If you like to live life on the wild side, visiting these thrilling tourist attractions should be on your bucket list no matter what. Check out these awesome locations that are contractually guaranteed to get your heart racing!
Death Valley
If the name didn’t convince you yet, don’t expect a relaxing beach vacation when headed out to the Death Valley National Park. Located near the border of California and Nevada, Death Valley is a low, sweeping, environmentally exposed stretch of land that gets unbearably hot in the summertime. By unbearably hot, we mean 130+° Fahrenheit. If you didn’t know already, 130° is when first degree burns start to form on human skin, so you might want to stick to the other, slightly less dangerous seasons when you’re planning out your desert hike.
The Danakil Deser
Somehow, this desert is even more deadly than Death Valley. Located in Eritrea, North Africa, the Danakil Desert exhibits similar environmental temperatures to Death Valley, but the Danakil Desert is full of active volcanoes that cause geysers and bursts of toxic fluids to pop up just about everywhere. The Danakil Desert has been lovingly given the nickname “Hell on Earth,” but despite all the negatives, there is nowhere else on the planet that looks like this place. So, if you’re feeling up to it, you should absolutely visit the Danakil Desert, but exercise extreme caution at all times.
Mount Washington
Mount Washington isn’t the most impressively tall, memorable, or beautiful peaks in America, but it is one of the most dangerous. Located in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, the mountain’s height relative to its location makes it one of the windiest places on Earth. You likely will be barred from visiting in the winter, because temperatures regularly drop below -30° Fahrenheit, and the wind speeds clock in at over 200 mph. However, the warmth of the summertime causes the weather to be much less dangerous, so you should think about visiting in July or August.
Sindabung Volcano
You’re going to have to be joined by an experienced guide when visiting the Sunabung volcano in Sumatra, Indonesia. This active volcano has a history of taking the lives of unsuspecting foreign tourists that are just trying to sneak a peek into this vat of bubbling rock. This volcano hasn’t had a full-blown eruption in around 20 years, but the magma beneath burps up hundreds of pounds of volcanic ash and carbon dioxide. Oh, by the way, this volcano’s ash contains microscopic glass particles that will, quite literally, pop your lungs like balloons. You should probably avoid this place, but if you really want to look inside a volcano, don’t do it for too long.
Snake Island
If you had a picturesque, Jimmy Buffet style vacation in mind, don’t visit Snake Island. Located off the coast of Brazil, this remote island is home to literally thousands of snakes. In fact, the snake population on Snake island is so dense that they’re practically living on top of each other. In addition to that, one of the most dominant species of snake on the island is the Golden Lancehead, which is the 3rd most venomous snake on Earth. We, and the Brazilian government, highly recommend that you avoid going to Snake Island.
Madidi National Park
Bolivia’s Madidi National Park is one of the most scenically beautiful and biodiverse parks in the world, but one particular hang up causes it to fall into this list. Madidi National Park is one of the most poisonous places on Earth. This small mountainside forest contains the largest population of poisonous frogs and spiders in the world, and if they don’t kill you, the poisonous plants will. Even the waterways there are laden with poisonous pollen and aggressive fish that will cut your vacation devastatingly short.
Valley of Death
Not to be confused with “Death Valley,” this Russian peninsula is just as dangerous, but significantly farther away. The Russian Valley of Death falls much farther north than America’s Death Valley, and its threat doesn’t come from its harsh climate, it comes from its high concentration of toxic fumes. The poisonous fumes come from unsettled volcanos and geysers that surround the valley. Very few deaths occur here annually, but hikers regularly have to evacuate the area when there is a gas bleed, which causes people to feel nauseous, dizzy, feverish, and in some cases, internal bleeding.
Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is one of the most covered up manmade disasters of all time. Prior to the 1940s, Bikini Atoll was an untouched island in between Hawaii and Australia that had a thriving ecosystem and extremely beautiful scenery. Then, right before WWII, the United States military used this remote location to test nuclear technology, completely wiping out the organisms that lived there and causing tumorous coral growths to spawn all around the island. This is the place Bikini Bottom was modeled after, and based on the photos, it only makes sense that Spongebob would be living in a “pineapple” under the sea.
