A woman kayaking in a calm tropical bay.
Adventure travel is one of the most creative ways to explore the myriad of beautiful natural and cultural landscapes the world has to offer.
While the whole world is filled with rewarding adventures, there are some places that teem with diverse adrenaline-pumping opportunities.
To find out some of the best places in the world for adventure seekers, I spoke to the Outdoor Adventures OG. Bear Grylls.
“We live on a truly remarkable planet. And if we’re lucky enough to get the chance to travelI think we should try to seize these opportunities,” says the British adventurer and survivor.
“I never traveled much as a kid. But as soon as I joined the army, I started traveling. After that, those doors opened even wider. It’s a great privilege [that] now I see so many extreme places in the world as part of my work,” adds the 48-year-old.
Here are Grylls’ top picks for the ultimate action-packed holiday:
#1 California, USA
According to Grylls, California tops the list of must-visit places. “We recently partnered with Duracell and make a wish and I had the privilege of taking an incredible young man named Cameron, who had a serious life-threatening illness, on an adventure together in the deserts of California,” says Grylls. “I’ll never forget that,” he adds.
There are many adrenaline pumping adventure activities in the Golden State. From hiking along the riverbed in Fern Canyon surrounded by 50-foot-tall canopy walls, to exploring the dense underwater kelp forests on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles, to camping near the San Andreas Fault, where the Mojave -Desert blends into the Colorado Desert, and everything in between.
#2 Uttarakhand, India
With rocky terrain, steep gorges, dense forests and cascading rivers running through the area, the north Indian state of Uttarakhand is ripe for exciting adventure opportunities, from bungee jumping, white water rafting and kayaking to mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding and jungle safaris.
“[It’s] a beautiful part of the world with amazing mountains and forests and beautiful people too,” says Grylls, who in 2019 filmed an episode of Man Vs Wild in the jungle of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand – the first and largest tiger sanctuary in India.
#3 Bhutan
“[It’s] a truly unique, remote and incredible country with so much diversity. And beautiful people again,” says Grylls.
Located in the eastern Himalayas, the South Asian country offers a wide range of adventure activities for every adventure seeker. Whether it’s kayaking in the mighty waters of the Sunkosh and Wang Chhu rivers, paragliding in the Ura Valley, archery (the country’s national sport) in one of the villages near Paro, trekking to the pristine Himalayan hot springs in Bumthang, or crossing the 100 – Years old swaying suspension bridges in Punakha.
#4 Valais, Switzerland
Switzerland, and Valais in particular, is home to some of the most incredible mountains, forests, rivers and, again, really interesting, adventurous people, notes Grylls.
With incredible possibilities such as snowkiting over the high plateau of the Simplon Pass, jet skiing or wakeboarding in the Rhone Valley, mountain biking on the famous Five Lakes Trail, canyoning through the steep gorges of Grimsel or Chli Schliere and hiking from Grindelwald to the Jungfraujoch to be explored in the heart of the Bernese Alps – Adrenaline junkies are spoiled for choice. Avid hikers can also climb the Gornergrat, which offers sweeping views of 29 mountain peaks, including the majestic Matterhorn, as well as the Gornergletscher – the third longest glacier in the Alps.
#5 Everest National Park, Nepal
The dramatic landscape of this region features spectacular snow-capped peaks, steep gorges, pristine glaciers and deep valleys, with Mount Everest as a backdrop.
“Everest National Park is amazing when you visit for the first time,” confirms Grylls. Also “the Nepalese people of the Khumbu region [are] some of the most beautiful, kindest and most adventurous people you will ever meet,” adds the survivor.
Besides trekking and mountaineering in the Everest region, adventure seekers can also go canyoning in Lekhnath, try bungee jumping in Bhote Koshi Gorge, climb a frozen waterfall in Langtang Valley, cycle to Mustang or go heli-skiing the Nepalese Himalayas, among others.
#6 South Island, New Zealand
“I’ve always enjoyed my visits there,” says Grylls. “Some of the best skiers, mountain bikers and paragliders in the world that I know come from there,” notes the adventurer.
From 597-foot ziplining in Canyon Fox, mountaineering in Central Otago, and skiing and snowboarding in Wanaka, to 9,000-foot tandem skydiving in Abel Tasman National Park and kayaking through the surreal Te Anau Glow Worm Caves, the island has it all adventures you can imagine.
#7 Lln Peninsula, Wales
Stretching along the north west coast of Wales, the Llŷn Peninsula is known for its stunning windswept beaches, water sports and the historic Iron Age hill fort of Tre’r Ceiri.
“[It’s] a very unspoilt region. And being close to the Snowdonia mountains, that’s wonderful,” says Grylls.
The location offers a variety of adventure activities including surfing, body boarding, jet skiing, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing and camping.
#8 Brecon Beacons, Wales
Adventurers will love exploring this area of South Wales for its rugged terrain, unforgiving mountains and challenging weather, says Grylls.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of adventure options here, from kayaking, canoeing and canyoning to rock climbing and quad biking and everything in between.
#9 Panama
Lush deciduous and evergreen forests, dense mangroves, vibrant coral reefs and tropical islands dominate the landscape of this Central American country, making it an ideal destination for camping, hiking, trekking, ziplining and canyoning, as well as kayaking, snorkeling and whitewater rafting.
“We shoot a lot there,” says Grylls, who has filmed several shows in the area, including episodes of Running Wild with Bear Grylls guest starring Brie Larson and Zachary Quinto.
#10 Palisades Tahoe, USA
Located in the Olympic Valley, Grylls recommends this mountain resort as one of the top spots for skiing. It’s the largest ski area in the Lake Tahoe region, offering 3,600 skiable acres to explore and progressive terrain, making it a perfect destination for beginners and pros alike. In addition to skiing, the resort also offers other adventure activities such as hiking, camping, snow tubing, paddle boarding, and river rafting.
