10大冒险假期

Top 10: Adventure Vacations

For your father, adventurous vacations involve him spending too much time at the buffet or making a wrong turn into an inner city slum. You have a different take on the subject. Your vacation souvenirs have included scars, stitches and a fresh pint or two of blood on your clothes. Our list of 10 adventure vacations doesn’t only involve places to go and things to do before you die, they might also play an integral part in your final act. For just a hint of morbidity, we’re including the death toll (when it was available) for each activity.

Number 10
Whitewater rafting with crocodiles
Zambezi River, Africa

Between July and January, rafting Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls produces all the Class 5 rapids you could hope for, with charming names like Highway to Hell, Stairway to Heaven and Mother. And you thought those were only classic rock tracks. They could easily be your swan song if you make a wrong move. Even in the calm stretches, crocodiles cruise below the surface and monkeys in the trees are known to anoint passersbys with golden showers (OK, primate piss may not be deadly, but it’s still a biohazard). Bringing your passport along not only helps when you cross between Zambia and Zimbabwe on this trip, it can also help rescuers identify you should the unfortunate befall you.

Death toll: About 30 per year (mainly from crocodiles).

Number 9
Biking the El Camino de la Muerte
La Paz, Bolivia

When locals pray before embarking on a mountain road, it’s safe to say there’s a clear and present element of danger. If you translate the title, yes, it is called The Death Road. Not a coveted address for home buyers, it’s the destination of a lifetime for the most extreme cyclists. The 43-mile trip from La Paz to Coroico is a narrow but heavily traveled route that’s barely one lane wide in many areas and is known for its unforgiving 1,600-foot vertical drops (a couple dozen cars plummet into the canyon in a given year). The road doesn’t earn its name from motorists alone: An average of three mountain bikers perish here yearly, too.

Death toll: About 100 per year.

Number 8
Street luging
New York, USA

Despite a three-decade existence and brief flare of mainstream attention a few years ago, the street luge has been a mostly underground sport that is consistently dangerous. Races on Signal Hill near Long Beach, California, were discontinued after too many injuries. Riding on public roads -- illegal in some areas, frowned upon in many others -- exposes riders to risks that are both obvious, such as traffic, and unusual, because simply crossing uneven pavement or loose gravel at freeway speeds with no brakes can end your day (or your life) in a jiffy. At one of the sport’s bigger events, the annual Madison County Gravity Fest in Munnsville, New York, it’s all about speed and living to talk about it.

Death toll: Several a year (public roads and non-MCGF events).

Number 7
Running with the Bulls
Pamplona, Spain

On average, it only lasts about three minutes, but your life will flash before your eyes. Every nerve will sizzle with energy. Sweat will saturate you and your lungs will burn. Staying on your feet and running like hell are keys to avoiding additional holes gored into your body. The centuries-old tradition of running with the bulls is definitely one of the world’s original extreme sports. For nine days every year, the encierros are a small but famous part of Pamplona, Spain’s celebration of Saint Fermin. Before you run, observe how it all goes down, talk to experienced runners and learn how to do it right to avoid being one of dozens of yearly injuries.

Death toll: 15 since 1924 (the first year of statistics).

Number 6
Driving the Nuerburgring
Cologne, Germany

Located a short drive from Cologne, Germany’s storied race circuit prompted Jackie Stewart to dub it “The Green Hell.” Juan Manuel Fangio retired shortly after he set lap records there. Intimidating? For sure. Repelling? Not at all. Professionals, locals and tourists all flock to tame this beast. Completed in 1927, it’s an unforgiving circuit with endless challenges. You could play it safer and let a pro driver take you around "The Ring" in a BMW, but if you’re reading this, you’ll likely want to drive a race car yourself. If you’re lucky, only your ego will be bruised at the end of the day.

Death toll: About 10 a year (depending on source).

Number 5
Rodeo Riding
Wyoming, USA

For guys who can’t tell or don’t care when their presence is unwanted astride an untamed horse or steer, rodeo is the whiplash-inducing thrill they seek. Sore muscles are the least of their worries here, as riders can be gored, stomped or even plopped upon by the animal. While popular across the U.S. and Canada, Wyoming is considered by many to be capital of the rodeo world. It’s also here you can climb aboard and experience it for yourself in packages offered by several ranches. Animal rights groups believe rodeos are cruel to the animals, but sprains, concussions and broken bones can leave riders feeling less than dandy too.

Death toll: About 1 per year (pro circuit, depending on source).

Number 4
Wild Safari
Kenya, Africa

We can imagine your disbelief on this one. How can it be dangerous to watch wildlife from a truck going 2 mph? While there are plenty of plush safari companies that cater to old ladies and children, there are also sketchy safaris led by locals who will take you out into the wild and make you pray for your safety. The unpredictability of wildlife can have you watching your life flash before your eyes. It seems obvious, but trying to get closer to wildlife often ends in disaster. Even if you do keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, animals may still charge, seemingly unprovoked. And spending a night in a tent will definitely find you pondering your culinary appeal to the beasts.

Death toll: Varies, depending on source.

Number 3
Racing the Baja 1000
Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Take the most rugged terrain you’ve ever driven, then race through it, flat-out, for over 1,200 miles -- in the desert, with spectators sabotaging the route. November, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of this hellish race, running from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas. Participants through the years reads like a who’s-who list of skilled celebrities (James Garner, Steve McQueen) and racers (Parnelli Jones, Robby Gordon). Two wheels or four, Pro or Sportsman class, there’s room for you if you’ve got the nerve. Surviving is rewarded with a three-day party in Cabo, in case you needed persuasion.

Death toll: No official statistics kept, but several drivers and spectators have died in the past.

Number 2
Ice Climbing
Hinterrhein, Switzerland

Falling rocks, the threat of an avalanche, extreme cold and gravity have all plotted against you. The odds are not really stacked in your favor, are they? As if mountaineering alone doesn’t present enough risk, add wintry elements, several layers of winter clothing and the instability of ice just for kicks. You could have gone south to the Mediterranean, but instead, you’re west of St. Moritz near the Swiss-Italian border, straddling larger-than-life icicles. You’ll be grateful to tackle sections that are “only” 50 degrees vertical (in the WI2 range); many are 90 degrees (WI4 and up). If you make it through unscathed, you’ll either be hooked or you'll want to relocate to a tropical climate for your next vacation.

Death toll: Varies based on area.

Number 1
Yacht Racing the Mini Transat
From France to Brazil

If you have 40 days to cheat death over 5,000 miles across the Atlantic, this could be just the ticket. Don’t think of this as yachting with a barge-sized luxo-liner either. Participants’ craft can only have decks less than 21 feet long and masts under 40 feet high. Apparently, it’s appealing enough for about 120 entrants to fill the 75 available spots. Storms cause participants to become lost at sea: Drifting many miles off course is not unheard of, even for experienced sailors. One estimate suggests nearly 10% of participants are thrown overboard at some point, and sometimes they don’t make it aboard again.

Death toll: 7 since 1977 (first year of the biennial race).

don’t fear the reaper
Our list of 10 dangerous vacations isn’t just meant to be experienced before you die, these places might also hasten the process. So grab your passport and fine tune your will before you leave, and make sure your will is written. On second thought, you might only need a one-way ticket, rather than round-trip.