Elephant Kingdom
Believe it or not, there aren’t many elephants in The Elephant Kingdom. Located in Chonburi, Thailand, this is one of the most notable tourist spots in Southeast Asia. However, people don’t come for the elephants, they come for the crocodiles. Chonburi is home to an abundance of species of aggressive crocodile, and tourists can pay to be sent out into open water on a raft to feed them raw meat. These rafts are a little rickety at times, and in the past few years, there have been numerous crocodile related casualties involving overzealous tourists stretching their boundaries and getting snagged.
Lake Natron
Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron is a festering pit of alkali soda and salt. The water in this lake has a ph level of 10.5, which is practically the ph level of ammonia, and its caused by alkali salt deposits that release themselves into the lake intermittently, causing anything or anyone that touches the water to become instantly calcified. Birds and amphibians are regularly found fossilized in crystals around the lake because its reflective surface appears just like normal water. However, you should be warned that even one drop of this water is strong enough to burn a hole through your femur in less than one minute.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a beautiful tourist town in central Florida that usually goes overlooked in the offseasons. With its surfable waves, thriving local restaurant scene, and gorgeous beachfront scenery, New Smyrna Beach sounds like a safe place to spend a holiday with your loved ones. Oh, but we did forget to mention, New Smyrna Beach is the shark attack capital of the world. For some reason, this inlet provides a hospitable environment for sharks to breed and feed, and since the currents around the area are so strong, these aggressive sharks are usually pulled close to the shore to eat. Although this is the case, it’s still highly unlikely that you’ll be attacked by a shark here, or anywhere else for that matter.
Half Dome
Located in the beautiful, historic Yosemite Valley National Park, Half Dome is one of the most widely revered natural structures in the world. Standing at roughly 9,000 feet tall, Half Dome is the second highest rock face in Yosemite, next to the legendary El Capitan, and it’s by far the most dangerous. Adventurous rock climbers rarely suffer injuries, and there are fewer than 100 global climbing deaths recorded a year, but base jumping claims most of the victims that Half Dome possesses. Half Dome has a bulbed “half dome” shape crux that has a conveniently placed, naturally occurring “diving board” that base jumpers feel was placed there by a higher power to encourage them to do what they like to do. Base jumping is illegal in Yosemite, but that doesn’t deter thrill-seekers from stealthily taking the dive under very specific circumstances.
Alnwick Gardens
Every year, 600,000+ tourists risk life and limb to visit the Alnwick Gardens. Well, it’s only a risk if you touch the plants there. Alnwick Gardens has the largest collection of poisonous foliage, most of which are tucked neatly into cages with giant warning signs pleading museum-goers to stay far away. Nobody has died from exposure to anything poisonous in the garden, but that doesn’t mean there won’t eventually be a casualty.
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are extremely popular tourist destinations for most people visiting Northern Ireland. These vast promontories offer unique vistas into the Aran Islands and the Twelve Pins mountain range, but that comes at a very specific risk. Ireland is a rainy country, so walking over the slippery rock and wet moss to see over the edge is a 1,000-foot fall to death just waiting to happen.
Boa Viagem Beach
Boa Viagem Beach is one of the most beautiful places in coastal Brazil. This 100-mile stretch of ocean hosts gorgeous views over bright blue waters, white-sand beaches, and the constant threat of imminent shark attacks at any moment. Boa Viagem has a massive aggressive shark population and unlike the inhabitants of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, people who live here don’t actually go in the water.
Hawaii (Seriously, the Whole Place)
The Hawaiian islands are a series of active volcanoes that just so happen to be dormant enough for people to build infrastructure on. However, the volcanoes that reside beneath the streets and houses of Hawaiian inhabitants spew dust and ash into the air, causing blackouts and inescapable pollution clouds that lock residents inside their houses for weeks on end. There are even occasional lava flows that destroy roads and buildings, and there is nothing Hawaiians can do to prevent any of that from happening.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is one particularly dangerous peak in the French Alps that just so happens to be a massive tourist destination. Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in Europe, and much like Mt. Everest, it has become a serious “adventure-tourism” location for people who have enough money to do so. Just like Everest, this causes a disproportionate skill gap between experienced climbers and those who just “feel like climbing a mountain today,” which leads to many unnecessary deaths a year.
