Chapter IX

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

— Mark Twain

The rush of adrenaline, the push to get outside the comfort zone, the kick of an adventure are all that a fearless intrepid traveller desires. The lookout for thrilling holidays has led to tourism that has been trimmed specifically for an adventurer. Being intrepid is an attitude. It tickles the desire to explore more, to be inquisitive, to challenge further and to be open to new experiences and perspectives. The payoff of a thrill is akin to what He-Man feels when he lifts his sword and in stentorian voice booms “I am the power”. The increase in testosterone may be brief but it is powerful and spine-tingling.

Are you born adventurous or does your environment make you one? The truth is adventure comes to those who seek it. The rise in adventure tourism shows that people are ready, more than ever for little thrilling escapades, to try visiting exotic places and even to try unfamiliar foods. The movie “Zindagi Na Mile Dobara” is a shining example of this. It is an awesome travel and adventure film involving a long road trip coupled with adventure sports. The thrill the three friends feel when they partake in the Bull Run in Pamplona and La Tomatina in Valencia could be felt by every person in the audience.

The “birds of feather flock together” proverb is aptly applicable to people seeking a thrill. They’re great meeting places for like-minded people and foster new connections. The world now sees a growing group of courageous travellers seeking out the unusual and uncharted.

5 incredible things to do for the adventure-seeking buffs:

1. DIVE WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Would you take the plunge into the depths of shark-infested waters? Gansbaai, in South Africa, is the Mecca of Great White Shark Cage Diving in the World and cage dive trips take place here daily from Kleinbaai Harbour, all year round, as weather permits. It offers an emotion-charged experience where you simply hop into a cage, go deep into the blue sea, and in no time you will be surrounded by huge Great Whites.

2. CLIFF-WALK IN CHINA

Located about 120km from Xi’an, Mount Huashan is one of the five sacred mountains and many important Taoist temples can be found here. It is said to have the worlds most dangerous hiking trails. Impossible pathways have been carved all over the crags, and it is this place that has caught the attention of intrepid travellers everywhere. Get harnessed and seek the thrill of a lifetime as you walk on a 50 m plank around the edge of a cliff. Are you game for this?

3. WING WALKING OVER ENGLAND

Wing walking is definitely only for the courageous. It takes some serious guts to climb up and onto the wing of a plane, get strapped into the harness and stand there while the plane soars off into the sky. We put this one in the same category as parachuting and bungee jumping. This one is definitely not for the weak.

4. MOUNTAIN BIKE DOWN THE DEATH ROAD IN BOLIVIA

A major La Paz tourist attraction, biking down the Yungas Road is popular as one of the most adventurous and exhilarating activities in Bolivia. Driving on the “Death Road” (as it is also called) is extremely perilous. A biker may face difficulties due to fog, landslides, cascades, and steep cliffs that drop 2,000 feet at every turn. 

5. SKYDIVE IN SPAIN

Located close to Seville, the freefall with Skydive offers breathtaking views of the landscape below. The 15,000 feet dive is is the highest in the whole of Europe. You could find a professional instructor to train you if you want to try a tandem jump as well.

Do you know where travellers are heading to get spooked in the world? Check out the previous post: “The Haunted Destinations To Give The Chills.”