World's most extreme adventures

SHARK diving, camping with emperor penguins in Antarctica and a rhino darting safari in South Africa all sure to get the heart pumping.

escape adventure Bolivia

HERE are 10 of our favourite activities sure to get the heart pumping.

In pictures: The world's most extreme adventures

1 Inside the volcano, Iceland

Dropping into the magma chamber of a volcano is a major thrill for intrepid travellers.

The 120m descent in a basket, lowered by a crane, is a 10-minute adrenalin rush in one of the world's most active volcanic regions.

Fortunately the Thrihnukagigur volcano last erupted 4000 years ago.

The "inside the volcano" tour is a one-off opportunity from June 15-31. It costs 37,000 krona (about $298).

See insidethevolcano.com

2 The Rickshaw Run, India

A 3500km pan-Indian journey in an auto-rickshaw is a bumpy escapade.

Resembling a covered tricycle with a lawnmower engine, auto-rickshaws have a top speed of 55km/h and are unsuitable for long-distance off-road driving, so an adventure is assured.

The September run is from Shillong to Jaisalmer.

Along the way, drop into Darjeeling, Bodhgaya and Varanasi.

The Rickshaw Run entry fee costs £1395 (about $2250) a team. A team is required to raise £1000 (about $1600) for charity.

See theadventurists.com

3 Camping with emperor penguins, Antarctica

A camping trip in Antarctica is a nature lover's dream.

And sleeping with the penguins is a reality at Patriot Hills camp, which is near an emperor penguin colony on the remote southern coast of the Weddell Sea.

Guests on the "Polar Dreams" program sleep in two-person, double-lined tents, constructed of a hi-tech nylon stretched over an aluminium frame, with zippered doors and plywood floors.

Australian-owned Adventure Associates has an eight-day camping trip in Antarctica that costs $US65,250 (about $66,882).

See adventureassociates.com

4 RMS Titanic Dive, North Atlantic Ocean

A century after the sinking of the Titanic, divers can join a scientific expedition diving tour of the wreck aboard a Russian MIR submersible.

Manned by a crew from Moscow's PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, the vessel can reach a depth of 6000m. The 12-day expedition costs $US59,680 (about $61,173) for divers ($US10,000 for non-divers) and includes lectures, meals and 11-hour dives.

See adventureassociates.com 

5 Scale SE Asia's highest via ferrata, Malaysia

South-East Asia's highest peak is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure on the island of Borneo. And climbing Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is a two-day challenge that inexperienced climbers can tackle. The most exciting part is dangling off the cliff face on Mountain Torq's via ferrata a mountain route equipped with cables, ladders, stemples, rails and bridges at 3521m and there are dramatic mountain vistas to be taken in en route also.

See mountaintorq.com

6 Rhino darting safari, South Africa

The rhino is one of Africa's Big Five and can be extremely dangerous up close. Tracking, darting and microchipping rhinos are not the activities usually offered at a game reserve.

But at Kwandwe Game Reserve, a three-day rhino darting program allows guests to participate in ear notching, administering medication, taking measurements and drilling rhino horns so the vet can insert a microchip in the nuchrial hump. The program costs 18,360 rand (about $2250) for up to six people.

See www.kwandwe.com

7 Cycle the Death Road, Bolivia

The name Death Road is enough to scare most people away. Connecting Bolivia's main city, La Paz, and Coroico in the Yungas region, the Inter-American Development Bank labelled it the "world's most dangerous road" in 1995. The 64km downhill stretch is a challenge for cyclists. Crosses mark the spots where vehicles have plunged into the valley below.

Tucan Travel offers this activity on its Bolivian tours for about $US106 (about $109).

See tucantravel.com

8 Kilimanjaro climb, Tanzania

Africa's highest peak rises majestically above the plains between Kenya and Tanzania. Although the altitude (5922m) is a challenge, no mountaineering experience is necessary and anyone in good physical shape has a chance of reaching the summit.

Many companies offer hiking tours with mountain guides and porters to lug tents, food, oxygen tanks and even portable altitude chambers. A&K's Snows of Kilimanjaro costs from $3970 a person.

See abercrombiekent.com.au

9 Narwhal and polar bear safari, Canada

A tour of Canada's high Arctic at the top of Baffin Island is a wilderness adventure, with a base camp at the edge of an ice floe. Travelling Inuit-style by dog sleds and snow-mobile offers opportunities to spot polar bears, seals, sea birds, bowheads and belugas.

Other activities include kayaking, hiking and snorkelling with narwhal (Arctic whales). Arctic Kingdom's eight-day tour costs $C9700 (about $9715). Return flights from Ottawa to Pond Inlet are $C3256.

See arctickingdom.com

10 Cage diving with sharks, South Australia

Coming face to face with a great white shark is a nightmare for most. Not so in the waters around South Australia's Neptune Islands where, enclosed in a cage, you can be lowered over the back of the boat for a close encounter.

Tours range from one to eight days and cost from $295 to $3975.

See southaustralia.com

In pictures: The world's most extreme adventures