Are you an adventure lover?
We have compiled this awesome list to help you plan your next adrenaline-filled holiday. On a budget!
If you’re tired of the same old boring sights and you’re looking for something to get your blood pumping, you’ll love this list of amazingly unique adventures around the world!
We’ll take a look at –
⭐ The Iron Train in Mauritania
⭐ Tubing in Laos
⭐ Frozen Lake Karting in Estonia
⭐ Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua
⭐ Swing at the Edge of the World and Swing to Heaven in Ecuador
⭐ SkyPoint Climb in Australia
We’ve included one on each continent, so there might be one near you!
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around the World – Africa
Let’s take a trip to the little-known, but wonderfully welcoming northern African country of Mauritania.
Its location at southwest corner of the Sahara makes it very flat and desert-like.
What Mauritania has that no other country does, is one of the longest freight trains in the world that allows stowaways!
It’s colloquially known as The Iron Train.
The loaded up train runs from the iron ore mines in Zouérat to Noudhibou via Choum, then returns to Zouérat empty.
Stowaways can hop on at any of the three stations, but competition for the best cargo car can be fierce!
You don’t want to end up with a two kilometre walk back to the station because you got on the wrong end of the train!
Would You Like Some Tea with Your Unique Adventures Around the World?
I guess most people don’t expect their unique adventures around the world to come with tea, but Mauritanians love their tea!
It’s almost impossible to interact with them without being offered tea.
Mauritanian tea is a special blend of strong tea with fresh mint and sugar. It can also be made without sugar, if you ask.
The ritual involved with the ‘proper’ making and pouring of the tea is absolutely fascinating and followed fastidiously each time.
Just don’t drink too much because there aren’t any facilities in the cargo cars!
Where: Zouérat, Choum and Nouadhibou in Mauritania
Price: FREE!! Yes, you read that right!
Adrenaline rating: 😲
Tea rating: ☕☕☕☕☕
Best time to do it: April to June. Some people say it’s better to hop on when it’s full, but an empty car is fun too!
Further reading: Mauritanian Adventure – Coast to Capital on the Iron Train
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around The World – Asia
The second of our amazingly unique adventures around the world happens in the Southeast Asian country of Laos.
You can hire what looks like an inner tube from a tractor tyre and float for three kilometres down a not so beautiful river.
The scenery you’ll see on the way is pretty amazing though!
There are a few riverside bars on the way offering drinks and local delicacies.
While the pace of Tubing is generally slow and relaxing, there can be patches of water where the flow is faster than the surrounding water.
Or even patches of rocks close to the surface that will conspire to not let you pass.
Navigating these can lead to hilarity.
Where: Nam Song River, Vang Vieng, Laos
Price: 55,000KIP/US$6 for the tube and 60,000KIP/US$6.70 deposit returned to you if you take the tube back before 6pm.
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲
Best time to do it: December to February to avoid the crowds, or July to September if you want a faster ride and don’t mind competing for space at the riverside bars.
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around the World – Europe
Do you like drifting through snow and ice with your butt mere centimetres from the ground?
Then this one’s for you!
When winter really sets in near the northern Estonian town of Tartu, the winter Go Karts come out.
You can hire one of these karts to speed around a frozen lake for 8 minutes.
If you prefer the safety of a car, you can try an Adrenaline Drive, Taxi Lap and Rally Experience.
These three options are, of course, a lot more expensive and might not quite fit into the budget range though.
Obviously, the weather has to be cold enough for the lake to be sufficiently frozen, so you need a bit of luck on your side for this one.
Unfortunately, some years are just too warm for this cool activity.
Where: Lake Võrtsjärv, Tartu, Estonia
Price: 15 for 8 minutes
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲😲😲😲
Best time to do it: January and February, if it’s cold enough for the lake to be completely frozen.
Further Reading: Winter On Lake Võrtsjärv
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around The World – North America
Next up on our list of amazingly unique adventures around the world is Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua.
Yes, this is exactly what you think it is!
Carry a rickety old wooden board up one side of an active volcano and slide down the other side on it. What could possibly go wrong?
In truth, it’s all super safe and the chances of injury are very low. Although you do have to sign a waiver.
Cerro Negro, the volcano, is constantly monitored and hasn’t erupted since 1999.
The tour operator gives you safety gear and a full briefing on how to control your speed on the descent. They’ll even record your speed with a radar gun.
It seems 40-50km/h is about average, but some speedsters have been clocked at over 90km/h!
I can confirm that even though 50km/h seems like a high speed for someone on a non-motorised ‘vehicle’ it doesn’t feel fast at all.
Where: Cerro Negro, Leon, Nicaragua
Price: US$25 + $5 park entrance fee
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲😲
Best time to do it: December to February
Further reading: Love and Volcanoes in Nicaragua
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around the World – South America
A mountain near a tiny little town in Ecuador provides us with our next unique adventure. The Swing at the Edge of the World.
The swing sits atop a 2600m high mountain overlooking a valley. The mountain is often hidden by clouds.
Legend has it that a grandfather who worked at the seismic monitoring station inside the treehouse, Casa del Arbol, at the top of the hill wanted to encourage his grandkids to visit.
He did this by adding a swing to the treehouse. It worked and eventually word got around.
Well played grandpa!
Now people come from all around the world to spend a few minutes swinging in the clouds.
There is actually a swing on either side of the treehouse, so that the lines of people waiting don’t get too long.
Where: Casa del Arbol, Baños, Ecuador
Price: US$1
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲
Best time to do it: Any day! Be prepared for a small line.
