Dubbed by some as "the world’s scariest hike", El Caminito del Rey, or ‘King’s Little Path’, near Ardales in southern Spain, is not for the faint hearted. Those brave enough to tackle it traverse a precarious aerial path that is pinned up against the walls of the Chorro Gorge, with drops of around 300 feet (91m) below their boots. This vertiginous walk – comprising both forest trails and boardwalks – is just under five miles (8km) long and rewards those that risk it with breathtaking views of the ravine.
Located on top of the UAE’s highest mountain, Jebel Jais, the Jebel Jais Flight zipline has been lauded as the longest of its kind in the world. Certified by the Guinness World Records, this extreme attraction takes thrill-seekers on a 1.7 mile (2.83km) long flight and reaches breakneck speeds of up to 93 miles (150km) per hour, all while soaring above the dramatic mountainscape of Ras Al Khaimah.
California's Yosemite National Park is best explored on foot, but a hike up the incredible Half Dome is not to be taken lightly. Rising nearly 5,000 feet (1,524m) above Yosemite Valley, this extreme attraction is best saved for the fittest – and nimblest of hikers – as you’ll encounter steep, slippery terrain and stomach-churning heights. Come prepared (with a permit, high-grip footwear, plenty of water and nerves of steel) if you're to conquer its steep granite domes. As you follow the cable trail to the summit, you’ll enjoy epic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
You only need to be moderately fit to traverse the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park located in the Central Region near Ghana’s Cape Coast. But those with a fear of heights need not apply. Hanging at around 130 feet (39m) off the ground, this knee-wobbling walkway is comprised of seven suspension bridges which stretch for nearly 1,000 feet (304m). Beautiful jungle views and sightings of ancient endemic trees and birds (the Kakum rainforest is home to about 266 species) are a highlight. You may catch a glimpse of forest elephants, rare butterfly species and black and white colobus monkeys en route.
The ascent to the flight platform of the Royal Rush Skycoaster, that sits on top of a 100-foot (30m) tower, is enough to give you goosebumps. But once you’re harnessed up, this free-falling swing (similar in sensation to a skydive) thrills daredevils as it propels them across Colorado’s spectacular Royal Gorge. At a whopping 1,200 feet (366m) above the Arkansas River, you can also enjoy the views and its breakneck 50mph (80km/h) speeds with up to two thrill-seeking friends.
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It takes strong nerves to stand on Norway’s spectacular rock formation Trolltunga. Whether you reach it via a strenuous 17-mile (28km) hike from Skjeggedal village or hop on a shuttle service part of the way, the walk out onto this fabled "troll’s tongue" places you some 2,200 feet (900m) above the beautiful Lake Ringedalsvatnet. With no safety railings and often high winds, visitors should be extremely careful on the cliff and are strongly advised to visit the area on a guided tour. Do it right though and, with awesome panoramas across the Hardangervidda National Park, you won’t regret making this dizzying climb.
Adventure tourism pioneer AJ Hackett made bungy jumping a rite of passage for travellers in New Zealand. At a height of 440 feet (134m), its Nevis Bungy – a 45-minute drive on the ‘bungy bus’ from Queenstown on the South Island – is the highest jump in the whole country. You’ll experience a freefall into the abyss that lasts for a squeal-inducing 8.5 seconds. As well as an immense surge of adrenaline, you'll get to see some epic views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps as you boing too.
Kilsby Sinkhole looks pretty tame at first sight. Yet, this deep natural crevice on a South Australian sheep farm, which once served as a watering hole on a stock route, has become an extreme attraction for divers. The sinkhole has been used a training site for the police force and navy, and now snorkelling tours are offered to members of the public and diving permitted (with approved dive operators). Strict protocols are in place, especially for the most fearless free divers who attempt depths of nearly 200 feet (61m) in this chilly lagoon.
Only the most intrepid mountain bikers tackling the Magnificent Seven (Mag 7), a series of trails near Moab, put the terrifying Portal Trail on their bucket list. This two-mile (3km) path starts on a rim above the Colorado River and has adrenaline junkies hooked with its sheer cliffs, awesome Moab Valley views and total lack of safety railings. Bikers are advised to dismount and walk at the hairiest parts due to the high risk of accidents. The trail has a reputation for being one of the deadliest and most thrilling bike trails in America.
