Luxury is in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to the luxury lifestyle, we like to think that we know a thing or two.
If you're in need of an authentic, in your face, heart-pounding African adventure, then Botswana is your destination. Not only can you feast your eyes on the breathtaking Victoria Falls, but you can arrange to bungee jump off the top of Victoria Falls Bridge. Take a cruise down the Zambezi River or get up close and personal with some of Africa's most beautiful, and dangerous, wildlife on the Okavango Delta. After you've set up camp, a night drive through the bush is the only way to ensure you see the big five: rhinoceros, lions, elephants, buffalo, and leopards. Oh, my!
Think no further than Costa Rica for your next extreme watersport adventure. Kayak or canoe along the Ossa Peninsula or experience class 3-4 rapids while rafting through Upper Pacuare Valley. As you travel deeper into the rainforest, you may come across exotic creatures like jaguars and monkeys and pass cascading waterfalls within the lush jungle walls. If you'd rather be on land, hop on your mountain bike and trek down the extreme terrain that makes up this tropical locale.
If you're ready to challenge yourself to a South American escape filled with mountain climbing, downhill biking, and white water rafting, then a trip across the Chilean Patagonia awaits. Conquer the summit of the volcanic Tres Monjas, learn how to horseback ride like an Andean cowboy, and kayak through Lake Yelcho all in one incredible journey. Travel down remote trails that few tourists have ever accessed while making memories that will last a lifetime.
For a taste of the old and the new, Vietnam is the ideal destination. Climb into your chauffeur-driven classic car to the capital city of Hanoi where you'll be in awe at the historical monuments and entranced at a traditional performance of the Vietnamese water puppets on Hoan Kiem Lake. Take a two-day cruise on Halong Bay, travel 1,600 feet above sea level and cycle to Hoi An, and zoom around the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh on your vintage vespa to take in all the rich culture of the country.
Call yourself an avid hiker? The terrain of Papua New Guinea is ready to challenge that. Take a journey through remote villages, clouded forest mountains, grasslands, canyons and the world-renowned 60-mile Kokoda Track, as you become acquainted with the local culture even few kiwis have explored. In a country with over 800 dialects, traveling without a guide may be considered a cultural faux paux, as the route passes through privately owned tribal land and may require relying on the hospitality of villages along route! For some R&R, hop on a deep sea fishing boat to Salamua beach the Huon Gulf awaits and coming face to face with sharks, orca whales and tropical fish galore just might be in the cards!
If you're in search of a thrilling escape from the typical beach vacation, an Icelandic expedition is sure to send chills down your spine. Be the first to put tracks in the snow of unexplored mountain ranges and descend into untouched caves as you bundle up for the -30 °C conditions that lay ahead. Snowmobile across one of the largest glaciers in Europe with panoramic views as far as the eye can see. Be sure to save some energy for that night when you'll dig a snow hole to shelter you from the elements.
Take a trip to a rarely visited corner of the Earth, deep into the thick jungle and rolling savannahs of Guyana. Live among the Amerindian tribe and learn vital survival skills while you explore the land by foot, canoe, 4x4 and horseback. Be among the few to heard cattle with the Vaquero cowboys, set up camp in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, observe the land's endangered inhabitants, fly above the rainforest canopy, and feel the mist from the crashing Kaieteur Falls.
With two islands and four coasts, New Zealand is a surfer's true paradise. To turn your surfing vacation into an extreme adventure takes adding a helicopter to the mix. Your personal pilot will fly you over rainforests, glaciers, reefs, and beaches while you go from swell to swell chasing the perfect conditions. You'll test the surf before anyone else and ride the last wave of the day into your beachside villa for some local fare around the fire.
