15 Activities Every Adventurous Traveler Should Experience, According to Viator Travelers

Nepal has long been a favorite hiking and global adventure destination—it’s home to several of the world’s highest mountains, after all. Local people have used mountain trails for centuries, and modern-day hiking routes usually follow these ancient paths, adding a cultural element to outdoor adventures. (And, apart from in the remotest areas, you’re never far from a village with a warm bed and home-cooked meal, which makes the logistics of long-distance trekking easy.)

The Everest Base Camp trek is undoubtedly Nepal’s most famous, but it’s far from the only option. If you don’t have weeks to spend but still want a good physical challenge with some of the best views of the Annapurna Mountain Range, try this 3-day Poon Hill trek from Pokhara instead.

What one reviewer said: “The hike itself was stunning [and] the summit was beautiful at sunrise. The guide and porter [...] were amazingly helpful. [...] I recommend this hike if you are after a short-duration hike, as it was a great and challenging experience.” Caroline_H, November 2025

There’s a lot to love about the Indonesian island of Bali, but its incredible and very accessible snorkeling is a pretty big one. While many travelers head to the beach resorts on the south coast, the east and north are especially good snorkeling spots because they’re less crowded—with that in mind, head to the northwestern coast to snorkel in West Bali National Park and around Menjangan Island (or travel east to Padangbai—especially handy if you plan to take a ferry to the Gili Islands).

There, you can snorkel directly from Blue Lagoon Beach at Padangbai without needing to take a boat farther out to sea. This snorkeling tour from Ubud is a popular choice from the inland mountain town.

What one reviewer said: “This snorkeling tour was truly an adventure. The water was a sparkling, beautiful blue, and I was lucky enough to see a turtle, an eel, 'Nemo and Dory,' and many other exciting fish—an unforgettable experience. My driver, Johnny, was wonderful and made the day even better. He was kind, knowledgeable, and a very safe driver.” Jackie_G, April 2026

Whether you’ve developed a taste for snorkeling and want to improve your skills or are keen to just jump right in the deep end (all puns intended), learning to scuba dive is arguably the ultimate aquatic experience.

In Thailand, take the plunge into the Andaman Sea from Phuket—with its warm tropical waters, diverse reefs and wrecks, almost year-round accessibility, and plenty of beginner-friendly courses, you can’t go wrong. Get things off to a solid start on this private full-day diving course at Racha Island. It’s ideal for beginners, with two open-water dives included, and if you get the hang of diving, you’re in a good place to take more courses to develop your skills.

What one reviewer said: “This was one of the best experiences in Phuket! Our instructor, Nat, was very patient, kind, and made the experience even better [ny taking] lots of photos and videos for us underwater while we focused on our first time scuba diving.” Jasmine_E, March 2026

If you’ve already been diving in warmer waters and want to try something new, head north to Iceland. As you might expect from a country with “ice” in its name, diving here is a little different, principally because Iceland is volcanically active—in fact, that’s what creates those wonderful hot pools and bubbling geysers. Plus, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates converge here, and you can actually see the plates meeting while diving at the Silfra Fissure.

On this guided diving tour, you’ll literally be diving between two continents—an extreme travel idea with a real twist. Thankfully, your guides will ensure you’re comfortable diving in these cold conditions: You’ll be provided with a dry suit and warm undersuit, as well as hot drinks afterward.

What one reviewer said: “Highly recommend! Our guide, Sara, was excellent, [showed] great attention to safety and details, and was able to accommodate varying levels of skill. Silfra is unique and an underwater wonderland […] don’t miss a chance to explore it!” Lee_S, July 2025

Here’s an adventure activity that actually requires minimal effort: paragliding. Sure, it might sound daunting to run off the side of a cliff, but the mental challenge is really the hardest part about paragliding. Once you’re airborne, there’s zero effort required as you float gently above the landscape. And there’s hardly a better landscape to paraglide in than the Swiss Alps.

This paragliding flight over Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley from Interlaken is ideal for beginners, as you’ll fly tandem with a guide. During the flight, admire views of the Eiger and the valley below, plus enjoy a sense of peace. And as no engines or motors are required as you float on the natural air thermals, adventure travel experiences don’t get much more chill than this.

