If you are seeking for some thrill, for some adrenaline pumping, for some death defying adventures, and for some things that you will only do once in your life, here are some adventure travel destinations:

Conquering the Sahara

The Sahara Desert is an ocean of sand roughly 8.5 Million sq. km. spanning North Africa. If you are daring enough to conquer it, you have to deal with about 4,838 kilometers of extreme conditions with the Atlantic Ocean at one end and the Red Sea on the opposite end. Aside from the daunting unearthly amount of sand, you have to overcome dust storms, extreme heat, thirst, and some hostile tribes.

You have several options. You can go on foot, or ride camels, or take the risk with 4×4 vehicles. Do not forget to pack a good amount of survival essentials since help will most likely not come when you needed it most. You will travel for days without seeing anyone except for some nomad posts and camps of other explorers.

Diving with the Great Whites

You will not be sitting comfortably in your living room watching Jaws but you will be in the same waters without the protection of any cage with the great white sharks. They are the biggest sharks known to man and they are among the best predators in the open waters. If it will comfort you a little, their big appetite and razor sharp sets of teeth does not have homo sapiens as their primary target.

Aside from your diving equipment, you will need a ton of guts to dive with these sharks. It is a humbling, scary, and fulfilling adventure.

Take the Salcantay Route going to Machu Picchu

The mystique city of Machu Picchu in the mountains of Peru offers hikers a good pilgrimage. Most trekkers take the Inca Trail but do what most people don’t. If you are planning to go to Machu Picchu, take the less taken Salcantay Route which brings you to coffee plantations, villages, orchards, and around several thousand heights. The long journey will bring you through different ecosystems. Once you have conquered this trail, you will see Machu Picchu from a vantage point not seen by most travellers.

Ski on the K2

K2 is the second highest mountain in the world at 28,251 feet just next to Mt. Everest. K2 though is statistically more trecherous and has claimed more lives. If you are an advanced skier, you might want to go up the peak and then be brave enough to turn around and slide your way down. It is next to crazy as you will have to deal with extreme winds, unpredictable terrain, and avalanches. So far no one has conquered skiing from the top. The closest that has ever been tried is 250 feet from its summit.

Hike through the Triple Crown

Walking thru these trails means conquering a gruelling, unimaginable, and all the superlative adjectives you can add to a distance of 12,391 kilometers. Walk through the Pacific Crest, to the Appalachian, and through the trails of the Continental Divide and you have walked the distance about one third around earth.

Only a hundred or so have done this feat and it takes years and several pairs of boots. Dare to take the walk of your life and you will go through coast lines, volcanoes, lush forests,desert and meet the different moods of mother earth.

Discover the deserts of Morocco on a camel

Most will recommend visiting the old cities of Tangier, Marrakesh, and Fes but what will be more exciting is to discover the desert while riding a camel. Live a few days like Lawrence of Arabia and follow the routes of ancient caravans. Discover the beautiful landscape of Morocco with all of its smells, colors, sounds, and texture.

Surf at the Shipsterns Bluff

South off the coast of Tasmania in Australia is the dream world for extreme surfers. At this point, the waters of the earth are the wildest. The Shipsterns Bluff gives you waves of 8 feet at the smallest and around 20 feet when it decides to be a monster. Try to catch this deadly wave and be ready for anything. One wrong move and you might end up near the rocky field or the treacherous rocky clliffs. Even the best surfers are dwarfed by the difficulty level of the break.

Climb down to the mouth of Marum Volcano

If you have to unleash the crazy daredevil in you, one great adventure is to go down the mouth of the Marum Volcano in the South Pacific. Don a heat proof gear and come up close with the lava spewing from earth. There is no guarantee how you will come out of the dangerous situation as everyone knows the unpredictability of an active volcano. It will be super hot. There will be dangerous gas everywhere. There will be tumbling and flying rocks, hot volcanic rocks that is. There will be explosions. It is definitely an insane journey.

Swim with the giants in the waters of Galapagos Islands

If you are planning an adventure between July and October, try to book a trip to the Galapagos Islands. You might have heard it as a good place to see a wide diversity of animal life but the waters around it gives you an opportunity to see huge whale sharks and hammerhead sharks. Aside from seeing bus size sea creatures, you will also have as company penguins, sea lions, schools of fish, and the rest of the gang.

