15 of the World’s Most Extreme Sports and Where To Try Them

New Zealanders are known for being innovative, outdoorsy people who aren’t afraid to fling themselves into nature, so it’s no wonder that AJ Hackett—the man who popularized modern-day bungee jumping—is a Kiwi. You can bungee jump around New Zealand, but the best spot to leap into the unknown is arguably the Kawarau Suspension Bridge near Queenstown, a top extreme sports location; this is where bungee tourism was launched in New Zealand in 1988. Plunge almost 141 feet (43 meters) from the late-19th century bridge toward the turquoise Kawarau River, which flows from Lake Wakatipu.

Did you know?: Bungee jumping’s traditional roots (pardon the pun) lie in Vanuatu’s Pentecost Island, where men tie their feet in vines and leap from wooden towers, making sure the vines are short enough to stop them before they hit the ground. You can still sometimes see this “land diving” ritual today, especially between April and June.

The 1,450-mile (2,333-kilometer) Colorado River—which passes through seven US states and into Mexico—is a dream whitewater rafting destination, thanks to the beauty and variety of landscapes it passes through. You can take short commercial rafting trips from many places along the river, including Las Vegas, Sedona, and Flagstaff, and these tours cater to many abilities and levels of experience. But if you want to raft through the seriously impressive Grand Canyon National Park, you have to enter an annual lottery for the chance to embark on a 12–25-day trip on the river—and you can only enter if you’re a seasoned, highly experienced rafter.

Parasailing (not to be confused with paragliding) is an exhilarating extreme sport that doesn’t require any technical skill or strength from you—just a bit of bravery. You’re strapped into a harness and winched into the air from a moving boat. Almost anyone can parasail (some weight conditions may apply) to admire spectacular views from about 500 feet (150 meters) in the air. The Turkish Riviera in southwestern Turkey is a popular place to go parasailing; the views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline are dramatic, and you can enjoy a swim and beach time before and after your flight.

Paragliding is very different from parasailing because you’re not towed by anything: You get strapped into a harness attached to a parachute, usually alongside an experienced instructor, leap off a cliff (or another high vantage point), and let the natural thermal currents carry you. The Annapurna Mountains of Nepal are a great place to try this extreme sport, thanks to incredible views of some of the tallest mountains of the world in one direction, Phewa Lake in the other, and villages and rice fields down below. Plus, it offers stable conditions, especially from November to February. Many trips run from Sarangkot Hill, above Pokhara.

Insider tip: If you’re heading to the Himalayan mountains in India rather than Nepal, Manali, Bir Billing, and the Solang Valley in Himachal Pradesh are all especially good paragliding destinations.

Walking may not seem like an extreme outdoor activity, but it can be when you tackle a long-distance trail. One of the best multi-day hiking destinations in the world is Japan, where natural beauty combines with cultural interest and convenient traditional accommodation. To experience some of all these things, set foot on the Nakasendo Way, an ancient route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. The original route was around 335 miles (540 kilometers) long, but there’s no need to commit to all that now—dip in at various points along the way, especially in Nagano Prefecture, for a guided or self-guided hike.

Few activities defy the human instinct for self-preservation quite like skydiving. But as with all extreme outdoor activities, if you pick a reputable operator, even jumping out of a plane or helicopter at 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) can be perfectly safe. The town of Interlaken in the Swiss Alps—nicknamed Switzerland’s adventure capital and one of the best places for extreme sports—is a great place to skydive, as you experience views of snow-covered Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains, as well as lakes Thun and Brienz.

Insider tip: For the views without the freefall, board a scenic flight instead.

Travelers flock to the ski slopes of Chamonix in winter, but skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only outdoor winter sports you can enjoy in this Alpine resort town in France. Ice climbing is a thrilling seasonal activity, and contrary to popular belief, it’s accessible to beginners if you go with a guide. Grab an ice axe, don crampons and a helmet, and climb up natural and human-made icefalls to experience the winter landscape up close.

Keen mountain bikers have many great options around the world, from Utah to Norway and beyond. But the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, Canada, is often said to be the best of the best. The 120 different trails are rated from beginner to expert, so there’s something for everyone. Rent bikes and gear from many places around Whistler, and even book mountain biking lessons at the park to improve your skills and confidence.

These days, many global destinations are known as surfing hot spots: Costa Rica, Portugal, and Bali, to name a few. But the sport originated in premodern Polynesia, particularly Hawaii, so surfing independently or taking a lesson in this part of the world is both a physical and a cultural activity. Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, you can find everything from calm, beginner-friendly surfing spots to some of the biggest breaks in the world, which only the pros should tackle. Find the big breaks on the North Shore or Oahu, especially in winter, and the family-friendly stuff at Waikiki, among other places.

Combine a bit of rock climbing, abseiling, swimming, and rafting, and you get a whole new sport: canyoning. This outdoor adventure typically involves scaling waterfalls, sliding down natural water chutes, and jumping into natural pools, usually in beautiful tropical environments (but sometimes in colder ones too, such as Iceland. Costa Rica’s La Fortuna area is a great place to try canyoning on a guided tour, where waterfalls, rivers, and natural hot springs are all part of the sightseeing package.

Like deep-sea diving, caving retains an aura of mystery: relatively few people descend beneath the earth’s surface and into its hidden depths. But the brave few who do are in for a treat. Jomblang Cave, southeast of Yogyakarta in Central Java, Indonesia, is a magical place to try caving. You’re lowered about 223 feet (70 meters) down a sinkhole into the vertical cave and a sunken forest. On a clear day, sun rays pour down on you from above. While plenty of tours go to Jomblang Cave, it’s relatively off the beaten path and offers a less touristy experience.

If you enjoy the thrill of climbing frames, you should try a via ferrata. The Italian phrase means iron path: a series of steps, handles, ladders, and ledges built into a cliffside so you can climb mountains without needing to find your foot and handholds. If you’re worried about safety, don’t be—you’re attached to a steel cable that runs along the length of the path. The Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy offer via ferrata routes to suit all levels of experience, including advanced mountaineers, and you’ll find guided via ferrata experiences here, too.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting the Dolomites

If you’re intrigued by the fact that around three-quarters of the ocean remains unexplored, then scuba diving might be the extreme sport for you. Granted, you’re unlikely to chart new underwater territory on a diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef, but the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a great place to take a beginner diving course or to practice your skills. Among its 2,900 individual reefs, you can see colorful coral, tropical fish, turtles, sharks and more on a tour or diving course from Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach, or other tourist hotspots in tropical northern Queensland.

Insider tip: If you’re traveling with kids or know that diving isn’t your thing, join a snorkeling trip in Queensland instead—you can see almost as much but without the technical challenge of scuba diving.

Picture rock climbing and you may think of mountain ranges as the best places to try this sport. That’s fair, but to enjoy the novelty of rock climbing in a completely different landscape, consider bouldering in Hampi, in the South Indian state of Karnataka. As well as being home to a UNESCO World Heritage–listed medieval city, Hampi is scattered with granite boulders of all sizes, the remnants of ancient mountains. Depending on the level of guidance you're looking for, there are rock climbing schools, tour companies specializing in climbing, and gear-rental businesses around Hampi.

No extreme sports travel guide would be complete without an option for those who don’t want to run, jump, slide, or skid with their bodies; not all extreme sports experiences require much physical exertion or skill, and when off-roading, you just need to hang on tight. Morocco is a top off-roading destination, with both the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert waiting to be explored (and cultural highlights such as Fez and Marrakech to visit before and after). Rent a vehicle and private driver to forge your own path, or join a guided 4WD tour.