What one reviewer said: “Stellar. Absolutely soaring like a bird with the safety of seasoned guides. Unique view of the Alps; unforgettable.” Melissa_B, January 2026

The thrilling sport of coasteering—which originated in Wales—combines caving, swimming, rappelling, cliff-jumping, and sometimes a bit of snorkeling. And while the ruggedly beautiful Pembrokeshire coast is a great place to try the sport, you can also do it in the warmer, inviting waters of the Algarve.

This southern region in Portugal may be beloved for its beach resorts, but this unique travel activity provides a different way to experience the coastline. Gear up in the provided wet suit, helmet, lifejacket, and waterproof booties and get ready to hike along the coast, jump into rock pools, and snorkel in hard-to-reach spots. You’re free to lounge on a golden-sand beach after the action.

What one reviewer said: “It was an incredible, unforgettable experience that we wouldn’t have wanted to miss. The two guides gave us a great sense of safety and took wonderful care of our 11-year-old son! On top of that, they showed us many animals and plants and told us a lot about them.” Mewle_H, August 2025

We can’t all be Formula 1 racing stars, but that doesn’t mean you can’t feel the thrill of driving (or being a passenger in) a Formula 1 race car. The next time you’re on the Spanish island of Mallorca, join this guided drive along the coast and through the mountains in a 3-wheeled Formula 1 car.

You will, of course, need to stick to the road rules and legal speed limits, but that won’t stop you from feeling the power of these elite vehicles. Starting from Palma de Mallorca, you can admire the views of the island’s diverse landscapes and stop at lookout points across the Balearic Islands as you go.

What one reviewer said: “This is one of the most fun tours we have ever taken. The cars were amazing to drive around the hilly and winding roads of Mallorca. We would highly recommend this company, and their staff was very professional.” Beverley_Y, April 2026

Many people travel to Tromsø to see the magical northern lights in winter. However, given that the city is within the Arctic Circle, it may be tempting to spend much of your time sitting around a cozy indoor fire—but we promise that Tromsø is a great place to enjoy winter outdoor activities, too.

This guided snowshoe walk on Tromsøya will have you working up a sweat, even in subzero weather. And once you get the hang of walking with snowshoes attached to your feet, you’ll find it easy to navigate the snow-covered trails through forests and up hills to viewpoints across the winter landscape.

What one reviewer said: “[We had] a great time! Our guide was very sweet and knowledgeable. Easy enough for my 9-year-old to keep up and lots of stops for info and photos!” Dawn_K, February 2026

White-water rafting adventures come in all shapes and sizes, from relatively gentle floats to white-knuckle rapid riding. Rafting on New Zealand's Kaituna River falls into the latter category, and while you don’t need to have extensive rafting experience, this trip isn’t one for your elderly relatives or little kids.

The Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River are the highest commercially rafted waterfalls in the world, at around 23 feet (7 meters) high, putting them firmly within grade V rapid territory. This rafting trip from Rotorua takes you through scenic, native New Zealand bush that you couldn’t access any other way before you reach the thrilling falls, and other raging rapids, of this exciting river.

What one reviewer said: “What a ride! The rafting was awesome, and the guides are even better—super fun and funny. Really enjoyed this experience and would recommend. I had never rafted before, and the guides made me feel super comfortable and safe.” Angela_M, April 2026

It's a no-brainer that you should take a surfing lesson in this Queensland coastal resort town—with a name like Surfers Paradise, how could you not? Here, the warm Gold Coast climate and sandy beaches offer consistent, year-round, beginner- and intermediate-friendly surfing conditions—and there are plenty of surf schools in the area.

This half-day surfing lesson includes all gear and a long-sleeve rash vest to keep you protected from the harsh sun. You do a combination of exercises on both land and water to build your skills, so hopefully you’ll be standing on your board and riding the ocean waves in no time.

