12 Incredible Real Life Adventures You Can Experience
Humans have always loved going on adventures. With only a boat and a gut feeling, explorers set off to discover the new world and other lands. In the 1200s, Marco Polo traveled the silk road to China, India, and Japan. Then there was Christopher Columbus who discovered the new world in the 1400s. Not to be outdone, Ernest Shackleton explored the arctic in the 1900s.
Humans have a curiosity when it comes to real life adventures. There’s no need to live vicariously through Indiana Jones anymore. Today, people can go on a real life adventure to some of history’s most iconic locations. The average person can climb the world’s tallest mountain, swim in iconic reefs, or surf on desert sands. It’s possible to feel the rush those explorers felt on a real life adventure as you’ll discover below.
1. Climb Mount Everest
Located in the Himalayas at the China-Nepal border is the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. For centuries, humans have attempted to reach the summit of the famous mountain. In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit. In the 1980s, commercialized climbing exploded in popularity, with tour guides taking inexperienced climbers to the summit of Mount Everest. While many risks and dangers are involved, climbing Mount Everest is a possible real-life adventure.
Roughly 300 people have died attempting to climb the mountain, with many bodies frozen on the cliffside. A full-service guide could cost anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000 and includes transportation, medical assistance, getting all necessary permits, extra supplies, tents, and oxygen tanks. Other companies might cost less but will provide less protection. It’s a dangerous adventure, but it might be the adventure of a lifetime.
2. Bungy Jump at the Kawarau River in New Zealand
The legendary Kawarau River is a place of history and adventure in New Zealand. The iconic river flows in the Kawarau Gorge, draining into Lake Wakatipu, where it then connects to Lake Dunstan. The spectacular river has a rich history dating back centuries as an important location for the Ngai Tahu tribe. In the 19th century, a gold rush in the area led to further attention.
The river is full of dangerous twists and turns, taking the lives of several people over the years. Despite these tragedies, the Kawarau River remains a popular kayaking and bungy jumping site. In fact, the Kawarau River is the site of the first bungy jumping location in history. The Kawarau suspension bridge completed construction in the late 1880s and is now the premiere bungy jumping location in the world. It costs roughly $200 per person and requires booking a spot in advance.
3. Climb Half Dome at Yosemite National Park
Tourists from all over the globe visit the breathtaking Yosemite National Park in California. It has a rich biodiversity with mesmerizing cliffs and mountains. Thrill seekers travel to the stunning park to climb the famous rock formation known as the Half Dome.
The climb includes a challenging but rewarding hike from the valley floor to the summit of the Half Dome. While climbing the Dome in a day is possible, most tourists camp overnight in the Little Yosemite Valley. With 800 climbers a day, the crowded trail is a hot spot for adventure.
4. Road Trip Through the Mighty Five
A road trip through America’s national parks is an adventure everyone should experience once. The country is famous for its national parks throughout the country, with a road trip through the Mighty Five being the ultimate adventure. Located throughout Utah, the parks all feature stunning landscapes, cliffs, and canyons. Each park is distinct, with its own rich history, wildlife, and landmarks.
The road trip takes adventurers through Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park. The parks offer highlights such as the Delicate Arch, the Bryce Amphitheater, Island in the Sky, Cathedral Valley, and the Virgin River.
5. Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro
In Nicaragua sits the active volcano Cerro Negro. First appearing in the 1850s, it’s one of the youngest volcanoes on the planet. It’s a hazardous volcano that’s had several eruptions over the years. Oddly, it emits ash from the top of the volcano while lava leaks out from cracks in the foundation.
Despite the dangers, volcano boarding on Cerro Negro has erupted (pun intended) in popularity. Thrill seekers from across the globe travel to the Cordillera de los Maribios to board down the active volcano. Bigfoot Volanco Boarding offers tours from $30 to $35 to board down the volcano at various times of the day. It also provides a hostel and transportation for an additional fee.
6. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a grueling and brutal physical challenge. However, the rewarding hike is an excellent walk through history ending at one of the most famous World Heritage sites, Machu Picchu. Located in Peru, the trail has three routes in the famous Andes mountains, Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Each course has a varying level of difficulty and often takes a few days to complete.
The paths all end at the world-famous 15th-century Inca citadel Machu Picchu. The Lost City of the Incas in the Sacred Valley is a breathtaking sight worth the trek. Due to erosion, the Peruvian government limits the number of hikers yearly. The government allows 500 people on the trail, with only 200 spots open for hikers. The rest of the spots go to guides and porters. So book your trip early to guarantee a spot.
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7. Camp in Antarctica
South of the Antarctic circle is the least populated continent, Antarctica. Despite being a polar desert covered in the Antarctic ice sheet, it has become the number one camping site in the world. It’s also the coldest, windiest, and driest camping site in the world. Since the late 1800s, expeditions have explored the area, with Norwegian explorers reaching the South Pole in 1911. Tourism to Antarctica began in the 1960s with sea cruises and sightseeing by airplane.
In recent years, camping and hiking have gained popularity on the cold continent. Various locations offer camping sites run by companies that provide a safe and fun but grueling experience. Campers must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Antarctic treaty to gain access to the land. It costs roughly $150 to $300 per person for an extraordinary night camping under the stars in the coldest place on Earth.
8. Paraglide Over the Blue Lagoon in Ölüdeniz
Few locations are as gorgeous and calm as the town of Ölüdeniz. Located in southwestern Turkey, the small, unassuming beach town is secretly the number one spot for adventure. It’s famous for its pebble beach with aquamarine and turquoise-colored water. The area earned the nickname the “dead sea” due to the calm ocean during storms.
It’s also known as the best paragliding location in the world. The launching point is the iconic Babadag mountain, allowing for unforgettable panoramic views over the stunning blue lagoon. It’s an adventure you’ll always remember.
9. Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s most extensive coral reef system. Formed by millions of tiny organisms, it consists of 900 islands and over 2,000 individual reefs. The Great Barrier Reef currently resides in the Coral Sea near Queensland, Australia. However, researchers predict the reef will disappear due to a combination of coral bleaching and global warming.
There are numerous adventures throughout the area, including camping and hiking, but nothing compares with diving deep into the reef. The awe-inspiring clear water and biodiversity of the area are ideal for scuba diving.
The experience is known to leave divers speechless on this incredible adventure underwater. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef is an adventure to remember forever. There’s a limited time to visit the Great Barrier Reef, so book your trip soon before it’s too late.
10. Sandboarding in the Sahara
The hottest and largest desert, the Sahara, encompasses most of North Africa. It runs through several countries, including Egypt, Libya, and Morocco. The area has become famous for the ultimate sport adventure, sand surfing. Also known as sandboarding, the dunes throughout the region are ideal for hitting the sand waves.
Several companies provide transportation to perfect spots, such as the Algerian sand dunes, Egyptian sand dunes, and Moroccan sand dunes. These trips include exciting adventures surfing the sand and some of the most historical landmarks in the world.
11. Climb Mount Fuji
On the island of Honshū sits one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks, Mount Fuji. Last erupting around 1708, the active volcano is one of the highest peaks in Japan. Climbers from around the globe travel to Japan to climb the iconic site. It attracts thousands of climbers each year, usually from July to August. It has various routes up the mountain of varying difficulty.
The government discourages climbing at other times of the year due to the weather. Japanese climbers often attempt the ascent at night to reach the summit for sunrise. There are multiple stations and huts along the way to help climbers. During summer, buses and cars can easily reach the fifth station.
12. Zipline Over Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of North America’s most awe-inspiring landmarks. It sits on the border of Ontario in Canada and New York in the United States. It features three impressive falls, notably the Horseshoe or Canadian Falls. The famous tourist attraction recently added a new adventure to the already renowned site. Tourists can now zip line over the famous falls. It’s a heart-pumping adventure that’ll leave you breathless.
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