A New Zealand online newspaper recently produced a list of exhilarating activities for travelers who want to do more than just see the sights. This is the list – in no particular order. Hopefully this list will help you with your next holiday plans!
Trekking to Everest’s South Base Camp in Nepal is the adventure of a lifetime. Start at Kathmandu before making your way to Lukla and up the Khumbu Valley towards the South Base Camp. In addition to breathtaking snow-capped mountain ranges, you’ll take in the Khumbu Icefall, Sherpa villages, the Namche Bazaar, and a number of Buddhist monasteries on route.
The world’s longest man-made structure stretches over 6,300 miles (10,139 kilometers) from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west. It’s a great way to experience the country’s history, culture and breathtaking scenery but you’ll need physical strength and stamina to keep up, as this is not an activity for the weak.
Hiking 28 miles (45 kilometers) Peruvian Andes, you’ll come across the stunning ruins of the long-forgotten Inca city of Machu Picchu. Like Indiana Jones, you will cut away foliage with a machete as you make your way through the subtropical jungle, cross deep ravines, scale long flights of stairs, and pass through the crumbling passageways constructed by the Incas thousands of years ago.
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime in the Sahara Desert, on camel. Starting in Marrakech, follow the ancient camel caravan routes through the desert to Jebel Saghro and up towards the dunes of Erg Chebbi, camping each night beside a crackling fire at small, palm-fringed oases.
Tandem skydiving involves being strapped to an instructor as you leap out of a plane 10,000 to 12,000 feet (3,048 to 3,657 meters) above the ground so you don’t need to worry about pulling the cord at the right time.
Forget the movie “Jaws.” You’ll be in a robust cage with an oxygen tank strapped to your back as the king of the deep approaches, with its gleaming white teeth, dead black eyes and its torpedo-like body.
You could just appreciate the beauty of Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls with a walking tour — or, for those more daring, bungee-jump from a perch at the nearby Victoria Falls Bridge. Until recently, this was the highest legal bungee-jump spot in the world with a 364 feet drop towards the Zambezi River.
There are few road trips that manage to pack in the best of both the natural and the man-made worlds, but a motorcycle trip up the road linking Los Angeles and San Francisco does just that. The trip affords drivers sights of everything from mansions to coast lines with the awesome beauty of the coastal mountains in the Big Sur.
Running away from a bull during the nine-day San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain, is one of the most exhilarating activities an outsider can do. Six or so raging bulls charge down the street, bucking and snorting, and the aim of the game is to run as fast as you can and escape injury by ducking into alleyways or completing the run before the bulls.
If you’ve ever wanted to catch your own fish straight from a hole in the ice, try Ontario, Canada, which offers up over one quarter of the world’s freshwater, with plenty of trout, bass and pike. Travel to Algoma Country on the northern part of Lake Superior then bait-up, cast your line and wait for something juicy to bite which can then be cooked a crackling fire.
Source: Stuff – NZ News
Yikes, some worse then others but all too much for me!
I’ll take #3. Thanks.
I would kill to do the Inca trail in Peru. I’ve wanted to do that since I was a kid. My sister did the cage diving in South Africa and loved it, she said her heart was in her mouth every time a shark came up to them but she enjoyed it.
Great list!
rhharley: I wouldn’t mind number 3 either.
You definitely won’t catch my bungee jumping or skydiving though!
Good Morning
Good list, Jamie, but you should check out:
http://www.ssqq.com/ARCHIVE/vinlin27.htm
Skip the tame stuff and go right to Mt. Huashan Hiking Trail!
Oh, and read the story of the Guoliang tunnel – Unbelievable!
stevenh: I feel sick just looking at those pictures!
I know exactly what you feel!
(And I was a rock & ice climber for years, in my younger days)
I think I need a raise, to afford these trips! I’d do any of these, except running with the bulls. Some of them would still be dangerous but at least you can check your skydiving instructor’s background, the bungee jumping equipment, and the thickness of the ice. Unless they let me give personality tests to the bulls to check for anti-social behavior I’d have to pass on that.
I want to go on the camel trek in Morocco! That sounds fabulous. As a side note, I have a friend who goes fishing in Canada. He says it’s beautiful but apparently the mosquitoes are horribly bad; maybe that’s why ice fishing is the way to go!
At least im in the top ten!!
As soon as I saw this list, the first one I thought was *****, haha! I guess it sort of goes without saying, though.
I would love to walk the great wall someday, that would be absolutely amazing.
HexenBexen: me too!
my dream is to do #9 too
me and some friends go whitewater rafting every year, thats pretty good.
btw: wheres reading listverse?
I am Canadian and I live in Ontario and you guys must be crazy to have ice fishing on this list. There is nothing more exhilarating than sitting in -30 Celsius weather staring at a circle for 5 hours waiting for a stick to move.