It’s one thing abseiling down the side of a building, but Spider Man-style ‘house running’ has become a popular extreme attraction in Germany. In five cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt, superhero wannabes are harnessed up on the roof of buildings (such as the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Frankfurt, pictured) and then walk or run at a 90° angle down the building's façade. Looking down is optional when abseiling but there’s no escaping the 328-foot drop when you take part in this ultimate urban thrill-seeker’s sport.
Adding to the UAE’s slew of record-breaking attractions, Deep Dive Dubai is the deepest indoor pool in the world at a depth of nearly 200 feet (60m) and with a volume of 114 million litres. This incredible underwater city features a streetscape with ‘abandoned’ city apartments and its own underwater film studio. Strict safety procedures are in place here (including dive guides and 56 underwater cameras) and only the most experienced divers can attempt the ear-popping dive to the very bottom.
One of the most thrilling attractions in Toronto is EdgeWalk, found at the city’s 1,168 foot-tall (356m) CN Tower. As the world’s "highest full circle hands-free walk", daredevils eager for the best city views take a hair-raising stroll along a five-foot-wide (1.5m) ledge, 116 storeys above the ground. While participants are attached to an overhead rail, they’re encouraged to "push their personal limits", by leaning out over the edge in creative poses. The photos alone will give you the shivers.
You can hike or take the cable car down Cape Town’s spectacular Table Mountain, but those who get a kick out of extreme heights should abseil their way down instead. The cable car journey up the mountainside is pretty exciting alone, but adrenaline levels will really ramp up when you’re hanging off the cliff edge. At 3,280 feet (1,000m) above sea level, you have the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles beneath you. Step off for the exhilarating 367 feet (112m) controlled descent down to the ground.
For those who want to experience the same high-speed thrills as a Formula One racing driver, the Formula Rossa roller coaster can’t be beaten. Located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, it allows daredevils to ride loops of up to 170 feet high (52m) and has gained a reputation for its jaw-dropping speeds. Accelerating up to 150 miles per hour (240km/h) in just 4.9 seconds, this extreme ride creates a head-spinning G-force of up to 4.8Gs. Unsurprisingly, it's the fastest roller coaster in the world.
See America's most jaw-dropping roller coasters only for the brave
We've only known that Son Doong Cave exists for just over a decade, but this UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has become one of Vietnam's most intriguing attractions. Thought to be the largest cave in the world, it's home to underground rainforests and incredible stalagmites and phytokarsts. To see it for yourself, you have to book onto a four-day expedition – which involves a 10.5-mile (17km) trek and five miles (8km) of caving, including rope climbs, rocky scrambling, and the 295-foot (90m) ascent of the Wall of Vietnam. You'll also camp underground. So it’s best saved for the most intrepid explorers.
Scaling the world’s tallest mountain is a gruelling feat, but taking a freefall skydive over it takes a big chunk of courage. Following a trek to the Everest's basecamp, the biannual expeditions take brave participants up in a helicopter to an altitude of 23,000 feet (7,010m) before they take a heart-pumping leap into the chilly abyss above the snow-capped Himalayas. It's the highest "dropzone" going. There’s no doubt this is one of the world’s most extreme attractions and with a price tag of around £18,000 ($24,500), it’s also one of the most elite.
Branded the deadliest road in Bolivia, the North Yungas Road or ‘Death Road’ is one of the most extreme cycling attractions going. Usually tackled by experienced bikers or on guided tours, this infamous 40-mile (63km) path links La Paz with Coroico and teems with hazards. Cut into the Cordillera Oriental Mountain chain, the vertiginous route offers incredible views of the Amazon jungle and Andean peaks. But it’s prone to mudslides, has no safety rails and has terrifying drops along its 11,800-foot (3,596m) descent.
Stunning views of the Himalayas and the lush Pokhara Valley are a top reward for those braving the gravity defying ZipFlyer in Nepal's adventure capital Pokhara. Following a shuttle to the peak of Sarangkot, the flight plunges you 2,000 feet (609m) down the side of the mountain, at a head-spinning speed of 85 miles per hour (137km/h). Be sure to look around as you fly as you'll get an incredible vantage point of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu peaks from what is one of the tallest, longest and steepest zip wires in the world.
