Yes – that three letter word can open you to a world of possibilities. As part of momondo’s five ways to open our world, we encourage you to say “yes!” – yes to trying something new, something spontaneous, or something you’ve always held back from doing.
It’s all about embracing your adventurous side, facing your fears, and diving head first into an unforgettable experience. Take a chance on these 12 once in a lifetime travel experiences, we can’t wait to say “yes” to.
Go volcano boarding in Nicaragua
Can you beat the 95 km/h record speed while boarding down the Cerro Negro volcano? © Peter Gene
When you’re at the top of this 728-metre giant of a volcano, staring down what seems like an endless hill of deep, black volcanic gravel, there’s no more turning back. Your only way home? Sliding down on a make-shift wooden sled at record speeds of 95 kilometres per hour.
In recent years, the accurately named Cerro Negro (Black Hill) has become the ideal location for extreme sledging. Adding to the thrill is the fact that this volcano is only taking a nap, having erupted as recently as 1999. The epic 45-minute hike up gives way to views of the Cordillera de Maribios and as far as the Pacific Ocean, while the short, adrenaline-charged descent results in a happy, soot-covered face. Surfing Turtle Lodge organises the activity if you book a room at their hostel.
Find a flight to nearby Managua
Plunge into ice-cold water on New Year’s Day
Chills and thrills jumping into the winter waters for Nieuwjaarsduik in the Netherlands © afritze
Starting the new year right can mean many traditions world round, but nothing beats a plunge into icy waters to leave you feeling crisp and recharged for a new start. Each year in Vancouver, the Polar Bear Swim Club organises the Polar Bear Swim, where hundreds of participants dash into ice-capped water at English Bay Beach on January 1st. Since its first organised dip in the 1920s, the group of 10 brave swimmers has grown to over 2,500!
Along the chilly coasts of the Netherlands, it isn’t a rare sight to see thousands of winter hat-clad daredevils also take the plunge – known as Nieuwjaarsduik (New Year’s dive). But the Scots of Queensferry take the cake when it comes to jumping fearlessly into frozen waters – decked out in the silliest of costumes, they give the Loony Dook (lunatic dip) all its meaning.
Bungee jump off the Macau Tower, Macau, China
1, 2, 3, jump! A unique bungee jumping experience from the Macau Tower, the tallest bungee in the world
If you’re only going to bungee jump once in your life, it may as well be in the highest place possible – the Macau Tower. Soaring at 233 metres, this bungee jump is the ultimate “say yes” experience. Available 365 days a year, you have no excuse not to sign up! Since 2001, adventurous types have been taking the leap of faith above the metropolis landscape of Macau.
For those not ready to jump but wanting a similarly hair-raising experience, the Macau Tower Climb will have you ascending the hand rails and ladders along 338 metres to the summit of the tower, where you can stand at the very top of the mast for an unparalleled view of the city.
Take a riverboat ride along the Amazon River, Brazil
Cruising towards Santarém during an adventurous Amazon River cruise
Have you ever dreamed of floating along the murky, dark waters of the Amazon River, like a modern day Indiana Jones? From Manaus, often referred to as the heart of the Amazon, to Belém, board the many boats for a five-day trip along the shores of the Brazilian jungle.
Slowly floating past villages and dense forests, you’ll catch glimpses of tamarin monkeys, macaws, pink dolphins, and infamous caimans. Book a ticket with outer deck “accommodation”, and fall asleep in a hammock (which you’ll need to bring yourself), rocked by the sounds of the jungle.
If you wish to split your boat ride with an excursion, disembark at Santarém, 36 hours by riverboat from Manaus, and drive to nearby Ilha do Amor (Island of love) – a river beach that disappears during rainy season due to the rising emerald waters of Lago Verde lagoon.
Do the Cross Egypt Challenge, Egypt
Explore the wonders of the Egyptian landscape with the Cross Egypt Challenge
From the Mediterranean Sea to the Great Pyramids in Giza, you’ll be burning rubber with a bad-ass crew of 75 motorcyclists. Since 2011, the Cross Egypt Challenge unites riders from 28 different countries across 3,000 kilometres of remarkable Egyptian landscape. The bustling capital city of Cairo, the lush Nile Valley, and the striking contrast with the country’s endless deserts will have no more secrets for you after the nine-day challenge. Braving harsh, dry weather conditions and sometimes spontaneous downpours, the nights spent in fine 3 to 5-star hotels won’t be taken for granted. Keep your eyes peeled and your helmet at hand for the 2017 edition.
