4 Extreme Adventure Travel Stories to Get Your Heart Racing

A surreal flight from atop a cliff, rafting in ice-cold water or jumping out of a plane in the middle of nowhere—we’ve all dreamt of such escapades at least once, if not dared to experience them yet. Here are four personal stories from true adrenaline junkies, who have experienced the thrill of adventure sports first hand.  Read on and find out what extreme adventure really feels like, and how you can try it yourself!

Prerna, Fashion Designer | Amateur Skydiver

‘The moment we landed, I wanted to run back to the drop zone and go for the dive all over again!’

Where: Skydiving Snohomish, Seattle, United States

How did it feel?
From butterflies in my stomach before the jump, to a it-might-be-my-last-day-on-earth sort of feeling during the free fall, it was the most exhilarating experience of my life. It felt like I was on top of the world as we were paragliding our way back to the ground. The moment we landed, I wanted to run back to the drop zone and go for the dive all over again!

Shruti, Chartered Accountant | Extreme Adventure Aficionado

‘If you think you’ve done rafting before, try it here in Zanskar for a different experience.’

Where: Zanskar River, Leh, India

How did it feel?
It was my first trip to Leh and I couldn’t wait to start rafting. We wore life jackets and proper diving suits to avoid frost bites. The ice-cold water did not deter us from fighting the thunderous rapids coming our way. The rough terrain made the rafting all the more challenging. The black tea, Maggi and pakodas served after the river rafting adventure were the best rewards for all the effort we had put in. I would recommend river rafting at Zanskar to all adventure junkies!  

Prabhat, Data Scientist | Bungee Jumping Junkie

‘Bungee jumping is a sport which makes you experience both death and redemption together, the fall lifts you up.’

Where: Mohan Chatti, Rishikesh, India, the first ever bungee jumping platform in India

How did it feel?
I was all set to jump from a height of 500 feet. I could hear pop music playing faintly in the background easing things up a bit. Seconds before the jump, I was asked to look towards a yellow cross painted far away (perhaps to correct my posture). Then I heard a voice, ‘Raise your arms ! 3, 2, 1, BUNGEE!’ And I was off! The jump had a free fall of 4 seconds and then 3 rebounds because of the energy stored in the elastic of the bungee cord, stretched by almost two folds during the free fall.

Karan, HR Professional | Freefalling Enthusiast

‘The experience of a freefall at one of the world’s highest cable gorge swings was scary but immensely rewarding.’

Where: Big Swing & Highwire Graskop, South Africa

How did it feel?
On my last trip to South Africa, I ensured that the Big Swing at Graskop was included in the itinerary. As I stood at the jump point, I knew there was no looking back. The instructor held on to the cable and asked me to tilt backwards at a 45-degree angle. My adrenaline was pumping. I wasn’t sure if I would survive the swing but a few seconds after the jump I heard a voice, ‘Yes Karan, you are safe and you have done it!’

Ever indulged in extreme adventure sports? What is your idea of an adventure? Tell us your experiences in the comments below.