Our editors hand-pick all the items and goods featured on Condé Nast Traveler. You may be able to buy something through our links, and we may receive an affiliate commission. Best Destinations For Outdoor Enthusiasts Even while we enjoy spending our time relaxing on remote beaches or visiting our favorite cities again, there are moments when our passports need to be used for adventurous travel—those once-in-a-lifetime excursions that take us well beyond our comfort zones.
Adventure travel is an excellent method to broaden your horizons, push your physical boundaries, and return home with an abundance of anecdotes to share at social gatherings. The most amazing outdoor experiences for daring tourists are listed here; they range from skydiving in Dubai to climbing Machu Picchu.
You may discover fascinating activities (like camping beneath the northern lights) that don't involve a lot of physical or emotional effort, even if you don't think of yourself as a daredevil. So buckle up, pull on your best hiking boots, and get ready for an experience of a lifetime.
What Are the Best Outdoor Destinations for Adventure?
Under the Iguazú Falls, a boat
Situated on the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguazú Falls in South America dwarf all other waterfalls. While there are walkways and catwalks nearby from which to observe the system of more than 200 cascades (which reach heights of around 270 feet), we prefer the more daring option of stepping on an inflatable raft from Iguazú Jungle and sailing right beneath the thrilling, high-pressure falls.
Read also: Most Exotic Vacation Destinations
Ascent to the Machu Picchu
The renowned Inca fortress of Machu Picchu, situated in the Andes, is a must-see for every explorer. Although there are bus and train options to get to the location, adventurous visitors may walk the full 26 miles of the Inca Trail in five days. Alternatively, you may be dropped off at kilometer marker 104 and complete the entire adventure in one day, courtesy of the local tour operator Sam Travel Peru.
In the Sahara, sand surf
The Sahara's dunes are enormous, unspoiled, and ideal for extreme sports. The rows of barchans, which translate to "crescent-shaped dunes" in Turkic, are the perfect forms for sandboarding and surfboarding—which include sliding down the slopes on a snowboard or surfboard, respectively—and the scenery isn't unpleasant either.
Enjoy sandboarding at the Erg Chigaga Luxury Camp in Morocco, which also has quad biking and camel riding among its desert pursuits.
In British Columbia, go heli-hiking
With CMH Heli + Skiing, you can backcountry ski by helicopter to Canada's steepest and deepest powder. But in the summer, the company's guides lead hikes that last several days and transport visitors to areas that would otherwise be unreachable, including ridgelines, alpine meadows, and breathtaking vistas.
The lodgings are very pleasant, with log-hewn lodges including full-service restaurants, spa services, and a rooftop hot tub to unwind in before another day on the trail—even if these high-altitude experiences are not for the faint of heart.
Read also: Where To Meet Travel Buddies
Above Cappadocia, a hot air balloon
You can only see the renowned limestone spires and fairy chimneys in central Turkey from above on a hot air balloon journey; this is not possible from the ground.
Kappadokya Balloons is the first company in Cappadocia to offer hot air balloon tourism. We recommend making reservations with them. The services include champagne after the flight, refreshments, complete insurance, and transportation to and from your accommodation.
Go glacier hunting in Greenland
Greenland is one of the world's most unexplored regions, so even though it can be pricey and difficult to get, the trip is well worth it.
The hundreds-year-old glaciers and icebergs that drift off the coast and that you can get up close and personal with on a boat tour are Exhibit A. On these sailings, Hurtigruten and Cruise Norway are available.
Navigate Botswana with a mobile safari
As opposed to typical safari camps, which are stationary like regular hotels, Barry Stenner Safaris' private canvas safaris are completely mobile, allowing you to change places in response to the weather and the movements of the wildlife.
Follow groups of lions, hippos, elephants, and more as you travel throughout Botswana to locations rich in wildlife, such as the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
A parachute over Turkey's Blue Lagoon
One of Turkey's most exquisite beaches, "Blue Lagoon," with aquamarine tints and gravel coasts, is located near Oludeniz. The beach's consistent weather and breathtaking vistas make it one of the greatest spots in the world for paragliding.
