Adventure is... making the most of the outdoors with komoot

Say the words “outdoor adventure” to a million different people, and you’ll get a million different images of what adventure looks and feels like to them. For some, it’s the challenge. The not-knowing if they’ll make it to the summit before sundown, or if they’ll still be able to enjoy their ride with a baby trailer en-tow. 

For others it’s the opportunity to slow right down – going physically slower by stopping to notice the little things, like an army of ants crossing the trail or a tiny bird’s territorial dance. Or going at a slower thinking pace, focusing purely on the technicality of the task at hand, letting the spiralling thoughts of everyday life take a back seat for a moment. 

We didn’t speak to a million people, but even a smaller group comes up with a wide variety of definitions. What everyone seems to agree on though, is that it’s a mindset. 

Adventure is out there – it's up to you to define the details.

Experiencing some place new, or some place familiar through new eyes, all give the community that same sense of joy. It doesn’t matter how far or fast you’re moving, or how technical your route is. If it’s outside, and it makes you feel happy to be alive, it’s an adventure! 

Case in point? Komoot’s ambassador community. These are people who literally live for the outdoors and yet their adventures take on different forms depending on who they are, what they like, and sometimes, even the day of the week! 

So what does adventure mean to some of them?

Jenny Tough, UK/Canada ambassador

Jenny says “adventure is creative. Make up something that is important to you and follow your own trail.”

When Jenny Tough says “creative”, she means it. She is great at creating unique adventures for herself. To date these include endurance bikepacking races in Central Asia, self-set trail running challenges in her birth country, Canada, and a good-time ride through the Colombian Andes…

Sian Lewis, UK ambassador

Sian reckons “adventure is about getting outside, moving your body and feeling good. Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. I think if it makes you feel curious and courageous it’s an adventure.”

Being both curious and courageous can be seen in many of Sian’s adventures to date as she explores all corners of the UK and beyond on foot or by bike – especially in her recent quest to find wonderful wild swimming walks in the Lake District. As Sian puts it, “the Lake District is a walker's – and a wild swimmer's – dream adventure destination.”

Tristan Bogaard, Netherlands ambassador

Tristan says “adventure is a loaded bike, good views and the feeling of freedom.”

For Tristan and his partner Belen, adventure is literally a way of life. They spend their lives in the saddle exploring, from cobbling together the tracks of a dusty old bikepacking route through Sardinia with friends, to tootling around the gravel roads near their temporary home in Spain. 

If there’s one thing to take away from all this, it’s that adventure is an attitude, and that means that if you do a thing and it feels like an adventure to you, it is! Because one thing we believe, absolutely here at komoot, is that adventure is for everyone!

Finding adventures on komoot

Use the Tour search: Head to the Discover feed, enter your sport and search a region. On mobile, hit “Find your next adventure.” You’ll find countless ideas at the tap of a button, from short Tours based on the local community’s most popular routes, to curated multi-day adventures. Save any Tour to your profile and you’ll have the chance to adjust the route to suit your adventure style when you’re ready.

Follow friends and fellow adventurers: Your Discover feed itself is also a great place to get adventure inspiration. The more friends and fellow adventurers you follow, the more of their Tours will appear in your feed. Find one that looks fun? Save it to your profile and adjust the route to your needs.

Share your adventures with the community: When you’re back from your adventure, share it with the community – your selected close friends, people who follow your profile, or make it totally public so anyone on komoot can see it. If you’ve found a great route, or even just a great spot along your route, upload photos, create a Highlight on the map, and leave a tip . That way others will know what to expect if they choose to follow a similar route, or visit the Highlight you created. By sharing your adventures and the insider intel you discover about your routes, you’ll contribute to the vast amount of knowledge on komoot, making adventure planning easier for everyone.