10 Bucket-List Adventures for Thrill Seekers 🪂 ✅

1. Volcano Boarding - Nicaragua

For a truly unique and adventurous experience, try volcano boarding in Nicaragua. Slide down the slopes of an active volcano on a specially designed board. The guides will time you to see if you can break the reigning record. You know it's a thrilling adventure when you have to wear a full protective suit to participate.

2. Bungee Jumping - New Zealand

Renowned as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown offers an unparalleled bungee jumping experience. Leap off the iconic Kawarau Bridge, the world's first commercial bungee jump site, and feel the adrenaline rush as you plummet towards the icy waters below.

3. Ziplining - Costa Rica

Soar through the lush canopy of the Costa Rican rainforest on a ziplining adventure. Zipline across rivers, valleys, and over towering trees, enjoying breathtaking views and a thrilling rush of adrenaline. You'll be able to try multiple positions like "Superman" as you go. Most ziplining parks also have bungee jumping or Tarzan swings for you to try as well.

4. Paragliding - Interlaken, Switzerland

Paragliding over the Swiss Alps is the adventure of a lifetime. While many don't find paragliding as adrenaline spiking as skydiving or even bungee jumping, it is still a thrill and an amazing way to take in the scenery of a beautiful destination like Interlaken, Switzerland.

5. Mountain Biking "The Death Road" - Bolivia

North Yungas Road, also know as "The Death Road," in Bolivia is a narrow route next to a sheer cliff that is muddy and often has landslides. Both vehicles and mountain bikes travel this dangerous road and while it's only the width of a one-way road, it is open to both directions of traffic. Mountain biking down it isn't for the faint of heart, but if you have nerves of steel, it is a blast. There is even a zipline halfway down for you to try.

6. Sandboarding - Huacachina, Peru

The desert oasis town of Huacachina, Peru offers both dune buggy riding and sandboarding for travelers looking for adventure. You have the option to stand on the sandboard like a snowboard or to lay down. The slopes are super steep and you'll gain a lot of speed as you slide down them. It's a thrilling rush.

7. Toboggan Ride - Great Wall of China

Everyone has heard of the Great Wall of China, but did you know that you can take a toboggan down the mountain after you've visited? It is a fun way to end your tour and to save your knees the journey down. Pro-tip, try to get in line behind people who look like they have the need for speed. The toboggans have brakes, so it can be quite slow if the person ahead of you is stopping a lot.

8. Ice Climbing - Alaska

Challenge yourself with ice climbing in Alaska, where you'll ascend frozen waterfalls and ice formations using specialized equipment. This thrilling activity requires skill, strength, and a love for the cold. Surprisingly, you can ice climb nearly yearround in Alaska.

9. Hot Air Ballooning - Cappadocia, Turkey

Hot air ballooning looks picturesque, but at the end of the day, you're high above ground in a basket strapped to a balloon... so we think that's pretty adventurous. If you're going to try it, Cappadocia, Turkey is the place to go. The scenery is stunning, and it's the most popular activity there, so you know the pilots/aeronauts have had lots of practice. 😅

10. Hike the Via Ferratas - Dolomites, Italy

Once used by snipers during World War I, these climbing routes through the Italian Dolomites are insane. You can take a tour or just rent gear from one of the nearby mountain huts. Of everything on this list, this challenged my fear of heights the most. There are a lot of route options for different skill/thrill levels.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a way to make your travels more exciting, we hope this list of adventurous thrills is a good place to start. Of course, every destination has something that can get your heart racing. A tuk-tuk ride in Bangkok rivals anything on this list. Or driving in Italy. 🤣 Share this with someone you'd love to join you on whichever adrenaline-packed vacation you book next.