In 2023 alone, we've seen a shocking number of fatalities in the name of exhilaration and exploration. In a story that will go down in history, five people were killed in June onboard the Titan submersible while visiting the wreck of the Titanic, while others lost their lives in hot air balloon crashes and roller coaster derailments. As a result, travel blogger Nomadic Yak has attempted to calculate the average fatality rates for 36 tourist activities and adventure sports, ranking them from the least to most deadly.
Read on for the results of the most deadly tourist activities, as well as one addition of our own...
If you’re not familiar with the extreme sport of volcano boarding, it involves gliding down the slopes of a recently erupted volcano on a sled or a board. Also called volcano surfing or volcano sledding, the activity was pioneered in Hawaii 2,000 years ago before being banned in 1825 by British missionaries. Since then, it has become increasingly popular in countries like Nicaragua, Vanuatu and Indonesia – but comes with a warning. Though there may not have been any reported volcano-boarding-related deaths, you know what they say about playing with fire...
It’s a bucket list experience for many, but shark cage diving is a highly controversial activity that conservationists have largely been critical of. No human has ever died from a shark attack during a cage dive, but the life of at least one animal has been claimed as a result. This occurred in 2019 when a great white shark suffered a horrific demise after becoming trapped in a diving cage off the coast of Mexico, causing it to bleed to death.
Follow us on Facebook for more stories on travel and tourism
So-called dark tourists and urban explorers can’t resist the morbid lure of sites like Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan, where catastrophic nuclear disasters have famously struck. Visiting these places – when possible – can feel unnerving, for fear of being exposed to high levels of radiation (as well as the ghosts of the past). But there have been no recorded tourist deaths at either location as a result of radiation poisoning. In fact, one CT scan is thought to subject a person to almost 300 times the amount of radiation they’d encounter on a two-day tour of Fukushima.
There are skywalks (elevated viewing platforms often made of glass) at a number of tourist attractions around the world these days, including in Canada’s Jasper National Park (pictured) and Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia. And while there have been a few reports of people losing their lives on skywalks, none were deemed accidental. In June 2023, the death of a man who fell 4,000 feet (1,219m) from the Grand Canyon Skywalk was tragically ruled a suicide.
Since its inception in New Zealand almost 30 years ago, zorbing has been responsible for no more than two deaths. Obviously that’s two too many, but still seems surprisingly low given the activity involves careening down a hill at speed inside a giant inflatable ball. Now a fairly commonplace form of recreation, zorbing can be done both on land and on water. The spheres are typically fitted with harnesses and are well padded, so you’re very unlikely to experience anything worse than a little motion sickness while zorbing.
If you’ve seen the movie Final Destination 3, then you probably already have a substantial phobia of roller coasters. And their deadly potential was sadly demonstrated earlier in 2023 when the Jetline roller coaster at Grona Lund theme park in Sweden partly derailed, killing one person and injuring nine others. Though alarming, this freak incident was exceptional when considered in context. Fatalities on amusement park rides are statistically incredibly rare – one in 100 million, according to Nomadic Yak.
Ziplining is one of the closest experiences you can get to that whimsical childhood dream of being able to fly. But just how safe is this particular adrenaline-boosting thrill? A 2015 study revealed that, between 1997 and 2012, there were 16,850 zipline-related injuries. In the years since, you’d like to think safety regulations have become more stringent. Nomadic Yak’s study found that you have a 0.000002% chance of dying while ziplining, though previous fatalities have occurred as a result of falls, entanglements, collisions and material failures.
Feeling brave? These are the world's most thrilling ziplines
It feels like electric scooters are everywhere nowadays. In the USA alone, over 62 million people rode an e-scooter in 2021. A number of large cities across the world have implemented rental programmes to provide these environmentally-friendly transport options to commuters and tourists. However in the UK, renting e-scooters from local government bodies (such as Transport for London/TfL) is the only way to legally ride them on public roads, due to concerns over unsafe usage. One in 2.5 million people lose their lives to e-scootering, with the leading cause of death being collisions with motor vehicles.
