Activities

Mountaineering and climbing are exciting and challenging activities whether you are young or old, experienced or a beginner, fit – or wanting to get fit, like to be part of a group or enjoy your own company.

Mountaineering and climbing include a range of different activities such as ice climbing, bouldering, ski touring, ski-mountaineering, mountain hiking, trekking, rock climbing and indoor climbing. This includes expeditions in the Himalayas, easy walking with children – and everything in between.

What makes mountaineering different from other sports is that in the mountains, everyone can choose their own pace, and define their own goals. You do not have to compete with anyone. Mountaineering is about challenging yourself, your mind and your body. As Sir Edmund Hillary said: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

In this section you can find information about the UIAA’s activities in the areas of access to mountains, environmental protection, expeditions, medical issues, training for mountaineers, safety in the mountains and activities for youth.

Mountaineering and climbing are popular activities all over the world. Even very flat countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands have mountaineering associations. We believe the reason is that humans need nature and in the mountains we experience a peace of mind that we cannot find in the city.

The challenges we seek are different for everyone. For some the goal is to push themselves to the limit. For others it is to be in the mountain environment, or to travel to other countries and meet new cultures. For many of us, it is through mountaineering that we make the friendships that last a lifetime.

What we all have in common is a love of the mountains. They are out there waiting for us!