Canyoning in April

Samaria Gorge is the reason to come — a 16km descent through a 300m-deep limestone canyon, ending at the Libyan Sea village of Agia Roumeli. It is one of Europe's most dramatic gorge walks, and the combination of the White Mountains backdrop, the final swim in the Libyan Sea, and the ferry return to Chora Sfakion makes it a complete day experience. Imbros Gorge (8km, open year-round) is the lower-key alternative for shorter time windows or off-season visits. Neither route requires technical climbing — both are accessible with standard hiking fitness and appropriate footwear.

Bali's volcanic geology produces steep river valleys in the hills above Ubud that are among the most visually distinctive canyoning environments in Asia — black volcanic rock walls, jungle canopy overhead, warm water, and multi-tiered waterfalls. The Aling-Aling waterfall canyon in the north of Bali and the rivers above Ubud offer routes involving natural water slides, cliff jumps, and technical abseils. The warm water (25-27°C) makes this accessible year-round without wetsuits, and the combination of adventure and jungle setting appeals to travelers who want something more physical than a standard Bali itinerary.

Wadi Mujib is a categorically different experience from European technical canyoning — a wade-and-swim descent through a narrow basalt gorge, where the Mujib River drops 900 metres to the Dead Sea over 70km. The RSCN (Royal Society for Conservation of Nature) manages access as part of the Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve, keeping numbers controlled and the experience genuine. The Siq Trail (the main route) involves boulder-hopping, swimming through slots barely wide enough for a person, and following rope lines through waterfall drops — ending at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. No abseiling or technical gear required; swimming ability and a tolerance for cold water are all you need.