Lounging by the pool has its appeal, but what if your next trip calls for something a little more thrilling? For those craving action and adventure, the world is brimming with experiences guaranteed to get your heart racing. Whether it’s leaping from dizzying heights, careering down sand dunes or taking on nature’s wildest landscapes, we've ranked the best 30 adrenaline-fuelled activities to satisfy even the most daring of travellers.
Read on to discover our ranking of the bucket-list adventures that every thrill seeker should experience...
Have you got the mettle to take on the world’s fastest zip line? Travelling at over 100 miles per hour (161km/h), Velocity 2 is located in North Wales at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, a former slate pit now buzzing with thrilling activities including this almost mile-long (1.5km) ride.
You can enjoy the experience alongside friends too, as there are four parallel lines over two separate zip lines. As well as views of Snowdonia, you might glimpse the beautiful coastline of Anglesey while you’re up there – unless you can’t look down, of course.
Literally translated as 'the way of iron', a via ferrata is a steep climbing route of steel staples, cables and bridges, fixed to rocks. They originated during World War I to help troops travel safely through the Italian Dolomites – so where better to test it out?
Adventure lovers looking to tackle otherwise impassable cliffs and ledges can climb these very routes with qualified guides. The renovated routes are accessible to both climbers and non-climbers – some are relatively easy, but just as rewarding to accomplish.
Swimming beside the biggest fish on the planet is a thrill that can’t be beaten. Between March and April, whale sharks descend on Ningaloo on the Western Australian coast for the coral spawning season, making it the perfect time to get up close to these gentle giants.
A number of companies run organised tours to swim alongside whale sharks, which reach lengths of up to 60 feet (18m), but pose no threat to humans. Before you go, get clued up on how to see these magnificent creatures responsibly, and be sure not to touch them.
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OK, there might be higher places to jump (read on to find out where), but Queenstown is hard to beat for an outdoor adventure that will truly get your heart racing. Set against a backdrop of rugged mountains and the shores of Lake Wakatipu, this action-packed Kiwi town is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping.
Home to the world’s first and most iconic leap, the Kawarau Bridge Bungy stands 140 feet (43m) above the Kawarau River. Since opening in 1988, it has drawn thousands of thrill-seekers eager to take the plunge and experience the ultimate adrenaline rush.
You’ll need to steel your nerves for this one. Jebel Jais, the tallest mountain in the United Arab Emirates, soars to an impressive 6,345 feet (1,934m) above sea level. It’s also home to the world’s longest zip line, stretching an exhilarating 1.75 miles (2.8km) across the mountain landscape.
The whole experience takes around an hour, but you’ll be hurtling along at speeds of up to 99 miles per hour (160km/h) as you soak in sweeping views of the desert floor, dramatic canyons and jagged peaks – a truly unique way to experience this awe-inspiring terrain.
For a bucket-list diving experience, Iceland’s Silfra fissure is truly unmatched. Situated in Þingvellir National Park, this extraordinary chasm marks the divide between the Eurasian and North American continental plates, making it the only place on Earth where you can dive between two continents.
The crystal-clear glacial water offers unparalleled visibility, allowing you to see almost the full length of the 328-foot (100m) ‘Cathedral’ section. As you glide through this otherworldly gap, you’ll spot boulders draped in neon-green algae – affectionately nicknamed ‘troll hair’ by locals –creating a mesmerising scene in one of the world’s most remarkable geological wonders.
Climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, demands great physical and mental resilience, but the rewards are more than worth it. Standing at an impressive 19,341 feet (5,895m), the summit offers thrilling views and an overwhelming sense of achievement that few other experiences can match.
Most climbers take between five and nine days to reach the peak and make their descent, with guides frequently reminding you to go “pole pole” – Swahili for “slowly, slowly” – to allow time to adapt to the altitude. It’s a test of endurance and patience, but reaching the roof of Africa is a moment that stays with you forever.
Take the plunge and discover the silent thrill of freediving beneath Mexico’s turquoise waters. This ancient practice – diving on a single breath without the use of oxygen tanks – has been around for millennia, famously perfected by Japan’s ama pearl divers, who can stay underwater for up to two minutes at a time.
