Are you an adrenaline junkie with a travel wish list that keeps getting longer every year? Then this is the year of adventure. From scaling rugged mountains to plunging into the depths of oceanic heavens, these destinations have something for anyone seeking the ultimate rush.
This carefully curated list whisks you away to the globe, giving you unique chances to seek adventure, connect with nature, and even push your physical limits. Ready to book your flight?
Feel the thrill of the Andes in Chamonate, Chile
Located in the Atacama desert, Chamonate will be a destination for adventure tourists. This harsh environment offers endless adrenaline-rich activities such as high-altitude mountain-bike tracks and flying over desert plateaux on paragliding machines. The Andes’ dramatic topography doesn’t just offer beauty but demands your courage as well. Locals say heading off to places like Laguna Verde offers a combination of both the excitement of being isolated and breathtakingly beautiful surroundings.
Why Visit? Beyond the mountain treks, you’ll experience unique wildlife and extraterrestrial-like salt flats.
Conquer Kilimanjaro’s New Routes in Tanzania
While Mount Kilimanjaro remains a classic adventure standby, emerging routes for less crowded, more demanding climbs will ignite your sense of adventure. Explore solo or with trekking guides who provide insider information on local topography and conservation initiatives. The peak remains a lasting victory for adventurers.
Did You Know? The majority of the new trailhead options are in recently opened eco-zones. These aim to turn Kilimanjaro into both an adventure challenge and an eco-exemplar destination.
Surf hidden waves in Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines
For the sea explorers, the protected Tubbataha Reef offers not only breathtakingly underwater stunning beauty but also a mix of surfable, hidden waves unknown even to most local surfers. Transportation remains adventure-captivating mysterious, medium-sized ships rent-budget-friendly good bang explorers.
Go on ice climbing adventures in Sólheimajökull, Iceland
For those who can tolerate cold temperatures, Sólheimajökull glacier offers a peerless adventure of ice climbing. Iceland’s famous location is perfect for pushing your limits while climbing steep ice walls and exploring magical glacial caves. Tours under seasoned leadership enable tourists to remain safe as they traverse the constantly shifting face of the glacier. With its dramatic blue hues of the ice and crisp contrast of volcanic ash, Sólheimajökull is a sensory utopia.
Pro Tip: Wear crampons and carry a good pair of gloves, as the ice can be sharp and unstable.
Canyon swinging at Nevis, New Zealand
For the adrenaline fix of a lifetime, travel to the Nevis Valley in New Zealand and try one of the most outlandish pursuits on this list—canyon swinging. Envision falling 525 feet while attached only to a harness, releasing into a heart-stopping swing above the rocky canyon below. The stunning vistas of the New Zealand landscape are simply an added bonus to the mayhem of the ride.
Why It’s a Must-Try: The Nevis Swing is a world-record canyon swing, the largest in size, providing the ultimate thrill that combines fear with excitement.
Experience the remote wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska
The boundless, untamed territory of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the dream of every adventurer. Wrangell-St. Elias’ raw landscape offers unparalleled potential for expert backcountry travel, glacier travel, and even ascents. With its tallest summits, extensive ice fields, and abundance of wildlife, Wrangell-St. Elias offers it all: isolation or adventure, and most anything in between, for the ultimate traveler.
Fun Fact: Standing at 13.2 million acres, this is the biggest United States national park. Even bigger than Switzerland!
Dive into the Caves of Meghalaya, India
For spelunkers, Meghalaya’s caves present a spine-chilling subterranean journey. The “Abode of Clouds” is a north eastern Indian state home to some of South Asia’s longest and deepest caves. Explore maze-like tunnels flanked by unique limestone formations, subterranean waterfalls, and natural pools. Meghalayan caving is not just an adventure through darkness but a test of wills and wonder as well.
Travel Tip: Bring waterproof gear and a reliable headlamp. Some caves are prone to flooding during the monsoon season, so visit them during the dry season for a safer experience.
Sandboard the Huacachina Dunes, Peru
Huacachina is an oasis town that’s heaven for thrill-seekers looking to conquer humongous sand dunes on a sandboard. This fantasy land is located in the Peruvian desert, and its experience is a one-of-a-kind desert adventure. Whether surfing the dunes or experiencing a speed rush in a dune buggy, Huacachina has limitless action in store.
Why it stands out: Sunsets here on these golden sand dunes create a fantasy landscape for your desert sojourn and hence constitute a best-of-both-worlds situation with equal doses of adventure and beauty.
Explore the lava fields of Mount Etna, Italy
Action-loving volcano enthusiasts would love Mount Etna as an adventure paradise not to miss. Lying on the island of Sicily, nature’s wonder is a place that allows hikers to explore into its breathtaking lava fields, craters, and volcanic ridges. Guided tours provide you with a safe but thrilling encounter as you walk over fire-smoke-sculpted lands. The panoramic view from atop, overlooking the Mediterranean, leaves one awed.
Did You Know? Mount Etna is the most volcanically active volcano in Europe and has been erupting for over a half-million years, continually reshaping its surroundings.
Push your limits with base jumping in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Described as one of the globe’s most extreme sport destinations, Lauterbrunnen offers base jumping for those who seek the ultimate rush of adrenaline. Leap off gigantic cliffs into breathtaking alpine valleys, surrounded by white-topped mountains and cascading waterfalls. This Swiss destination is not for the faint of heart, but for thrill-seekers, it’s a challenge well worth putting on the bucket list.
Safety First: Base jumping requires significant preparation and expertise. Always ensure you’re trained and go with experienced instructors.