If you’ve ever travelled for a long time, lived as a digital nomad, or just gone on a long vacation, chances are you’ve wondered what kind of ways you can be active on the road. It can be hard trying to maintain your lifestyle while traveling, but there are some sports that don’t require much equipment and make it easier to take on the road with you. So if you’re wanting to try a new sport that may be easy to pack in your bag (or suitcase) and take with you no matter where you go, keep reading to learn about my top 4 sports you can do while traveling the world.
1. Badminton
This is great option for when traveling because a badminton racket can easily be packed into your suitcase. If you don’t find someone to play with or a proper badminton court, don’t worry! You can practice badminton alone and all you need is something you can find anywhere in the world… a wall. For this reason, I think it’s a great sport to take with you while traveling the world. All you need is a racket, shuttlecock and some mens badminton shoes and you’re good to go.
2. Running
This is a great sport to do while overseas because you can enjoy a really scenic way to see wherever you are. Be careful when running in developing countries as often the sidewalks are not what you’re used to and can have surprising potholes or even loose cobblestones depending on where you’re running. Likewise Europe is filled with cobblestones which can be hard to run on, so be sure to pace yourself and be sure you’re wearing good fitting shoes.
3. Yoga
While it may be slightly impractical to travel with a yoga mat, if you prefer to attend yoga classes then this is something you can easily do around the world. Most yoga studios will have mats that you can rent or borrow for free, making it something you can do anywhere in the world without much hassle. You’ll just want to have some comfortable, flexible clothing so you can move your body and get the most out of the class. If you’re spending a while in one place, going to yoga classes can be a great way to make some friends and to start your own community.
4. Surfing or Paddle boarding
I’m not going to suggest for one second that it could be a good idea to travel with your surf board or paddle board unless you’re almost a professional level and need your own specific gear. It will be expensive to take your board on flights, and quite troublesome to move around if you’re traveling to more than one place. However almost everywhere that you’re going to want to surf or paddle on, will likely have rental opportunities. If you’re spending quite a while in one place and certain you’ll do it often, why not consider a longer term rental or even buying a second hand board to sell when you leave.
Staying active while you travel doesn’t have to be hard as long as you choose sports you enjoy. Hopefully these four sports you can do while traveling the world inspire you to pick up a new hobby and to enjoy it every where you can.