Today, freediving has seen a surge in popularity worldwide, with courses offering a safe and immersive way to explore the weightless beauty of the underwater world. Playa del Carmen, with its crystal-clear waters, thriving marine life and nearby cenotes, is the perfect place to learn this meditative and exhilarating skill.
Ski trips don’t get more exciting than this. After a thrilling helicopter ride to the summit of a snowy peak in British Columbia's Skeena Range, click on your skis (or strap on your snowboard) and carve turns down its powdery flanks, through alpine bowls, immense glaciers and steep couloirs.
Untouched, shin-deep snow and superb backcountry terrain make this a top choice for advanced skiers and snowboarders looking for the trip of a lifetime.
The Grand Canyon is one of the USA’s most iconic sites – and should be on every traveller’s bucket list. But you can add a splash of adventure to your visit by journeying down the Colorado River in an inflatable raft.
You’ll have to hang on tight as you take on the Class III (moderate) rapids with an expert guide at the helm. This is an opportunity to see the Grand Canyon from a unique – and wonderfully exhilarating – viewpoint.
If you’re looking for a true sense of freedom, wild camping is hard to beat. In Scotland, it’s legal to pitch up away from designated sites in many areas, including the stunning Cairngorms National Park.
Spending a night under canvas here, surrounded by tumbling waterfalls and sweeping mountain views, offers seclusion and connection to nature. Check an OS map beforehand to find the perfect spot and be sure to leave no trace, keeping the landscape as pristine as you found it.
In Banff National Park, roughly halfway between Lake Louise and Banff town, lies Johnston Canyon. In winter, its plunging waterfalls freeze into blue-white curtains that are perfect for ice climbing.
Local pros come here to scale the frozen falls themselves, but beginners with a thirst for thrills can also give it a whirl with lessons from experienced instructors. Using crampons, ice axes and safety ropes, you’ll climb up various walls of ice – feeling positively euphoric at the top – before abseiling back down.
The thrilling sport of canyoning involves navigating canyons by abseiling, swimming, jumping and climbing. And Spain’s Sierra de Guara mountain massif, in the province of Huesca, is a brilliant place to get stuck in.
It’s also said to be the birthplace of canyoning, where French and Spanish fishermen and villagers began caving. Get ready to dive into an intricate network of natural rock formations, deep canyons and turquoise pools of water, with jumps of up to 33 feet (10m) if you’re feeling brave enough.
The two-mile (3km) Portal Trail lures adrenaline junkies thanks to its sheer cliffs, awesome Moab Valley views and total lack of safety railings. Part of the Magnificent Seven (Mag 7) trail network, it’s a route reserved for only the most daring riders, beginning high on a rim above the Colorado River.
With its treacherous drops and notorious reputation, mountain bikers are strongly advised to dismount and walk the most dangerous sections to avoid accidents. Known as one of America’s deadliest and most thrilling bike trails, the Portal Trail is not for the faint of heart.
For most people, getting a bird’s-eye-view of the mountains normally involves a chairlift, viewing platform or aeroplane window. But not for thrill seekers who head into the Bavarian Alps for a spot of paragliding.
Pros can leap into the void solo, but the inexperienced can opt for a tandem flight with an experienced pilot at the helm to enjoy the weightlessness of flying while taking in breathtaking views of castles, lakes and mountains below.
The most popular ways to descend Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain are by foot or cable car, but for those who crave an adrenaline rush, abseiling offers a far more thrilling alternative. The cable car ride up, with its sweeping views of the mountainside, is just a teaser for the main event: stepping off the edge of a cliff and into the void.
Suspended 3,280 feet (1,000m) above sea level, you’ll have jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles stretching out below you. Then comes the heart-pounding moment – a controlled 367-foot (112m) descent down the sheer rock face, making for an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings.
Packrafting – where you trek into the wilderness with a small, stowable boat in your rucksack – allows you to access spots that are usually inaccessible without a boat. This means the options of where to do it are endless, from the deepest parts of New Zealand's south island to the mountains of Croatia.
Norway is also an excellent place to pick, and even hosts annual Nordic Packrafting Meetups. With its rivers, fjords and mountain scenery, Suldal is a great place to start.
With its beaches, volcanoes, cloud forests and dense jungle, Costa Rica is an adventure lover’s paradise. One high-adrenaline activity that stands out is waterfall rappelling, a thrilling way to experience the country’s stunning natural beauty up close.
