New York,
30
October
2019
|
15:00 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Destinations with the Fearless Factor: Booking.com Reveals the Top Places Around the World for Adrenaline Junkies

For those who live life on the edge, exploring a destination for its walking trails or cultural excursions might not provide enough of a thrill. Research from Booking.com, the digital travel leader connecting travelers with the widest choice of unique places to stay, a range of must-do travel experiences and seamless transport options, reveals that just over one in 10 (12%)1 of global travelers say they travel to destinations for an adrenaline rush. To help give travelers some high-octane destination inspiration, Booking.com reveals some of top destinations for adventurous activities (as endorsed by Booking.com travelers) – perfect for those who enjoy life in the fast lane.

Boituva, Brazil

Boituva, located in the state of São Paulo, is one of the top endorsed destinations for skydiving, so it’s perfect for daredevil travelers. Boituva boasts a backdrop of dramatic green landscape, ideal to be experienced from a bird’s eye view. With a number of local centers offering skydiving, travelers will never miss out. When back on solid ground, travelers can visit other nearby attractions such as watching the birds in flight at the Parque Ecologico Eugenio Walter - home to a vast array of birds such as peacocks, swans and Macaws.

Where to stay: Go off the grid and embrace the great outdoors at Pousada Mirante de Boituva. At this inn, guests can relax in a hammock and soak up the panoramic views of the vast array of surrounding greenery, as well as watch the nearby hot air balloons take flight. For slower-paced vacation days, the inn is well located for nearby hiking trails and exploring the natural surroundings. The Pousada Mirante de Boituva also boasts a year-round outdoor pool and table tennis for all guests to enjoy. Well located, the inn is the perfect location for adrenaline seekers as it is located a short bike and car ride away from local skydiving center, Skydive Boituva.

Mulwala, Australia

Situated on Lake Mulwala, the small town of Mulwala can be found in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Australia. Ranked as one of Booking.com’s top endorsed destinations for water sports, Mulwala is an adrenaline junkie’s dream - offering various activities to dive into including water skiing, wakeboarding and canoeing along the Murray River. The town also offers a popular Water Ski Club that provides travelers with a vast array of aquatic fun, from beginners to experts. Those hoping to take the thrill-seeking down a notch, but still enjoy being by the water, can bask in a day of fishing, float across the river in a houseboat or view the area on a paddle-steamer or riverboat.

Where to stay: For guests seeking an aquatic adventure, BIG4 NRMA Yarrawonga Mulwala Holiday Park, located on the shores of Lake Mulwala, is a man-made reservoir that runs across the Murray River, and features lake views and an on-site water park. This holiday park is great for both solo and family activities as it offers canoeing, fishing and two swimming pools for all to enjoy. For guests who want to take a day out of the water, but still want to engage in activities that keep the buzz alive, this holiday park offers a tennis court with equipment, table tennis and a games room for competitive thrills.

Birgi Vecchi, Italy

Birgi Vecchi, located in the province of Trapani, is the destination most endorsed by Booking.com travelers for kitesurfing, as the winds move from three directions, North, Northwest and South, creating the perfect conditions to kitesurf. This destination offers travelers a variety of kitesurfing schools no matter your experience. Let the adrenaline run through your veins whilst visiting Lo Stagnone, the “Kitesurfing Gym”, a place where travelers can safely practice whilst exploring the waters. Splash your way through Isola Grande, an island that separates the lagoon from the Mediterranean to experience a new set of waves for kitesurfing.

Where to stay: Sirio bed and breakfast is the dream location for the adrenaline junkie as Sirio is located a short walk to the center of kitesurfing mania, Lo Stagnone, and a boat ride away from Isola Grande. This B&B offers a great start to an adrenaline filled day as guests can fuel up with an Italian breakfast. Those looking to take their thrill-seeking underwater can also organize diving expeditions through the helpful Sirio team.

San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro, a town in the southern part of Ambergris Caye, is one of Belize's larger towns and has a vast array of water sports, scuba diving, snorkeling and dive sites. Its home to exotic sea life and the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole 400 feet deep. Its bustling marine life is undoubtedly why it’s ranked as a top endorsed destinations for shark diving by Booking.com travelers. Various species of shark can be found in the waters such as Nurse Sharks, Bull Sharks and Hammerheads, perfect for those living life on the wild-side. At the Belize barrier reef, adrenaline seekers can even explore a little deeper with a whale diving trip.

Where to stay: Sandbar Beachfront Hostel & Restaurant is located right on the beach, offering guests a hammock garden and over the water deck with lounge chairs to soak up the views. Adventurous travelers will never be short of things to do, with the hostel offering on-site water sport facilities, snorkeling, diving and fishing experiences. As this hotel is located on the shores, guests have easy access to boats which they can use to visit The Great Blue Hole, near the center of Lighthouse Reef.

Kalimpong, India

Set amongst the Himalayan hills of West Bengal, Kalimpong is one of the top destinations endorsed by Booking.com travelers for paragliding. For adrenaline junkies who live for the excitement of being off the ground, there are many hot spots for paragliding and hang gliding including Deolo Park which features green landscapes and offers views of the town and surrounding hills. For travelers seeking beautiful scenery with their feet firmly on the ground, there’s also other sightseeing opportunities Dhok Palri Phodang, a Tibetan Buddhist temple located at the top of Durpin Hill - one of the two hills that stand in Kalimpong.

Where to stay: With views of the large array of beautiful green hilltops, Shikher Guest House is a great place to experience Kalimpong without the paragliding equipment. Soak up the atmosphere and experience different views of the area by hiking or bike riding along the trails. This guest house also offers activities for guests to enjoy such as windsurfing and bicycle rental. Located not too far from the town’s paragliding take-off point, this guest house puts guests at the heart of the blood-pumping action.

1Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 21,500 respondents were polled (including 1,000 each from Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Brazil, India, US, UK, Russia, Indonesia, Colombia and South Korea; and 500 each from Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel). Respondents completed an online survey between 10th August to 30th August 2018.