El Caminito del Rey
This hike is extremely dangerous, and fortunately, it’s really only attempted by experienced hikers who know exactly what they’ve got in store for themselves. There are long portions of this mountainside trek that go along extremely thin ledges, requiring the hiker to use daisy chains, a harness, and quick draw clips to secure themselves to the rock face. This hike is rarely attempted by minimalist hikers—it’s mostly for people who climb rocks and have the gear/know-how to navigate these life-threatening obstacles.
The Colorado River
The Colorado River (depending on what activities you choose to partake in there) is an incredibly dangerous place to visit. White water rafting is a very common activity there, which is when you and your closest friends hire a guide to take you through the rapids in an inflatable boat. This activity has the potential to be deadly, as the rapids can unpredictably be impossible to navigate properly, and if you fall out of the boat, the current is strong enough to hold you underwater even with a life jacket on.
Kokoda Trail
New Guinea is a rarely touristed vacation destination that is gaining popularity as “poverty tourism” starts to expand. It’s very inexpensive to travel to New Guinea, and the scenery there is some of the coolest and least-touched-by-society that you can come by in modern times. However, this means that there is little in the way of developed infrastructure, in fact, the majority of inhabitants along the Kokoda Trail are villagers that are disconnected from society by choice. Along this trail, there are no roads, no cars, no doctors, no general stores, just you, your shoes, and 60 miles of difficult terrain.
Hua Shan Plank Path
The Hua Shan Plank Path has been getting some serious recognition in the past few years because of social media. This is a regularly touristed trail that runs through the mountains of China, and it became super popular because of its half-mile long ledge walk that people love to post on Instagram. This path is actually perfectly safe when traversed properly, but as western tourists head out there to get the best pic for the gram, they forget that this is actually a serious hike, and some people get overcome with nerves and bail.
This causes everyone behind that person to have to walk backward off of the path, increasing the duration of the hike for everyone and upping the danger. Since this path got popular in 2012, there have been two deaths concurrent with the ledge walk, both were western people, and both were ruled to be intentional suicide.
Devil’s Pools
If there’s one thing you should absolutely do before you die (or before the Earth collapses), it should be visiting the Devil’s Pools. Located in Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Devil’s Pools are a collection of tide pools that have eroded into the tops of some of the highest waterfalls in the world.
There are dozens of Devil’s Pools that people can visit, but they all pose a very serious threat. One wrong step and you might find yourself careening off the side of a mountain thousands of feet to the bottom of the waterfall. This will undoubtedly ruin your vacation.
Mount Everest
Everest used to be this huge, romantic, terrifying force of nature that regularly claimed the lives of those who were adventurous enough to dare to climb it. Nowadays, technology has gone so far that all you have to do to climb Everest is have a lot of money and resources to get you there. This has made the route to the peak of Everest significantly more treacherous than it ever has been before.
There are several hour-long lines for people to reach the summit now, meaning that people have to brave the harsh weather and altitude to stand and wait their turn to take selfies at the cap of the mountain. Eleven people died while standing in line in 2019 alone.
Yellowstone National Park
There is a supervolcano that is located underneath Yellowstone National Park that could possibly erupt at any second. There is no telling when, or if, this will happen, but the threat is constantly looming over the state of California.
If this volcano were to erupt, there would be enough ash expelled to cover the entire Earth, which will likely put us into a global cooling cycle, destroying the majority of our agricultural infrastructure.
Verzasca Dam
The Verzasca Dam was the source of one of the most iconic scenes in James Bond history. James Bond (actually, this was done by Pierce Brosnan’s stunt double) jumped off of this 720-foot da, straight down, he flew 400 feet before his secret bungee cord yanked him back.