Volcano tourism has boomed in recent years, with 'lava chasers' making pilgrimages to dangerous eruption sites. In the summer of 2023, visitors were told to stay away from a new eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula (pictured) after some got perilously close to the molten rock. Data from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park places the likelihood of death from visiting a volcano as one in 2.3 million, most often caused by people falling into the crater. This figure doesn’t account for the 2019 White Island/Whakaari eruption in New Zealand, when 22 people were killed.
The thrill of zooming over fresh powder with the cool air nipping at your cheeks is the highlight of many travellers’ winters. Countries like Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Canada and France are renowned the world over for their epic ski seasons, characterised by unbeatable mountain scenery and apres-ski activities. The fatality rate for skiing and snowboarding is one in just under two million – collisions with trees on the slopes are recorded as the most common killer, though the chance of death is less than 0.0001%.
Claustrophobics, look away now. While a day spent underground crawling and squeezing through tight crannies and crevasses might be some people’s idea of a nightmare, caving (also called potholing or spelunking) presents unique opportunities for those wanting to learn more about what lies beneath the Earth’s surface. Though one in 666,667 participants lose their lives while caving, most injuries sustained aren’t life-threatening. The majority of previous fatalities have been attributed to trauma caused by falls. Remember to always go caving with an experienced guide to maximise your safety.
There’s no doubting the appeal of scuba diving. As colourful marine life swirls around you, you become acutely aware of your tiny place in the universe. But there are a number of risks involved in scuba diving that can sometimes prove fatal – poor gas management, poor buoyancy control, equipment misuse, entrapment and rough water conditions have all been known to claim the lives of scuba divers. The likelihood of death for participants is one in 555,556. All divers must be certified before entering the open water.
According to Nomadic Yak’s research, one in half a million people who take a ride in a hot air balloon don't survive the experience. In June 2023, a third-generation and championship-winning balloon pilot passed away after crashing his craft in the British county of Worcestershire while taking a morning flight. Hard landings, striking objects (such as power lines) on descent, pilot error and adverse weather have all contributed to the recorded death toll of this activity.
What do you find most terrifying about the idea of bungee jumping? Is it the initial leap from a high platform with just an elasticated cord tied around your ankles, or the thought of swinging upside down over a deep river canyon, a colossal dam or a sprawling skyline? Bungee jumping is estimated to equal hot air ballooning on average fatality rate (one in half a million); the most common injuries from bungee jumping include retinal bleeding, fractured extremities, dislocated joints, neck injury and vascular injury, all of which have deadly potential.
Regardless of if you’re a regular at your local lido or swimming baths, there’s nothing quite like a splash in the pool when you’re on holiday. But it’s worth bearing in mind that the possible dangers attached to swimming pools don’t cease to exist just because you’re far from home. The odds of drowning in a pool are one in 400,000; upsettingly, the majority of drowning incidents involving children occur at pools. So, even in lifeguarded areas, make sure you’re taking all the right safety precautions and behaving responsibly.
It’s not just Freddie Mercury who wanted to ride his bicycle. The cycling industry generates billions each year in sales revenue, with more than seven million people in the UK alone participating in cycling in 2022. On average, one in 270,270 people lose their lives to the sport, most often after striking a much faster, larger and hardier vehicle. So drivers and cyclists must always practice caution when out and about on the roads.
From people to places: the world's most endangered monuments
There have been a number of high-profile boating-related deaths over the years, including British singer Kirsty MacColl and Glee actress Naya Rivera, who disappeared in 2020 while taking a pontoon boat out with her son and was later found drowned. Nomadic Yak’s calculations put the chances of dying in a boating accident at 0.00038%, having divided the estimated number of boating participants in the US by the death tolls from open motorboat, pontoon boat and cabin motorboat incidents in 2021. This also showed that open motorboats have a fatality rate four times higher than other vessels.
Snorkelling is regarded as one of the more gentle forms of adventure sports. It’s also one of the most financially accessible, given you need little more than a mask and the right location to get started (plus a wetsuit depending on water temperature). But that doesn’t mean it isn’t risky. The primary causes of death among snorkellers are cardiac arrest, drowning and trauma – one in every 200,000 people who participate in this activity don’t make it out alive. Help keep yourself safe by knowing your limits and understanding the conditions of where you’re snorkelling.