Using ropes and harnesses, you’ll descend down cascading waterfalls, navigating sheer rock faces surrounded by gushing water and jungle teeming with wildlife. Some of the best spots to try this unforgettable pursuit include the dramatic waterfalls of Rincón de la Vieja, the Arenal Volcano region and Manuel Antonio National Park.
If the thought of seeing a great white shark up close excites you, Port Lincoln belongs on your travel bucket list. Located on South Australia’s West Coast, it’s the only place in the country where you can experience commercially run cage dives with these massive ocean predators, which can grow up to 20 feet (6m) long.
There are strict regulations around baited shark dives, so it’s important to choose a reputable diving company. While in the water, you might also catch sight of seals, dolphins and seabirds, making this a truly unforgettable marine adventure.
Most tourists like to soak up Rio de Janeiro’s stunning monuments, mountains and beaches from the ground. But for thrill seekers, there’s a better way to see the city.
Hang gliding is an exhilarating way to go sightseeing, and 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, including Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach.
Feel the rush of adrenaline as you launch yourself off a sand dune with a board strapped to your feet. As you swoop downhill, you’ll be surrounded by nothing but desert – Al Badayer, also called Red Dune, is one of the best places to try it in Dubai.
Sandboards look like snowboards – but you get all of the fun without needing snow, meaning you can do it all year round. Easier to pick up than skiing, it’s an adrenaline-fuelled way to see intensely beautiful scenery.
How about launching yourself off the world’s highest commercial bungee jump from a building? Standing at 764 feet (233m), the Macau Tower is not for the fainthearted.
If the bungee isn’t enough, other nerve-testing activities include walking around the outside of the platform or climbing up the tower’s exterior. For a less extreme option, you can simply ride the lift to the viewing platform and admire the fearless adventurers hurling themselves into the void below.
If you’re a fan of heights, rock climbing and the thrill of solitude, cliff camping might be your ultimate adventure. This daring experience involves sleeping on a small portaledge suspended from a sheer rock face, high above the ground.
While originally a practice for seasoned climbers, the trend gained mainstream attention after Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell’s historic 2015 ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Today, you can book this extreme overnight stay in places like Estes Park, Colorado, for a heart-pounding, sky-high camping experience.
Want to 'feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme' like the cast of Cool Runnings? Then get on up for a bobsleigh ride.
Not only will you be making tracks like the stars of the much-loved movie, you’ll also be hurtling down an icy route at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour (120km/h). You can try it out in various locations around the world, including the Olympic bobsleigh track in Igls, just outside Innsbruck, which offers guided rides with professional drivers in winter.
One for the intrepid, coasteering involves exploring the shoreline by leaping, scrambling, swimming and cliff jumping. There are many places to try it, including the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland and South Africa’s Cape Peninsula.
You can also head to the beautiful Pembrokeshire coastline, home to one of the original coasteering sites, the Blue Lagoon, which is an old slate quarry. Clad in wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets, you’ll test your limits by plunging and splashing your way through turquoise waters.
The giant pillars of karst limestone attract tourists to Thailand’s Railay Beach, a peninsula in the Krabi province. And while most people are happy to admire them from the sugar-soft sands, thrill seekers decide to climb them.
Railay now has more than 700 climbing routes, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced. The most extreme involves deep water soloing at Ton Sai Bay, where skilled climbers scale the highest rock faces over deep water without ropes.
Climbing Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, is a gruelling challenge – but skydiving beside it takes courage to a whole new level. Thrill-seekers are flown by helicopter to a dizzying altitude of 23,000 feet (7,010m) before leaping into the icy expanse above the snow-capped Himalayas.
As the world’s highest drop zone, it’s an experience like no other, but this extreme adventure demands more than just bravery and physical fitness – it also comes with a hefty price tag of around £19,000 ($25,000).
Petrol heads won’t want to miss this. Located just west of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Highway has 19 of the most scenic – and thrilling – miles you’ll possibly ever drive.
The road, which was built in 1915, features over 150 hairpin turns and switchbacks, climbing over 6,700 feet (2,000m) to the summit of the mountain. Every year it hosts the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, considered one of the most dangerous races in the United States, where professional drivers race to the top.