Not to be outdone by a smart grandpa, another entrepreneurial soul decided they could ‘one up’ the Swing at the Edge of the World.
Hence the Swing to Heaven was created on the other side of the mountain and it’s not for the faint of heart!
Sure, it swings. It also rolls and turns. It’s probably best not to eat before trying this one.
It’s probably not for everyone to tell the truth, but if you like rollercoasters, there’s a good chance you’ll be into it.
Where: Casa del Arbol, Baños, Ecuador
Price: US$4
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲😲😲
Best time to do it: Any day!
Further reading: Baños – A Crazy Little Town in Ecuador
Amazingly Unique Adventures Around the World – Oceania
Last, but not least, it’s time to head to the land down under for the most expensive of our amazingly unique adventures around the world.
Climbing Australia’s tallest building, Q1, (which stands for Queensland Number 1), on the Gold Coast in the Eastern Australian state of Queensland.
The building is 322 metres high and it was the tallest residential building in the world until 2011. It was also the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere, until it was surpassed by Jakarta’s Autograph Tower in 2022.
The SkyPoint Climb takes you up 40 metres, via 300 stairs to an external observation deck. The observation deck is on the 77th floor, 230 metres above ground level.
From the deck, you can enjoy a 360 degree view of Surfer’s Paradise and surrounding suburbs of the Gold Coast. You’ll also get a get a great view over the sea below.
Normally the climbs start fairly early in the morning to beat the harsh Australian sun.
Sunset and night climbs are also available. Ugly jumpsuits and harnesses are provided.
Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen!
Where: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Price: From AU$75. Night and sunset climbs cost more.
Adrenaline rating: 😲😲😲
Best time to do it: Spring (September to November) or Autumn (March to May)
Which of these unique adventures around the would you choose to do? Have you done any already? Leave a comment and let us know.
Looking for some other cool stuff to see and do around the world?
Unique Experiences Around the World
Mesmerising Lakes Around the World
Sunsets Around the World
Funny Signs Around the World
Languages to Help You Travel the World
Communicate Around the World Without Words
Setting off on your very own unique adventures around the world?
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32 Replies to “Amazingly Unique Adventures Around The World”
WOW!!! You have been EVERYWHERE! What a cool post!
Not yet, but that is the aim! I’m currently only half way through all the countries of the world.
That’s amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Thanks for reading :o)
Definitely The Swing at the Edge of the World for me! Strangely, I find catching the Iron train interesting too. I’ll be a hobo for a day and steal a ride on a train! :p
The swing is actually quite relaxing. It reminded me of my childhood.
The train was certainly an interesting experience, but you end up very dirty afterwards! And Sandy. The sand gets everywhere!
Oh! I loved this compilation and I would definetely try the volcano surfing haha! I have heard that they often do the same in the dunes of Namibia, so, I guess I will have to try both and then compare! Thanks for sharing these amazing experiences!
The Volcano Boarding was cool, although I wished it was faster! I’ve been sand boarding too, but the volcano was more fun!
I’ve only been to Africa once, and during that time we were only in one small contained space – Moshi, Tanzania and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. During our time there, however, I found myself falling in love with the area and the people. I have told my husband a few times that I would LOVE to go back and visit more countries!
Yes, Africans are awesome! It’s been over a year since I was there last but I still regularly talk to people I met there.
These are awesome! So unique :)
I love things that can only be done in one place on the earth!
This is a great list! So glad you included Australia. It’s been on my bucket list for years. Hoping to finally make it there next year.
Australia is beautiful! I hope you have a lot of time cause it’s a HUGE country!
Make sure you get to the centre as well, it’s a whole different world!
The kinda post that reminds us just how much there is to see in this world!
Yes! These are just the unique things! There are also thousands of other things to see! :o)
Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua sounds like so much fun
Yes, it’s definitely fun! The hike up the volcano with the board is not though!
Super fun compilation of trips!! Especially love the volcano surfing. Thanks for sharing!
That one was a heap of fun! I’d do it again! :o)
Although I’m nowhere near finished seeing Europe, I really want to go to various places in Asia. Namely, Singapore where my sister in law lives and Japan. But it all seems so ‘dangerous’ right now in regards to the coronavirus. Maybe next year or in a few years time when this has hopefully blown over.
I still have so much of Europe left to see as well! This virus certainly is scary, but places in Asia like Singapore and Hong Kong are actually less affected than Europe at the moment. I think it’s because everyone’s too afraid they’ll get infected if they go outside. Our streets are so quite these days!
Some super amazing bucket list destinations here! I would love to do all of them!
Good choice! They’re all awesome fun!
Perhaps you might want to try a bonus one –
The highest commercial bungy jump (233m) in Macau :oP
You have visited so many cool places Kez! So many people, their culture and foods all are so fascinating. Right? God has given you the chance to explore peoples and the world as well! I wish you will explore more places in 2020 and share it with us! Thanks for sharing your all sweet memories here…
Yes, the world is fascinating! :o)
I plan to keep travelling to experience new cultures and adventures!
omg there is so many places to see and so many adventures to do. I can’t be more excited about this life….mmmmm…I’ve been all over the world except Australia! Soon!!!
Australia is quite far away fro most of the world, but definitely an awesome place to travel to!
Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Thanks! I know the feeling. It’s a constant struggle.
My fear of heights kicked in just by viewing those Ecuador photos! Wow!
Haha! The swing from the Treehouse is actually quite relaxing. But then again, I’m not afraid of heights, so that could make it feel different, I guess.