In this part of our guide to activity holidays we look at which types are most popular.

There are different types of activity holidays that can fit almost everyone's needs. The main types are thrill-seeking, wilderness, winter, cycling, and special interest.

Climb rocks, go white water rafting, and cave exploring, these are included the popular thrill seeking trips. Either stick to one type of activity or do wide range of them where you might spend a single day on one before switching to another. Go out and experience exciting new things and challenge yourself, this is the ideal way.

Wilderness holidays involve you spending time in various wilderness areas, such as deserts, jungles, plateau, tundra and mountains. You can visit almost any continent to find these terrains, some of the best deserts are the Sahara, Namib, and the Gobi while jungles are found in America, India, or Africa; there are plenty of mountain ranges all around the world while the Antarctic and the Outback are great for adventurers. Such trips are generally made up of trekking, camping, survival skills courses, and lessons on the people, cultures and wildlife you'll come across.

Ski cross country and downhill, go snowboarding, you can even go with the lesser tried ones such as dog sledding or snow mobiling. You will need to find open and free areas in order to do the two latter activities unlike skiing which will be done on a resort or mountain.

Go biking in the mountains on great expeditions, or perhaps a gentle flat area is more to your liking, both are possible on bike holidays. These tend to be graded according to their intensity, with the percentage of on and off-road riding, and vehicle support indicated on the website or brochure.

Special interest holidays are available for those with a real interest and passion in one subject or a range of subjects. Examples of interests catered for in such a way include photography, yoga, archaeology, conservation and language learning. You'll have an expert in the subject to guide you throughout your trip and will be greatly improved at your chosen subject by the end of it.

When choosing an outdoor sport to spend some time in the great escapes of the world, backpacking and hiking are the best of all possible choices. Getting in touch with nature and viewing the world from a spot that is secluded and wonderful are great choices for individuals and families. When preparing for backpacking or hiking, it is important to being along some true essentials in order to make for the safest possible trip one can prepare for.

Protect yourself from the sun. When backpacking or hiking the sun is your deadliest force. From the skin to the eyes, the sun can wreak havoc on the body from every angle. Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be used by every person in the backpacking or hiking team. The sunscreen should also be waterproof to fight off that sweat from the sun. The eyes too need to be protected and a pair or two of sunglasses is the perfect way to add that extra bit of protection.

Be safe. Safety is another huge concern when backpacking or hiking. Letting others in your group know where you are in case of an accidental separation is easy with a whistle. The time of the year when the backpacking or hiking trip is taking place will determine which type of whistle is needed. For winter months a plastic whistle with no ?pea? is just right to prevent the ?pea? from freezing or the whistle from freezing to your lips.

Bring lots of water. Water is one of the heaviest things you will pack into your bundle when backpacking or hiking, yet it is essential to life. When backpacking or hiking, it is always better to have more than you need and a filtration device is the best way to ensure a constant supply of water. In case of emergency, a filtration device designed for the outdoors can filter any water supply making it drinkable.

Fire Starter. A fire is the center of warmth and food when backpacking or hiking. Bringing along a firestarter or some waterproof matches can mean a world of difference when stuck out overnight at a camp. Backpacking and hiking is supposed to be fun, but without fire the night can be long and cold.

First aid first. A first aid kit should be prepared for every backpack used during the backpacking and hiking trip. If only one packer has access to a first aid kit, the other hikers will be unable to provide first aid in the case that the group loses touch with each other. A first aid kit should include a pocket knife and a set of pocket tools for everyone.

Finding your way. When in an environment that is not native, there needs to be a way to stay on track with the trail. This is especially important just in case a member or two gets lost from the rest of the backpacking and hiking team. A compass and a map needs to be included in every pack. Today, there are even GPS locators that can be used when traveling through nature on foot.

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to get a little physical activity and become better acquainted with nature and life outside. Together as a team, the backpacking and hiking group needs to make sure that every pack includes these essentials as a base and build the pack from there.