Until the 'catastrophic implosion' of the infamous Titan (pictured) in June 2023, there had been no recorded deaths on recreational tourist submersibles. Five people were killed after the deep-diving vessel lost contact with the surface while visiting the Titanic shipwreck at the bottom of the North Atlantic; four days after Titan entered the water, its debris was found near the bow of the doomed ocean liner. With an estimated one million annual participants, submersible tours now have a fatality rate of one in 200,000 as a result of this disaster.
Check out these ocean mysteries that even experts can't explain
When we talk about any sport taking place in white water, it refers to the fast, strong and frothy conditions of the flow. So it’s no surprise that an activity like white water rafting comes with a warning. In context, the probability of losing your life while white water rafting is low (0.00055%), but there are still very real dangers involved that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Most recreational white water deaths occur as a result of fixed underwater entrapment or flush drowning, where a person is overwhelmed by rushing currents or rapids.
Is a helicopter ride over New York City or Victoria Falls on your bucket list? Or perhaps you’re dreaming of a trip to a remote tropical island by means of a seaplane? Either way, you might want to consider the dangers before you go. As per Nomadic Yak’s research, one in every 181,818 people that take a sightseeing or tourist flight will experience a fatal incident. This differs wildly to the odds of dying on a commercial flight, which are about one in 3.4 billion.
Surfers have a 0.00063% chance of losing their lives to their sport, with the most prevalent causes of death being blows to the head, drowning and pre-existing medical conditions. In January 2023, legendary Brazilian surf pro Marcio Freire was killed in volatile waves off the coast of Nazare in Portugal. Though pop culture might have you believing otherwise, shark attacks are responsible for only around 10 surfer deaths a year.
Open-water swimming, or wild swimming, has become something of a wellness fad in recent years. With perceived benefits like improving one’s mental health and cardiovascular fitness, it’s no surprise an increasing number of people want in on the trend. But it’s vitally important to consider factors such as the frigidity of the water, strong currents, underwater hazards and poor water quality before taking the plunge. All of these can pose a risk to wild swimmers and even contribute to death in the extreme – the number of fatal drownings in open water is one in 156,250.
Plenty of tourists drink to excess when they’re travelling. But knowing your own limits, as well as those of a typical human body, could prevent you from getting into serious trouble. Binge drinking among the travel community was put under the microscope anew in 2023, when an inquest found that a British man (who passed away in Jamaica in May 2022) had attempted to complete a 21-cocktail drinking challenge, and made it through 12 drinks before dying in his hotel room. The chance of death from binge drinking or alcohol poisoning is one in 142,857.
Alcohol is also known to play a part in personal watercraft (PWC) fatalities – driving a jet ski under the influence, or being generally reckless and unattentive when in control of one, are leading causes of death for jet skiers. One in 125,000 people who ride a PWC lose their lives while using them. So what can you do to mitigate the dangers? Wearing a life jacket, always giving way to the right (and to every other kind of vessel), and abiding by local speed limits and no-go zones is basic good practice for jet skiers.
Nomadic Yak found that, in the US, around 3,000 lives are taken each year by food-borne diseases, amounting to one in 112,359. While you could pick up food poisoning from anywhere, the temptation to overindulge and be more adventurous with food is greater on holiday. Allaying the risks of food poisoning isn’t easy if you’re eating in restaurants or street food stalls on your travels where you’re not responsible for the food preparation, but ensuring your hands are clear and sanitised before touching food is a good habit to get into both at home and away.
Bull-running festivals are one of Spain’s most controversial customs, with yearly events taking place in regions such as Madrid, Valencia, Castilla y Leon and Navarre. In 2022, at least 10 participants lost their lives in the tradition, which involves crowds of people coursing through narrow streets while being chased down by bulls. The odds of a human dying during the running of the bulls is one in 111,111, with fatalities often resulting from being gored or trampled by the animals.
The deadliest American animals you wouldn't want to run into
Upon analysing the 308 skydiving deaths that occurred between 1993 and 2001 in the US, the Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments concluded that 86% of them were caused by human error. Texas-based The Skydiving Company say the activity is as safe as it can be; tandem skydiving (when you jump with an expert instructor) is supposedly the safest bet – bee stings and lightning strikes are more likely to kill you. Though the risks involved in skydiving are very real (eg parachute failures), the chances of death are statistically low (one in 90,909).
