Adventurous traveling is a type of tourism that involves explorating destinations where one can practice physical activities such as sports, many of which might be risky and are mainly done outdoors.

Adventure travel is one of the fastest-growing trends in the travel industry. Many people believe that adventure could mean leisurely biking and hiking tours, while others say it entails base-jumping into an underground cave. The main facets of adventure tourism usually include traveling to a distant location, interacting with different cultures and undertaking a physical activity of some kind.

There are two categories for adventure travel — hard and soft adventures. The soft ones are the ones where you don’t involve yourself in a risky situation and where you find yourself learning more about a certain culture, such as culinary tours, bird watching, art tours, architectural tours and so on.

Hard adventures involve some kind of extreme and often dangerous sporting activity such as rock climbing, whale watching, scuba diving, parasailing, paragliding and so on.

A study by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) shows that roughly 20 percent of adult travelers are adventure tourists. The same report finds that 10 percent of all Americans have already embarked on an adventure vacation. Revenues have skyrocketed, with The Wall Street Journal reporting in 2003 that the adventure market topped $ 245 million.

You might be intimidated when deciding which adventure vacation is right for you because there are so many options. The seven wonders of the world have long been popular tourist destinations, you can add hiking or biking tours to these places to give them an adventurous edge.

Choose your own adventure among these boundary-pushing getaways that don’t skimp on creature comforts:

Nepal: When it comes to mountain climbing, Nepal is the super star as it is home to the world’s highest peak. It has got a lot more to offer than the mighty Everest and its neighboring summits. The Himalayan kingdom also offers excitements such as the stunning Annapurna trek, wildlife jungle safaris, rafting and paragliding.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is becoming very popular among adventure travelers. Many people like to visit it seeking to learn more about its rich culture. This country has eight UNESCO world heritage Sites, including the fifth-century city of Sigiriya. If that’s not enough for you, then you might want to know that they have just discovered an incredible wildlife, including some of the world’s best whale-watching. Many safari operators showcase tea plantations, religious festivals, leopard tracking, and the annual elephant migration in Minneriya National Park.

Namibia: For those interested in the perfect wildlife adventure, this is the place. You can hike the world’s tallest sand dune and maybe meet Himba tribesmen on a beginner-friendly mountain biking. You’ll ride to the starkly beautiful Skeleton Coast and inland watering holes frequented by elephants, lions and if you are lucky you will see the famous endangered black rhinos.

Patagonia, Argentina: Patagonia is a region shared by Argentina and Chile. The part in Argentina attracts serious trekkers and climbers who prefer 500-thread-count sheets to drafty tents. A handful of luxury lodges have recently opened its doors for tourists and many travel offices are adding itineraries for comfort seekers. You will enjoy different kinds of adventures from coastal treasures, ancient forests, dazzling glaciers and incredible wildlife.

Morocco: It is a country where you will enjoy food, culture, art and shopping. It is a must visit at least once in your life because the Saharan dune field of Erg Chebbi undulates along the southern Moroccan border, near the small Berber village of Merzouga. A four-wheel-drive and camel safaris traverse this desert region, bringing you front and center with fine red sands piled up to 820 feet high and star-saturated night skies.

China: If you are looking for an interesting culinary experience, you will never find a better place to explore than China. You can eat your way through the culinary landscape of the Middle Kingdom such as Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. You will then learn that whatever you are having from your next-door greasy restaurant is nothing to compare to what you get in the real streets of China. There are a great number of Chinese chefs who open up their restaurant kitchens to host private cooking classes.

Puerto Rico: River thrills flourish in Puerto Rico, from world-class surfing at Rincon where the waves reach up to 35 feet to peaceful scuba diving, particularly around Mona Island, Desecheo Island and Vieques. On terra firma, the tropical terrain yields prime hiking, horseback riding and rock climbing opportunities. This country is filled with adventurous fun and risks that you will definitely enjoy.

Hawaii: This island promises everything you want from just a lazy day by the beach to a day filled with adventure in deep blue sea. Two miles north of the airport is the Kona Coast State Park’s trio of tranquil, uncrowned beaches catering to swimming, kayaking, picnicking and snorkeling. If you are lucky, you might spot Hawaiian green sea turtles among the arches and caves of the offshore coral reefs.

Antarctica: You will really enjoy seeing the place that inspired the Disney cartoon Ice Age. You will also enjoy their famous ice marathon usually held in November. The annual Ice Marathon takes place in temperatures of -20°C, though the brutal wind chill whipping round your chops can make it feel another 20 degrees below that. Yet to participate in the marathon in this frosted world you don’t actually need prior experience of running in extreme cold.

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