Go Extreme

Calling All Thrill-Seekers

For the adrenaline junkies and anyone who's ever just wanted to step out of the box, this article’s for you! We’re going extreme – from diving with sharks in Cape Town to shooting guns and vodka in Riga. Our adventures will get your heart going and may even help you overcome a fear or two. You can definitely venture outside your comfort zone and test your physical and mental limits! It’s not like you’ll be eating bugs – we had to draw the line somewhere (although you CAN try a deep-fried scorpion-on-a-stick in Bangkok, if you’d like).

Africa: Cape Town

Cape Town is a sophisticated city with incredible natural beauty and a rich history. Considered the “Mother City” of South Africa, Cape Town has something for everyone.

Kamikaze Canyon: A day at Kamikaze Canyon will have you jumping off rocks into pools of crystal clear water. You’ll start from 10 feet up. After each plunge, you make your way up to the next rock until you reach Kamikaze at 75 feet. Then, it’s time for the grand finale – rappelling from the top of an incredible waterfall that rises 213 feet. You’ll feel the rush of the cool water as you drop toward the pool below. Sounds refreshing, doesn’t it? And it’s only $88.

Shark Cage Diving: You’ve seen it on tv, now it’s time to suck it up and try it yourself – Shark Cage Diving! You gear up, jump into the cage, and taunt hungry Great Whites with chunks of raw meat. If you chicken out and decide to stay in the boat, you’ll still get your money’s worth because you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the sharks. You can almost hear the theme from “Jaws.” C’mon, do it! It’s only $167 and you’ll get, um, killer pictures.

Tandem Sky Dive: Imagine being able to tell your friends that you’ve been skydiving… in Cape Town. Strap yourself to an experienced sky-diver, jump out of a plane, and smile for the camera! Tandem Sky Diving takes you high above Cape Peninsula for this adrenaline rush. Talk about a spectacular view and it’s only $211.

Sand boarding: Sand boarding is basically snowboarding on sand. You can spend a day racing down the largest sand dunes in Cape Town. Cameron Diaz did it! You can too for $79.

Europe: Riga

Riga is a city rich in history, culture and, apparently, insanity. They take extreme adventure seriously.

Shotguns and Vodka: What do you get when you combine loaded shotguns with shots of vodka? A really scary drinking game? Yes and an extreme adventure! You open fire on a clay pigeon, take a shot of vodka, fire again, shoot vodka…yes, we’re serious. This is a lot of fun and costs just $224.

The Soviet Prison Reality Tour: A 45- minute tour of an old naval base takes an “unexpected” turn when guards show up and toss you into a cell. Try as you may to reason with them – they don’t speak English. After interrogation, mug shots, and a charming meeting with the Commandant, you’re let go. This experience costs only $90.

Zorbing: If you’ve been watching Celebrity Fit Club, you know what zorbing is – running around in a giant, clear rubber ball like a hamster. Test your athleticism and sense of humor as you roll yourself downhill. It’s harder than it looks. The cost $112. Your photo inside this giant rubber ball = priceless.

Aerodium: Fly without wings or any other safety devices. Aerodium is the first vertical wind tunnel in Europe. Basically, an extreme blast of air propels you upward and keeps you there spinning and flipping to your heart’s content. Cost $135.

South Pacific: Cairns

Call it Australia’s adventure playground. Cairns is the perfect place for rafting, bungy jumping, and scuba diving. It has some of the world’s best diving spots, so if you don’t know how, learn here!

Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef: A day exploring the outer reef in crystal clear water where you’ll see coral formations and abundant marine life! This will get your heart pumping from the incredible beauty. Cost $63.

Selvatura Canopy Tour: Would you believe that the idea of zip-lining over the treetops of the rainforest with a series of 19 cables, 20 platforms, and a Tarzan swing is considered one of the safest adventures in Costa Rica? The Selvatura Canopy Tour gives you a bird’s eye view, literally, of the tree tops as you glide past them one cable after another. This experience is $34.