Climb the El Capitan in the Yosemite Valley

The Yosemite is said to be the birthplace of climbing in the U.S. but conquering the El Capitan is one of the greatest challenges for mobers. Go to route known as The Nose. Legendary climbers have conquered this route but mere mortals may take around five days to negotiate the pitches.

Cross the Amazon

Feel like being an Indiana Jones? Conquer the Amazon and meet the taratulas, jaguars, river monsters, and jaguars that call it home. The river gives you a good 6,347 kilometer journey. It is one of the last frontiers of mankind and trully, it will give you the adventure of a life time.

Rafting at the Grand Canyon

Looking at it from above is different from dealing with the waters down its feet. If you feel like experiencing extreme white water rafting, Grand Canyon offers a ferocious ride. You will literally hear the strong smashing current from afar before seeing them and feeling your heart like escaping your rib cage. You will come up close and personal with 20 feet waves and waters that flip boats as easy as flipping cards. The journey though is statistically safe with more injuries being reported while on shore. Face the challenge of the river and see about 2 billion years of earth’s history passing quickly by your eyes.

Bike from Alaska and go to Argentina

From the Prudhoe Bay of Alaska to the Tierra del Fuego of Argentina, you will encounter the most challenging mountain ranges, thousands of kilometers of highways, and more than a dozen countries. If you are a good biker, you can do it in as short as two years. It will not be a trip really but it will be a lifestyle for you. Aside from the distance, you have to deal with flat tires, hostile environments, and unfriendly drivers. This journey will have you cross paths with different cultures, thousands of sceneries, and the whole cacophony of emotions.

Dive into the Blue Holes

The Blue Holes of the Bahamas is trully picturesque from above. But what if you dive into these inland caves. The small passageways and extreme features of the environment gives you no space for any mistake. The caves give you a glimpse of another world. You will see big halls of stalactites, fossils of extinct crocodiles, remains of prehistoric humans, and remains of other sea creatures.

Dive into the Silfra

At this point in Iceland, the big plates that forms that North American continent meets the plates of Europe. This rift is filled with the clearest waters in the planet and is a favorite spot for divers. You will not see much marine life but swimming through the great bones of the planet will give you such a thrill.

If you are planning to rent a villa for your holiday, make sure that the villa holiday meets all of your requirements. Here are some villa renting tips that may come handy:

Stick to your budget

You need to determine first if you want a budget accommodation or a luxury villa. Villa rentals differ in price and this also dictates what kind of comfort and perks it comes with. You also need to put into equation the transportation you will need to get to the villa. Will you just be renting a car or a van, or will you need a ferry to get to your villa?

What you want to do

You need to determine what you want to get out of your holiday. You may want a retreat with your family and just relax around the pool or maybe you want to go out and get a villa that is near the city and major tourist spots. Make a check list of the things that your family wants and check out villas that meet these needs.

Kids

Make sure that the villa you are renting will be safe for children and will have amenities available to keep the kids busy and happy on your holiday. If you are travelling with a baby, you also need to ask if there will be a high chair or will there be a doctor or hospital facility nearby in case of emergencies.

Size of the property

You will not be charged on a per person basis but the length of your stay on the villa. Usually you can book a villa on a per week basis. The bigger the villa, the more rooms, the more luxury amenities – the pricier it gets. So you have to think how big a villa will you be needing if you are going on a holiday with your family or friends. Plan how many rooms, how many bathrooms, and what kind of amenities and services will you need.

Dates

Plan well when it comes to a villa holiday. School vacations will also mean peak use of these villa rentals. You might want to book way ahead of time. Some villas are reserved a year in advance especially for some families who want to return at the same period next year. You also need to be flexible and adjust to your flight schedules or ferry schedules.

Duration

Most villas have specific days when you can check in and out. Property owners usually welcome guests on Saturdays. In case you want a longer stay, you have to arrange for this in advance since the place might be booked for other travellers. You might also ask for discounts if you are using the facilities on off peak season.

Swimming Pool

A beautiful swimming pool is a must for most family villa holidays. Check with the company or owner if the size and features of the pool fits your needs. Also see if there will be a kiddy pool for the young ones. Ask if you will be charged for heaters and if the pool is exclusive to you and your family or will it be shared with other renters of nearby villas.

Where to go

You can find villas up for rent in most countries. If you have a destination in mind, then you have to think next the location of the villa that you want to hire. Do you want to get something that is close to a beach, near the metro, or may be you want it somewhere in the middle of nowhere?

