1. Climb to Machu Picchu, Peru
No adventurer's must-visit list is complete without Machu Picchu, the famous Incan citadel located in the Andes. While the site can be accessed via bus ride, more adventurous travelers can take the five-day trek along the entire 26-mile-long Inca Trail. Or, thanks to local tour operator Sam Travel Peru, you can get dropped at kilometer marker 104 and do the whole experience in 24 hours.
2. Hunt for glaciers in Greenland
Greenland
is relatively expensive and tricky to get to, but well worth the
effort—especially since it's one of the most untouched landscapes on the
planet. Exhibit A: the hundred-year-old icebergs and glaciers floating
off the mainland, which you can get up close and personal with during a
cruise excursion. (Try Hurtigruten or Cruise Norway.)
3. Hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey
A hot air balloon ride over central Turkey’s Cappadocia region provides 360-degree views of the famous limestone spires and “fairy chimneys”—something you can't get at the ground level. We recommend booking with Kapadokya Balloons, the first company that introduced hot air balloon tourism in Cappadocia. Services include transfers to and from your hotel, snacks, full insurance, and a champagne party after the flight.
4. Swim the Great Barrier Reef
Divers and snorkelers everywhere need to experience the Great Barrier Reef at least once in their lifetime. Not only does the site have more than 400 different types of coral and 1,500 species of fish, but the natural wonder has been rapidly eroding, thanks to coral bleaching and global warming. That means it's more urgent than ever to see it in all its glory—and understand what we are losing.
5. Climb Mount Everest
6. Go on a canoe safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Going on safari in Africa is a no-brainer when it comes to seeking adventure, but where exactly do you start? Botswana's Okavango Delta
is a must for first-timers and experienced safari-goers alike, thanks
to its wealth of wildlife and topographical diversity. Hop on a mokoro
canoe for the best, most intimate look at the roaming elephants,
antelope, and cheetahs, among others. Stay at Xigera Safari Lodge, one of the most anticipated recent openings on the continent.
7. Sleep under the Northern Lights
Ah, the elusive Northern Lights. So many factors are at play when it comes to seeing the technicolor phenomenon—location, time of year, weather conditions—but it's hard to lose with an excursion to Finnish Lapland. The Arctic area is one of the planet's best for lights viewing, especially if you get to sleep in an igloo hotel at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort or mobile Aurora Bubble Sled.
8. Boat under the Iguazú Falls
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South America's Iguazú Falls, located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, make all other waterfalls look like mere trickles in comparison. The system of more than 200 cascades (reaching heights of around 270 feet) can be viewed from surrounding walkways and catwalks, but we're fans of the more adventurous vantage-point—hopping on an Iguazú Jungle inflatable raft and sailing directly under the exhilarating, high-pressure falls.
9. Climb Mount Fuji
Solitary Mount Fuji is probably Japan's most iconic natural wonder, rising 12,388 feet above villages and reflecting on lakes' surfaces. You can get views of the landmark from many places, like Lake Kawaguchi in Fujikawaguchiko and even the Park Hyatt Tokyo, but it's the views from the mountain that give you the most bragging rights. Visit from early July to mid-September (fingers crossed for 2022) to take advantage of the official climbing season, when the designated trails and paved roads are free from snow.
10. Swim through Mexico's cenotes
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula features a wealth of unique natural beauty, particularly when it comes to its cavernous cenotes. Floating in one of these natural sinkholes is an incredible experience, as is diving through the underground cave systems. When in Tulum, visit Dos Ojos (“Two Eyes”) to view one of the planet's most beautiful underwater sites (bonus points for water visibility), or Gran Cenote for rock formations that resemble Gothic architecture.
11. Sand surf in the Sahara
The dunes of the Sahara are colossal, untouched, and tailor-made for extreme sports. The desert's rows of barchans (meaning “crescent-shaped dunes” in Turkic) have ideal shapes for sand surfing (descending the slopes on a surfboard) and sandboarding (descending the slopes on a snowboard)—and those views don't hurt, either. Stay at Erg Chigaga Luxury Camp in Morocco, which offers sandboarding in addition to other desert activities like camel rides and quad biking.
