Looking for something a little “more” out of your vacation? Are you ready to test your limits by embarking on a journey that guarantees you will step out of your comfort zone? Keen to try something a little extreme? More and more people these days are heading to some distant corner of the earth in search of something new and adventure. Let me give you some tips, suggestions, and some ideas to help you plan the ultimate destination for the brave traveler.
These trips are a mixture of epic long trips, extreme sports and creative ways to see some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. These 6 activities are guaranteed to excite – and possibly completely change your outlook on life!
1. A trip to Everest Base Camp on the China-Nepal border
At 28,996 feet above sea level, Everest is the highest mountain on Earth and is known the world over for climbers, hikers, and couch potato alike. Elevations above 26,000 feet are considered “death zones” because humans struggle to survive there. It is definitely one place that is best left to the truly experienced. You ideally need to climb at least three peaks of 20,000 feet, one summit of 23,000 feet, and a summit of 26,000 feet before you think of Everest. But if you are one of the lucky few who have the experience, time and money to reach the top, definitely go for it!
Fortunately, for those who don’t classify themselves as mountaineers, Everest base camp is still an option – and without the many risks involved in trying to get to the top. Most flights from Kathmandu take around two weeks and this epic trek will give you plenty of adventure and at the end of it all, gazing at the highest point on earth will be a reward for your hard work.
While café hospitality and great views are to be expected en route on an Everest base camp trek, most treks are virtually not allowed to stay at base camp (special permission required) and most hikers visit base camp for a photo opportunity before descending to near Gorak Shep to sleep. However, there are a few companies, such as Highland Expeditions, that offer the unique opportunity to sleep in the shadow of the great mountain, and if your trip coincides with the height of summit season, when groups of climbers are in residence, you might have a chance to chat with some of these brave climbers who They are making their final preparations to head to the top. If you’re lucky, you might even see teams setting up the infamous Khumbu Ice Fall at the start of their dash to the top.
Pro tip: Designers usually arrive at Base Camp in April and May, so plan your trip accordingly. Take care of your health too. To avoid the possibility of climbers becoming infected, hikers with diseases will not be allowed to stay at Base Camp.
2. Climbing Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador
Sticking to the mountain theme, Mount Chimborazo is 20,565 feet in height, the furthest point from the center of the Earth. Most people think of Mount Everest as the highest point on Earth, and while Mount Everest is the highest point above sea level, Mount Chimborazo is actually the highest point above the center of the Earth, making it the closest place to outer space. Although Chimborazo has glaciers at their peak, it is possible to climb to the top and gaze at the spread out world below.
Climbing Mount Chimborazo is challenging but not a technical climb, and most of the climb is a steep mountainside trek. There are several routes for brave climbers. The El Castillo route is the standard route used by climbers, as it climbs 4,200 feet up the western side of the mountain and takes 8-12 hours to the summit, then another 3 to 5 hours to descend. All this effort requires good stamina and endurance, as well as good adaptation to altitude. Climbers dealing with Chimborazo are advised to have previous alpine climbing experience. If you don’t, beginners can take an alpine climbing and snow trekking course with their guiding company to learn proper climbing techniques and gain knowledge of the equipment. It is important to take your training and preparation seriously. Chimborazo’s success rate depends almost entirely on the climber. Those looking to climb Chimborazo may want to visit Ecuador Eco Adventures.
Pro tip: For those who want to witness this natural wonder without leaving civilization, gazing at the beauty of this magnificent mountain and the scenery around it can be totally rewarding. The closest town to Mount Chimborazo is Riobamba. Here you can cruise through the narrow streets, visiting the city’s top attractions like the Museo de Arte Religioso, a beautifully restored 18th-century monastery displaying 200 religious objects in 15 different rooms, before shopping at the Feria Artisan market. If you are looking for a place to stay, try the highly acclaimed Hosteria La Andaluza.
3. Biking the Death Road in Bolivia
Have you ever heard of death? With no guardrails and frequent rainfall and fog resulting in limited visibility, the road claimed many lives. Reports say that about 200 to 300 people die on this road every year (this number is a mixture of motorists and cyclists), and for this reason, the road is known as one of the deadliest in the world. This notoriously narrow dirt road cuts into the side of a mountain and descends at such a rapid rate that riders are practically dashing down the rugged terrain. On one side of the road is a sheer drop, and on the other are massive rocky outcrops and cascading waterfalls. It’s an exciting ride that will have you hanging on, with white knuckles, along the way.