I would be so excited to have the opportunity to do anything from #10 to #2.
I’m Canadian too and when I saw what they had chosen for #1, I was howling with laughter! I’m as patriotic as the next Canuck, but you’ve captured the sheer silliness of ice fishing in one sentence! Well done!
Firstly, highway one does not run through california.
I don’t know who wrote this, but it actually runs from southern Florida to Northern Maine!
CAN I SAY RETARD! RETARD RETARD RETARD! GET YOUR STATES RIGHT!
JC the list refers to California State Highway 1 not US Highway 1. Oddly enough, I think most states have a Highway 1
JC: As reid1201 said, it is California state highway 1. Do you really need to resort to that kind of behaviour and language to get your point across?
I live in Canada, I’ve been ice fishing many times and you forgot the important part. The booze. Ice Fishing and liquor is like tea and crumpets. They belong together. Getting there is exhilarating, ice fishing is the party at the end of the trip.
Great list by the way, many of these things I would love to do.
Jfrater; I’ve discovered that name calling usually results from people attributing to others characteristics that they themselves have…see post #15
No Skydiving and bungee jumping for me. No Bulls either but i’m definitely gonna try for all the others. Now let me just win that lottery ticket…
Skip the ice fishing. Try flying–learning to fly an airplane is the most exciting thing I’ve done in my life.
And you now can buy tickets (@ $200,000 a pop) to take a short ride into space–how cool would that be????!
I also found the experience of watching my two children arrive pretty exhilarating, too!
#stevenh: I’m amazed folks don’t pick some other time of the year to travel that road.
From what I read here: http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/hsi_europe/the_sun_also_sets_its_time_to_put_the_brakes_on_the_running_of_the_bulls.html
Running of the bulls seems like animal cruelty to me.
Amazing list, “jayfray”. I would love the skydiving, bungee jumping, if I weren’t afraird to jerk my eyes out or have my insides jumbled around. The Great Wall looks amazing. The Motorcycle trip is the most appealling and doable for me. Thanks for all the great lists.
Question: do you write ALL the lists? Or do you have help?
StormyGirl: I try to write most of them – I publish ones that people send in too – and occasionally use other sites as the source (such as this one)
Jamie: Totally… load my ass on a Harley and off we go… course, I’m actually MOVING to California soon, so it’s closer to a reality for me now…
And jumping off of tall things potentially to your doom? NOT COOL.
DarthBarbie, as a Canadian as well, I was confused by the inclusion of ice fishing too. Not my idea of fun, certainly not at the top spot!!
Thanks, j.
cooollllllllll/////////////
i would luv 2 try all……..its sooooooo gr8….provided i get a chance………n yeah….provided mom n rest dont freak out……i can imagine my mom havin a heart attack bfore i can even put a step anywer near mt. everest…………
blah!!!!!!!!!
Jfrater, Kiwiboi; I’m assuming you two aren’t part of the demographic used for this study..
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/kiwis_seek_therapy_for_low_*****ual_desire_541798
Hike the Appalachian Train Georgia to Maine.
I’d probably do everything except running with the bulls!
and whats with the commenting rules i see at the bottom of the screen?
rules that will hopefully eliminate some annoying trends of late.
csimmons: they are the rules that most people are doing out of good manners anyway – I have put them there for the few that need a bit of reminding
I will eventually remove them from registered users screens – only unregistered users will see them.
i went ice fishing at lake of the woods in ontario in the begginging of january:)
I have actually done several of your list. The one I’m most connected to is hiking to the Everest Base Camp. I used to lead treks there. For an intimate portrait of that trek and the Sherpa culture of the Everest region, read Beyond the Summit.
Details of Sherpa culture and religion are interwoven in a tale of romance and high adventure. The story has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, an expedition from the porter’s point of view.
Below are selections from reviews. To read the complete ones and excerpts go to http://www.beyondthesummit-novel.com
Beyond the Summit, is the rare gem that shows us the triumphs and challenges of a major climb from the porter’s point of view. The love of two people from diverse cultures is the fiery centerpiece of a novel that leads its readers through harshly beautiful and highly dangerous territory to the roof of the world. Malcolm Campbell, book reviewer
Conflict and dialog keep this gripping story of destiny, romance and adventure moving from the first page to the last paragraph. LeBlanc has a genius for bonding her readers and her characters. I found I was empathizing in turn with each character as they faced their own personal crisis or trauma.
Richard Blake for Readers Views.
A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest. EverestNews.com
A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection. Midwest Book Review
LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains. Boulder Daily Camera
LeBlanc’s vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read. Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week
A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there. USABookNews.com
This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a higly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended.”
