Every traveler has their ultimate list of things to experience around the world—from eating street food in Singapore to seeing an opera in Vienna—but with much of our lives being spent outside these days, we’re beefing up your list with a slew of outdoor adventures. Consider these the ultimate trips for intrepid travelers, including a mix of epic hikes, extreme sports, and creative ways to see some of the planet’s most beautiful landscapes. Whether it’s hot air ballooning over Turkey or swimming with dolphins in the Atlantic, these 10 activities are guaranteed to thrill—and change your entire outlook on life.
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1. Climb to Machu Picchu, Peru
No adventurer's must-visit list is complete without Machu Picchu, the famous Incan citadel located in the Andes. While the site can be accessed via bus ride, more adventurous travelers can take the five-day trek along the entire 26-mile-long Inca Trail. Or, thanks to local tour operator Sam Travel Peru, you can get dropped at kilometer marker 104 and do the whole experience in 24 hours.
Credits: kandooadventures.com
2. Climb Mount Everest
Mount Everest looms large, known around the world by hikers and non-hikers alike. But this is one behemoth that is best left to truly experienced travelers. According to alpinist Adrian Ballinger, who attempted the climb in 2016, “You need to climb at least three 20,000 peaks, one 23,000 peaks, and one 26,000 peaks before considering Everest.” But hey, if you're one of the lucky few who has the experience, time, and funds needed to reach Everest's summit, then, by all means, do it. This year's climbing season (March to May) has already ended, but you'll need that extra year to prepare anyway.
Image: nytimes.com
3. Sleep under the Northern Lights
Ah, the elusive Northern Lights. So many factors are at play when it comes to seeing the technicolor phenomenon—location, time of year, weather conditions—but it's hard to lose with an excursion to Finnish Lapland. The Arctic area is one of the planet's best for lights viewing, especially if you get to sleep in an igloo hotel at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort or mobile Aurora Bubble Sled. Up your viewing chances by planning a trip between December and March.
Credits: Pertti Turunen
4. Paraglide over the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz, Turkey
Oludeniz has one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey, with pebble shores and a “blue lagoon” of aquamarine hues. The beach also happens to be one of the world's best places to paraglide, thanks to stable weather and gorgeous panoramic views. The launch site for most companies is from Babadağ mountain, with jumping-off points reaching 6,000 feet above sea level.
Image: dreamsinheels.com
5. Bungee jump above the Kawarau River, New Zealand
New Zealand practically invented adventure sports when the Kawarau Bridge Bungy opened in 1988. Here you join around 38,000 annual visitors to take the 140-foot jump from the South Island's historic, steel-framed Kawarau Bridge. Like Australia, New Zealand has been strict about border closings throughout the pandemic, but those dives will be waiting for you whenever travel resumes.
Image: thetravelfugitive.com
6. Dive Belize's Great Blue Hole
Known for its circular shape and strikingly deep blue color, the Great Blue Hole is a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole in the middle of Belize's Lighthouse Reef. While an aerial shot is enough to convince anyone of its beauty, scuba divers are the ones who get to experience the wonders that lie beneath: massive, 40-foot limestone stalactites and stalagmites that formed during the last glacial period.
Image: zubludiving.com
7. Hunt for glaciers in Greenland
Greenland is relatively expensive and tricky to get to, but well worth the effort—especially since it's one of the most untouched landscapes on the planet. Exhibit A: the hundred-year-old icebergs and glaciers floating off the mainland, which you can get up close and personal with during a cruise excursion.
Image: Olaf Otto Becker
8. Zipline over Niagara Falls
The 2,200-foot MistRider opened in Ontario in the summer of 2016 and has been attracting daring travelers ever since. The ride goes from the top of the Niagara Gorge to nearly the bottom, with four ziplines reaching speeds of more than 40 miles per hour. The operation is open from June through December, so here's hoping we can get a ride in later this year when Canada reopens to visitors.
Image: getyourguide.com
9. Camp in Antarctica
Antarctica is truly the final frontier when it comes to adventure travel, providing untouched landscapes, unique wildlife, and more activities than you'll know what to do with (cruising, caving, and thermal spring soaking to name a few). If you can get yourself to Punta Arenas, Chile, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions will fly you to Antarctica for three days of skiing and hiking before setting you up for a South Pole sleepover.
Image: expeditionsonline.comexpeditionsonline.com
10. Go “volcano boarding” on Cerro Negro, Nicaragua
Credit: Milosz Maslanka / shutterstock.com
If you're looking for action sports and adventure, we recommend booking a flight to Nicaragua right now. Here you can kayak, surf, zipline through the jungle, and even sled down the side of an active volcano. Intrepid travelers love to climb up the 2,388-foot Cerro Negro and then “volcano board” back down (an activity where you sit or stand on a piece of plywood and slide your way down the slopes). Definitely go with a guided group tour with this one. Bigfoot Hostels is one of many companies available—for $25, you get transportation to the volcano, boards, safety equipment, snacks, and your speed clocked by a radar gun.
Source: expeditionsonline.com