While this harrowing stretch of road in Bolivia is undoubtedly dangerous, many people muster up the courage to study it, and for those looking for the ultimate adventure, this certainly fits the bill. Not for the faint-hearted, the 43-mile stretch through the Cordillera Oriental mountain range connects the Bolivian capital of La Paz to the low-lying city of Coroico via a single steep road. The road twists and turns, and I don’t recommend looking at the sides – it’s a 2000ft drop!
Most of the road is about 11 feet wide and some sections are unpaved. With warm, humid winds from the Amazon hitting the slopes of the Andes and bringing torrential rain and fog with them, the visibility isn’t great. Mudslides and rock falls are common, and sometimes you’ll find waterfalls in the cliffsides. The stretch of road takes about 5 hours to complete so it’s by no means a quick ride and you’ll probably never let the brakes go because it’s very steep and steep. At some points, the road is so narrow that it seems that only one bike can pass at a time, and it hardly seems possible for a car or bus to even think of driving that way. Along the way there are intersections commemorating lost souls, and in the misty surroundings everything is incredibly strange.
Pro tip: Madre Tierra Travel offers Death Road cycling tours as day trips that depart from La Paz.
4. Whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River in Zambia
Whitewater rafting through the mighty rapids of the Zambezi River is certainly not for the faint hearted. Considered one of the best rafting experiences in the world, this Grade 5 “Hard” water run will make your palms sweat, your knuckles white, and your heart pounding. There are many places in the world where you can ride white water rafts, so why the Zambezi? It is sad to say that the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe are currently planning to go ahead with a $4 billion hydroelectric dam project that would flood the strait nearly as far as the famous Victoria Falls, displacing villagers and wildlife and putting an end to rafting. So run this mighty river while you can!
Whether you choose a day or half day trip from Livingston, or perhaps a multi-day beach camping trip, this adventure truly exists with the world’s greatest river cruises and extreme travel experiences. You’ll tackle hair-raising cliffs with names like Oblivion and The Devil’s Toilet Bowl, and there’s a chance you’ll spot hippos lazing in the canals or even crocodiles lying on the riverbank. Rafting on the Zambezi is something I keep coming back to do over and over again. I’ve been on this river more times than I can count, and I’ve loved it every time.
Pro tip: Book your cruise on the Zambezi for some time between August and December; This is low water season and the best time for kayaking.
5. Bungee jumping in New Zealand
New Zealand practically invented bungee jumping when the Kawarau Bridge Bungy, the world’s first bungee bridge, opened in 1988. Here you can join some 38,000 visitors a year and make the 141-foot jump from the historic steel-frame Kawarau Bridge on the South Island (you can Even touching the water if that’s your thing!). Alternatively, if you’re feeling really brave, how about Nevis Bunge, which at 440 feet is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, and has 8.5 seconds of terrifying freefall? Quite possibly the longest 8.5 seconds of your life! Not only is bungee jumping a great thrill in itself, but both jumps are located in a really cool setting, not far from Queenstown.
Pro tip: Check out AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand to plan your adventure, and if throwing yourself with a rope tied around your ankles seems a bit overkill, perhaps the quietest zip line, or perhaps “catapult” the most.
6. Swimming with sharks in Gansbaai, South Africa
I don’t know about you but the movie jaws Petrified me from sharks when I was a kid. If you’re in the same vein, the waters around Gansbaai in South Africa are sure to bring back those memories. Gansbaai has some of the most treacherous waters on Earth – a prime spot for great white sharks. Shark Alley, a small waterway between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, is home to the largest concentration of these creatures and has become a popular destination for tourists who want to get up close and personal with these deadly creatures by hopping on them on a shark cage diving tour. Imagine being underwater in a cage and watching these terrifying monsters circling around you, so close that you can count their sharp teeth! If that seems a little tricky, you can go whale watching instead, or maybe go on a cruise to see penguins, seals or dolphins.
Pro tip: Marine Dynamics would be my recommendation to the company for a shark diving trip. They have the only purpose-built shark cage diving boat, they are the only company that guarantees a marine biologist on every trip, and they are the only company with a registered preservation fund. They also take your safety very seriously, which seems to be a very important criterion to me! So here’s a summary of the extreme travel experiences I’ve tried and lived to tell the tale!
I hope I get excited enough to go out on some of your own adventures. For more inspiration, watch all of Adventure Travel’s content here!