12. Paraglide over the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz, Turkey
Oludeniz has one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey, with pebble shores and a “blue lagoon” of aquamarine hues. The beach also happens to be one of the world's best places to paraglide, thanks to stable weather and gorgeous panoramic views. The launch site for most companies is from Babadağ mountain, with jumping-off points reaching 6,000 feet above sea level.
13. Spot a Kermode bear in the Great Bear Rainforest
14. Snorkel between continents at Thingvellir National Park
Iceland is one of the best countries in the world for adventure travel, with opportunities for everything from glacier hiking to snorkeling and diving. For the latter, head straight to Thingvellir National Park along the country's Golden Circle route, where two tectonic plates slowly pull apart at the rate of about two centimeters (0.8 inches) per year. The phenomenon results in the Silfra fissure, a stunning rift valley where travelers can snorkel or dive in impossibly clear (and cold) waters.
15. Road trip through America's National Parks
There's perhaps no better way to explore America than with a good old-fashioned road trip. Many of the country's national parks are perfect for a multi-day drive, like Virginia's Shenandoah National Park and Alaska's Denali National Park. But if we had to pick just one itinerary, we'd go with the Mighty Five, the cluster of Utah's national parks that include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.
16. Float along the Amazon
Some remote destinations are best seen from the deck of a boat, and that includes the upper Amazon River. Aqua Expeditions' luxury cruises through the Peruvian stretch of the river tour the area's wildlife and culture at a delightful, leisurely pace. You'll even have chef-prepared gourmet meals and five-star suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking for something a little less luxe? Amazon Adventures offers kayaking trips along some Amazon tributaries, where you can fish for piranhas and camp out in the rainforest.
17. Go “volcano boarding” on Cerro Negro, Nicaragua
If you're looking for action sports and adventure, we recommend booking a flight to Nicaragua right now. Here you can kayak, surf, zipline through the jungle, and even sled down the side of an active volcano. Intrepid travelers love to climb up the 2,388-foot Cerro Negro and then “volcano board” back down (an activity where you sit or stand on a piece of plywood and slide your way down the slopes). Definitely go with a guided group tour with this one.
18. Camp in Antarctica
Antarctica is truly the final frontier when it comes to adventure travel, providing untouched landscapes, unique wildlife, and more activities than you'll know what to do with (cruising, caving, and thermal spring soaking to name a few). If you can get yourself to Punta Arenas, Chile, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions will fly you to Antarctica for three days of skiing and hiking before setting you up for a South Pole sleepover.
19. Surf The Pipeline in Oahu
Oahu's Banzai Pipeline (commonly referred to as The Pipeline) is easily one of the most sought-after surfing spots in the world. Located off the coast of the island's north shore in Ehukai Beach Park, the surf reef break averages waves measuring nine feet high. Pro tip: This activity is definitely not for beginners, but even non-surfers will get a thrill out of watching the many surf competitions that take place at The Pipeline—all from the safety of a sunny beach.
20. Zip line over Niagara Falls
The 2,200-foot MistRider opened in Ontario in the summer of 2016, and has been attracting daring travelers ever since. The ride goes from the top of the Niagara Gorge to nearly the bottom, with four ziplines reaching speeds of more than 40 miles per hour. The operation is open from June through December, so here's hoping we can get a ride in later this year when Canada reopens to visitors.
21. Bungee jump above the Kawarau River, New Zealand
New Zealand practically invented adventure sports when the Kawarau Bridge Bungy opened in 1988. Here you join around 38,000 annual visitors to take the 140-foot jump from the South Island's historic, steel-framed Kawarau Bridge. Like Australia, New Zealand has been strict about border closings throughout the pandemic, but those dives will be waiting for you whenever travel resumes.
22. Dive Belize's Great Blue Hole
Known for its circular shape and strikingly deep blue color, the Great Blue Hole is a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole in the middle of Belize's Lighthouse Reef. While an aerial shot is enough to convince anyone of its beauty, scuba divers are the ones who get to experience the wonders that lie beneath: massive, 40-foot limestone stalactites and stalagmites that formed during the last glacial period.
23. Soak in Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls
Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls attracts thousands of tourists each year. One of the biggest draws here is the Devil's Pool, a naturally formed eddy sitting at the very edge of the falls, where daring swimmers can splash around between August and January (depending on water levels). Given that a slippery rock barrier is the only thing separating you from going over the edge, this site is easily the planet's most extreme infinity pool.