in some sunglasses that have an attachment so that they don’t fall off as you tilt your head. Find out from your tour operator whether you need to bring any specialist climbing equipment – this may or may not be provided.
Staying Safe
It may be tempting to take to some peaks yourself or with a group of friends. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and you should look into working alongside local professionals. They will be more familiar with the area and the surfaces you will be climbing. They will be able to offer advice on routes to take and areas to avoid. They will also have health and safety training and be able to call for help should help be needed. This could prove life-saving in the long run!
These are just a few things that you should start thinking about when you’re planning a climbing holiday. The better prepared you are, the more enjoyable your trip should be!
Jessica Lippe 
