The Ultimate Adventure Travel Bucket List For Thrill Seekers

The world is your oyster when it comes to travel destinations, but sometimes it can be tough to think outside the box for some real once-in-a-lifetime adventures. If you're a thrill seeker who's planning your next vacation, then this list of activities should be on your bucket list. Go out of your comfort zone and take a transformative trip that will be unforgettable. From gorilla trekking in Africa to diving in the Maldives, here are the best adventures around the world for every adrenaline junkie.

Great White Shark Cage Dive in Cape Town
Flickr user Isabel Sommerfeld

Great White Shark Cage Dive in Cape Town

Cage diving to encounter the beauty of the shark in its natural habitat is a widely sought-after activity for visitors heading to Cape Town, South Africa. It brings fear and adrenaline along with one of the most unforgettable travel experiences.

Swim With Pigs in Exuma
Lindsay Paige Stein

Swim With Pigs in Exuma

Swimming with the pigs in Exuma, Bahamas, is an adventure you will never forget. Take Island Routes Caribbean Adventures's excursion for an action-packed day of not only swimming with the pigs, but also snorkeling, stopping at several other cays, and visiting the endangered Bahamian rock iguana island.

Whitewater Raft in the Poconos
Flickr user Make Lemons

Whitewater Raft in the Poconos

There's something fun in the Poconos (PA) for every level of adventurer. Choose your own pace with mild to wild dam release whitewater rafting trips.

Go Kayaking in Tasmania
Flickr user UpSticksNGo Crew

Go Kayaking in Tasmania

Kayaking through the remote island of Tasmania is the most peaceful way to adventure off the path. Australia's small ship cruises with Coral Expeditions take travelers to the most untouched destinations in the region.

Wildlife Encounters in South Australia
Flickr user Domenico Salvagnin

Wildlife Encounters in South Australia

South Australia is a destination known for its ultimate wildlife, outback, and culinary experiences. Hanging out with some of the world's most unique wildlife is bound to fill any adventure seeker with joy.

Dive in the Maldives
Flickr user Neville Wootton

Dive in the Maldives

Diving into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean will have travelers discovering a whole other world of sunken shipwrecks and exotic sea creatures. The dive center at Jumeirah Vittaveli caters to all levels and allows for guests to customize their experience or learn about underwater photography.

Go on a South African Safari
Flickr user Jordy Sla

Go on a South African Safari

Being up close and personal with such beautiful animals in their natural habitat thrills travelers. Stay with Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection, whose offerings consist of 12 lodges to choose from, all including gourmet meals, two safaris a day, personable safari rangers, and more.

Ski in Serbia
Flickr user Luca

Ski in Serbia

Serbia's largest mountain range, Kopaonik is infamous for its incredible skiing. All the tracks are very well connected with the system of ropeway and ski lifts, with a capacity of over 32,000 skiers per hour.

Snorkel in Tahiti
Flickr user Mayumi Ishikawa

Snorkel in Tahiti

The Islands of Tahiti offer world-class snorkeling and diving. Both experienced and beginner divers and snorkelers will be amazed by the crystal-clear waters and the density of marine life.

Skydive Over the Swiss Alps
Flickr user Artur Staszewski

Skydive Over the Swiss Alps

Get the ultimate feeling of adrenaline while falling from a perfectly sound helicopter over the Swiss Alps. Interlaken is the place to skydive, set between two Alpine lakes where huge glaciers formed deep valleys.

Sandboard in Nicaragua
Flickr user Mike Vondran

Sandboard in Nicaragua

Nicaragua, known as the "land of lakes and volcanoes," is a haven for nature-lovers and adventure seekers. It's the first and only place in the world where you can slide down the side of an active volcano in León.

Ride Icelandic Horses in Reykjavic
Flickr user Jennifer Boyer

Ride Icelandic Horses in Reykjavic

Iceland, home to over 100,000 Icelandic horses, boasts one of the top most bucket-list worthy experiences in the world. AdventureWomen's Icelandic Horseback Adventure brings travelers to ride 18 to 20 miles per day alongside a herd of free-running Icelandic horses under the midnight sun on one of the longest days of the year.

Wreck Dive in Aruba
Flickr user Serge Melki

Wreck Dive in Aruba

Aruba's entire south coast is a coral reef, with over 20 dive sites and 11 diver-friendly wrecks, like planes, a cargo ship, and sunken warships. Aruba has actually been called the wreck-diving capital of the Caribbean, and at Hilton Aruba guests can check this adventure off their bucket lists.

Trek in Machu Picchu
Flickr user Bharathram Pattabhiraman

Trek in Machu Picchu

A visit to Machu Picchu is the highlight of most adventure junkies' trips to Peru, and rightfully so. Hiking through cloud forests along the classic Inca Trail is a must-do activity.

Rock Climb in Colorado
Flickr user CAJC: in the Rockies

Rock Climb in Colorado

Telluride's Via Ferrata is a scenic mountainside trail that runs along the famed Ajax Peak, overlooking the town. Adrenaline junkies can embark on an advanced rock climbing adventure that is once in a lifetime.