With jumping-off locations up to 6,000 feet above sea level, Babada Mountain serves as the launch site for the majority of enterprises.
Examine the Great Barrier Reef
Everybody who dives or snorkels should visit the Great Barrier Reef at least once in their lives. In addition to the site's 1,500 fish species and more than 400 varieties of coral, coral bleaching and global warming are swiftly degrading this natural treasure. Thus, it is more important than ever to appreciate this sight in all of its splendor and to realize what we are losing.
Swim in Mexico's cenotes
The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico is home to several remarkable natural wonders, especially its enormous cenotes. Swimming in one of these natural sinkholes or descending into the subterranean cave networks is an amazing experience.
When in Tulum, check out Gran Cenote for Gothic-style rock formations or Dos Ojos ("Two Eyes") for one of the most breathtaking underwater locations on the globe.
Read also: World's Best 5 Places to Visit for 2024-2025
Fall across Dubai at 120 mph in free fall
What's surprising is that skydiving is so popular in Dubai, one of the world's most extravagant cities? A business called Skydive Dubai is close to Jumeirah Beach and provides solo jumps for certified divers and tandem skydiving for novices.
Just wait till you see Dubai's skyline while plummeting from 13,000 feet above the ground if you didn't think it was breathtaking enough.
Around Yosemite National Park's scale half dome
The 16-mile Half Dome trek in Yosemite, which climbs over 5,500 feet, can be one of the hardest walks you've ever done. The last 400 feet are the hardest;
hikers have to use two steel cables to help them up the steep hill, but the stunning vistas once they reach the summit make the terrifying but worthwhile effort worthwhile. After that, spend a night at The Ahwahnee, one of the nation's most exquisite national park hotels.
Visit South Africa and swim with enormous white sharks
Most thrill-seekers would salivate over the great white shark cage diving sport, which is said to have originated in the fishing town of Gansbaai.
Although certain low-budget shark films may make you think otherwise, cage diving is completely safe. However, we challenge you to control your pulse rate when you are up close and personal with an apex predator.
One of the most well-liked cage diving companies in the area is Marine Dynamics, and every trip includes a marine biologist and a filmmaker.
In New Zealand, bungee leaps
When the Kawarau Bridge Bungy debuted in 1988, adventure sports were all but created in New Zealand. You can join the approximately 38,000 guests who come each year to jump 140 feet from the iconic steel-framed Kawarau Bridge in the South Island. The sights are nearly as exciting as the actual fall.
Scale Mount Fuji
Alone Mount Fuji, arguably the most famous natural marvel in Japan, rises 12,388 feet above communities and reflects light on lake surfaces. Many locations, like the Park Hyatt Tokyo and Lake Kawaguchi in Fujikawaguchiko, offer views of the landmark, but the views from the top of the mountain will give you the greatest pride in your photos.
Take advantage of the official climbing season, which runs from early July to mid-September, when the approved routes and asphalt roads are clear of snow.
FAQ's: Best Destinations For Outdoor Enthusiasts
What is the most adventurous place to visit?
- Atacama Desert, Chile. For an out-of-this-world adventure, look no further than the Atacama Desert in western Chile.
- Ciudad Perdida (Lost City), Colombia.
- Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.
- Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania.
- Antarctica.
- The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
- The Dolomites, Italy.
- Northern Territory, Australia.
Which is your most desirable country for adventure?
- Thailand.
- New Zealand.
- Costa Rica.
- India.
- Australia.
- Morocco.
- Switzerland.
- Peru.
What is the perfect country for a sporty vacation?
For individuals who enjoy extreme activities and excitement, Chile is regarded as one of the top travel locations. Travelers laud the area, which has a long shoreline that is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west.
Which is the No. 1 tourist place in the world?
The World's Top 10 Most Visited Countries (All Time) France is the most visited country in the world, ranking #1, followed by Spain, the US, China, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand, Germany, and the UK. The data comes from Data Pandas.
Which place has the best nature?
- Angel Falls, Venezuela.
- The Azores, Portugal.
- Banff National Park, Canada.
- Isle of Skye, Scotland.
- Cappadocia, Turkey.
- Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan.