The Burrow
Sep 5, 2024
Holidays are a great way to take a break, take part in activities you enjoy doing, and make memories that’ll stay with you forever. Many people are now looking beyond beach or city breaks, to see how they can get their adrenaline pumping, and try something new.
With the global adventure tourism industry expected to grow to AU$4.39 billion by 2030,1 if you’re considering taking the plunge and booking a thrill-seeking adventure yourself, read on. As experts in travel insurance, we’ve uncovered the top 10 destinations for a fun-filled break, looking at factors including surf and ski spots, hiking and motorbike routes, and much more.
The USA makes it into the top spot for adventure, with so many things to see and do that are tailored to thrill-seekers. It’s home to the most hiking trails (194,505), surf spots (1,297) and amusement parks (240), as well as the third most ski resorts (532).
Some of the most scenic hiking routes are in the national parks – think Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Zion National Park; whereas if you prefer your thrills on rollercoasters, why not head to Walt Disney World, or one of the 27 Six Flags parks, that are located in several states including Arizona, California, Georgia, and more?
France is officially the second biggest adventure hotspot, with the third most amusement parks (32), fourth most hiking trails (30,600), fifth highest score for natural resources (4.92), and the seventh most motorbike routes (9,490).
Wherever you are in France, you can get out and about on your motorbike and discover the charming landscape, whether it’s along the rugged coastlines of Brittany, with a stop-off in St. Malo, or a ride through Dordogne, with the imposing Pyrenees as your backdrop.
With the second most ski resorts at 565, and the fourth highest bungee jump in the world, at a towering 215m, Japan comes third on our adventure hotspot index. Not only that, but the country is also home to the fifth most amusement parks (29), and the eighth highest percentage of green space (29.82%), so no matter how you get your kicks, Japan’s got you covered.
For skiing, Niesko United in Hokkaido is incredibly popular, with four interlinked resorts offering 81 courses, although Rusutsu in Hokkaido has won multiple awards. Alternatively, if you want to visit a theme park, you’ve got lots to pick between, including Disneyland, Universal Studios, and even Legoland.
Spain is our fourth thrill-seeking hotspot, with the most motorbike routes than anywhere else in the world, at 145,000, as well as the seventh most hiking trails and surf spots, at 17,117 and 310, respectively.
Spend five days riding Ruta de la Plata, which takes you from Seville to Gijon, where you can discover Roman ruins along the way; or ride high up in the Pyrenees, where you can uncover the beauty of the Basque region.
With the fourth most motorbike routes (20,500), sixth highest score for natural resources (4.89), and joint seventh most amusement parks (12 – tying with Canada), Italy comes in fifth place for adventure.
In fact, the country’s well-rounded, with the eighth most hiking trails and ski resorts, and eighth highest bungee jump. Lake Como and Garda in particular are great places to hike, where you can stop off at several quaint towns and villages along the way to indulge in delicious food, and enjoy the breathtaking views.
In sixth place is Germany, with the most ski resorts (656) and second most green space (39.31%), not to mention the fourth most amusement parks (31) and sixth most hiking trails (18,152).
Hessen is a great region for skiing and snow sports in general, with Vogelsberg and Taunus some of the most well-known places. Alternatively, you could ski in Saxony, splitting your time between hitting the slopes, and visiting its many regal palaces and castles.
Austria makes it into seventh place for adventure, with the fourth most ski resorts, at 441, the sixth highest bungee jump, at 192m, and the ninth most green space, at 29.64% of the total country.
The bungee jump is situated on Europabrücke, near Innsbruck, where you get to jump into lush green forests – just make sure you book in advance! When it comes to snow sports, the options are endless – St Anton and Saalbach are two of the most popular resorts, where you can ski, snowboard, and toboggan to your heart’s content.
Nepal comes in eighth place, with Mount Everest the tallest mountain in the world, at a huge 8,849m, and the highest bungee jump, at 228m.
Kushma bungee jump is one of the most thrill-seeking activities you can do in the world, as you drop into forests and streams; and if you want to climb to Everest’s basecamp or even attempt its summit, you’ll need to book onto an expedition, and train extensively for it beforehand, as it’s so physically demanding!
With the second most hiking trails and amusement parks, at 48,047 and 131 respectively, and the third most surf spots, at 469, the UK comes in a very respectable ninth place for thrills and adventure.
