Travel is often considered to be one of the most liberating and fulfilling experiences in the world. And even though there are a number of different types of travelers who enjoy different trips, nature lovers can find it particularly difficult to plan an enjoyable holiday, especially as beginners, as the wilderness tends to be an unpredictable environment filled with unexpected obstacles. However, that doesn’t mean planning an outdoor trip is impossible. To that end, here are some beginner-friendly tips that will help you make the most of your next nature adventure:
Pay attention to the seasons
The environment is a complex system that is constantly changing, and this fact alone can have a significant impact on your travels. While it can be easy to plan a hiking trip in the summer or a skiing holiday in the winter, many beginner travelers tend to forget the importance the current season has for their outdoor adventures.
The weather conditions don’t only affect the gear you bring and the way you prepare, but also your entire travel experience. If nature is your main focus, keep in mind that the current season can influence anything from animal migrations and breeding periods to the type of vegetation you will be able to see, which is why the weather should always be taken into account.
Work on your outdoor skills
Even though it’s a well-known fact that travel makes you a happier person, you won’t have such a pleasant trip in the wild without any prior knowledge or experience. For that reason, one of the best things you could do for yourself is to work on your outdoor survival skills before you head out on your adventure.
Start with more basic skills, such as learning first aid, knowing how to create a fire, and where to find the safest shelters, in order to feel safer and more secure in nature. Then, you might want to move onto more advanced skills like identifying edible plants, to ensure you are covered no matter what happens in the wild.
Always prepare in advance
Advanced planning and preparation might be the most vital aspects of any outdoor trip, as they ensure a safe and pleasurable travel experience. However, this doesn’t only include planning the route and bringing enough food and water for the trip, but also the necessary gear you will need to pack beforehand.
Apart from tents, weatherproof clothing, and outdoor footwear, you should also make it a point to bring safety aspects such as first aid kits and signaling flares, in order to protect yourself in case of emergency. Similarly, you should focus on quality accessories like automatic knives that could be useful during any outdoor trip, whether it comes to preparing food, making a fire, or clearing a path.
Don’t depend on technology
While an internet connection is surely out of the question when it comes to most wilderness trips, you could also expect to lose your cellphone signal, or even drain the battery on your devices when you travel through nature. That is why it’s always recommended to equip yourself with physical maps and a compass for navigation, instead of relying on technology.
That being said, it would also be a good idea to invest in some must-have travel gadgets that will make your outdoor trip that much easier. Portable chargers can help to ensure your battery is always full, for instance, while a satellite phone or a personal locator beacon could enable communication in emergencies with no cellphone coverage.
Get familiar with the signs
Apart from your own equipment, you might need additional help for navigation during your outdoor trips. Thankfully, most trails and parks around the world have certain markers and signs along the way, which can inform you of your current location or even convey important safety information, such as avalanche or landslide warnings.
For this reason, it would be wise to get familiar with all the signs you might encounter during your nature trip, and carefully read each marker you potentially come across, to ensure your safety and security in the wild.
Never leave anything behind
An essential principle of outdoor travel is to never leave a trace behind. This means that you should bring back everything you brought with you, that you shouldn’t disturb the nature by picking up souvenirs like flowers and rocks, and that you should never, under any circumstances, throw any trash and waste around.
As long as you are kind and respectful to the environment, the wildlife living in it, as well as the wonderful people doing their best to maintain it, you can ensure a beautiful outdoor travel experience.
Even though traveling through nature can often turn out to be a demanding experience, especially if you’re a beginner, the essential tips mentioned above will help you plan a safe, enjoyable, and memorable trip in the wild.
About the author: Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced freelance writer. He’s a regular contributor to numerous online publications, where he writes about lifestyle, travel, and business.