You can recreate this act yourself if you dare. Bungee jumping is a fairly common occurrence at this dam, and if you’re unafraid like James Bond, you might want to give it a try.
Boiling Lake
Dominica is home to the world’s largest boiling lake. This water is stagnant, but it’s constantly being boiled by underwater volcanic vents. There is a gorgeous hike that you can take through a forest path, past a salt flat, over a sulfur spring, all to end up at a cliff that overlooks the boiling lake.
The clear, steamy water might be enticing, but it is quite literally hot enough to kill you instantly if you take the plunge.
Chernobyl
Although Chernobyl is becoming less dangerous than it ever has been, tourists seeking out a strange experience should be warned, there are still some hidden threats around the site of the reactor meltdown.
The Elephant’s Foot is the epicenter of the radiation emanating from the space as of right now, this object is a molten collection of plutonium, iron, oil, and sawdust. As long as this object festers near reactor 4, the surrounding area will not be safe.
Death Road
Every year there are hundreds of automotive and pedestrian deaths on this extremely dangerous path. Located in Bolivia, Death Road is a mountain pass that is very narrow, has hairpin turns, and is generally low visibility at all times.
One wrong turn or a navigation slip can cause you and your passengers to fly 2,500 feet to your deaths off the side of this mountain. Fortunately, drivers who do brave this path are required to take specific tests and get a special license to be allowed to do so. Bikers, on the other hand, are free to proceed at their own risk.
Trolltunga
Troolltunga is a super famous cliff in Norway that has been the source of more deaths than any other naturally occurring cliff on Earth. Trolltunga or “Troll’s Tongue” dangles its visitors 2,600 feet off the ground, and while you can find some of the best views in the world up there, people who seek to capture the best Instagram moments should be warned.
Just last year, 6 individuals died while attempting to take a picture of themselves dangling off the end of Trolltunga. Don’t be like those fools, stay on top of the rock like everyone else and nobody will get hurt.
Running of the Bulls
The Running of the Bulls is an extremely old tradition in Pamplona, Spain. Once a year, over 2,000 contestants sign up to run through the narrow streets of Pamplona while trying to avoid getting gored by the bull’s sharpened horns. People frequently die from either being trampled or stabbed by the horns of this 1,000-pound beasts, but some trained professionals have been able to make it through the course safely every year.
The admissions for this event were much looser a few years ago than they are now, and you have to pass a test to even be considered as a candidate for the run.
Skellig Michael
You might recognize this place from the newest iterations of the Star Wars franchise. Located on the coast of Ireland, Skellig Michael Island was developed by Catholic monks nearly 200 years ago. There is a set of 600 ancient stairs that lead to the peak of this mountainous island, but there are no safety protocols there, and if a person does get hurt, you are nearly 10 hours away from the closest hospital.
There are no bathrooms, restaurants, convenience stores, shelters, or people that live on this island either. If you get stuck here, you might want to start counting your blessings.
Acapulco
It’s extremely sad, but the greatest danger that a person can face when visiting Acapulco is the impoverished people of this historic city. Organized criminals run the local government in Acapulco, there is virtually no community infrastructure built there, so some individuals have turned to a life of petty crime to make ends meet here. If you do choose to visit Acapulco, stay within the city limits.
Tourists frequently get kidnapped and held on ransom outside of the city limits, so if you would prefer that to not be you, stay close to the center.
Rural and Suburban Russia
Russia is similar to Mexico at the moment. With criminals running the government, Russian citizens get heavily taxed and forced into poverty without incentive to improve their lives through occupation. This forces impoverished individuals to turn to other means of wealth acquisition.
You likely won’t get kidnapped in Russia (the police system has a no-tolerance policy for kidnapped foreigners), but there is a good chance you’ll get robbed if you make a wrong turn at the wrong time.
East of Cairo
Egypt is a tourist center for the entire world. Visiting the pyramids in Cairo and seeing the Nile River is a super popular spot for tourists to rush to, but be warned of the political climate there before you buy your plane ticket.
