Travel

10 BEAUTIFUL EXTREME SPORT DESTINATIONS NOW

Bungee Jumping in New Zealand. New Zealand.

If you are up for some beautiful adrenaline action, we’ve got a collection of 10 gorgeous places where you can experience the beauty of extreme sports, from bungees, to wingsuits, from rafting to zorbing… your heart will not be still as you scroll below.

1. BUNGEE JUMPING IN ZIMBABWE AND NEW ZEALAND

If you are up for jumping off of a bridge hundreds of feet above the largest waterfall in the world, head to Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe for some bungee bliss.

You’ll jump off of the Victoria Falls Bridge, and fall for 111 meters towards the Zambezi River. The gigantic cascading falls and rushing river create a beautiful backdrop.

New Zealand is considered the original home of bungee jumping, and it remains the world capital for the sport. There are hundreds of places around the country where you can take the plunge from bridges, rail viaducts, specially made platforms, cliffs, and stadium roofs.

If you’re feeling extra-game, head to the country’s highest bungee jump, the Nevis, with a drop of 134 meters. You can also bungee off of the Auckland Harbor Bridge, with the stunning Waitemata Harbor behind you.

2. DOG SURFING IN SAN DIEGO AND AUSTRALIA

Dog surfing is the cutest new sport that’s spanning the globe. It began in San Diego, spread across the US, and is now popular in Australia as well. Hit the beautiful beaches of Southern California or the Australian coast if you want to see this sport in action.

To participate in this beautiful sport, you’ll need to be able to train your dog to stand on a surfboard and hang ten on the waves -- actually they’ll be hangin’ 20!

Some dogs totally love it. And of course, plenty of bystanders do too!

The biggest dog surfing competition in the US, Unleashed, is celebrating its 10th year this August. If you want to visit Australia, check out the Dog Surfing Spectacular at Noosa Main Beach during the Noosa Festival of Surfing in March.

3. ZORBING - ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND

Relive childhood memories! Tumble down the hill with sheer glee -- but now kicked up a few notches. Check out zorbing, a new sport that is all about rolling downhill inside a transparent orb.

Zorbing got its start in Rotorua, New Zealand, and it’s a beautiful place to roll.

Rotorua is part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, so it’s full of beautiful geothermal features such as volcanic crater lakes, bubbling mud pools, and spouting geysers. It’s also home to wonderful lakes and rivers, so you can explore dazzling glow worm caves and paddle through freshwater springs.

Check out ZORB.

4. CAVE DIVING - YUCATÁN PENINSULA, MEXICO

Cave diving is one of the world’s most extreme sports. And Mexico has more opportunities to experience it than anywhere else in the world.

The caves of the Yucatán Peninsula, in particular, offer quite a thrill. Check out hundreds of miles of subterranean limestone passageways that form the cenotes of the Yucatán. They are full wild stalactites and stalagmites, wonderful fossils, and ethereal light shows. You may even see a halocline, a mysteriously beautiful cloud formed of a mixture of saltwater and freshwater.

5. HANG GLIDING IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is an incredible way to take in some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. The wind conditions and geography make this a perfect spot.

You’ll jump off of Pedra Bonita Mountain, located right outside of Ipanema, and cruise through the air above Rio’s breathtaking iconic scenery. You touch down on the soft sugar-sanded Pepino Beach.

Check out Rio Adventures.

6. ROCK CLIMBING IN WADI RUM, JORDAN

Some of the world’s most extreme and most beautiful rock climbing is in Wadi Rum, Jordan, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world.

The soft rose sandstone mountains, called “Jebels”, make for technically challenging climbs. The breathtaking views of the Jordanian desert below are your reward.

You will stay in traditional Bedouin tents here, in between your climbs. There is no other option.

7. KITE SURFING IN EGYPT AND COSTA RICA

Two places of the best places in the world to kite surf are Soma Bay, Egypt, and Bahia Salinas, Costa Rica. The wind and the water are in perfect harmony to give you the ride of your life.

At Soma Bay, winds are constant, so you’ll always be able to stay in the air. The transparent blue water and extraordinary beaches make this bay an absolute paradise.

Bahia Salinas is best for kite surfing in between the months of December and March. The winds are strong, the wide beaches are pristine, and the crystalline waters are full of frolicking dolphins, majestic turtles, and darting fish.

8. WHITE WATER RAFTING IN RISHIKESH, INDIA

White water rafting in Rishikesh, India, is a rush on many levels. When you head down the Ganges River, you’ll hit grade 4 or higher rapids, which are classified as advanced, with intense-sounding names such as Terminator, The Wall, and Crossfire.

Also known as the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh is full of ashrams and temples to add to your spiritual experience.

9. WINGSUIT FLYING IN TEXAS, US

Wingsuit flying is an extreme sport similar to skydiving, but wingsuits have extra fabric under the arms and between the legs, so that your free-fall time will be doubled.

Austin, Texas is home to a nationally acclaimed wingsuit flying training company, Texas Wingsuit Academy, with some of the industry’s best fliers as teachers.

When you’re done for the day, kick back and check out why Austin is also considered the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

10. BOSSABALL IN SPAIN

Bossaball is a seriously fun sport that originated in Spain. Head to Andalucía to play, since this sport is massively popular on its dazzling beaches.

Bossaball combines elements of volleyball, football, and capoeira, the Brazilian dance exercise. The most fun part of the game, however, is the trampoline.

Players must jump on the trampoline before hitting or kicking the ball over the netting into the opponent’s court. The point is over when the ball touches the ground, and there’s 3 - 5 players on each team. Bossaball is a sport that requires lots of endurance from its players, but it’s a joy to watch for everyone.

The sport was officially launched to the world in 2004. It has since also taken off in countries such as Belgium, Netherlands and Brazil.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition. We run new creative competitions every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: Bungee Jumping in New Zealand. New Zealand.
Image: by onthego tours. Bungee jump Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Image: by Taupo Bungy Ltd. Bungee Jumping at Taupo Bungee. Taupo, New Zealand.
Image: by Nathan Rupert. Dog Surfing at Imperial Beach. San Diego, California.
Image: by Nathan Rupert. Bobby Gorgeous Shows Off His Surfing Skills. San Diego, California.
Image: by Raffi Youredjian. Zorbing. Waitomo, New Zealand.
Image: by DiveMex. Cave Diving in the Cenotes of Yucatán. Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
Image: by Marcin Wichary. Hang Gliding Over Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Image: by Gordon Jenkin. Unknown Climber Makes Her Way Through the Impressive Rock Features on "Return to Wadi Rum" F6C at Ghost Kitchen. Wadi Rum, Jordan.
Image: by Richard August. Kite Surfing, Soma Bay, Egypt. Soma Bay, Egypt.
Image: by ashutoshindia. Rafting in Rishikesh. Rishikesh, India.
Image: by EpicTV. The Biggest Wingsuit Stunt Ever.
Image: by Abraham Puthoor. Playing Bossball. Doha, Qatar.
Image: by Dejongfreek. WK Bossaball Bonaire 2013. Netherlands.
Image: by Raffi Youredjian. Zorbing Downhill. Waitomo, New Zealand.
BN App - Download now!
Image: by Lee Coursey. Bungee Jumper. New Zealand.