The Ultimate Bucket List Activities for Thrill-Seekers

If your interest is piqued by whitewater rafting in Chile, cliff diving in Italy or heliskiing in Alaska, read on. Culture Trip curates the ultimate bucket list for thrill-seekers.

Looking for that ultimate whitewater rafting adventure? The Futaleufú River, in northern Patagonia, is the place to do it. This 5km-long (3mi) stretch of water, which includes rapids dubbed the Wild Mile and Terminator, is pretty exhilarating. Mind, you’ll need some whitewater rafting experience before you take to its waters.

Taman Negara National Park is a tropical rainforest thought to be 130m years old. There are loads of short walks you can do to discover it, but serious adventurers can head upstream and into the jungle. If you’re up for the challenge, prepare for all-day hiking and setting up camp for the night in a “bumbun“, a traditional Malaysian huts. Sights you’ll see include beaches, streams, canopy walks – and even snakes.

Porto Venere, in northwest Italy, where the poet Lord Byron once lived, is a small village where you can cliff-dive. Before plunging into the Ligurian Sea, ensure the water is deep enough, do it with a friend and do not jump head first.

At around two hours, reaching the summit of Table Mountain is fairly quick compared to some mountain hikes, but at 1,085m (3,560ft), it’s still a decent climb. On your way up, you’ll run into some of South Africa’s wonderful wildlife and be met with a spectacular panoramic view of Cape Town below.

First things first, heliskiing should only be considered by strong skiers, as it’s completely off-piste. If your skill is up there with the pros, get the ultimate thrill in Girdwood, Alaska. A helicopter will drop you off at the mountain summit, then it’s up to you to navigate your way down.

Surfers will have you know that Maui is the ultimate place to catch a wave – but it’s not for beginners. These waves and breaks have a habit of escalating rapidly. The biggest waves on Maui are on the North Shore, with an exposed reef and only two entrances to the surf. For a less crowded spot, head to Honolua Bay, where it’s possible to surf the infamous Cave wave.

Now, Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t for inexperienced hikers: reaching the summit can take 5-9 days, so adequate preparation needs to go into this challenge. There are six well-trodden paths up to the summit, including Marangu, Machame and Lemosho, with each varying in length.

Fiordland, in the south-western corner of New Zealand’s South Island, is a Unesco-protected place of exceptional beauty. It’s best discovered on kayak from Milford Sound, which journalist Rudyard Kipling once described as the eighth wonder of the world.

There are two ways of seeing Victoria Falls: from up above, or down below If you’re drawn to the latter, hop in a raft and meander down the Zambezi River – but bear in mind, there’s whitewater all the way and some of the biggest rapids in the world, such as the Devil’s Toilet Bowl and Oblivion.

Home to mountain ranges including K2, Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, the Himalayas have the biggest and baddest peaks in the world. Sprawling across five countries, the Himalayas are designed to push the limits of any climbers, trekkers or hikers worth their salt.

The Sossusvlei dunes, in the Namib-Naukluft National Park of Namibia, were designed to be enjoyed from up above. For those not afraid of heights, hop in a hot-air balloon and soar like a bird.