Ten Most Extreme Adventure Vacations

If the thought of spending your preciously accumulated vacation days lazing around on a beach or hoofing it through famous museums makes you squirm, then we have the solution for you. Below you’ll find ten of the most extreme adventure vacations we could find. So get out of your cubicle, strap on your sturdiest shoes, and get ready for the most extreme vacation of your life!

1. Conquering the South Pole

The ultimate in isolation and physical fortitude, journeying to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is a must for any adventure traveler. There are numerous tour outfitters that take groups on the grueling hike to the South Pole, but no matter which you pick, be prepared to handle average temperatures of -20° F, with high winds, altitudes above 9,000 feet, and long days of cross-country skiing and winter camping conditions.
You will spend several days hiking through desolate snowcapped bluffs, under 24-hours of daylight. This is a trip recommended only for people who are very fit both physically and mentally. For an example of what a typical South Pole expedition itinerary looks like, take a look at AK Extreme Adventures.

2. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda

Forever commemorated in Diane Fossey’s research and in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist,” the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda are part of one of the world’s most endangered species. Today there are just 700 mountain gorillas remaining, in pockets in Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. There are four places remaining where you can take a mountain gorilla safari, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda,and the Parc National des Virunga in the DRC. But the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is one of the best places to see the gorillas. The tracking is less strenuous than at Bwindi, where you’ll be expected to make your way through dense jungle and climb along steep ravines, and here you can visit the remains of the Karisoke Research station where Fossey was murdered and buried. While you’re in Eastern Africa, why not check out the other great wildlife sighting spots.

3. Heli-skiing in Chugach Mountains Alaska

Winter sports enthusiasts know that when it comes to carving powder in the most extreme way, heli-skiing and heli-boarding is king. If jumping out of a helicopter to hit the most unspoiled powder, as well as shelling out up to $10,000 (for the most luxurious tours), sounds like your kind of day on the mountain, try your hand at heli-skiing in the Chugach Mountains in southwest Alaska. Be sure to book your trip well in advance, the heli-skiing season runs only 12 weeks, from February to the end of April and spots fill up often a year in advance. The earlier part of the season means colder temperatures and deeper powder (up to waist height), whereas the later part of the season means less powder but longer days. There are a variety of tour operators in the Chugach Mountains specializing in everything from intermediate-level day trips to advanced skiiers-only multi-day trips, so be sure to do your research and pick the one that matches your skill set and desired experience. While you’re in Alaska, also be sure to do some sightseeing or even take a small ship cruise.

4.  Man & Machine in Botswana & South Africa

For all you adrenaline junkies, stunt doubles, and race car drivers out there, this is the vacation for you. The AK Extreme Adventures Seeking the Ultimate Thrill Tour basically tries to get your heart racing and palms sweating as many ways as it can over the course of 12 days. You’ll try everything from A-1 race car driving and shark cage diving to jet fighter rides and quad biking across the African bush. You’ll test your own tolerance limits for both speed and focus while getting behind the wheel of machines most of us only dream about and roaming among the wildest animals in the world. This is a pricey tour, but you’ll probably knock more than a few items off your bucket list in short order.

5. Climbing Mt. Everest

Climbing Mt. Everest is likened to the Holy Grail for mountain climbing aficionados  and is a lifelong dream for many people. It is the achievement of a lifetime, but not without serious risk – a number of people die every year while passing through the “death zone.” For experienced climbers, you can make your own attempt at conquering the world’s tallest mountain either from the Nepal side or the Tibet side, but be warned that trips generally cost $60,000+ and carry no guarantee of reaching the summit. If you desperately want to experience Everest without the risk to your life or damage to your wallet, consider making the shorter trip to base camp which provides stunning views and a small taste of what the climb has in store. Or, try trekking Annapurna in Nepal or making a trip to Everest an add on to a tour of India & Nepal.

6. Most Extreme Golf

Golf may not seem at first like the most extreme vacation activity, we agree, but these extreme golf courses may change your mind! Take Nullarbor Links, the world’s longest golf course, which stretches over 1,365 kilometers along the Eyre Highway in Southern-central Australia. Greens fees are a mere $50 AUS and the course can take you approximately 4 days to play, depending on how quickly you cover the average of 50 miles between each hole. The course opens October 22, 2009, so make your tee time now. While you’re there, explore the best of Australia. Another one of the world’s most extreme golf courses is located in Uummannaq, Greenland and holds the honor of being the world’s iciest golf courses. Players use red balls which stand out more on this 36-hole course made of ice floes and glaciers. The course even changes each year according to the movement of the ice floes. If that sounds too cold for you, try the world’s wildest golf course, located in the significantly balmier Kruger National Park in South Africa. There are no fences surrounding the Skukuza Golf Course, so be prepared to run into warthogs, zebras, lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants and other wildlife during your round. When you’re done with your round, you can relax at one of many luxury lodges in Kruger or at one of Kruger’s restcamps. If extreme golf isn’t your style, try a more traditional course in Ireland, Scotland, France, or USA.

7. Kayaking the Rio Santo Domingo in Chiapas, Mexico

Extreme kayaking is one of the up-and-coming darlings of the extreme sports world and a number of cities across the US have built their own artificial waves and white water “play parks”to accommodate the rising numbers of recreational kayakers who are taking advantage of new, sturdier equipment to take their sport to the next level. Whereas just ten years ago 60-feet was considered to be the ultimate limit to the height of waterfalls a kayaker could conquer, today some professional kayakers have moved up to 100ft. and higher waterfalls. There are a number of kayaking tour companies which will give you a taste of kayaking, but for the ultimate kayaking rush, first get in plenty of practice, and then brave the Rio Santo Domingo in Chiapas, Mexico, which drops 480 vertical feet in an eighth of a mile, and includes two 90-foot waterfalls.

8. Diving the Blue Hole in Belize

There are tons of great diving experiences in the Caribbean, but the one on top of everyone’s list is the Blue Hole in Belize, a gorgeous sinkhole measuring 1000 feet in diameter and 408 feet deep. Eerie stalactites beckon you deeper and its common to pass Black Tip Reef Shark and Hammerhead sharks while on this dive. There’s also plenty of other diving opportunities in Belize, including the Lighthouse Reef. You can tack your scuba excursions on to a longer tour of Belize.

9. Dog Sledding in the Arctic

You can go on a dog sledding vacation in a number of places around the world, without having to go too far. If you want to stay closer to home, try an expedition in Alaska or Minnesota’s Upper Peninsula. But if you want to go extreme (in the spirit of this post) a dog sledding excursion in the Arctic can’t be beat. AK Extreme Adventures offers a 9-day dog sledding adventure in Norway for anyone in excellent physical condition who’s willing to withstand temperatures of 22 – 32° F, with high winds at altitudes of over 1,800 feet.

10. Space Travel

While there’s no specific order to our list, we’ve definitely saved the best and most extreme for last. If you need to get really far away from your boss, there’s nothing better than a quick jaunt in outer space to give you a break. You can go for either one of two options when booking your space trip, budget or luxury, noting that both are relative terms. If you want to splurge, go the luxury route: a cool $25 million will land you a spot on one of Space Adventures’ 10 day space journeys where you’ll float in anti-gravity bliss, circling the earth every 90 minutes. You can also book a 16-day stint on the space station and do your very own space walk. Or, for a $100 million splurge, you can sign up for the first private lunar expedition through the company. If you prefer to go the budget route, you can book a seat through Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic private commercial spaceline.