10 Travel Adventures for Thrill Seekers

Thrill seekers and the more adventurous travellers may want to seek out something more exciting than a day on the beach or site seeing. Here are ten great adventures to get the blood flowing.

While some people would never dream of jumping off a cliff, there are those who crave the adrenaline rush that comes with high risk activities. I admittedly fall into the latter category.

I have gone bungee jumping and skydiving. I have been white river rafting and am looking forward to giving cave tubing, parasailing and ziplining a try later this summer when I go to Belize.

Ironically, I’m scared of heights but love roller coasters and activities that occur at heights that make normal folks nauseous. I can’t explain it and other adrenaline junkies will understand that it just makes me feel so alive and amazed with myself and the world.

For those, like me, who love those moments when your stomach rises into your throat, here are ten fantastic travel adventures you’ll want on your bucket list.

1. Skydiving – Mount Everest

I wouldn’t suggest this one for your first time skydiving but if you have a taste for free fall then this is the ultimate adventure. It’s the world’s highest drop point at 29,500 feet with two different landing sites, Syangboche Airport (12,340 ft) and Ama Dablam Base Camp (15,000 ft).

You’ll get a bird’s eye view of some of the world’s most amazing mountains. It is done only in October and is available to a limited few. The price tag is steep ($25,000 USD for a solo jump) and, since its inception in 2008, there has been fewer than 200 dives performed.

For those who love the scenery but not the price, consider the Pokhara Skydive trip which is a ten day stay starting and ending in Kathmandu that includes ten jumps for a much smaller fee.

2. Abseiling – Tasmania

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Abseiling, also known as deepelling, is like rappelling, only you face downward as you jump down the cliff side. The world’s highest abseiling is at Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in Tasmania.

Your instructors will train you and get you started on some smaller abseils before you tackle the 450 ft drop at the Gordon dam. The scenery is magnificent and the price is right ($210 per person) for this incredible adventure.

All fitness levels can participate, so don’t be afraid to give this a try.

3. Ziplining – Fiji

Ziplining involves wearing a harness that suspends you from a very strong cable and propels you from one end of the cable to the other. The length of the trip can vary as can the scenery.

It is offered in a wide variety of places including cities and jungles. It gives you a different viewing perspective when you are suspended high above the ground. It’s safe for people of all ages, sizes and fitness levels.

The Fiji ziplining trip takes you through the jungle canopy over a course of eight zip lines at varying levels up to 500 ft in the air on cables up to 65 ft long. It combines all the fun and excitement of ziplining with a trained guide who also takes the time to teach you about the local animals and plants you see along your tour.

4. Bungee Jumping – Switzerland

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Ever wanted to pretend you were James Bond? This is your chance to follow in the footsteps of 007 at Verzasca Valley Dam in Ticino, Switzerland. This is where they filmed the Goldeneye sequence with Pierce Brosnan.

The dam height is 721 ft. This is one of the highest and most famous bungee jumps in the world. It’s very safe but thrilling none the less.

They offer a variety of jumps (forward, backwards, feet first, and night jumps) for all levels of experience.

5. White Water Rafting – India

White water rafting is an exciting sport that, unlike many of the others we’ve looked at so far, can take a whole day rather than a few hours at the actual activity.

Many of the more thrilling adventure involve a half day of training and getting to your destination followed by no more than an hour, and often less, of the actual activity. Depending on the rapids and the river, white water rafting can be an all day sport.

Combine that with the Himalayas and the mighty Ganga river and you have a heavenly vacation. You may even want to fall into the river’s holy waters at the end to put a heavenly finish on your adventure.

6. Cave Tubing – New Zealand

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Cave tubing is not for those who suffer from claustrophobia. You spend at least some and often a great deal of time in a dark cavern, floating on an inner tube on a subterranean river. They call it black water.

New Zealand has many famous caves including Waitomo where you can join a group for some cave tubing. Waitomo has some beautiful scenery courtesy of glow worms as well as a small underground waterfall and many gorgeous chambers to view.

For those who like adventure but may not want to do a lot of walking or climbing or hate heights, this may be the sport for you.

7. Volcano Boarding – Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

The Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua is the only place in the world (thus far) that offers the very new sport of volcano boarding. Cerro Negro means black mountain. It’s a live volcano, so its seismic activity is closely monitored.

You’ll take a trip up the volcano and do some exploring, have a quick lesson on volcano boarding and then you’re off on your trip back down the side of the volcano. Volcano boarding is a bit like snowboarding only you do it on a volcano instead of a snowy mountain.

The fastest rate of descent recorded so far is 89 km/hr (55 miles/hr).

8. Swim with Sharks – Mexico & Fiji

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You can swim with sharks in most areas where they exist. Depending on the species, location and circumstances some groups free dive with the sharks while others put you in a cage.

For those who want to be amazed but not risk being dinner, the Yucatan Peninsula has become famous for its congregations of whale sharks. These gentle giants are the largest fish in the world, reaching up to 32 feet in length and weighing 20.6 tons on average.

This is an up close encounter unlike any other. For those who want a little more danger, try free diving with the sharks in Fiji. Species encountered in the Shark Reef Marine Reserve often include bulls, tigers, whitetip reef, blacktip reefs, grey reefs, tawny nurses, silvertips, and sicklefin lemon sharks.

There are also lots of fish to see including grouper and snappers. An added bonus is that the reserve is devoted to shark conservation and education.

9. Microlighting – Africa

Microlighting involves a very lightweight, slow moving aircraft. It seats only two people, you and the pilot. Think of the original aircraft where the pilot was in a seat but otherwise fairly exposed to the air and you are in the right ballpark.

South Africa has the right climate and wind conditions to make this an excellent way to get an aerial view of the countryside. You go up with an experienced pilot and guide that will point out the sights for you.

For safety reasons, wind conditions are very important and you may want to plan on an alternative date if conditions become unfavourable and your flight has to be cancelled. You might even talk the pilot into letting you take the wheel.

10. Fly a Fighter Jet – Tampa, Florida

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Face it, every since Top Gun came out you’ve thought it would be cool to be a fighter pilot for at least a few moments. If you can afford the price tag ($2,399 for 30 minutes air time), this could be a highlight moment for you.

You will go up in a real military fighter jet and experience G-forces as well as a variety of military manoeuvres including barrel rolls, loops, dives, and steep turns as well as a low level flight over water.

While Tom Cruise will not be joining you, you will have your own pilot who will adjust the flight as much as possible to meet your needs (ie no loops if you’re not feeling so hot). Feel the need for speed?

No matter what adventures get your blood pumping, there are organizations offering them in a variety of venues with new ones opening up all the time.

Whether you want a small thrill or something you will never forget that will make your hair stand on end, there is an adventure waiting for you.

Cover photo: pinterest.com

About the author

Heather B

Heather is an avid traveller, lover of dogs, and baker supreme. She lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada where she raises German Shorthaired Pointers with her family. An explorer at heart, she travels whenever she can, wherever she can.

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