Skydive in Queenstown, New Zealand
Saying yes is soaring through the sky above Wakatipu Lake in Queenstown © Abi Skipp
Queenstown, New Zealand is the notorious hub for extreme experiences, where falling from the sky is common-place. As the birthplace of tandem skydiving in New Zealand, it’s only natural you’d pop your skydiving cherry in these skies. Keep your head up, smile big, and shout “yes” as you throw yourself out of the plane! At 200 km/h, don’t forget to catch your breath and enjoy the bird’s eye view of the Remarkables mountain range and the Wakatipu basin. The fall may last only a few minutes, but the organisers often offer video and photo souvenirs so you can relive every second of your first sky-diving experience.
Dive into a cenote in the Yucatán region, Mexico
The dive of your life in the gorgeous Dos Ojos cenote
With a name like Dos Ojos (Two Eyes), diving into this cenote (underwater cavern) is synonymous to staring into the depths of the Earth’s belly. With a fully certified dive master, you’ll be exploring two neighbouring caverns packed tightly with stalactites and columns. In the first area, you’ll be swimming through rays of sunshine, but in the second, bright passages are replaced by darker corners where sunlight becomes scarce, accentuating the thrill of underwater exploration.
With a maximum dive depth of 10 metres, beginner divers with an open water certificate are welcome. With easy access from a wooden deck, the shallow parts of the cenotes are also coveted by families and budding-adventurers wishing to snorkel in the 26°C waters.
Read more: 11 natural swimming pools around the world
Find a flight to nearby Cancún
Complete a survival training course in Värmland region, Sweden
Master the skills to survive the Swedish outdoors © Mattias F
In the deep wilderness of Värmland, Sweden, near the Norwegian frontier, learn to master bush craft skills like a true survivor. Amidst the natural habitat of wolves, bears and lynx, you’ll be taught essential basics like how to recognise the local flora and fauna, how to make fires, set up camp and go fishing.
Organised for team-building with your colleagues and accompanied by an instructor, the Wilderness Experience International Survival School will teach you to survive extreme situations with first aid training, navigation and compass reading, basic food preparation techniques to survive in emergency situations. Besides the immense challenge of learning how to save your life, you’ll walk away knowing how to save others as well.
Find a flight to nearby Karlstad
Swim with sharks in Fiji
Stare danger in the face during a fearless dive with sharks at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve
Saying yes can sometimes be about facing your fears, and swimming in the presence of sharp-toothed predators may be your version of a full-on nightmare. But at Shark Reef Marine Reserve, a protected sanctuary for sharks in Fiji, you’ll not only be surpassing your limits, but also contributing to the conservationist efforts to protect the shark population while sustaining the local ecosystem. Off the reef in the Bega Lagoon, plunge to a depth of 30 metres to watch the impressive spectacle of the Bull Sharks being fed. In the shallower ends of an area known as “the den”, smaller shark species like the whitetip reefs or blacktip reefs can be seen circling at ease in presence of the divers. Only divers that are fully qualified with at least 30 open water dives can partake in this experience.
Be an astronaut for a day with a zero-gravity flight
The sky is the limit for adventurers seeking the experience of zero-gravity © herrea
If flying to the moon is your dream, but it seems like an unattainable goal, why not settle for the unique experience of a zero-gravity flight? Thanks to the technology developed at the ZERO-G Experience ® , you can float like an astronaut aboard a specially modified Boeing 727 known as G-FORCE ONE.
The technique of flying in parabolic arcs, sharp ascensions at 45° to the horizon, creates weightlessness within the cabin for about 30 seconds. Decked out in a ZERO-G flight suit, you’ll be flipping and floating around the plane like a regular Neil Armstrong. Of course, an experience as unique as this one also calls for a unique budget of $4,950 (+ tax) [£3,821]. Flights take place in Cape Canaveral, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Las Vegas, NV, and Oakland, CA.
Join a silly competition
Take a deep breath and dive into the Welsh bog
If you’re the type that holds back from letting loose, challenge yourself to get dirty and silly in a one-of-a-kind competition. Nothing sounds more delicious than being the king of heavy-eating at Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. Each 4th of July since 1916, the corner shop in Coney Island, New York hosts a grotesque hot-dog gobbling show – you’ll have to beat the record of 70 hot-dogs ingested within the 10 minute time limit to be next year’s champ.
Bravery might also be about taking a deep breath and embracing the bog. Each year, in the unpronounceable Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells, foolhardy participants throw themselves willingly into the bog, snorkelling through 50 metres of muddy waters in record times of less than 2 minutes. During the World Bogsnorkelling Championships, extra points are rewarded for creative costumes – last year’s winner being a pantomime unicorn. So what are you waiting for? Say “yes” and take the dive!
