Extreme is quickly becoming the new norm for avid adventurers who are looking to reach the outer limits of what the world has to offer – and share it live! There are plenty of options to choose from and in this post we’ve scoured the globe to find a handful of the very best extreme adventure holidays that are guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping and make your friends seriously jealous. For convenience, we’ve also rated each one on a scale of 1-10 to give you an idea of what you’d really be getting yourself into!
Timber Rafting in Sweden
Adrenaline rating: 5 out of 10
One of our ultimate adventure holidays for families or small groups, log rafting (or timber rafting) is a great way to test your engineering skills whilst admiring the breathtaking scenery of Sweden’s Klarälven River. Unlike other tours, you’ll be using your skills to build you own 2,000 kg raft out of timber, so the comfort of your journey down-stream is completely in your own hands. Our pick of tour operators is Vildmark i Värmland, who run 1, 3, 5 and 8-day trips along the river and provide all the supplies you need to make the raft your home for a few nights. You’ll begin your journey in the rural town of Karlstad and head north along the river to finish your adventure in Björkebo. This trip has plenty of amazing sights and just enough adventure to make a truly memorable (but safe) family holiday.
Sailing the highest lake in Peru
Adrenaline rating: 6 out of 10
Lake Titicaca is said to be the birthplace of the Incas and, at 12,500 ft. above sea level, is also the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. Straddling Peru and Bolivia, the lake is one of the largest in the region and has impressive vistas over the Andes mountains. We recommend visiting the island of Uros and Taquile and seeing the ancient Inca ruins Chincana and Pilko Kaina. For sailing lovers, this article on Lake Titicaca gives great insights into the best spots to check out if you’re planning to navigate on your own.
Horse Riding in the Pyrenees
Adrenaline rating: 7 out of 10
Situated in the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains you will come across one of the most ideal spots for a truly unforgettable adventure on horseback. The wild, lush landscape of the region is perfect for exploring on horse-back. If you’re looking for a week long excursion we recommend the trail offered by Panorama Trails which takes you on an incredible trek via the Camino Real, the hills of Garrotxa, the mountains and finally transferring to the ‘Bandits trail’ just outside of Girona all on the Spanish side of the mountains. Alternatively, Les Crinieres Noires (south of Toulouse, France) is a great option for day tours around the Ariege region of the Pyrenees.
Desert Motorbiking in Mongolia
Adrenaline rating: 7 out of 10
For adventurers wishing to get their thrills on two wheels, the impressive and challenging terrains of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia is the perfect location to start. This is one of the world’s best locations to enjoy off-road motorcycling in extreme conditions – with temperatures ranging from -42°C to 39°C! You’ll experience the unusual nomadic culture of the local people, who travel around with their yurts and herd in tow, whilst riding through the rolling hills of the middle Gobi, the vast desert plains of the Southern Gobi, sand dunes, canyons and famous Gurvansaikhan mountain ranges. For a truly authentic ride we recommend booking with Nomadic Trails on their Gobi Desert Motorcycle Tour. This holiday is not for the faint-hearted or those who have little experience riding, you’ll be covering around 1,800 km over 10 days, so it’s recommended you check ahead to see if you can handle the intensity.
Swimming with Sharks in Fiji
Adrenaline rating: 8 out of 10
You may have already heard of people diving next to sharks, protected by the predator proof bars of their own cage, but in Fiji you can literally swim with the sharks – minus the cage! Fiji is a stunning island located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean which is also a hotspot for a variety of shark species including Bull Sharks, White Tips, Tiger Sharks and Grey Sharks. One of the best places to check out in Fiji is the island of Beqa and Beqa Adventure Divers who specialize in shark diving experiences. If you’re looking for the ultimate shark experience, this is definitely it – you can look at one of the ocean’s deadliest assassins right in the eyes with only a rope separating you! Whilst shark diving is dangerous and will at the very least raise a few hairs it’s not as dangerous as you might think. Contrary to popular belief, deaths caused by shark attacks are extremely rare (in fact the odds are 1 in 3.7 million) and you’re more likely to die from a lightning strike! For an in-depth review of shark diving in Fiji visit the Expert Vagabond’s blog here.
Volcano Bungee Jumping in Chile
Adrenaline rating: 10 out of 10
When you think of bungee jumping, you don’t typically associate it with ash, molten lava and fire, that is until now. Bungee jumping is making a comeback in Chile with a new addition to make it that much more tantalizing for thrill seekers, a jump into the very much alive Villaricca Volcano. This is probably one of the most dangerous activities you can actually pay to embark on, and it’s not cheap either, with one jump costing close to $16,000. First brought to the public’s attention as a stunt for MTV, Bungee.com (the company responsible) decided to make it available to anyone crazy enough to attempt a bungee jump where your face will literally be a few hundred feet away from molten lava. We should note that you can actually die whilst participating in this activity as the volcano could erupt at any time – so perhaps one to enjoy from the comfort of your home on your TV.
No adventure holiday would be complete without a few key ingredients. Our must have essential travel buys for any type of extreme holiday are:
1. Fully comprehensive health insurance – better safe than sorry (or broke, or dead).
2. A portable, waterproof and adventure-proof camera to capture your epic adrenaline filled moments. We love the tried and tested Go Pro HERO5 and the DGI Phantom 4.
3. A Tep portable wifi device to keep you fully connected on your travels, so you won’t have to worry about data roaming bills and will still be able to share your holiday in real time. The device is only $9.95 per day for truly unlimited wifi that can be used by up to 5 devices simultaneously – plus it works in over 80 countries (including all of the ones mentioned in this post). To rent, buy or find out more click here.