The Egyptian government has been fighting back against peaceful protestors in the cities surrounding Cairo, so stepping out of the city could mean stepping into an active warzone.
North Korea
Only recently have tourists been allowed within the limits of North Korea, which has been a massive breakthrough since they closed their borders to the outside world. However, these tours are highly curated by the government, and if any tourists stray from the pre-determined path, there could be hell to pay.
In 2017, an American tourist named Otto Warmbier was detained by North Korean officials after “seeing too much” during his visit as a tourist. He then died under North Korean custody, and his body was never returned back to American soil.
Stairway to Heaven
Located in O’ahu, Hawaii, the Stairway to Heaven is a legendary hike up the entire volcano that makes up the island. Be warned, this hike is ILLEGAL and you can end up with some huge fines and even get sentenced to jail time for attempting to walk up these forbidden stairs.
Additionally, the people who live alongside the Stairway to Heaven have been extremely hostile to individuals attempting this hike before, some even set booby traps that can injure or kill those who walk up the stairs. There is a legal way to ascend this volcano, but it isn’t nearly as scenic or adventurous as the original way. Use this information carefully, we do not condone breaking the law, even if it is really cool.
Komodo Island
Located directly south of Indonesia is Komodo Island. This small island is home to, you might have guessed this already, roughly 10,000 Komodo dragons. These guys are pretty docile, so they won’t prove to be too much of a threat, but if you do end up getting aggressed on by one of these giant lizards, run in the opposite direction.
Komodo dragons are not poisonous, but their mouths host colonies of bacterium that can cause gangrene and horrible infections immediately. From 1974-2012, there have been 24 Komodo dragon attacks on humans on Komodo Island, 5 of those attacks ended with the victim dying.
Tijuana
Tijuana is a modern tourist capital for young folks and partygoers, but recently there has been an influx of cartel members in the small Mexican city. Although it is rare, some American tourists have reported getting captured and interrogated by cartel members, all of which were released immediately afterward unharmed.
There have been instances where foreigners were forced to “mule” narcotics over the border, many of these instances were unsuccessful, but what doesn’t get reported on remains a mystery.
Grand Canyon
Taking the pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon is a common American activity. Despite the tour guides and protocols that have been set up to protect people from the dangers of the Grand Canyon, every year ends with more and more people falling over the edge for one reason or another.
It’s best to visit the canyon during the day so you have maximum visibility, stay hydrated, and travel with a group so you know exactly where is safe to be. Never travel outside of the confines of a protected area, or you might find yourself plummeting thousands of meters to your death.
Bash Bish Falls
You have to make a decision to get hurt at Bash Bish Falls, which is totally fine if you’re a somewhat responsible and experienced adult who feels comfortable jumping off of a cliff. Yes, you read that right, Bash Bish Falls, located in Massachusets, is one of the prime locations for cliff jumping in America.
This series of waterfalls is famous for its high drops and shallow pools, which is what claims the lives of most novice cliff jumpers when they don’t check their landing zone, or land improperly. Always jump with a guide in a controlled environment, never jump on your own out there.
Adelaide River
Mainland Australia is famous for its terrifying creatures and constant threats that people talk about on the internet, but real Aussies know that the Adelaide River is, by far, the most dangerous thing in the country (continent?). These murky waters are perfect for boating, birdwatching, and fishing, but be warned, it’s full of some life-threatening creatures.
The Adelaide River is home to the highest concentration of giant saltwater crocodiles in the world, as well as the highest concentration of aggressive bull sharks in the world. There are rarely attacks on people here, mostly because locals know to steer clear from going into the water, but every once in a while someone disappears into the murky depths.
Hanakapiai Beach
Hanakapiai Beach in Hawaii is the most dangerous place to swim in the world. This beach has a constant rip current that naturally occurs because it is such an aggressive inlet. There are sharp rocks under the enormous waves that break directly on the shore, and those who can even make it off the beach are most likely going to get swept so far into the current that they won’t be able to make it back to shore before they become exhausted from treading water.
