As the world of adventure travel has expanded, the options for an active vacation are virtually endless. While probably every country around the globe has something to offer in the way of adventure travel, here are some of our favorites that we have compiled along with a friend and fellow adventure sport enthusiast. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so feel free to share your own through the comments section!
Skydive over….
– Titusville, Florida – You can see the launch sites and the main shuttle assembly building. You?ll be so close you can touch the shuttle as it returns from the ISS.
– Franz Josef/Fox Glacier in New Zealand – there are not too many places you can skydive over a glacier! (Almost anywhere in NZ is good for skydiving this is just one of the most unique spots.)
– The Himalayas – noted as some of the most breathtaking views in the world
– Into a volcano in Russia?s Kamchatka Peninsula – for the ultimate thrill seeker
Zipline through the Costa Rican rain forest. There are multiple levels of height, speed and distance, so if you have a mix of hard and soft adventurers, everyone can enjoy.
Bungee jump….
– Out of a hot air balloon in Queenstown, New Zealand
– Verzasca Dam, Val Verzasca, Switzerland – jump from the dam seen in the movie Goldeneye. Tell me it doesn’t at least peak your interest to make the same jump as 007! It?s also the tallest bungee from a structure in the world (750 ft).
SCUBA dive in…
– Egypt – unique sea life and coral reef mountains which scientists consider an ?underwater wonder?
– Maui – dive in Molokini volcano crater. Enough said.
– Great Barrier Reef – it deserves every ounce of popularity its achieved.
– Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Belize and Cozumel in the Caribbean region are a favorite of divers.
Kayak or canoe in the Norwegian Fjords
Raft through the Grand Canyon, Zambezi River, Karnali River in Nepal, Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, the Great Bend of the Yangtze River or any number of whitewaters in Costa Rica, to name a few.
Heli-hike on the glaciers in Alaska
Take a cycle tour, or create your own. Western Europe is particularly popular for bike tours, as it offers possibilities for a wide variety of fitness levels, as well as opportunities for mountain biking.
Hike in Mt. Zion in Utah, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, West Coast Trail in British Columbia, ythe Inca Trail, Mt. Everest Base Camp (this is not as scary as it sounds), Na-Pali Coast/Waimea Canyon in Kauai and Volcanos National Park in Hawaii.
Get up close and personal (or at least close enough!) with the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands, the arctic north, Botswana or Kenya.
View the landscape from atop an elephant in Thailand or Zimbabwe.
Snowboard/Ski in…
-Whistler, British Columbia, Canada – As the host city of this years winter Olympics it?s a draw, and it?s also supposed to be one of the best place in North America ? There are a large number of open trails and diverse terrain accommodating people of all skill and experience levels. It also boasts one of the, largest vertical drop in North America.
-Chamonix, France – This is continually mentioned as one of the best ski/snowboard spots in Europe. The terrain could entice anybody from carvers to freeriders. As an added bonus, it offers the opportunity to go heliboarding. That?s right! Jump out of a helicopter and snowboard/ski.
Go cliff jumping…
If you?re adrenaline junkie enough to do this, Athens (Greece), Hamburg (Germany) Polignano a Mare (Italy) and La Rochelle (France) have been featured on cliff jumping tournaments as top choices for throwing yourself off the end of the earth!
If you want to learn more about any of these destinations or opportunities, please email me or post a comment below! To explore more adventure opportunities, check out the following links:
Gordon?s Guide (Adventure Agents) – worldwide guides to adventure tour operators
Just Kite It – a content publisher and social community focused the kiteboarding lifestyle; this is a niche that many adventure companies ignore, and for that, we love Just Kite It!
A big thank you to my friend and fellow adventurer Brian Crumley for helping put together this list!
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