Adventure trips grow in popularity and tourists are constantly looking for yet undiscovered and uncrowded destinations promising unique experience. Adventure Travel Trade Association and Tourism-Review.com brings you the top 5 adventure travel destinations in developing nations in Europe. Based on a survey among tour operators, the countries were ranked according to sustainable development, health, natural resources, safety and security, infrastructure and cultural resources.
The small nation has a coastline of 350 miles. Near Jurmala, the Baltic region’s most popular seaside resort, there is the Kemeri National Park (a dense forest) wherein you can watch birds from observation towers. The approach to the towers is through crisscross wooden walkways built above the marshes. If you are a cultural tourist, you will love visiting the Open Air Ethnographic Museum located in Riga, Latvia’s capital. The museum, one of the oldest and largest ones in Europe, has about 118 historic structures and offers scope for activities ranging from bread making to ice fishing.
Romania has come out of the Eastern Bloc, but its economy is in a bad shape. However, tourism is not only breathing life, but also providing the much needed cash flow. Visitors throng the country to camp and hike in Carpathian Mountains, explore the northern Moldavian Painted Monasteries, and experience medieval towns and cities that are surrounded by traditional villages. The delta region of Danube River, consisting of lakes, canals, marshes and islands is located in Romania. Further, Transylvania, known for the legend of Dracula, can be found here too.
This nation, part of erstwhile Yugoslavia and stretching from Italy to Croatia and the Alps to Mediterranean, is the place for cycling, hiking and water sports like river rafting. Slovenia with a population of a little more than 2 million sits above as many as 8,000 caves. You can explore these caves either on foot or on bike along with a hired guide. If you are interested in culture, you can visit some of the old churches that can be found all over the countryside. You can spend nights in campground or hotels and you can also stay in a farm.
Bulgaria is a perfect place for skiing in winter. During summer, you can spend time on the Black Sea. The country’s mountainous terrain offers great scope for climbing and hiking. In fact, a 1,200 kilometer endurance mountain bike race is held every year in Bulgaria. In addition, historical artifacts belonging to Thracians and Romans can be found here. Construction of museums is underway to display these artifacts.
Estonia, smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined, had more tourists visiting the country than its population in 2010. You can reach low-lying Estonia on the coast of the Baltic Sea easily through a ferry from Finland. Half of Estonia is covered by forests and consists of its own share of natural hiking trails, lakes, rivers and marshes in national parks. Free state-run campsites are also available. Estonia’s coast boasts of limestone cliffs, secluded beaches, and more than 1,500 islands. As the country is located at northern Europe’s far end, it enjoys long summer nights.