If you’re looking to improve your fitness, then it’s hugely useful to have a long-term goal in mind.You might want to have reached a specific weight, or be able to perform some arbitrarily gruelling feat of endurance.By far the most effective motivator, however, is a commitment to a very public challenge – and ideally, one which provides for a worthy cause.In this article, we’ll take a look at some suitable candidates.If you’re looking for a physical challenge to work towards, and an opportunity to get out and see the world, then why not take a look through some of the trips listed here?

Cycling

London to Paris Cycle Ride

For those in search of a long-distance cycle ride, perhaps the best place to start is close to home with a UK charity challenge.England and France are home to some of the most idyllic countryside that Europe has to offer – and yet they’re scarcely appreciated by the locals.Cycle London to Parisand you’ll be rewarded with some of the intervening green and pleasant parts of both nations – and you’ll be able to see the sights that both capitals have to offer, too.

Kilimanjaro to Ngoro Ngoro crater

If you’re looking for a trip through a less familiar setting, then a cycle trip between two of Africa’s most notable heritage sites will do just the trick.You’ll be able to see a plethora of incredible sites on the way through – with Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks along the route, affording riders a glimpse of some of the most majestic wildlife on the continent.

Death Valley

Death Valley is a place that’s infamous for its sizzling heat – and once you’ve successfully cycled through it, you’ll be able to boast about it to your gobsmacked friends and co-workers.That’s why trips through the valley take place in the colder times of the year – but you needn’t mention that part when you come to tell the tale.Cycling through the valley when it isn’t quite so uncomfortably hot is worthwhile as you’ll be able to take in the sights the location has to offer in comfort.

Yosemite

Yosemite national park is just a few hundred miles from Death Valley – and yet the two climates couldn’t be more different.If you’re looking to take in some of the most vibrant wildlife and scenery that the states have to offer, then a trip to Yosemite might be just the ticket – whether you’re cycling or planning a long hike through the wilderness.

Hiking

Great Wall of China

If you’re looking to see some famous landmarks during your trip, then why not book a walk along what is arguably the planet’s most famous?The entire wall stretches for around six-thousand kilometres, snaking through valleys and mountains.You needn’t traverse the entire thing, however – a single trip across a few days will be enough to see a whole slew of natural and man-made wonders.

Everest

While the average person might struggle to make the ascent to the world’s tallest peak, there’s no reason that the trek will prove impossible – with sufficient motivation, you might meet the challenge.

To begin with, however, it’s perhaps best to conquer the neighbouring peaks, which will give you a view of some of the most eye-popping mountains known to man.A trip to Everest base camp, and then to the neighbouring summit of Kala Patthar (which stands at 5,545m to Everest’s 8,848) will provide you with all of the challenge you might require.

Sahara

On the other hand, you might be looking for a challenge of an entirely different sort.The Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world, offering miles and miles of rolling sand dunes to be conquered.It’s a part of the world that has claimed many a traveller – but with the right guides, you’ll be able to traverse at least part of it in safety.What’s more, you’ll be able to take in the sights of Morocco while you’re at it.

Angkor Wat

If you’re looking for something a little more tropical, then a jungle trip to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia will provide just that.The surrounding area is home to a slew of thatched villages, valleys and small peaks – it’s home not only to historical beauty, but to natural beauty, too.It’s a perfect trip, then, for those looking to experience the most impressive sights and sounds that this part of the world has to offer.