Destinations with the Fearless Factor: 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. Our research reveals that just over one in 10 (12%) of global travelers* say they travel to destinations for an adrenaline rush. To help give globetrotting thrill seekers some high-octane destination inspiration, we present a few 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 landscapes, 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 enjoy the wildlife 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. It's an ideal location for adrenaline seekers as it's only a short bike or car ride away from the local skydiving center, Skydive Boituva. After taking the leap, guests can relax in a hammock and soak up the panoramic views, including hot air balloons taking flight. For slower-paced vacay days, the inn is also close to hiking trails, convenient for exploring the surrounding area at ground level. The Pousada Mirante de Boituva even boasts a year-round outdoor pool and table tennis for all guests to enjoy.

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 our  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 is located on the shores of Lake Mulwala, a man-made reservoir that runs across the Murray River. This holiday park features stunning lake views and an on-site water park, so it's great for both solo and family travelers, offering canoeing, fishing and two swimming pools for all to enjoy. For guests who want to spend a day on dry land, but still keep the buzz alive, this holiday park offers a tennis court, table tennis facilities and a games room for other kinds of competitive thrills.

Birgi Vecchi, Italy

Birgi Vecchi, located in the province of Trapani, is the destination most endorsed by Booking.com travelers for kitesurfing. At this unique location, the winds move from three different directions, North, Northwest and South, creating the perfect conditions to kitesurf. It also offers travelers a variety of kitesurfing schools to choose from, no matter your experience. Let the adrenaline run through your veins while visiting Lo Stagnone, the “Kitesurfing Gym”, a place where travelers can safely practice their skills or splash your way through Isola Grande, an island that separates the lagoon from the Mediterranean.

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

San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro, a town in the southern part of Ambergris Caye, is one of Belize's larger towns and offers adventure travelers a vast array of options, including water sports, scuba diving, snorkeling and dive sites. It's home to exotic sea life and the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole 400 feet (124 meters) deep. Its bustling marine life is undoubtedly why it’s a top endorsed destination for shark diving by Booking.com travelers. Various species of shark can be found in the surrounding waters, from Nurse Sharks and Bull Sharks to even the elusive 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 an 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

Nestled in the Himalayan hills of West Bengal, Kalimpong is one of the top destinations endorsed by our travelers for paragliding. For adrenaline lovers who live for the excitement of soaring high above the ground, there are many hot spots for paragliding and hang gliding, including Deolo Park, which offers those brave enough to take the leap expansive 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, such as 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 beautiful green hilltops as far as the eye can see, 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 biking along the trails. This guest house also offers activities for guests to enjoy, including more adventurous options like windsurfing. Located not too far from the town’s paragliding take-off point, this guest house puts guests at the heart of all the area's blood-pumping action.

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*Research 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 August 10 and 30, 2018.