Exploration
Trying to work out where to head to for that big trip this year? Problem solved. Here’s our pick of some of the top travel destinations.
If you’re anything like us, you love a new passport stamp and new photos in your phone from far off lands, right? Not to mention the lasting memories.
The problem is with thousands of spectacular places on the planet to go to, picking the best one for your once-a-year-getaway can be a bit of a challenge – enough to cause some serious anxiety for any traveller.
Well, worry no longer, because we've picked the top 10 countries to travel to for an adrenaline fix in 2018. From the warm sun-bathed Ionian Islands of Greece to the bitter snow-covered ice fields of Greenland, your next adventure awaits…
Norway
- Go for: Jaw-dropping fjordland scenery
- When: June or late September for long days, but fewer crowds
- Adventure highlights: Hiking (or mountain biking if you dare)
- Insider tip: Get around Geiranger quickly by hiring an electric bike from the tourist office
Norway highlights
Geiranger, one of Norway's most impressive fjords, has a spectacular and steep hiking trail – which also turned into a mountain bike track when Mads André 'Makken' Haugen became the first to do it on two wheels last year. Further south, Kjeragbolten boulder, wedged at the top of a 1km-deep crevasse, is nail biting to stand on, let alone mountain bike over.
New Zealand
- Go for: Amazing scenery and ultimate adventure playgrounds
- When: December to February
- Adventure highlights: Kayaking, trail running and mountain biking
- Insider tip: Before riding in Rotorua make sure to go to Zippy's for one of the best flat whites you'll ever drink.
New Zealand highlights
The opportunities are endless in this adventurer's paradise and highlights include the white water rivers around Rotorua, where the expert-only Tree Trunk Gorge is found. Then, there's the epic Rude Rock mountain bike trail in Queenstown, and the vertiginous running routes around Wanaka, which play host to Red Bull Defiance every January.
South Africa and Lesotho
- Go for: Wide landscapes, long journeys and unique culture
- When: December to February
- Adventure highlights: Trail running, river kayaking and kite boarding
- Insider tip: Head to Camps Bay or Table Mountain’s top to end your day with a traditional sundowner drink
South Africa highlights
The legendary 'Cape Doctor' winds on Cape Town's coastline create wild waves for kite boarding, as demonstrated in the King of the Air competition. For more sedate water sports, the Kwazulu Natal is ideal for kayaking and hosts the challenging Dusi Canoe Marathon endurance race. Across the border in Lesotho, the running trails near Maseru that are part of the Motul Roof of Africa are spectacular.
Brazil
- Go for: Coastal salt lakes and thundering waterfalls
- When: March to April is best for the south, May to September the north
- Adventure highlights: Trekking, swimming, and paragliding
- Insider tip: Save up to take a helicopter ride over the falls at Iguaçu – it will be the best 10 minutes of your trip
Brazil highlights
The Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Barreirinhas, in the north, is a place to (hopefully not literally) lose yourself in salt lakes and sand dunes, while in the south, the undisputed highlight is Foz do Iguaçu – one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls. Both are ideal to take flight for a bird's eye view, as shown by athletes Rafael Goberna and Alex Neto in the image above.
Greenland
- Go for: Icy isolation and remote settlements
- When: Late May to late July
- Adventure highlights: Extreme mountain biking and glacier hiking
- Insider tip: Engage with the locals to get a true sense of their unique ways of life
Greenland highlights
As the world's least densely populated country with around 56,000 residents in 2.1m square kilometres of land, this is as remote as it gets – and the adventures are big and wild. The icecap offers unique hiking routes, while the rocky outcrops around Kangaamiut and Sisimiut can be fun on a bike.
Greece
- Go for: Sparkling seas, rugged trails and stonewashed towns
- When: May-September
- Adventure highlights: Sailing, sea kayaking and mountain biking
- Insider tip: Re-energise with a traditional Gyros take-out kebab – the more you exercise, the more you can go back again and again
Greece highlights
The island of Santorini, 200km south of mainland Greece, is part of a small circular archipelago formed from an enormous volcanic caldera with great off-road trails and perfect conditions for sailing. Since 2011 its main town has hosted Red Bull Art of Motion. The Ionian Islands, mostly on the west coast, are also perfect for running, sailing and kicking back by the fire.
USA: Hawaii, Utah and Alaska
- Go for: Big waves, arid deserts and icy mountains
- When: Hawaii – May or September (warm but low crowds), Alaska – June to September (the warmer months), Utah – April/May or September/October (warm, not too hot)
- Adventure highlights: Surfing, extreme skiing and mountain biking
- Insider tip: Cool off with a smooth flavoursome shave ice – try Matsumoto’s on Oahu, Ululani’s on Maui or track down the Ice Truck on Big Island
USA highlights
It's no secret Hawaii is the world's ultimate surfing destination, but it also has scenic off-road running routes, inter-island open water swimming and rugged biking trails – as showcased in its famous annual Ironman event. In mainland USA, remote Utah provides plenty of mountain biking trails, while in Alaska, in the islands south of Juneau, only the brave will free ski on Petersburg mountain – but hiking there is still an immense experience.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Go for: Amazing but relatively undiscovered waterfalls
- When: May and June or September
- Adventure highlights: Kayaking, hiking, swimming – and cliff diving
- Insider tip: If you pass through Mostar, drive to Hum Mountain for sunrise then go back down and jump in the river from the famous bridge
Bosnia and Herzegovina highlights
Una National Park, on the border of Bosnia and Croatia, is just 10 years old this year and it's home to the wild Una and Unac rivers. The uncomfortable bumpy access roads are worth the effort, as the remote park combines excellent hikes, extreme white water for kayaking experts and giant cliffs and waterfalls including Štrbački, one of the stops in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
European Alps
- Go for: High alpine trails, vertical walls and traditional towns
- When: May or October to escape the crowds
- Adventure highlights: Trail running, big wall climbing and paragliding
- Insider tip: Want the best bagel outside of Brooklyn? Head to La Jonction for a perfect French coffee and a yummy bagel with peanut butter.
Alps highlights
The Alps are Europe's adventure playground, whether you're on your feet, hanging from a rock or flying through the air. Cannobio is a great spot to get airborne over one of Italy's great lakes, while Chamonix in France has stunning mountain top trail runs and the Austrian Tyrol offers plenty of vertical rock faces to test any level of climber.
Canada's frozen north
Go for: Icy extremes
When: July and August
Adventure highlights: Expedition trekking and extreme mountain biking
Insider tip: Experience some local culture on Baffin Island at Iqaluit’s annual Toonik Tyme and Alianait Arts Festivals
This region’s remote snow-covered islands and iceberg-filled waters deliver immense scenery and great adventures. Baffin Island is prime for long-distance expedition trekking and further north, Axel Heiberg island was where Darren Berrecloth filmed his epic mountain biking adventures for North of Nightfall, due for release in March.