Bike
Exploration
20 wild adventures you should try in 2020
Start the new decade with a year of adventure and take your pick from these 20 amazing once-in-a-lifetime journeys.
There’s an adventure out there with your name on it and these destinations are trending for 2020. This is a new decade, so forget the classics, like hiking the Inca Trail, kayaking the Zambezi or paddle boarding the California coast, and try something different.
This list has everything from skydiving over Antarctica to hiking along some of the most stunning cliffs in the Mediterranean. We’ve searched around the globe to find the top adventures on every continent. Some are opening up for the first time, some are previously undiscovered and some are last-chance opportunities – but all will ensure you kick off the new decade with your adrenaline in full flow.
1. Raft the ‘River of Gold’
The 'River of Gold', also known as the Sun Koshi River
© Liam Kirkham
Where: The Sun Koshi River, Nepal
This multi-day river trip, recommended by adventurer Liam Kirkham, travels 270km along the ‘River of Gold’, which mixes long sections of green water with crashing world-class whitewater, is one of the world’s top-10 river trips. There are stunning rural villages and Hindu Temples en route and evening camps are on the huge sand beaches that give the river its name.
2. Trek Selvaggio Blu
The vistas while hiking the Selvaggio Blu will take your breath away
© www.explorersconnect.com
Where: Sardinia, Italy
Known as ‘Italy’s toughest and finest trek’, Selvaggio Blu is five days of extreme adventure, involving abseiling, scrambling and steep ascents along the isolated, mountainous coastline of Sardinia. And if that wasn’t tempting enough, a splash in the turquoise sea is never far away.
3. Skydive in Antarctica
Skydive in the beautiful surroundings of Antarctica
© Antarctic Logistics
Where: Antarctica
No other landscape can match the immense ice expanses of Antarctica – and the opportunity to freefall over the world’s highest, driest, windiest and most starkly beautiful continent is something few ever get the opportunity to do. You also get to stay at one of the world’s most remote campsites, the legendary Union Glacier station.
4. Ski and climb on a power plant
CopenHill in all its magnitude
© Distillery
Where: CopenHill, Copenhagen
Copenhagen has just opened a new attraction that offers dry skiing and the ‘world’s tallest climbing wall’. The 450m artificial slope, which has black/red and blue/green sections, a slalom course and a freestyle park, also has running trails and hiking routes. It’s built around the smokestack of a clean power plant and has stunning city views.
The view from top of the CopenHill ski slope
© Distillery
5. Glacier hike on ‘Thundering Mountain’
The majesty of Thunder Mountain
© Flickr CC/Mariano Mantel
Where: Bariloche, Argentina
Mount Tronador is named after the noise of falling chunks of ice from the eight glaciers around it. There are two great glacier day-hike options here – either across an ice field between two refugios or up the icy tongues to the 3,470m summit. And don’t miss the nearby Black Glacier, which is uniquely made of black ice.
6. Surf the tropics
Surf in warm temperatures all year round in Playa Guiones
© Flickr CC/Chris Goldberg
Where: Norsara, Costa Rica
Playa Guiones is a beach break located in primary jungle. It’s beautifully remote and it’s home to some great waves, with crystal-clear bath-warm waters and waves for every level. There’s plenty of lodges amongst the trees to hang out and chill in the evening too.
7. Mountain bike in the Himalayas
You'll ride high into the Himalayas on this MTB trip
© Bartek Woliński
Where: Mustang Valley, Nepal
The Upper Mustang – which appears on the Nepal episode of Rob Warner’s Wild Rides – is one of the best places to bike among the world’s biggest mountains. The high-altitude ascents and endless single-track descents are challenging but immense. Mix that with nomadic culture, stunning scenery and friendly locals and you’ve got a trip of a lifetime.
Watch the Nepal episode of Rob Warner's Wild Rides:
24 min
Nepal
Rob Warner and downhill pro Olly Wilkins ride around the world's tallest mountain range.
8. Snorkel before the coral disappears
Beautiful Raja Ampat
© I Made Adi Dharmawan
Where: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
A fifth of the world’s coral has died in the last three years – so hurry up and get snorkeling if you want to see this natural wonder at its best. The Great Barrier Reef may be more famous, but the Raja Ampat archipelago claims to have more corals and marine fish than anywhere else in the world.
The tropical aquarium of the Raja Ampat Islands
© Hulivili
9. Tackle the world’s highest commercial abseil
Maletsunyane is an abseil challenge and a half
© Tyrone Bradley
Where: Semonkong Lodge, Lesotho
Maletsunyane, southern Africa’s highest single drop waterfall, is home to a record breaking 204m long abseil, which appeared in the Lesotho episode of Rob’s Warner's Wild Rides. It’s stomach-churning stuff from start to finish, beginning with the drop off the ledge followed by an extremely exposed straight descent in the spray of the waterfall.
Watch the Lesotho episode of Rob Warner's Wild Rides:
24 min
Lesotho
Mountain bikers Rob Warner and Matt Jones, head to Lesotho to experience a very different kind of racing.
