Thrilling Stops For Adrenaline Junkies

If you are one of those adrenaline junkies, we know how you feel! We have tried a variety of extreme sports such as cliff diving, bungee jumping, paragliding, and skydiving, but are always on the hunt for something higher and faster. If you want to go on an adventurous vacation, here are some popular destinations for thrill-seekers.

If you love skydiving, it doesn’t get any better than landing on the world’s tallest mountain! You will jump out of a AS350 B3 chopper from a height of 7010 m (23,000 ft) and land at either Ama Dablam Base Camp, which is 4572 m (15,000 ft) above sea level or Syangboche Airport, which is 3761 m (12,340 ft) above sea level. 

For the first 2438 m (8000 ft), you will experience an adrenaline-pumping 40-second free fall.  Once your parachute opens, you will glide over Sherpa settlements, with the imposing rocks of Mount Everest and its sister peaks as a backdrop. 

Skydivers at Mount Everest can encounter speeds up to 120 mph, so solo jumps are only available for experienced skydivers. If you plan to dive solo, you will need to have a B + license or demonstrate that you have completed over 200 jumps under the regulations of a recognized parachute association. Beginners can enjoy tandem jumps with an expert skydiver.

Everest Skydive is one of the best tour operators in the area. It has a team of veteran flyers and specialized parachute equipment that has been approved for high altitudes. 

Macau Tower is a 338 m (1,109 ft) building that soars above a glamorous resort city on the South China Sea. Most tourists take a 60-second ride in a glass-fronted elevator to reach the observation deck. From the three-story glass windows they can enjoy 360 panoramic views of the city’s skyscrapers, casinos, and the nearby Zhejiang River Estuary.

However, if you want more of a thrill, Macau Tower is a fantastic place to bungee jump. The bungee platform is 233 m (764 ft) high, and back in 2007 it was listed in the Guinness World Record book as the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. At the time of this article, it is the second highest. 

The bungee jump operated by AJ Hackett features a 4-5 second free fall, and you can reach speeds of up to 200 km/hr. You will plunge almost all the way to the ground, with the bungee cord rebounding a mere 30 meters above the large landing-zone airbag. 

If you want to build up your courage for the bungee jump, you can try slightly tamer activities at Macau Tower such as a tethered skyjump, a skywalk, and a tower climb. 

Arguably, the best views of Macau can be found at night, when all the casinos and theater marquees are illuminated with neon lights. Fortunately, Macau Tower permits evening bungee jumps, skyjumps, and skywalks starting at 6pm in the winter and 7:30pm in the summer. For more information, visit the official Macau Tower website. 

If you love rafting, you should tackle the Grade IV and V rapids on the Zambezi River.  There is a 24 km stretch between the narrow walls of Batoka Gorge that contains 23 different rapids. You will encounter the churning waters of The Boiling Pot, the raft-flipping hole called Oblivion, and the terrifying drop of the Stairway to Heaven (one of the largest commercially run drops in the world). 

Your rafting trip will also give you an opportunity to enjoy the local scenery. The put­-in point on the Zambezi River is at Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. While on the river, you can enjoy the lush surroundings, and may see African wildlife such as crocodiles and hippos.  

Rafting trips vary from half-day­ to eight-day excursions. You can choose from multiple rafting companies to find a guide for your adrenaline-fueled rafting adventure.

If you travel to Abu Dhabi, be sure to take a ride on the Formula Rossa roller coaster. With a top speed of 240 km/hr (149.1 mph), it is currently the world’s fastest coaster. The coaster uses a hydraulic launch system to accelerate its Formula One Ferrari-shaped train cars to its top speed in a mere 4.9 seconds. 

Its steel-framed track was designed to imitate the legendary Italian racetrack, Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. It is 2.07 km (1.29 mi) long and climbs to a height of 52 m (171 feet). During your 92-second ride, you can experience up to 4.8 g-force.  

Please note that the ride has a height restriction (140-195 cm) and requires you to wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from airborne particles.

Once you have conquered the lightning fast coaster, you should explore other attractions at Ferrari World such as the Scuderia Challenge racing simulator, the G-Force drop, and the V12 attraction that takes you into the heart of a 12-cylinder Ferrari 599 engine. To see other available attractions, visit the Ferrari World website. 

The world is full of cliffs to jump off of, but how about a cliff dive followed by a rum punch! At a small Caribbean bar/restaurant in Negril you have the opportunity to jump off cliffs of varying heights and land in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. 

The lowest ledge at Rick’s Café is approximately 2.5 m (8 ft) above the water, but you can jump from rocks as high as 12 m (40 ft). You will see everyone, from spectators and beginners, to experienced cliff-divers. Some hardcore adrenaline junkies will even climb trees on the cliffs and jump into the blue ocean below.  To learn more, browse the Rick’s Café website.

The Shotover Canyon Swing in Queenstown was built in 2002, and it is still one of the most popular canyon swings in the world. No matter how many countries build higher swing platforms, the Kiwis are the ones who invented this adventure sport. 

If you are brave enough, you can jump off a platform located 109 m (358 ft) above the ground. Alternatively, you can ask the swing operator to release you from a launch boom. Either way, you will get to experience a 60 m (197 ft) free fall, and then swing in a 300 m arc between the two walls of the canyon. You can reach speeds up to 150 km/hr as you glide over the Shotover River. 

You have the option to fly solo or do a tandem swing. With a fitted chest and seat harness, you can choose from over 70 launch positions (including upside-down). If you want to make a day of it, you can also pair your canyon swing with a jet boat ride. For more details, check out the Shotover Canyon Swing website. 

If you want to do an extreme sport overlooking the spectacular Swiss Alps, head to Interlaken. Strap into your parachute harness and run off the edge of a mountain until you are floating above picturesque valleys, quaint Swiss villages, and the beautiful Lake of Thun. Enjoy the refreshing alpine breezes as you experience the weightless feeling of flight. 

Switzerland has favorable weather for paragliding all year round, but be sure to dress appropriately for the season. Depending on the wind conditions, you can expect to be in the air for 10 to 30 minutes, so relax and enjoy the views.

Interlaken has many different paragliding companies to choose from. All of them offer transportation up the mountain, safety briefings, and paragliding equipment. Each tour operator has its own take-off point, but some paragliders start as high as 1,350 meters (4,430 ft). 

If you are looking for an adventure sport most people have never heard of, volcano boarding is for you! To try this rare activity, drive an hour from the city of Leon and hike for an hour until you reach the top of the Cerro Negro volcano. You can then feel the rush of surfing down the 728-meter-high active volcano on a thin board.

You can slide down in a sitting or standing position, but you need to be prepared to use your heels as a brake. The ride takes approximately 5 minutes depending on how fast you want to go. Experienced riders can reach speeds up to 90 km/hr. To protect yourself from ash, lava, and poisonous gasses, you must wear protective gear such as jumpsuits, helmets, and goggles. One of the most popular tour operators in the area is Bigfoot Hostel, which will provide you with all the necessary equipment.

Above are just a few of the extreme sports you can try around the world! Enjoy your adrenaline-filled adventures!

If you are looking for a tamer vacation, you should read our articles Waterfalls Worth The Trip and Famous Filming Locations You Should Visit.