What one reviewer said: “Had a really fun surfing lesson! The instructors were friendly, patient, and very helpful, making it easy for beginners to feel comfortable in the water. They gave clear guidance and lots of encouragement throughout the session. Overall, a great experience and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to try surfing!” Wei_S, March 2026

While Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef might get more attention, in-the-know travelers head to the more remote UNESCO World Heritage–listed Ningaloo Reef, off the coast of Western Australia. Unlike at the Great Barrier Reef, where you need to take a boat from the coast to the reef, the 186-mile (300-kilometer) Ningaloo Reef is more accessible from the land, meaning you can just grab a snorkel and walk right out from places such as Exmouth.

The Ningaloo Reef is also a prime spot for swimming with whale sharks (although you’ll need to hop onto a boat for this activity). April to August is whale shark season, while September to November is humpback whale season—you can opt to swim with both species.

What one reviewer said: “Totally fantastic day out on the ocean! The crew—Jake, Anna, Albert, Charlie, and Nick—were amazing. They were friendly, and guided us through all of the safety aspects of diving with whale sharks. They were also fun and very knowledgeable about the reef and the marine life that lives on and around it. I couldn't have asked for more.” Elaine_W, March 2026

As far as snow sports go, they don’t come much cuter—or fluffier—than dogsledding (also known as mushing). And luckily, snow covers the ground of Fairbanks in Alaska for roughly eight months of the year, so there’s a long window of opportunity to go dogsledding in this inland city.

This dogsledding tour takes you along 5 miles (8 kilometers) of trails through the snowy countryside. Your dog handler guide supervises from the back of the sled, and you can help “drive” by giving the dogs voice commands from your comfy seat. This is an outdoor travel experience that everyone in the family will love.

What one reviewer said: “It was so much fun! It was my grandson’s first visit to Alaska. He wanted to go dogsledding. Our guide was so nice and upbeat! We very much enjoyed everything!” Miriam_W, March 2026

What could be more adventurous than exploring Costa Rica’s biodiverse rainforests and cloud forests on foot? Soaring through the canopy on a zipline, of course. The Central American country excels in its canopy zipline tours, and this tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the best.

As well as zooming along highly strung ziplines, you’ll get the chance to rappel to the forest floor, ride a Tarzan swing, climb ladders up the inside of a hollowed-out tree, and spot many kinds of animals and birds. This bucket-list adventure is ideal for nature lovers and bird-watchers who want an up-close view of the ecosystem, too.

What one reviewer said: “We had an excellent zipline experience with this group. We were with a group of about eight people of all ages, and they were able to cater the experience to everyone. The group was incredibly patient and fun. The zipline course was incredible, and the views were beautiful.” Adam_E, April 2026

Sightseeing in the Dominican Republic doesn’t need to be a sterile, air-conditioned experience if you don’t want it to be. Instead, you can drive a dune buggy between some of the top attractions around Punta Cana—including an organic coffee and chocolate plantation, cenote swimming holes, and lesser-visited beaches—on this fun off-road sightseeing adventure.

If you’re a confident driver, you can even choose to drive your own buggy; otherwise, share with another person and take turns, or nominate your friend or partner to drive. Only over-18s can drive a buggy, but kids (over the age of 3) can participate as passengers.

What one reviewer said: “Great time and experience, [as] our instructor was wonderful and very informative. The food was delicious and beach was incredible with a great view.” Jasmine_J, March 2026

Add an Andean horseback adventure to your list of must-do unique travel activities, then check it off when you travel to Chile. Animal lovers and nature enthusiasts alike will enjoy this full-day tour from Santiago—and you don’t need to travel far from the city to reach the mountains because the capital is situated right at the foot of the Andes.

The trek is adapted to your level of riding experience, whether you’re a complete beginner or you know your way around a horse. Ride for a couple of hours along mountain trails before stopping for a picnic lunch with Chilean wine. Salud!

What one reviewer said: “Awesome time! [...] The guides and the horses were amazing, and we had a lovely ride with beautiful vistas [before finishing] with wine and charcuterie. The group is small, the travel time is minimal, and the experience was unforgettable—definitely book!” Ilana_K, March 2026