10. Climb a via ferrata in the desert
Imagine climbing up to this view of Jebel Akhdar
© Flickr CC/Andries Oudshoorn
Where: Jebel Akhdar, Oman
Deep in the Oman desert, the giant 3,000m high cliff of Jebel Akhdar is one of the region’s top climbing destinations with giant canyons and rock formations. It now has a private 200m via ferrata, which opened last year. There’s also a public via ferrata in the Wadi An Nakhur (Grand Canyon) with stunning views.
11. SUP through a secret archipelago
Yaeyama Islands' clear waters adds an extra dimension to SUP boarding
© rinpana.com/Ishigaki Island Eco Tour
Where: Yaeyama Islands, Japan
Mention Japan and most people think of big cities and neon lights – but Okinawa and the Yaeyama archipelago could not be more different. It’s a string of sub-tropical islands with beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that are perfect for paddling through.
12. Bungee into a volcano
Bungeeing into a volcano is not for the faint hearted
© www.bungee.com
Where: Villarrica, Chile
This ultimate helicopter bungee jump takes you to within 120m of Volcan Villarrica’s bubbling orange lava lake – and this year is the final time it will be run. Spots are by application only, but if you miss out you could always try the company’s other extreme jump – a heli bungee over the Grand Canyon.
13. Go on safari with the Maasai
Spot a bit of Kenyan wildlife on safari
© Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Content Pool
Where: Enkereri Village, Kenya
This is no ordinary African safari – this is the ultimate real-life experience of life in the wild with the Maasai people. Follow in the footsteps of Rob Warner and Matt Jones and stay in a traditional hut, eat local food like ugali and experience genuine hospitality in traditional ceremonies and tribal celebrations. Best of all, go out on foot into the big open plains of the Maasai Mara and learn how to animal track from the best in the business.
Watch the Kenya episode of Rob Warner's Wild Rides:
24 min
Kenya
Rob Warner and with freeride pro Matt Jones head to Kenya to ride Mount Kenya.
14. Slip into the ultimate infinity pool
The sights, sounds and Instagram opps are unmatched at Devil's Pool
© Anna Brech
Where: Victoria Falls, Zambia
Devil’s Pool is perhaps the world’s most jaw-dropping infinity pool – and certainly one of the most dangerous. It’s a natural rock pool that sits right on top of Victoria Falls, a short swim or waist-deep wade from Livingstone Island. There’s just a rock lip separating you from tipping over the edge of the monster 100m-high cascade.
15. Dune buggy in Baja
Ride a buggy in Baja
© Art Eugenio/Red Bull Content Pool
Where: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Baja California desert covers almost 32m acres and the best way to discover it is on a Baja Buggy. These wild offroad machines, made famous by the famous Baja 1000 Race, will take you through remote dunes and cactus-lined trails.
16. Kayak in the dragon kingdom
Komodo kayaking
© Pioneer Expeditions
Where: Komodo, Indonesia
Komodo has cancelled its 2020 closure so it’s still possible to visit its famous dragon residents – for now. The island’s location, with some of the world’s most remote beaches and most vibrant coral reefs, is perfect for kayaking. And once on land you can also visit stilt villages and pick off miles of trails.
You may bump into one of these if you're lucky
© Pioneer Expeditions
17. Go on a wolf safari
Spot a wolf or two on safari
© Eva Blue/Unsplash
Where: Skinnskatteberg, Sweden
Hearing wolves howl is one of the most exciting experiences that you can have in nature. These animals are having a resurgence in Western Europe, but remote hikes in Sweden offer a great chance to see them – and if you’re lucky you might also spot a bear.
18. Surf on Cloud 9
Surf to your hearts content in Siargao
© Mclovin'tosh/Wikimedia Creative Commons
Where: Siargao Island, Philippines
Arguably the Philippines' most famous wave, Cloud 9 reliably delivers barrels every time when the wind and tides line up. The tropical island where it is found is starting to grow in popularity as a destination – so go hit it before it gets too full of riders.
19. Survive on a desert island
Be at peace with oneself on Panama's Pearl Islands
© Desert Island Survival
Where: Archipiélago de las Perlas, Panama
Be your own castaway and get away from it all by heading to a deserted island. The Pearl Islands, 50km off the country’s Pacific coast, have more than 200 uninhabited cays to choose from, with stunning white beaches and rainforest backdrops. If you want to be properly left alone, pick a tour that teaches you the essential survival skills before you go.
20. Swim with humpbacks
Be at one with the humpback whales
© Whaleswim.com
Where: Tonga
Stay on the beach at the edge Tonga’s humpback whale nursery and you’ll be in pole position to race out and swim with these sea giants. Expert guides can tell you how best to swim without disturbing their natural patterns – and if you’re lucky you could find yourself right in the middle of a giant pod.
Do you want to know how Red Bull helps to preserve nature? Find out more about Red Bull´s efforts to protect the environment here!