The allure of riding a motorcycle is also the thing that makes it a potentially lethal pastime. While rattling along scenic roads and through stunning places on a wind-whipped motorbike can bring with it an addictive sense of freedom, it’s also incredibly exposing for the rider – that’s why you’ll see them clad in head-to-toe leathers even at the height of summer. While the odds of dying in a motorcycle accident are 0.0017%, participants are 50% more likely to lose their lives in the US than they are in the UK.
Hiking might seem fairly innocuous, but you might be surprised to learn that one in 50,000 hikers die during the exercise. This is still contextually low, with chances of death for hikers at 0.002%, but it’s wise to take as many precautions as you can and always prioritise your safety when on the trail. The most common killers among hikers are cardiac arrest and falls, so don’t push yourself beyond your capabilities and never veer from the waymarked route, particularly when walking at high altitudes.
Mountain biking involves far rougher terrain than road cycling, typically marked by steep climbs, sheer drops and sudden bumps caused by riding over rocks and raised tree roots. This makes it potentially very dangerous, with deaths occurring among one in 28,571 participants. Most mountain biking fatalities and serious injuries result from the rider being thrown over the handlebars, which can happen while coursing downhill at speed or during jumps and tricks. Being a confident road cyclist isn’t enough to be a safe mountain biker – train first in a controlled environment before heading into the wild.
As with all activities in this ranking, paragliding has increased potential to become deadly when safety procedures aren’t adequately followed. Nomadic Yak found that solo flyers are more than twice as likely to suffer a fatal accident than tandem paragliders, so tourists participating in this activity with a skilled instructor are automatically much safer, as their instructor will perform all the pre-flight checks required. The odds of paragliding claiming your life is 0.0071% (one in 13,513 flyers).
Horseback riding is no stranger to lists of the most dangerous sports, yet remains a popular activity among tourists wanting to see destinations from a different perspective. One in 10,000 people are killed while riding a horse, with the majority of fatalities caused by head injuries. Horses are deceptively large animals – you’d be falling from a significant height even before factoring in speed. They are also sentient creatures with their own instincts, which can make them unpredictable. That being said, you’re more likely to die in the US from an accident at home than from getting on a horse.
We’re into quadruple figures now, with the chances of death while driving at one in 7,142. Road traffic accidents and collisions occur daily worldwide, regardless of whether you’re driving around your own town or in an unfamiliar place. But if you’re travelling outside your home country and renting a car to explore, then learning the local rules of the road and reading up on how safe it is to drive in certain areas is vital. For instance, countries such as the Netherlands and Norway rank highly for road safety, while the US and Argentina come in as the most dangerous destinations for driving.
Ranked the second most deadly tourist activity by Nomadic Yak is cave diving, where scuba divers descend into flooded caves beyond the reach of daylight. Participants in this extreme sport have a 0.03% chance of losing their lives, with the majority of recorded deaths caused by divers getting lost in the cave system and subsequently running out of air. Rigorous training is needed before anyone can cave dive; courses begin with cavern diving, which doesn’t venture as deep as cave diving and is therefore still served by natural light.
Nomadic Yak’s top killer thrills are mountaineering and rock climbing. Those participating literally take their life in their hands: for every 3,125 people that try these sports, one person is killed. The deadliest mountain range on Earth is the Himalayas – the highest peak of Annapurna is recognised as the most dangerous of all the world’s mountains, with a 29% fatality rate, while the notorious Mount Everest has a fatality rate of 14.1%.
This item didn’t feature in Nomadic Yak’s ranking, but we think it definitely deserves a mention. According to a 2021 study by iO Foundation, at least 379 people died between January 2008 and July 2021 while in pursuit of the perfect selfie. Fatal accidents involving camera-phone-wielding tourists have been reported at attractions like Niagara Falls, Glen Canyon on the Utah/Arizona border and the Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan over the years. No matter how good you think a photo will look on Instagram, it’s never worth putting your life at risk for. Find the full data set that inspired this gallery here.