Take Your Adventure to the Next Level
The new trend sweeping the industry in the United States and abroad is adventure travel, providing the perfect alternative to those who want a little more excitement in their vacations. However even this isn’t even enough for some people.
Do you yearn for the pump of adrenaline and always want to take everything to the next level? Extreme adventure travel was made for you.
From bungee jumping off skyscrapers to piloting a fighter jet, unique thrill-seeking experiences continue to attract people of all walks of life. Whether you’re an experienced traveler looking to try something new or an extreme sports enthusiast, there’s an excursion out there to fit your personality, skill level and pocketbook.
Polar Diving in the Arctic or Antarctic
For the experienced scuba diver looking for a challenge, try your hand at polar diving in the Arctic or Antarctic Circles. Dive among icebergs and an incredible array of marine life under the icy, sub-zero surface; you may even see leopard seals or penguins as you swim.
All dives carry some risk, but polar dives are particularly dangerous since they’re located in remote locations without decompression chambers. Although not normally a concern during scuba dives in warm locales, polar divers have ice to worry about, which may alter their ability to find a safe exit.
Tandem HALO Jumping
If you’ve grown bored of regular skydiving experiences, you can always try your hand at an even more dangerous version. HALO (high altitude low open) jumping is a military style of tandem parachuting accomplished by jumping out of a plane at around 30,000 feet — the cruising altitude for commercial airplanes.
Because of the high altitude, jumpers must wear oxygen masks to prevent blacking out due to hypoxia — or oxygen deprivation. Free falls last about two minutes, with another few minutes of parachute coasting before landing.
HALO jump schools are found all over the world, with the most well-known located in the Southern United States.
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Whitewater Rafting on the Zambezi River
Known as the “wildest one-day whitewater run in the world,” Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border delivers maximum thrills for a one-of-a-kind experience. Navigate the Zambezi River amid 18 thrilling rapids with nearly half classified at grade five — the most difficult runs to navigate.
With names like Devil’s Toilet Bowl and Gnashing Jaws of Death, you’re sure to enjoy conquering these rapids and bragging about your extreme vacation when you get home.
Macau Tower Bungee Jump
There are plenty of places to bungee jump around the world, but those looking for extreme adventures should give the AJ Hackett Macau Tower a try. It boasts the highest public jump at 233 meters (764 feet).
Located on the island of Macau, a special administrative region of China or SAR, adrenaline junkies free fall on a guided cable system that slows down at about 30 meters (98 feet) from the ground before bouncing back up again.
The tower also offers nighttime jumps as well as costume rentals for those looking to accelerate their fun even further.
Doors off Helicopter Ride over Active Volcanoes
Extreme adventure vacations don’t get much better than this.
Looking to get up close and personal with an active volcano? There’s only one way to truly observe the majesty of a volcanic eruption and that’s from the vantage point of a helicopter.
Hawaii’s Big Island offers a tour of the Kilauea Volcano from the safety of a military-style observation helicopter with no doors.
Riders can actually feel the heat off the lava from 500 feet above. Whether you’re looking to get some amazing photographs or are just a thrill junkie, a helicopter ride over a volcano is an extreme addition to any travel bucket list.
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A Motorcycle Rally Through Cambodian Jungles
Advertised as the “ultimate dirt-bike adventure,” Tours in the Extreme offers an annual motorcycle rally through Cambodian jungles. Not for the faint of heart, this ride covers 1,242 miles over 12 days — journeying off the beaten path and even illegally crossing borders.
From occasionally sleeping under the stars to visiting temples and crossing rivers in handmade canoes, this tour is made for extreme sport aficionados and the physically fit.
Fly a Fighter Jet in Moscow
Have you ever fantasized about joining the air force or flying a fighter jet? Amazingly, there’s an extreme adventure travel experience that offers just that.
If money’s not an obstacle, you can drop thousands on an experience of a lifetime that includes pre-flight training, a 30-minute flight and a certificate of achievement. If you’re planning on visiting Moscow anyway, they also offer a full vacation package with accommodations, transportation and museum visits included.
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Full Moon Zip Line Adventure Tour in Peru
Those who have zip-lined before know the serious thrill as you fly across the air at around 40 miles per hour or more. Many zip line adventures take you across beautiful scenery in forests and across cliffs, but few offer the rush of a nighttime ride.
Vertikal Zipline, in the Santa Teresa district of Peru, allows riders to soar in virtual darkness with the sounds of the forest all around you. Five zip line courses are included along with a suspended bridge that’ll have you white knuckling it across in the dark. Definitely an extreme vacation idea worth following up on!