For some travelers, sightseeing, shopping and relaxing just won’t do it. True adventure seekers are looking for that rush of adrenaline that comes from jumping off a cliff, soaring through the air, exploring uncharted territory or trying anything completely new. Well, this list is going to be the endurance exam for those who want to travel and are proud of their physical fitness. Your sessions at the gym is surely not just for aesthetic purposes. So test it out with these 5 extreme travel activities.
1. Wanaka Triathlon, New Zealand
Triathlons are emerging as popular ‘breaks’ for those looking for active trips that push your body and mind to the limit. This one is set amongst the breath-taking beauty of Lake Wanaka and held over holiday time in summer. Whether you’re a first-timer, a seasoned pro, looking to go longer or faster, or keen to team up with some mates to try something new – there’s a distance for you. They got The Splash ‘n’ Dash for 5 to 10 year olds which is a 100m swim and 1km run. And then there is The Short Distance (300m swim, 8km bike, 3km run) – perfect for first timers, teams and youth. It is a fabulous melting pot for enthusiasts and professional triathletes alike. And trust me, this one is one of the easiest activities in the list.
2. Mountain biking in the Death Road
The North Yungas Road, also know as the Death Road or Road of fate, is a road leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres (35 mi) northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The largely single-lane road has no guard-rails and has cliffs of up to 600 metres (2,000 feet). Most of the road is the width of a single vehicle, about 3.2 metres (10 ft).
The danger of the road made it a popular tourist destination starting in the 1990s, drawing some 25,000 thrillseekers. Mountain biking enthusiasts in particular have made it a favourite destination for downhill biking since there is a 64-kilometre (40 mi) stretch of continuous downhill riding with only one short uphill section. There are now many tour operators catering to this activity, providing information, guides, transport and equipment.
3. Night Volcano Trekking – Indonesia
Kawah Ijen mountain is also called the Ijen crater. Inside the crater you will see a magnificent turquoise sulphur lake that exudes flames, which is smoky white in the day and majestic blue fire at night. So what do you ? You trek at night. It isn’t so much of a trek as a hair-raising slippery two hour slide in complete darkness into a volcano’s crater, edging ever closer to the huge sulphur flames. People generally do survive though.
4. Big Wave surfing in Waimea, Hawaii
Waimea Bay is located in Haleiwa on the North Shore of O’ahu in the Hawaiian Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River. In winter, Waimea and other North Shore locations such as Pipeline and Sunset Beach host a number of surfing contests because of the large waves found here. These waves are created by winter storms in the North Pacific, and their arrival on O’ahu’s North Shore are typically forecast accurately several days in advance.
The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau takes place in Waimea Bay to honor the legendary surfer and the first lifeguard of the North Shore of Oahu. Since its inception in 1984, the tournament has only been held nine times, due to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum height of 20 feet (6.1 m) before the competition can be held. Open-ocean swells of this height generally translate to wave faces in the bay of 30 feet (9.1 m) to 40 feet (12 m). The most recent tournament was in February 2016.
5. Persistence Hunting in the Kalahari Desert
Persistence hunting is a hunting technique in which hunters, who may be slower than their prey over short distances, use a combination of running, walking, and tracking to pursue prey until it is exhausted. Humans are the only surviving primate species who practice persistence hunting. Long spears, traps and poisoned arrows with a bow are mostly used.
Persistence hunting is believed to have been one of the earliest hunting strategies used by humans. It is still used effectively by the San people in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, and by the Rarámuri people of Northwestern Mexico. The San will eat anything available, both animal and vegetable. Their selection of food ranges from antelope, Zebra, porcupine, wild hare, Lion, Giraffe, fish, insects, tortoise, flying ants, snakes (venomous and non-venomous), Hyena, eggs and wild honey. The hunters frequently have to track the animal for a few days after they have hit it with a poison arrow. Running for 20 plus miles in the desert heat every day is normal. This would be a great way to learn to survive in the extreme conditions and will test you to the absolute limit.