MAXJULI of Polarized Sunglasses

Header photo via Ezequiel Cabrera

Earth’s friggin’ crazy, you guys. In case you haven’t been paying attention, our little blue orb plays host to many wonders. Now, not all of these places are likely to have been on your short list for a fun travel adventure, and for good reason—there are some extremedestinations out there. Some of these are kinda pleasant, but others… well, only hardened adventurers need apply.

If you’re a thrill-seeker, look no further than these seven “most extreme” destinations on the planet below:

1. The Dead Sea in Jordan

The World’s Lowest Place—say hello to the Dead Sea in Jordan. It sits 418 meters (1371 ft) below sea level. Fortunately, it’s easy to access via automobile, and its waters and mud are rumored to have “mystic healing properties.” Regardless, because the sea is so salty, it is exceptionally easy to float in—and that’s no old wive’s tale.

2. Atacama Desert, Chile

One of the World’s Driest Destinations—the Atacama Desert in Chile. This spot is so dang dry that NASA opted to test its Mars rover here. In more than 37 years, it’s only rained four times. Despite this, the 41,000 square miles host grand dunes, gushing geysers, colorful cliffs known as the Rainbow Valley, and some of the best views of our galaxy from Earth.

3. Mt. Kilauea, Hawaii

The World’s Most Active Volcano—Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii. Believe it or not, from 1983 to 2018, this force of nature erupted continuously. Literally. For 35 years. Finally, after 90 days of inactivity in December of 2018, the 1983 eruption was finally declared as officially over. However, the volcano remains active to this day, partially destroying towns and even creating new beaches.

4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The World’s Largest Salt Flat—Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. Just look at it—this place is nuts. The remnant of a group of prehistoric lakes that have long since evaporated, the salt flat covers 4,000 square miles and consists of 10 BILLION TONS of salt. Oh, and the way it reflects the sky, serving as a giant, perfect mirror to the heavens? Magnificent.

5. Vostok Station, Antarctica

The World’s Coldest Place— Vostok Station in Antarctica. Antarctica is already the coldest and driest of Earth’s continents, but Russia’s Vostok Station, originally a Soviet Union outpost, played host to the coldest temperature ever recorded. On July 21, 1983, it dropped to an insane -89.2 degrees celsius (-128.56 F). As you might imagine, this remote spot is only accessible via ships strengthened to withstand ice.

6. Angel Falls, Venezuela

The World’s Tallest Waterfall—Angel Falls in Venezuela. Specifically, Angel Falls is planet Earth’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 meters (3,212 feet) and a plunge of 807 meters. Located on the edge of the Auyántepui Mountain in Bolívar State’s Canaima National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and truly an absurdly gorgeous locale.

7. Death Valley, California

The World’s Hottest Place—Death Valley in California. The “yin” to Vostok Station’s “yang,” so to speak, Death Valley is arguably Earth’s hottest spot after setting the highest-ever temperature in recorded history. In 1913, the heat soared to a blistering and unfathomable 136ºF (57.7ºC). But it doesn’t take an anomalous day to drive home how hot Death Valley is—the average temperature during the warm season each year is 110ºF due to the valley’s narrow structure and resulting lack of air circulation.

If you’ve been paying any attention whatsoever, you know how we feel about extreme sports here… we’re almost as passionate about them as we are sunglasses. They’re a friggin’ thrill and fit so awesomely into our “live life in forward motion” ethos. 

Now, we’ve spoken on skating, surfing, snowboarding, motocross and more—and we’ll continue to—but today let’s ratchet it up and talk jumping out of planes and plummeting to the ground. Because why not, right?

Yup. If this isn’t a frontier you’ve faced and a challenge you’ve accepted, now’s the time to plan that skydiving adventure you’ve always envisioned but never fully embraced. Below, we’ve rounded up five of the most stellar spots to do it. This is just a primer—expect more kickass featured locations in the future!

1. Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Dubai’s gotten in on the skydiving sensation in a big way, now offering the largest annual international skydiving championships in the world, as sponsored by Skydive Dubai and the Emirates Aerosport Federation (EAF). This is an intriguing choice because you aren’t leaping out of a plane over lush wilderness—instead, it’s a city jump. You’ll fly high above Palm Jumeirah, the man-made archipelago that looks like a floating palm in the water, and enjoy views of Dubai’s urban marina and the Persian Gulf. Wild.

2. Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Big surprise… jumping out of a plane in New Zealand may be terrifying but it’s also absolutely breathtaking. This is a country known for jaw-dropping vistas—The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed here, among other epics—and few spots compare to the eight-mile-long Fox Glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Nestled remotely on the west coast of the country, as you free-fall you’ll be greeted by the peaks of the Southern Alps and the sparkling waters of the Tasman Sea.

3. Interlaken, Switzerland

One of the more affordable skydiving spots on this list, Interlaken, Switzerland has a hell of a skydiving operation that tosses divers out (you’re thinking, “wow, great choice of words… tosses”) over the Swiss Alps. You’ll be treated to unforgettable views of the peaks of the Matterhorn and Jungfrau, and even be able to gaze across the borders of France, Germany, Austria, AND Italy. Kickass.

4. Mount Everest, Nepal

Since we’re talking diving, why not strap on your goggles and embrace the dang thing by going as high as you can friggin’ go? And how better to accomplish that than at the world’s tallest mountain?

Yep, you can skydive over Nepal’s Himalayas, starting at a maximum height of 23,000 feet. Note that you’ll need to be equipped with an oxygen tank here—because it is just THAT extreme—and that even if you choose the “junior” route and jump instead from Amadablam Basecamp, you’ll still be starting at 15,000 feet. Regardless, sick views of Everest and the opportunity to explore Sagarmatha National Park await. This one’s pricey as hell though—costs are upwards of $20,000. Check out Everest Skydive for more.

5. Victoria Falls, Zambia

We just covered the tallest mountain, so why not hit up the globe’s largest waterfall while we’re at it? At more than 100 meters in height and longer than a kilometer, Victoria Falls in Zambia is stunning. The locals call it “Mosi-o-Tunya,” which we’re told translates to “the smoke that thunders.” So yeah, this is your opportunity to tell people, “Sup, yeah, I’m jumping over the smoke that thunders,” which just earns you instant cool points. You’ll fly across the falls before free-falling over the Zambezi River. Works for us!