Thorpe Park and Alton Towers are two of the most well-known theme parks that you could visit; but if you’d prefer a spot of surfing, then head to the beaches of Croyde or Woolacombe in Devon; or for more rugged landscapes, try Thurso East or the Isle of Tiree in Scotland.
Rounding off our top 10 adventures hotspots is Brazil – the highest of all the South American countries. The country has the second most motorbike routes at 55,300, and the second highest score for natural resources, at 5.79; as well as the fourth most surf spots (447), and the seventh most green space (30.42%).
Much of Brazil is covered by the Amazon Rainforest, which is home to one in 10 species on earth, and you can visit parts of it on a guided tour, where you can go trekking and canoeing. Alternatively, if surfing is more your thing, head to the beaches of Rio and Saquarema, which is often referred to as the surfing capital of Brazil.
If we look at each ranking factor, then Poland comes top for the largest percentage of green space, at 39.64%, yet ranks 18th overall; with Croatia and Cyprus having the third and fourth most protected green space, at 38.51% and 38.44% respectively.
Canada comes 14th overall, yet has the third most hiking trails, at 39,643, while Australia has the fifth most, and ranks 13th. For surf spots, Australia also ranks highly, with the second most (812), and New Zealand has the fifth most (443), and scores 11th overall.
The Netherlands has the sixth most amusement parks, and Colombia has the third most motorbike routes, at 24,100, yet scores 16th on our index; and Mexico has the highest score for natural resources at 5.97, and scores 15th overall.
India’s tallest mountain is the second tallest in the index, with Kangchenjunga standing 8,586m tall; Argentina falls into third place, and Chile fourth – the Aconcagua in Argentina, and Ojos del Salado in Chille, both of which are in the Andes mountain range.
Finally, when it comes to bungee jumps, Switzerland has the second highest at 220m, and South Africa has the third, at 216m; the latter of which is the Bloukrans Bridge, which is situated along the Garden Route, and sees you jumping safely above the gorge that sits below.
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and booking an adventure holiday, make sure you take these three tips into consideration, to really make the most of it.
Calculate your costs because things can get expensive very quickly, and research your destination as some countries will be more affordable than others. If there are a few thrill-seeking activities you want to take part in, then you may be able to save money by choosing local guides, getting package deals or booking in advance, so map out what you want to do before you go
Depending on what type of activities you choose to do, you may need to start working on your fitness levels, and if you want to tackle a mountain climb, then you may even need to create a specific training regimen for the months prior. Of course, not everything will be that intense, but if you’re going skiing for the first time, you might want to book onto a couple of lessons first, or if you’re planning an intense trek, spend a few weekends going on hikes!
Holidays are for making memories, and when you throw adventure into the mix, it can really heighten your emotions. Take a journal and a pen with you so you can write about your adventures and how you’re feeling in the moment, and don’t forget to take loads of pictures so you can look back and reflect on your adventure holiday in years to come.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market AU states: “It’s no surprise adventure holidays are growing in popularity, as people look to throw themselves out of their comfort zones, and live life to the max. Just remember that when it comes to booking your travel insurance, you may need to add on extras, as not all policies cover adventure sports.
“In most cases, you’ll need specific travel insurance for snow sports and also for activities such as riding on a motorcycle, scooter, or moped. You can check what specific activities your policy will and will not cover you for by reading through the limits and restrictions of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
“Like with anything more adventurous, there are risks involved. It’s better to pay a bit extra for adventure travel insurance and be covered, in case you become involved in an accident and need to be rushed to hospital.”
So, what are you waiting for?! It’s time to get out and see more of the world, and why not combine it with something you’ve always wanted to do – whether it’s hiking through a jungle, or taking the plunge on a bungee jump? Just make sure when you’re purchasing your travel insurance, you carefully read your policy to ensure you have an appropriate level of cover.
Sources:
Green Space – Protected Planet
Hiking Trails – All Trails
Ski Resorts – Ski Resort Info
Surf Spots – Surf Forecast
Amusement Parks – Coasterpedia
Motorbike Routes – Wikiloc
Natural Resources – Prosperity Data 360
Tallest Mountain – Wikipedia
Highest Bungee Jump – Desk Research
Methodology:
This dataset ranks 45 countries, based on how good they are for thrill-seekers. To do this, 9 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score of between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed, to give each location a total score out of 9. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
All data is correct as of 14/08/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources, and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.