Gorilla Trek in Africa
Flickr user Mike Davison

Gorilla Trek in Africa

Trekking through the thick African jungle in the midst of gorillas in their natural habitat rates among the great bucket-list adventures of our time. Intrepid Travel's Republic of the Congo Expedition is led by expert trackers to bring travelers on an unforgettable adventure.

Cliff Climbing in Joshua Tree
Flickr user Anna Irene

Cliff Climbing in Joshua Tree

Travelers visit Joshua Tree National Park (CA) from around the globe, some to climb and others simply to gaze at the wonder.

BASE Jump in Kjerag
Flickr user jerdam

BASE Jump in Kjerag

Kjerag, Norway, is known to have the most intense and dangerous cliffs to BASE jump off of. It's a must try for adrenaline-lovers who are ready to take adventure to the next level.

Swim in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula
Flickr user Mal B

Swim in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula

Yucatán is known to have the world's most widespread range of underwater sinkholes and caves, called cenotes. Swimming through this spectacular limestone is an exclusive journey.

Hike a Glacier in Alaska
Flickr user Mark Brennan

Hike a Glacier in Alaska

Travelers can enjoy the real Alaska by hiking through the glaciers. Adventure off the grid and view some of the most breathtaking icebergs and mountains.

Mountain Bike Through Southern Chile
Flickr user Geoff Livingston

Mountain Bike Through Southern Chile

One of the best ways to see the beautiful land of Southern Chile is on a mountain bike. The land spans thousands of miles, taking explorers over the lava fields of active volcanoes and bamboo forests.

Fish in Seychelles
Flickr user Didier Baertschiger

Fish in Seychelles

The ultraclear water of Seychelles is ideal for those who love to fish. Some of the unique species that are caught there include milkfish, sailfish, and one of another dozen species roaming the Indian Ocean.

Go to South Dakota's Buffalo Roundup

Go to South Dakota's Buffalo Roundup

Each September, the ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys, cowgirls, and park crews saddle up for the largest buffalo roundup in the country: Custer State Park's Buffalo Roundup. The annual roundup attracts thousands of visitors from across the country each year to watch experienced wranglers on horseback round up the park's thundering herd of bison.

Surf in Waikiki
Flickr user Daniel Ramirez

Surf in Waikiki

Surfing is synonymous with Waikiki, HI, the ultimate destination for beach-lovers.

Raft Through the Grand Canyon
Flickr user dvs

Raft Through the Grand Canyon

Whitewater rafting is a thrilling way to experience a new perspective of the Grand Canyon. Any adventurer will appreciate the geological wonders of the canyon, waterfalls, and rock formations.

Get a Bird's-Eye View of Chicago
Flickr user Paul Frederickson

Get a Bird's-Eye View of Chicago

Skydeck at the Willis Tower in Chicago is where travelers can step outside the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,353 feet in the air.

Explore Mount Everest
Flickr user Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn)

Explore Mount Everest

Accomplish a true bucket-list item: trek to base camp at Mount Everest. It is one of the most accessible mountains in the world, bringing hundreds of climbers and thousands of people to its base camp each year.

View the Northern Lights
Flickr user kilgarron

View the Northern Lights

Any traveler who has not yet seen the Northern Lights in person most likely has this on their bucket list. The stunning lights are truly awe-inspiring.

Zip Line in Costa Rica
Flickr user Arturo Sotillo

Zip Line in Costa Rica

Zip lining through the lush forests of Costa Rica is an exhilarating experience and one of the best outdoor activities to do while visiting.

Ride a Hot Air Balloon in Jaipur
Flickr user Colin Tsoi

Ride a Hot Air Balloon in Jaipur

Getting a different perspective of Jaipur as a helium-filled balloon flies you over rivers, crowds, and backdrops is the best adventure in India.

Visit the Galápagos Islands
Flickr user pantxorama

Visit the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are a haven for friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises. Explorers continue to flock to this exotic destination that should be high up on everyone's bucket list.

Road-Trip Through the United States
Pexels/Kaique Rocha

Road-Trip Through the United States

While planning an international trip is exciting, why not road-trip through the United States for the ultimate adventure? Rent a car, bring a map, and venture off into new states.

Visit an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand
Flickr user Flavio Alagia

Visit an Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand

For those heading to Thailand, visiting a local elephant sanctuary is a must. Travelers can wash and interact with the elephants in an atmosphere where they are treated with love and respect.

Swim in a Natural Cave
Pexels/Randy Siebold

Swim in a Natural Cave

There are natural pools hidden in numerous caves around the world. One in Brazil, Poco Azul, has water so clear that swimming in it is like floating in space.

Parasail in Hawaii
Pexels/Nitin Dhumal

Parasail in Hawaii

The closest thing you'll ever get to flying, other than being in a plane, is parasailing. This feeling of pure freedom is perfect for an adventure traveler's bucket list.