When you think of the word “vacation,” beaches and the ocean might come to mind. For some though, vacation can be a time to try something new, exciting, and adventurous. If you are looking for a trip that is centered around a blood pumping, heart racing activity or two then read on to explore some of the best destinations for thrill seekers!

–Croc Cage: Get up close and personal with a crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove in Australia. Spend 15 minutes underwater with a saltwater crocodile. If you want to lower your heart rate after this exciting crocodile encounter, you can head on over to feed the friendly whip rays, visit the reptile house, or check out the creatures in the freshwater aquarium! 

–Great Barrier Reef: One of the seven wonders of the world that is larger than the Great Wall of China is waiting for you. To experience the beauty of the reef you can scuba dive your way through it or see it from above with the Ultimate Skydive Cairns Experience. Freefall for thirty seconds after jumping form a height of 10,000  feet – you’ll have the most spectacular, heart pumping view of Cairns, the World Heritage Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. 

-Head to the U.K. to get on the water and try out ZapCats! These inflatable catamarans are built for racing and will have your heart pumping as they reach up to fifty miles per hour in three seconds with some very fast twists and turns! Don’t worry – experiences require no experience and will have a pilot helping you every step of the way!

-Have dinner 160 feet up in the air with Dinner in the Sky in Belgium! You can eat up in the air on an open platform that will give you wonderful 360 degree views. Chefs will cook and serve your meals from the middle of your platform so you are right in front of the action. 

-Explore the almost 100 different routes of extreme rock climbing in Lake Tahoe. The 250 foot mountain wall is sure to get your heart pumping as you scale your way up! You’ll see some incredible views are you are making your way to the top!

-If surfing is your passion, you won’t want to miss booking a trip to Hawaii to surf Pe’ahi. Surfing this giant wave will make even the most intense adrenaline junkie excited! This is an experience more geared toward experienced surfers so keep that in mind when choosing your destination. 

-Kayak through the Kenai Fjords in Alaska! These waters are not for the faint of heart! With strong winds and the potential of rain and big waves, this is an adventure for thrill seekers. Kayak through the beautiful fjords, spot some marine life, and become enthralled by the frozen landscapes of Bear Glacier Lagoon. 

-Travel to Macau in China to jump off the world’s largest bungee – the AJ Hackett Macau Tower Bridge bungee jump. This 764 foot jump is sure to satisfy those thrill seekers! You’ll free fall for more than six seconds and get quite close to the ground in that time!

-Considered the world’s most dangerous hike, hiking Mt. Huashan is sure to be an exhilarating experience. This 3 to 5 hour hike is not for the faint of heart. You’ll be over 7,000 feet up and trekking over steep mountains, rickety stairs, and more. You’ll also see some breathtaking views when you stop for a break!

-Get ready to go from 0 to 62mph in two seconds on Japan’s Takabisha roller coaster! Located at Fuji-Q Highland park, this coaster has a 121 degree descent and seven inversions. While at the park, you can also experience one of the fastest coasters in the world and another that is one of the longest and tallest. Get ready for a day of heart pumping excitement at this destination! 

-Travel to Nepal to skydive through Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak! Have an adventure like no other with some of the most beautiful views you could see. This high adrenaline adventure typically takes place only once a year, so you will want to be sure to work with your travel agent to plan ahead. To make this an even more epic adventure, you can join a nine day trek to the Everest Base Camp. 

-Travel to Peru and have the most exciting stay at the Skylodge Adventure Suites! Located in Scared Valley of Cuzco, these transparent capsule suites give you the best view in Peru! To get to these hanging rooms, you’ll need to climb up Via Ferrata or hike through zip lines – an adventure to reach your exciting destination!  Once in your hanging suite, enjoy the views of the valley and say hi to a condor or two as they pass your room! 

-Ever wanted to surf down an active volcano? Well, book a trip to Nicaragua and you can do just that! After you complete the hour hike up Cerro Negro, you’ll slide or surf down more than 2,000 feet! You can really pick up speed on the volcano board so this exciting, unique experience is a great option for thrill seekers! 

-Angel Falls in Venezuela is home to the highest waterfall in the world. With a height of 3,230 feet and a vertical drop of 2.647 feet, base jumping at Angel Falls is not for the faint of heart. The ultimate thrill seeker will spend about five hours hiking through the jungle and then battle winds and water spray as they make their jump. You’ll be sure to get your heart racing and see some amazing views if you head to Angel Falls to base jump!

We hope this gives you some great ideas of where to plan your next adventure if you are a thrill seeking traveler! Adventures by Matt would love to help plan the perfect getaway to one of these destinations or find another adventure for you!