Do you dare take a stroll along Europe's highest suspension bridge? At 9,977 feet (3,041m) above sea level and 1,640 feet (500m) above the ground, the Titlis Cliff Walk in Engelberg holds this record and lures intrepid types to walk 150 steps along its leg-trembling length. The narrow walkway (just three feet or 1m wide) and vast panorama of snow-capped peaks only adds to the thrill of this awe-inspiring walk strung high up in the Swiss Alps. As the attraction puts it: you’ll need "nerves as strong as the steel cables from which it hangs" to tackle this extreme, icy walk.
Considered one of the world’s deadliest hikes, the Plank Walk of Mount Huashan, dubbed the ‘Sacred Danger Trail’, will terrify even the gutsiest traveller. Once you’ve tackled various ‘sky ladders’ and dozens of steps etched into the mountainside, you hit the toughest part – rickety wooden planks bolted onto the mist-shrouded mountain. With sheer drops of several thousand feet and very little to hold onto, think carefully before you attempt China’s most extreme attraction.
Some like to enjoy Rio de Janeiro’s stunning monuments, mountains and beaches from the ground. Others like to see them from on high. Hang gliding above the coastal city is a thrilling way to go sightseeing. Those brave enough to take the leap from a ramp within the picturesque Tijuca Forest National Park will enjoy a unique aerial view of Rio’s most famous natural landmarks, from Sugar Loaf Mountain to Copacabana Beach, and buildings.
If the thought of seeing tiger and bull sharks up close gets you excited, the reef of Protea Banks should be on your travel list. Located around five miles off Shelly Beach on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, this key breeding and birthing area is where the most daring divers go to see the ocean’s most dangerous predators. There are restrictions around baited shark dives so ensure you choose a reputable diving company. You may also spot hammerhead, ragged-tooth and ocean blacktip sharks at certain times of the year.
Much like the craze for house running, base flying has become a popular extreme attraction in Germany. Those who aren’t content with seeing Berlin’s greatest sights from the ground can get a good look at them while dangling precariously from a rope. If this sounds like your idea of fun, head to the top of the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz to take a controlled fall via the world’s fastest winch, similar to those used by stuntmen. Adrenaline rushes are guaranteed as you reach almost free fall speeds, and your screams are sure to entertain the crowds in Alexanderplatz public square below.
Costa Rica is known for its high-thrill adventures and waterfall rappelling – also known as canyoning – is testament to that. Some of the best places to undertake this extreme outdoor pursuit include the impressive waterfalls of Rincón de la Vieja, Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio National Park. As you abseil down sheer rockfaces, surrounded by gushing water and a wildlife-packed jungle, this is as exhilarating as exploring the country's bountiful natural attractions gets.
For high-altitude thrills, coupled with unbeatable views over Shanghai’s Bund historical district and Huangpu River, head to the city’s Jin Mao Tower and take a high-speed lift to the sightseeing hall on the tower’s 88th floor. For extra butterflies, book the Skywalk experience, which takes you out on the tallest outdoor glass skywalk in the world. There’s no safety rail, just a harness and a jaw-dropping altitude of 1,117 feet (340m). It’s up to you whether you choose to look down.
With powerful rapids and mammoth rocks to navigate, the Futaleufú River in northern Patagonia is renowned as one of the best spots for white-water rafting. In fact, this dramatic waterway, which flows through deep canyons and past granite peaks and rainforest, offers one of the most ferocious rafting experiences in the world. One of its most notorious routes, aptly named the Terminator, is categorised as a Class V rapid, so hold on tight as stomach flips and an intense soaking are guaranteed.
The giant pillars of karst limestone are one of the key attractions of Thailand’s Railay Beach, a peninsula located between Krabi and Ao Nang in the Krabi province. And while many tourists are happy to admire them from the champagne-coloured sands, thrill-seekers attempt to climb them. Railay now has 700-plus climbing routes. While they vary in difficulty, the most daring adventurers opt for deep water soloing at Ton Sai Bay, where they scramble up the highest rockfaces over deep water without ropes, possibly while being heckled by fearless monkeys along the way.
Hanging from the branch of a rickety-looking treehouse, the Swing at the End of the World whizzes above a vast valley and is as exhilarating as it sounds. Thrill-seekers flock to this attraction, located 8,530 feet (2,600m) above sea level, for a heart-pumping experience and epic views of Ecuador's highly active volcano Tungurahua (meaning "throat of fire"). It's a 30-minute drive (or a three-hour hike) from the city of Baños.