Do yourself a favor and stick to the sand on this one, or just go to another beach altogether.
Angel’s Landing
Angel’s Landing has, by far, the best view of Zion National Park that anyone could find. However, in order to get there, you need to traverse a sketchy, narrow trail that’s treacherous and has no guard rails (sans one chained rail system that runs up the side of the natural staircase).
If you make one wrong move, you will plummet thousands of feet to your death, but if you do make it to the top, you’ll be greeted by one of the most legendary views on Earth. Use your discretion on this one, but people rarely die on this path.
The Yucatan Cenotes
This place is not for the underseasoned adventurer. The Yucatan Cenotes are a system of underwater caves that are extremely claustrophobic and confusing to navigate. You must be accompanied by an experienced navigator who knows exactly what they are doing and where they are taking you.
Divers can get stuck in the narrow passageways down there and run out of oxygen, but when accompanied by a professional, it’s more likely that you’ll just get stuck for a second and find your way out.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Every year, experienced mushers push through 1,000 miles of snow and ice to claim the Iditarod prize, a pat on the back and a rotating trophy. Oh, also there’s a $500,000 cash prize for the winner, who is also given a new pickup truck from whatever brand chooses to donate it.
You can’t get into the Iditarod without explicit permits, but you can join the winners for a beer at the finish line. Just make sure to bundle up, okay?
The Door to Hell
So, the door to hell first appeared during a Soviet drilling experiment gone wrong. Soviet troops were drilling for natural gas, and they just so happened to find the largest natural gas deposit on Earth.
Unfortunately for them, the ignited the entire thing, causing a 60-year continuous burn that isn’t going to change for another 100 or so years. You can’t really put this fire out, so tourists come from far and wide to see this terrifying hole burn itself away, one second at a time.
Teahupo’o
This beach is home to the world’s heaviest and deadliest waves. Only the most experienced (and craziest) surfers should even dare to put their boards in the water here at Teahupo’o, but apparently, riding a wave there is a once in a lifetime experience that nobody who has lived to tell the tale would trade for anything.
If you’re learning about Teahupo’o for the first time while reading this article, chances are you aren’t qualified to try this activity out, but there are plenty of Youtube videos to check out if you’re curious.
Oymayakon
We’ve looked at the hottest places on Earth, now, how about the coldest place? Oyayakon, Russia has an average temperature of -58° Fahrenheit in the winter, which for them is 8 months out of the year.
The coldest it has ever gotten there was -90° Fahrenheit, which is cold enough to cause the paint on a car to shatter.
The Inga Rapids
This place is absolutely terrifying, and if you’re an experienced kayaker or canoer, you know that you absolutely cannot enter the Inga Rapids and expect to live to tell the tale.
These are the most dangerous rapids on earth, laden with whirlpools and waterfalls that are enough to make people standing back 100 feet a little uncomfortable. Don’t come here expecting an exciting day at the rapids, expect a relaxing day sitting on the riverbank.
Mawsynram
If you like to visit strange places that have weird naturally occurring phenomenons, check out Mawsynram in India. This small city experiences the most rainfall of any city on earth, averaging 467 inches annually.
This rain isn’t spaced out either, in fact, sometimes it will rain more than 5 feet in one day.
Chevé Cave
If you’re visiting Oaxaca, try the molé, then head to the Chevé Cave to (safely) go deeper into the Earth than you can literally anywhere else. This place is not for the claustrophobic or inexperienced, visitors trek downward for around 3 hours to get to the crux of this exploration.
You can join a tour group to check this place out, but you’ll have to pass a series of tests and get safety permits to do so.
Formula Rossa Roller Coaster
The fastest roller coaster on Earth s located in Dubai, it goes so fast that it can literally cause you to have a heart attack. Topping out at 149 mph at its maximum speed, the Formula Rossa roller coaster can cause all the blood in your body to flood to your extremities, due to the g-force that you experience while in the ride.
Fear not, nobody has ever died on this roller coaster, but like, that is a possibility.
