5 Death Defying Travel Destinations
Beach-bound holidays bore you to tears? If you prefer living life on the edge, enter vacation mode at full-throttle. Here are 10 extreme destinations for thrill seekers, but be forewarned – these excursions aren’t for the faint of heart.
By Jackie Middleton for readersdigest.ca
1. Scale Mount Everest in Nepal
Want to conquer the world’s highest mountain? If you’re a climbing fanatic looking for your next buzz-worthy challenge, Alpine Ascents can turn your dream into reality. Their professional mountain guides, and Sherpa staff create an exhilarating and safe climbing experience that you won’t soon forget. Take in jaw-dropping views and push your body to its limit while on the expedition to one of Earth’s most remote locations. Climbs are scheduled from March–June.
2. EdgeWalk in Toronto, Canada
Go to the brink with EdgeWalk at Toronto’s CN Tower. This mind-blowing quest challenges visitors to walk along a tiny 1.5-metre wide ledge – atop the tower’s main pod – while 356-metres in the air. EdgeWalk is a one-of-a-kind experience and a Guinness World Record holder – it’s the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk. You’ll gasp at the heart-stopping views of Lake Ontario, and Toronto’s skyscrapers. Itching to test your nerve? EdgeWalk is open from May-October.
3. Dive with Hammerhead Sharks in Ecuador
The waters of the Galapagos Islands are famous for unsurpassed marine life, invigorating diving adventures and hundreds of hungry sharks. Get up-close and personal with a multitude of creatures: seahorses, giant manta rays, sea turtles, neon-hued fish and penguins. But be prepared – danger lurks amongst the brilliant coral and playful sea lions. A shiver-inducing school of hammerhead sharks call this turf home. Galapagos dives are scheduled year round.
4. Ride the World’s Steepest Roller Coaster in Japan
Never mind Godzilla, there’s a new monster lurking in the shadows of Mount Fuji. Meet the Takabisha, the world’s steepest rollercoaster. The star attraction at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park in Fujiyoshida, Japan, this Guinness World Record holder was created for the most fearless of rollercoaster fans. Want stomach-churning twists and upside down loops? Nerve-shattering speeds reaching 100 km/h? The Takabisha crushes such challenges with gusto. And with its famous, record-breaking 43-metre vertical plunge, this heart pounding experience with leave you breathless.
5. Fly a Fighter Jet in Florida
Got a need for speed? Channel your inner Top Gun and head to Tampa Bay for a fighter jet adventure of a lifetime. Your mission – a training flight aboard a genuine Soviet Aero L-39 Albatros over the Gulf of Mexico. Let your experienced instructor guide you through loops, dives, rolls and other action-packed acrobatics. If you’re lucky, your teacher will let you control the jet while airborne.
6. Mountain Biking the Grand Canyon
Let your mountain bike take you on a thrill seeking ride of discovery. The Grand Canyon’s North Rim is a destination of unrivaled beauty and wonder. Peddle through the lush Kaibab National Forest, camp overlooking the majestic canyon, and be physically challenged biking along the remote Rainbow Rim Trail. This 58-kilometre forested bike trek brings you to the canyon’s edge for the most breathtaking views imaginable. Escape Adventures can take you to a world where few people venture. North Rim mountain biking/camping excursions are scheduled May-September.
7. Husky Racing in Anchorage, Alaska
If you’re captivated by the far north’s ‘last frontier’, seven days of unbridled adventure on Alaska’s snowy plains awaits. Soar over imposing glaciers, snowmobile through icy terrain and ride a dogsled in a 1,609-kilometre Iditarod husky race. Feel the speed and sheer power of these remarkable canines as you get rare hands-on experience as a member of a mushing team. Race season runs from October-March.
Source: Readers Digest
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