Skydiver waits at side of plane waiting to jump out over a turquoise lake.
© Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool
Skydiving

9 most insane places in the world to go skydiving

Looking for your next skydiving spot? Look no further...
Written by Nina Zietman
4 min readPublished on
Skydiving, it’s probably the closest that you will ever come to flying. Hurling yourself out of a plane before gliding down to earth under a parachute will give you the greatest adrenaline rush. We reckon that if you are going to skydive, you might as well have a jaw-dropping view in the background.
Here are nine of the most stunningly beautiful places to go skydiving in the world – from Nepal to the Pacific islands. While these experiences won’t quite rival Felix Baumgartner’s freefall from outer space, they aren’t far off.

1. Blue Hole, Belize

Ever wanted to skydive into crystal clear tropical waters before going scuba diving? Skydive Belize will drop you out of a plane at 10,000ft over the Blue Hole, a large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. You’ll land in the water, climb aboard a boat and don scuba gear before diving into the World Heritage Site reef. It’s not cheap but guaranteed to be one of the best days of your life.

2. Las Vegas, USA

Las Vegas is known for slot machines and Celine Dion concerts, but did you know that you can also skydive from a hot air balloon over the Mojave Desert? Ascend to the skies with Vegas Extreme Skydiving and launch yourself from the hot air balloon basket with an instructor. You’ll be able to spot the Las Vegas strip, Red Rock National Park and Mount Charleston as you descend. Two hours later and you’ll be back drinking cocktails at Caesar's Palace.

3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is one of the most famous skydiving sites in the world, thanks to the iconic Palm Jumeirah Island dropzone. Skydive Dubai will teach you everything you need to know at their Desert Campus, the world’s largest skydiving school. Then you’ll be flown to 13,000ft before jumping from the plane and freefalling at 120mph over the beautiful artificial island. The view is seriously one of a kind.

4. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Switzerland is a hub for adrenalin junkies looking to scale Europe’s highest mountains, trek over glaciers or leap into canyons. It’s also a mecca for skydiving in the beautiful Lauterbrunnen valley, complete with cascading waterfalls and deep gorges. Skydive Lauterbrunnen will take you in a helicopter over the glaciers of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the Bernese Oberland and drop you at 14,000ft. Be prepared for one hell of a ride.

5. Mount Everest, Nepal

Many people dream of climbing Mount Everest, but few realise that you can skydive over the world’s tallest mountain. Unlike other skydives, you will be equipped with an oxygen tank and dropped from a helicopter at a whopping height of 23,000ft. Even the landing at Amadablam Basecamp (15,000ft) is higher than most drops in the world. You’ll be treated to an unparalleled view of Everest and a chance to explore the Sagarmatha National Park. Prices at Everest Skydive start from $22,000, so time to get saving!

6. Victoria Falls, Zambia

On the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, you will find Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. It is more than a kilometre long and over 100m tall. Locals call the waterfall ‘Mosi-o-Tunya’, which means ‘the smoke that thunders’, because the noise of the water can be heard 40km away. Victoria Falls Adventure organise skydiving jumps from Livingstone Airport. You will fly over Victoria Falls before taking the leap over the Zambezi River.

7. Denarau Island, Fiji

Seeing the beautiful Fijian Islands and coral reef from the air is an experience like no other. Take it to the next level by booking a skydive and freefalling over the azure blue ocean. Skydive Fiji and Free Fall Fiji operate on the islands. You can jump from as high as 14,000ft and land on the islands below. Age is not a problem – Skydive Fiji's youngest guest was a 7-year-old and their oldest was 92!

8. Grand Canyon, USA

The Grand Canyon is one of those places where the photos don’t do it justice. You have to visit yourself to see just how awe-inspiring it really is. What better way to witness one of the world’s greatest natural wonders than by skydiving? Paragon Skydive have the highest dropzone in the world after Mount Everest. You will soar through the air at over 130mph with the vast Grand Canyon as your backdrop.

9. Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Tucked between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the rainforest and the Tasman Sea, you’ll find the Franz Josef Glacier, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Three Kiwis set up Skydive Franz to enable skydivers to see the shimmering glacier from above. They offer jumps from 13,000ft, 16,000ft and 19,000ft. Take the leap and witness the amazing view of mountains, sea and sky.