– John (college professor)
Memorable characters and harrowing encounters with the mountains keep the action moving with a vibrant balance of vivid description and dialogue. Literary Cafe Host, Healdsburg, CA
This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing. Wick Downing, author of nine novels
Such vividly depicted images of the Everest region and the Sherpa people are the perfect scenario for the romance and adventure feats narrated. It’s a page-turner, so engrossing you end up wanting to visit Nepal! Not just novel, but perfect for those seeking to get acquainted with the culture of this country.
By Claudia Fournier (América, Bs. As., Argentina)
Available through Barnes and Noble, Borders, amazon.com, Chesslerbooks.com, and the web site
Cheers to Canada being number one. Such a great place for those who love the outdoors.
Great list! Like W Tom, I’m glad you included something from Canada – most people don’t really think of us as a getaway destination!
I don’t know what you guys are complaining about. I LOVE going Ice fishing, There are no black flys or mosquitoes or ticks during the winter, Bears are hibernating and you don’t need a boat to get to the deeper water.
heavybison: I’m sure that it is easier in other seasons. But ya gotta admit – not as much ‘fun’
Jamie: A bit of a shame that you’ve needed to state those posting rules. I leave for a few hours and then…there goes the neighborhood….
BTW: Linda’s post was not a novel.
It was an advertisement for her book.
Wow JC you’ve got to be the biggest prick ever. Awesome list by the way, im hoping to go skydiving in a few months.
Breaking and entering at 3 am… Streaking at 3 pm… Telling you boss how you really feel about the new project… The first kiss with a chick… Proposing to said chick… Driving 1700 miles to see you wife while she’s on base… Finally figuring out whether you Are indeed Divorced… JagerBombs… Hard work without recognition… Promotion… Becoming a better person through criticism by your employees… That one good Stretch when you wake up that makes your toes curl…
This is fun!
I’ve ridden the pacific coast highway, 1 and 101 from Seattle to San Diego a couple of times and it is incredible. I also did a cage dive in Hawaii. Didn’t see great whites like in South Africa, but did see a huge school of other 10 to 12 foot long sharks, and it’s amazing to be in the water with them. I highly recommend it.
What’s the altitude at the base camp?
Re: #15, Just for the fun of it, and keeping things on a nice note …
Highway 1 (A state road) in california Vs. US 1 (A Federal Road) In a GoogleFight:
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Highway+1&word2=US+1
its a little late to respond, but good rules Jamie, I am always tired of reading long comments that are more than likely not worth the read, and i hate all caps writing, you can’t shout through text, but i love text talk.
I’m not sure I’d call these ‘exhilerating’. Perhaps “Adventurous”.
If i win the Bebo Gapyear im so putting these on my list of things to do. (that bull doesnt look particularly sober)
man i feel guilty….i live in south africa and have never been cage diving! maybe its because i watched a bit too much jaws….
I think the bull-running thing is the dumbest thing ever. If you get hurt doing that, you totally deserve it.
Ice fishing is painfully boring, I don’t know how it made it on the list let alone how it got number 1.
Running with the bulls would be fun as long as you could run fast.
i’ve driven highway 1 and its nice ride with nice scenery
#3…
Don’t stop the trip in San Fran, keep heading north!
HWY 101 gets even more beautiful through Oregon.
This list gets me all excited. I’m a travel junkie and a thrill seeker. I would do all of these except for running of the bulls.
I’ve been to Peru, and though I didn’t hike the Inca Trail, I did a lesser known hike, which is a bit harder, into Colca Canyon. It’s a 3 day hike and out of a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, with a small village and an oasis at the bottom. I’m pretty athletic but, physically, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It doesn’t help that I can’t pack for ***** and was carrying way too much weight.
When I was 17, I forged my age and bungee jumped off the highest bridge in Europe, the Europebruecke in Austria, even though I was still terrified of heights at the time. The height was 192 m, which is almost 600 feet. I was gonna back out but they wouldnt give me my money back and they were making fun of me in German so I jumped to spite them.
I have many more plans but this list gives me some new ideas. Thanks!
No offense to Canadians, but I wouldn’t describe fishing as exhilarating.
To #50: Of course ice fishing is “painful” to you, you are doing it with wetsocks. HaHa Me so Funny.
Anyway. I don’t think I could do most of these. I don’t have phobias, but I do have fears. Heights, flying, sharks, drowning, spiders. Hacking through the Inca Trail all I could think of was a spider coming out.
My husband’s uncle mentioned a scary road like those in #5. It is in Jamaica. I wish I could remember the name of it. He said people drive really fast on it too.
wow I’m glad canada is number one. It is a beautiful country
i don’t see how walking the great wall of china can be in a list of exhilarating activites when other things like sky diving are on here.
also, the relative difference between ice fishing and running with the bulls is unbelievable.
No signatures? I guess ACB is out of luck.
WAIT WAIT WAIT .. sticking a string into a hole in the ground is the number 1 most exhilarating activity ????? WTF are you thinking?