Gloucestershire
The cheese rolling competition in Gloucestershire is one of the strangest, most dangerous, and most humorous traditions that any small town in the world has. Every year, someone drops a wheel of aged Cooper cheese down a steep hill, and people chase it down to claim the victory.
The prize? You get to keep the wheel of cheese, which is actually worth a ton of money and is considered to be one of the rarest cheeses and most unique flavors in the world. Don’t worry about losing though, if you aren’t injured by the time you get to the bottom, the winner usually shares the cheese with the other competitors.
Al Mamoom
Camel racing is a huge market in the Middle East, king of like how horse racing is a huge market over here in the states. You can actually sign up to ride a camel against a bunch of robot jockeys for a strangely low price for what it is.
The strangest thing about all of this is that the camels will be out racing each other for fun with no riders on them, and they never seem to notice that there is a person or a robot on their back when the time comes.
The Superclasico
Going to the Superclasico in Argentina literally requires you to choose a football team and then physically fight for their honor. This clash of titans is a match between the two teams that have the oldest rivalry in football, Boca Juniors, and River Plate.
Fans of either team have been known to do absolutely anything they can to help their team take the victory, including pepper spraying the players from the stands, and urinating on the other team from the top of the stadium.
Rio de Janeiro
Have you ever seen a picture of Christ the Redeemer and wish you could visit it just a little bit closer. Well, you’re in luck if you have ever taken a class about hang gliding and you’re willing to risk life and limb to catch it. There is a company in Rio de Janeiro that will let you rent and launch a hang glider to circle around the city and take in the sights from above.
Obviously, you must be experienced or accompanied by a professional, it would be absurd for any novice paraglider to simply attempt one of these journeys.
Gansbaai
If you have enough cash in your pocket and are in need of a serious adrenaline rush, you should visit the Gansbaai shark diving academy in South Africa. Here, you can pay to be lowered into chummed waters in a shark cage and watch as these behemoth creatures chow down on their supper.
Fortunately, nobody has ever been attacked through this program, and with recent technological advances, shark armor is stronger than it ever has been.
Kjerag Plateau
This is one of the coolest rocks you can visit, which you should get on top of before it falls out due to natural erosion. The Kjerang Plateau has a famous, perilous rock that you need to step over to complete the plateau hike, this rock is being held by friction in between two giant rock structures.
Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to step on this bad boy, just make sure to snap a picture while you’re at it or nobody will believe that you actually did that.
Namena Marine Reserve
Fiji is insanely beautiful, one of the Earth’s greatest natural locations that are totally worth visiting no matter what. If you’re into diving and you want to see something that you can’t see anywhere else, there is a crater in the Namena Marine Reserve that has generated its own biome and coral system that is unique to this one place.
However, there are some tight turns and caves that you have to navigate to find the biome, so this isn’t recommended for the faint of heart.
The Sahara Desert
Joining a camel caravan to cross a desert might seem like tedious work, but most tourists have called it “meditative” and “stunning.” A popular tourist attraction for those who visit the Sahara desert is hopping on a camel, with a guide of course, and traversing from one end of the desert to the other.
Here you get to experience the sun more intimately than anywhere else in the world, and wearing long, flowy, breathable fabric that covers your body is a must if you want to survive the trek.
Pucon
You have to be absolutely out of your mind if you think this is something that would be fun for you to do. Diving out of a helicopter over an active volcano, only to be snapped back up at the helicopter by a bungee cord is a weirdly popular thing to do around Pucon, Chile.
By popular, we mean that a few hundred people do it annually, and the number is continuing to grow every year that goes by.
Lysebotn
Base jumping is statistically the most dangerous hobby that anyone can pick up. However, if you only want to do it once and then forget it’s an activity altogether, head to Lysebotn, Norway. This is one of the only two places on Earth where base jumping is legal, and you can take a quick intro class before you hop off a mountain for the first time.
You’ll probably be okay, these guys are top-notch professionals and nobody has ever died once in the 11 years they have been conducting this activity.