You may want a secluded villa for your vacation and bonding time with the family but you need to think of some practicalities too. Will it be near any grocery or a restaurant in case you want something in the middle of the night? Is transporation readily available in case of emergencies?

Cooking

Most villas are self catering. Check if you will have access to a good kitchen with a good amount of equipment like stove, pans, pots, and the works. Some villas also have staff which can help you get supplies from the local market or nearby stores in case you want to save yourself some hassle and time.

Studies show that there is a higher probability that you will be encountering some trouble when you are home than when you trouble. Odd as it may be, but it is true! There are extreme cases where some places must be avoided but if you arm yourself with some common sense, be street smart, and follow the tips below, most likely you will have a hassle free journey:

Check your stuff before you leave

You will be carrying a lot of stuff more than usual so make it a habit to glance back and see if you have everything with you before leaving a coffee shop, a train, or getting off a cab. It might not look very good but it sure does save you a lot if you get those chain clips for your wallet or cellphone just to make sure you are not leaving them anywhere.

Keep your money in different places

Your cash and your cards should be kept at different places so you do not lose them all together when you are travelling. It will quite a headache if you are in the middle of nowhere and you do not have your credit card. Getting replacements or emergency cash takes a heaven and earth kind of effort.

You also need to be very careful when going to crowded places or events. Instead of putting your wallet in your back pocket, keep it in front where you can protect it from pick pockets. If you have a jacket where you can zip it up or button it up, the better. Keep it low profile and do not make it obvious that you have your money in your bag or your have your gadgets in your purse.

Always attend to your belongings

There is no one else to blame if you lose your things while enjoying a cup of coffee or a good dessert. Do not be too relaxed and leave your stuff unattended while dining, waiting for your companions, or while resting. The place might look safe, but you will really never know.

Get immunized

Have a routine check up before heading somewhere. This is to make sure that you are fit to travel. Another precaution will be to have the necessary vaccines that you might need when you travel to certain destinations.

Do not pet stray animals

You may be an animal lover but do not forget that dogs or cats or other animals that you will encounter might not want your hands patting their head or their bodies. Some may be protective of their territories and will not hesitate to have your arm or fingers. When you visit zoos or animal shelters, make sure that you follow their guidelines like not feeding animals or not petting them.

Make copies of your documents

You can do it old school and photocopy your passports and other travel documents. Nowadays, you can scan them and send it to yourself via email. Make sure you have a copy or two so it will be easier for you in case you lose the original documents. Always have the telephone number of your embassy in your place of destination just in case you will need any help.

Travel insurance

Check with your insurance provider how well you are covered when you travel. You have to be concerned about possible health costs and emergency transport in case you fall ill while abroad. If you do not have an insurance, it is best to consider getting one and we are telling you that it is well worth it.

Avoid giving to beggars

If you really want to help street kids or beggars, giving them money is not the best choice. One, you are exposing yourself because you have to get some money from your purse or wallet. Second, some government abroad make it unlawful to give to beggars since they have programs implemented to address these problems. In other cultures, you have a different story when monks seek for food or for some alms. In case you really want to share a part of yourself to help the needy, all you need to do is look for volunteer work or maybe donate some money to a charitable institution.

Trust the locals (but not too much)

If you want to know a culture more, nothing beats an immersion with the locals. Do not forget though that they are still strangers and you might want to think twice when you have doubts about your safety. Make sure that you know of the tourist traps and scams that usually victimize travellers. Also do not be afraid to say no when you think that the food and drink being offered will compromise your health.

Stay low profile

It is undeniable that you might look different from the rest of the crowd when you go somewhere abroad but you need to stay low and blend in with everyone. If you love wearing jewelries and accessories, you might have to leave them at home. It will also be wise to just bring the gadgets that are necessary for your travel. Remember that to look too much like a tourist with all the maps and guidebooks. Be street smart and you will be okay.

What to do when mugged

When you are at gun point or when you are mugged, do not be stupid… just give them what they want. There is nothing more important but your life. Forget about the cellphone, the laptop, the wristwatch. These valuables are replaceable. Giving what the bad guys want might keep you away from injury and death.

Read the fine prints

If you have decided to go surfing, diving with the shark, bungee jumping, or any other adrenaline boosting activities, better read and pay attention to the fine prints of operators. Make sure you are going with those who have excellent safety records. Going for the cheaper deal might not always be the wise choice for these activities. A broken bone or two ruins all the rest of your travel plans and burns your bank account if you do not have a health coverage.