6 Exciting Activities To Do Before You Die

The world is full of adventure, and you could spend your whole life traveling from place to place experiencing new things. However, when it comes to real adventures, there are a few experiences that stand out above the others. Here are six exciting adventures that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

#1 Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

There are not many 6,000-metre mountains you can climb without extensive climbing experience, but Kilimanjaro is one of them. People have been scaling the highest mountain in Africa for years, and its relatively easy route makes it a popular item on many a bucket list.

Located in northern Tanzania, Mt Kilimanjaro is a stunning sight from the ground, its ice- capped dome visible from the hot plains below. It’s a five-day trek to the top, and despite its relative ease compared to other mountains of similar height, it is still hard work.

More than anything, it’s the altitude that is more likely to prevent you reaching the summit. It’s therefore well worth spending some time in the area to acclimatize. You could even consider doing an initial trek up Mount Meru beforehand, which is another equally stunning but often-ignored climb.

However hard you find it, the sight of the glaciers and the sun rising over the African plains when you reach the summit is spectacular and unforgettable.

#2 Swim with Great White Sharks

Few things will get the adrenaline pumping quite as much as swimming with Great White sharks. There are a few places in the world where you can do this, but the best is off the coast of South Africa.

Head to Cape Town, from where you can arrange a tour with one of a section of tour guides that have a licence to carry out the trips. Seal Island and Gansbaai are good options, and nothing quite prepares you for your first sign of the sea’s largest predator inches away from your face.

#3 Hike the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is another adventure open to anyone with a relatively good level of fitness. At the end of this four-day trek awaits the ruins of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu, and few other treks can match that for a climax.

You can do the trail any time of year apart from February when it closes for maintenance. Perhaps the best time of year is during the dry season from May to September. You’ll find more tourists at this time of year, but there is less chance of rain.

You will hike with a guide and porters, and you’ll camp under the stars. And although it is popular with tourists, it remains a true adventure to do at least once.

#4 Walk Along the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a wonder of the ancient world. There are many places to look upon it, but you can also find a few places to walk along it on a short hike to enjoy the ultimate experience.

One of the best stretches for hiking is from Jinshanling to Simatai. This covers a ruined section of the wall, and the going is mostly easy. For a more adventurous stretch, head to Huanghuacheng wall. It’s more challenging, but there are fewer people and the scenery is stunning.

#5 Visit Antarctica

Antarctica remains the ultimate adventure. It is the only uninhabited continent, and you will not find comfortable hotels or tourist activities here. Instead, you will find truly remote wilderness, perhaps the last really untamed place on Earth.

The best way to visit is on a cruise, which you can book during the season from November to March. This really is another world, and it’s something you should definitely see if you get the chance.

#6 Hike into the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the greatest natural wonders on Earth, and it truly is a sight to behold. Simply gaze at the sight and watch the colors change as the sun progresses from morning to evening, and your trip will be worthwhile. But for one of the best ways to see it, consider hiking down to the bottom.

This is a serious hike, so don’t go in unprepared. It can get incredibly hot during the day, and you should not try to get right down to the bottom and back up again in a day. You could opt for the South Kaibab Trail or the Bright Angel Trail, which are both maintained. Just make sure you prepare properly, and there is no better way to enjoy the spectacle.

These Are Just the Start…

These seven adventures will provide anyone with enough thrills to last a lifetime – but the truth is that they are just the start. To this list you could add diving in the Great Barrier Reef, canoeing down the Amazon, seeing mountain gorillas in Rwanda, driving America’s Route 66, running the Marathon des Sables and many more.

So take a look once again at these adventures, use them for inspiration, and spend some time coming up with your own adventure bucket list.

What would you add to this bucket list?