Thrill seekers
Jane Memmler lists the places to go for a big fix of adrenaline
roughly only 60% of the 35,000 climbers who have attempted it reaching the top.
For those preferring speed to height, the second-fastest rollercoaster in the world is at Six Flags Great Adventure Park in New Jersey, with the hair-raising Kingda Ka hitting 128mph.
4
SPAIN
It’s fever Espana for the array of off-road bike trails and motorbike routes – more than 61,200 of the latter.
As for off-road cycling, Northern Spain is a popular choice thanks to the sheer variety on offer, from riding through the desert to smugglers’ trails that zig-zag through the Pyrenees. For anyone looking to tick off one of the highest roads in the mountain range, the track to the summit of Pic Negre (which is actually located just over the border in Andorra) offers a breathtaking ride – both thanks to the view and elevation of more than 8,660ft. It’s also one of the best rock climbing destinations in the world. Spain scores highly for rollercoaster speed too, with Red Force at PortAventura World, near Barcelona, hitting 112mph.
5
MEXICO
Rounding up the top five, Mexico has a bighitting array of outdoor tourism activities, off-road bike trails and motorbike routes. The country’s diverse landscape also offers excellent outdoor activities such as volcano hiking.
Notable others
Abu Dhabi Strap in and put your goggles on because the Formula Rossa ride at Ferrari World theme park is the world’s fastest rollercoaster, going from 0-149mph in 4.9 insane seconds.
Switzerland The 722ft bungee jump from the Verzasca Dam in Ticino featured in the opening credits of the 007 movie GoldenEye, while Southern Hemisphere heroics are on offer at the 709ft bungee at Bloukrans Bridge in the Western Cape of South Africa.
For home-grown action, the UK was 23rd on the list, with Ireland
78th.
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