Love seeking thrills wherever you go? Adventure travel is definitely for you. Since adventure travel can cost quite a bit, you’d want to be sure you make the right choice when choosing a travel destination. Here are 5 countries that should be on your watch list.
Costa Rica
Lush rainforests are plentiful here, and the abundance of national parks and reserves make this an ideal place for adventure junkies. For a family friendly option, consider going zip lining, where you can whiz through the jungle canopy. Costa Rica boasts some of the best whitewater rafting in the world as well, so this is definitely the place to go if you’re into that sort of stuff. If you like a challenge, you can try your hand at whitewater kayaking.
New Zealand
There are so many options that you’d wish you had more vacation time. There are many diving spots scattered around the North and South Islands, offering a chance to see rare creatures in the sea. They boast some of the best kept marine parks in the world. For something above the ocean, consider a cruise along the ever popular Milford Sound. Some outfitters offer the options of kayaking as well. Other options to consider are climbing Franz Josef Glacier. Go ahead and hike up the glacier (most tour companies will include equipment) or if you’ve got the cash, take a helicopter all the way to the top. The relatively cheap travel options within the country make it easy on your wallet if you want to hop from place to place.
USA
Because this country has 4 distinct seasons, it’s the perfect option for long term adventure travel. You can covet all the coolest surf spots on the west coast, stay awhile, and hop on over to the east coast for amazing skiing during the winter. If you love camping, Yosemite National Park has some of the best scenery nature has to offer. You can also consider backcountry camping, where it’s just you, your backpack and the trail. If you want to do long distance hiking, the Pacific Crest Trail features over 2,600 miles of beautiful scenery.
Norway
No matter what the reason, cliff and fjord diving has become all the rage over in Norway. Perhaps it’s the laid back people, or even their open mindedness, but they love wing suit base jumping. Go ahead, put on a wing suit, and learn to fly like the birds do.
If this sounds too extreme for you, you can go ahead and opt for rafting, kayaking, cliff jumping or even river boarding.
Thailand
This country has some of the best rock climbing and caving adventures in the world. It’s got something for everyone: easier routes to beginners, to crags that any serious rock climber would find challenging. Choose from a number of tour groups that help you learn the ropes, or even to perfect your already advanced skills. You can also caving, where you can discover the gems hidden underground.