5 Holidays for Adrenaline Junkies

Thrill-seekers, this one's for you – five holidays to get your heart racing.

Knees quivering.

Heart pounding. Lips drying.

‘OK, walk. Walk. Walk. Now run. Run, run, run, run, run!’ And with that, I’d leaped off a mountain, and my feet were now dangling a mile above Turkey. Thankfully, I was strapped to Gorkem, one of the expert pilots from Reaction Paragliding. As we rode the thermal currents and climbed to a gut-wrenching 2,000 metres, my nerves surprisingly calmed. Instead of freaking out about being thousands of feet in the air – with nothing but a sheet of polyester and a chap I’d just met keeping me afloat – I succumbed to the crisp mountain breeze, the never-ending views of Olu Deniz, and the silence. The blissful silence. In fact, I could’ve stayed there forever, sat in my little harness-come-chair, looking down on the rugged mountains and staring fascinatingly at the glitter of the turquoise blue ocean beneath me. That was, until Gorkem upped the ante on me, joking that he “needed a break”, so I’d have to take over. I obliged, of course, considering the offer as a way of making this once-in-a-lifetime experience even more unforgettable. What a way to earn my wings, carving a paraglider through the skies above the beautiful Blue Lagoon. After some heart-racing, acrobatic twists and turns, and a glide along the golden coast of Olu Deniz Beach, I planted my feet firmly back on terra firma. I’d just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and now I’ve got my eye on other destinations where I can get my adrenaline pumping. Here’s what’s next on my list…

FLYBOARDING IN MEXICO

Flyboarding is starting to make quite the name for itself – in fact, you’ve probably seen viral videos of the latest watersports craze as you’ve scrolled down your Facebook feed. But if you haven’t heard of it, here’s the low-down. You’ll be strapped into a pair of wakeboard-like boots, through which jets of water are thrust, propelling you like Iron Man into the air. The best bit about Flyboarding – other than pretending you’re Tony Stark, of course – is that, even though it looks really hard, it’s actually not as difficult to get the hang of. Or so they say. You can be the judge when you sign up to our Flyboarding trip in Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

SNOWMOBILING IN LAPLAND

You’d be forgiven for thinking holidays to Lapland were only good for taking kids to visit the big man himself. But, actually, there are a number of reasons why grown-ups shouldn’t sleep on the ultimate winter wonderland. For a start, where else can you buzz a snowmobile through snow-dusted forests and over frozen lakes? There’s even an adults-only night-time option when, if you’re lucky, you’ll have the spectacular Northern Lights illuminating your path.

BOBSLEDDING IN JAMAICA

‘Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme. Get on up. It’s bobsled time.’ If that quote, from the iconic Disney film, Cool Runnings, gives you instant 1993 nostalgia, then you’re in luck. On the feel-good island of Jamaica – where the classic film is set – you can go on a daytrip up into the Mystic Mountain, which ends with a tropical take on a bobsled ride. Channel your inner Sanka and co, as you hurtle through the rainforest at breakneck speed. And not a lucky egg in sight.

QUAD BIKING IN CAPE VERDE

If you’re off to Cape Verde, here’s your chance to see the islands like you’ve never seen them before – on the back of an all-terrain quad bike. You’ll kick up the sand as you purr through untouched beaches, pearly-white salt plains, and corrugated cliffsides. Take the four-hour drive through the island of Sal, and look out for the Blue Eye – a cave pool carved by lava, which glows a gorgeous neon blue when the light hits it.

ANYTHING IN DUBAI

Let’s face it, Dubai’s bigger-is-better attitude means that, now it’s started making waves on the tourist trail, there’s not much you can’t do there. Where do we even start? Skiing down the world’s biggest indoor ski slope. Skydiving above the stunning Palm Jumeirah. Driving a real-life racing car, on a real-life circuit. The choice is endless. What’s more, our inaugural flights to Dubai take off this December, so there’s never been a better time to think about your winter break.

Ready to get the heart rate going?

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Author: Lee Dasilva

Last updated: 05.10.2016