10 Extreme Adventures All Thrill Seekers Have to Try
Are you a thrill-seeker looking for an out of this world adventure? If so, here are some of the most extreme adventures you have to add to your bucket list.
1. Paragliding
Have you ever had the urge to fly? Not pilot an airplane or take a helicopter trip but really, truly spread your wings and take to the skies? Paragliding will let you feel that rush — it’s free-flying in its true form. Even without an engine, paragliders can fly through the air for hours and cover hundreds of miles.
One place to try paragliding is the magical and beautiful Maui in Hawaii. There you can fly with an instructor until you are ready to attempt the venture on your own. Learn more here.
2. Hiking the Rocky Mountains in Colorado
Looking for an extreme hiking adventure but not looking to put yourself in imminent peril by visiting the preposterously colossal Himalayas or Andes? The Rocky Mountains in Colorado are a good place to start. Of course, you still need to take serious safety precautions and train yourself before attempting a hike.
There are mountains as tall as 14,000 feet (about 4,300 in meters) in the Rocky Mountain range, including Mount Elbert and Pikes Peak. The 13-mile Barr trail is one of the most popular hikes in the area. Visit the Rocky Mountain National Park website here to learn more before attempting a hazardous hike.
3. Descending into Þríhnúkagígur volcano in Iceland
Journey to the center of the earth with the Inside the Volcano tour in Iceland. With the help of an open cable lift, you will descend 400 feet into an actual dormant volcano, the Þríhnúkagígur volcano, and witness the beautiful caverns.
This unconventional tour is definitely not for the faint of heart. Learn more here.
4. Canyon swinging and extreme ziplining in New Zealand
Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown, New Zealand has extreme sports galore. From canyon swinging to skydiving to white water rafting, the world of adrenaline-inducing adventures is your oyster.
The Shotover Canyon swing is particularly famous; in fact, it’s the first of its kind. Once you are strapped in you will jump off a 350-foot cliff and free-fall about 200 feet into a canyon before swinging up. It’s crazy and fun and ideal for any thrill-seeker.
Shotover Canyon also has an extreme zipline called The Fox. If you attempt The Fox, you will zipline nearly 600 feet (or 182 meters) above the beautiful canyon. It is definitely the best ziplining experience for adrenaline junkies.
5. Surfing at the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii
For those who know how to surf (and I mean know how to surf well), the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii is one of the most dangerous and thrilling surfing locations in the world. Located off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea, O’ahu, the Banzai Pipeline attracts tens of thousands of daring surfers every winter. A number of surfing tournaments are also held in the area during the winter.
It is best if you are confident in your surfing abilities before attempting to ride these challenging waves, as they can be dangerous and are very often overcrowded. So if you’re not an expert yet, get out to a beach near you and start practicing! Maybe in a few years you will be ready to attempt the brutal waves at the Banzai Pipeline.
6. Skydiving
Every daredevil should try skydiving at least once in their lifetime. Skydiving is intense and will fill you with adrenaline like no other. It is a classic extreme sport, and you do not have to go far from home to try it — there are skydiving locations nearly everywhere! However, if you do want to make a trip of it, check out this list of some of the best places to skydive in the world.
7. Visiting the inhabited coldest place on Earth: Oymyakon, Russia
If you’re looking to add something extreme to your bucket list, braving the extreme cold is a good place to start. Considered by most as the coldest inhabited place in the world, Oymyakon can reach temperatures as low as -67.8°C (-90°F.) Despite these bone-chilling temperatures, Oymyakon still hosts a population of around 500 people.
You can actually sign up for your own customized adventure tour which will take you on a trip to the world’s coldest inhabited place, where experience the unsurvivable cold for yourself. Learn more here.
8. Bungee jumping over 650 feet (200 meters)
Perhaps similar to canyon swinging, bungee jumping is an equally adrenaline-pumping sport. If you are looking to really take it to the next level, you can bungee jump from one of the world’s highest jumps. For example, Bloukrans Bridge in Western Cape, South Africa, is home to the highest commercial natural bungee jump in the world — it is over 700 feet (216 meters)!
You can also take a dive off the 722-foot (220-meter) Verzasca Dam in Ticino, Switzerland. It is actually the only jumping site where you can take the leap at night! If you are looking for a place to jump a little closer to home, check out this list of the highest bungee jumps in the country.
9. Hiking to Kjeragbolten in Norway
Kjeragbolten, a giant boulder wedged between two cliffs, is suspended more than 3,000 feet (or 984 meters) in the air. This phenomenon is located near Kjerag mountain in Lysefjord, Norway. The hike to Kjeragbolten is about 7.5 miles (or 12 km) and can take an entire day. It is definitely a strenuous trek, but the thrilling experience of venturing out onto such a dangerous boulder will definitely satisfy daredevils.
10. Swimming with sharks
To some, swimming with sharks may seem like a walk in the park, but to others, the sheer act of being in close proximity with any large creature from the ocean is more terrifying than any other item on this list. This extreme adventure is definitely worth including on your bucket list.
