The best global travel destinations for thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies
Just the thought of ticking these wild experiences off the bucket list is enough to break a sweat.
For many of us right now, the most adventurous part of our day involves negotiating the dried goods aisle of the local supermarket.
But when we’re finally allowed to re-emerge from our pandemic cocoons and take (global) flight again, you can bet these hair-raising adventures will be just what we need to rekindle that intrepid spark.
Swing into Batoka Gorge, Zambia
The name sounds innocuous enough, but the Gorge Swing at Batoka Gorge, Victoria Falls is far from a leisurely experience.
The swing is more like a modified bungee jump, with those brave enough to try it required to leap off a platform and plunge 70 metres into the gorge. Much like the fall itself, the view as you swing above the Zambezi River is breathtaking in every sense of the word.
Victoria Falls itself is an intrepid traveller’s playground; after your adrenaline rush, take a dip in The Devil’s Pool; a natural infinity pool overlooking this natural wonder.
Surf an active volcano, Nicaragua
Tackling a huge swell at one of the world’s great surf breaks will get the heart pumping but hanging ten down the side of an active volcano really is the final surfing frontier.
It’s one of the more adventurous (and dusty) ways to experience the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua, with companies offering brave travellers the chance to ascend the 728m volcano and ‘surf’ back down its ash-dusted slope on a wooden board. And if you’re not the boarding type, simply walk down; you’ll have more opportunity to take in the incredible view.
Go zip lining in North Wales
Wales might be best known for its historic castles and heritage railways, but it’s also home to one of the UK’s most exhilarating experiences; the Velocity 2 zip line.
Set among the picturesque vistas of Snowdonia National Park Located in a decommissioned slate quarry, this 1.5km zip line is the fastest in the world and the longest in Europe, with adrenaline junkies able to reach speeds of more than 160kph as they fly over Penrhyn Slate Quarry.
Make history on a North Pole expedition
OceanSky’s Airlander 10 airship may offer one of the most luxurious flight experiences around, but those able to score a ticket on its first voyage to the North Pole can claim to have been part of a history-making expedition.
Each of the eight cabins on the Airlander, which is described as a “superyacht of the sky”, are equipped with their own en suites and panoramic windows in which to view the icy wilderness.
Currently taking bookings for its maiden voyage, which expected to take place in 2023 or 2024, a ticket for this record-breaking experience will set you back about AUD$318,000.
Swim between continents in Iceland
Considered a top destination for adventure seekers, Iceland offers plenty of blood-pumping activities both above ground and underwater.
Silfra, an enormous underwater fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, is in Thingvellir National Park and offers divers the chance to explore the area’s pristine, icy cold waters and swim between two continents.
Plank walk around China’s Mount Huashan
Despite its reputation as one of the most dangerous hikes in the world, thousands of tourists flock to China’s Mount Huashan every day to test their bravery along its treacherous Changkong Plank Trail.
Located in central China‘s Shaanxi Province, Mount Huashan is considered an important cultural and religious site.
But for thrill seekers, its main attraction is the precarious plank walk one must take to reach Cuiyun Palace, a sacred Taoist temple located atop of the mountain’s five peaks. With little more than a rented safety harness and some ancient wooden planks to prevent you plunging 2000 metres down the mountain, it’s not for everyone.
Try cave diving in Mexico
Boasting one of the most extensive and beautiful underwater cave systems on Earth, Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula is a must-do for aquatic adventurers. Its various cenotes, which are submerged or semi-submerged sinkholes – resemble underwater cities with their limestone caverns, cathedral-like stalactites and ancient river systems.
The cavernous Grand Cenote, open Cenote Carwash and double Cenote Doj Ojos are some of the most popular dive sites, but there are plenty more along the tropical peninsula to explore.
