Do you like getting lost? Orienteering might be the travel trend for you
Land in an unfamiliar country and race from checkpoint to checkpoint with no phone, no flights and limited funds. This is the premise of the BBC's Race Across the World, now in its fifth season and achieving record-breaking viewing figures for the BBC. It's orienteering on a grand scale — an activity that's slowly been attracting more interest both in the UK and abroad, perhaps partly thanks to the hugely popular TV series. What is orienteering?
For some enthusiasts it's an opportunity to go analogue with just a compass and map, for others a chance to learn new skills while exploring outdoors. It involves participants navigating through forests, heathlands, parks and green spaces — as well as occasionally cities — to track down a series of checkpoints in the form of posts or plaques, all marked on their map.
Orienteering originated in Scandinavia as an aspect of military exercise, but quickly evolved and became more broadly popularised due to the region's 'right to roam' policies. There are thousands of permanent routes dotted around Europe, particularly in the Nordics and in the UK, where there are more than 1,000 alone. Is orienteering becoming more popular?
'We're seeing stronger interest in experiences in nature, and orienteering provides a fantastic combination of adventure, exercise and learning navigation skills,' says Tom Hollowell, president of the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), which runs the annual World Orienteering Championships in July.
While many entrants in the World Orienteering Championships are from the likes of Finland, Norway and Sweden, the IOF says that since the pandemic it's noted a rise in interest from the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand. This year, the Finnish
city of Kuopio will host the event, from 7 to 12 July, with a number of races open to all.
The championships are one of several events where enthusiasts can combine the activity with travel. 'It's getting bigger by the day, as we have more people who'd like an active sport holiday,' says Veysel Güler, events manager at EON Tours, which offers Turkish orienteering trips in Antalya and Cappadocia. 5 orienteering events in Europe worth travelling to
World Masters Orienteering Championships, Spain
Thousands of orienteers head to this annual contest, which this summer is held in Girona and is open to anyone aged over 35 years. The parallel Costa Brava Cup race, held over four days, provides circuits aimed at under 35s in the urban areas and forests around the ancient Catalonian city. 8-15 August.
Sintra PH30 Festival, Portugal
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its UNESCO listing, Sintra is hosting a year-long festival, which includes a number of outdoor events. The geocaching and orienteering ones will be held in September, traversing the oak forests and exotic gardens that surround Sintra's romanticist palaces and colourful castles. 13-14 September.
Antalya Orienteering Festival, Turkey
When the weather in Europe turns colder, many orienteering enthusiasts head south for the Antalya Orienteering Festival, now in its 12th year. The week-long event, set among montane conifer and deciduous forests overlooking Mediterranean beaches, regularly attracts around 1,000 participants. 27 October-1 November.
World Orienteering Championships, Finland
As part of its 250th anniversary festivities, the city of Kuopio, in central Finland, is hosting this year's World Orienteering Championships. 'Spectator' races will run alongside the main event and be open to all. Capitalising on the growing trend to incorporate popular travel sites in courses, the races will take in the city's forests and lakes. 7-12 July.
White Rose Weekend, England
There are 120 orienteering clubs in the UK, including EB Orienteers, which is organising its 50th White Rose event in the North York Moors National Park this year. Participants get to camp in Dalby Forest, and the public weekend includes orienteering competitions as well as night races and family events in the surrounding area, such as a hill race, maze and a barbecue. 22-25 August. Published in the July/August 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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