Got an adventure craving that lounging by the pool just can’t compete with? On your next bleisure getaway, take on one of these wild experiences to challenge your inner adrenaline junkie.
Glacier Hiking In Denali, Alaska
When you partake in this epic expedition, a helicopter will carry you through Denali National Park to a glacier in the Alaska Range. When you arrive, you’ll trek along the ice and explore ancient patterns in the earth. You’ll also be invited to keep an eye out for wild animals like bears and caribou.
Nearest bleisure city: Anchorage, AK
Swimming With Sharks In Cape Town
The waters surrounding Cape Town, South Africa are home to more great white sharks than just about anywhere else in the world. If watching Jaws from the safety of your couch just isn’t thrilling enough to cut it for you, this is the place to be. In Cape Town, you can hop into a steel cage, be lowered into the water, and float amongst the great whites. Yep, it’s as intense as it sounds. If you’re not ready to swear off the ocean forever afterward, you can spend the rest of your trip surfing the massive waves of Muizenberg, Scarborough Beach, or Glen Beach.
Skydiving Over Niagara Falls
A trip to these famous falls can be a lot more dramatic than a slow-moving ride on the Maid of the Mist. When you visit the US side of Niagara Falls, you can tandem skydive(!) over the rushing waters. If you’re looking for something that’s a slight step down in the adrenaline department, you can opt for the region’s zip lines, helicopter rides above the falls, or hardcore jet boat rides in the Class V rapids near the falls.
Nearest bleisure city: Buffalo, NY
Camel Trekking In Mongolia
Mongolia’s expansive natural beauty makes it an excellent place to get in touch with your adventurous side. Most people view this landlocked country as a place to experience on horseback, and that’s certainly a thrill, but an even greater adventure is to see it by camel. In the Mongolian Gobi Desert, you and your new camel BFF can make your way through the desert sands as you keep an eye out for dinosaur footprints, petrified dinosaur eggs, and sprawling views of the horizon. Come evening, you’ll be treated to one of the starriest night skies on the planet.
Nearest bleisure city: Beijing, China
Volcano Boarding In Leon, Nicaragua
This city’s 2,400-foot black sand Cerro Negro volcano plays host to a hobby known as volcano boarding – and yep, that’s exactly what it sounds like. You’ll grab a piece of plywood – whether you want to sit or stand on it is up to you – and slide your way down the active volcano at top speed.
Nearest bleisure city: Managua, Nicaragua
Heli-Skiing In Zermatt, Switzerland
As any seasoned shredder will tell you, there’s no better way to ski than from a height so epic and a location so remote that it can only be reached by helicopter. In Zermatt, you’ll fly high above the clouds and gawk at breathtaking views of the Matterhorn – and that’s before you even start your ski run. When you’ve reached your starting point, the helicopter will drop you among the mountain peaks so you can glide your way back to earth.
Nearest bleisure city: Bern, Switzerland
Bungee Jumping And Sky Diving In Queenstown, New Zealand
Known as the “Adventure Capital Of The World,” Queenstown has something for every type of adventure seeker. You can skydive from 15,000 feet over the Remarkables mountain range, hang glide above the city, or board a jet boat ride among the canyons of the Shotover River. Of course, one of Queenstown’s most epic claims to fame that it’s the epicenter of modern bungee jumping. The city’s Kawarau Bridge is home to the first-ever commercial bungee site, and even if you need more than one bungee option to be truly satisfied, they’ve got you covered. You can also opt to try the nearby Nevis bungee platform, or the Nevis swing. (Yes, the swing extends out into open air over a canyon. No, this is not your childhood swing set.)
Nearest bleisure city: Christchurch, New Zealand