Many people like to visit places that everyone visits. For example, a lot of British people love to go to Spain for their holidays so that they can soak in the sun that is so lacking in their own country. However, there are some of us who want to visit extreme places – places where not many people have been. Below we will take a look at some amazing extreme travel destinations.
Mount Thor, Nunavut, Canada
At 5,495 feet high, this just so happens to be the highest and steepest peek in the world. This summit is made out of pure granite and has a 4,101-foot straight drop at an angle of 105 degrees. If you love to climb mountains, then this really is one peak that you should take on. However, if you think it is too much for you, then you camp at the bottom and still get to take in some spectacular scenery.
Oymyakon, Russia
If you visit Oymyakon in the height of winter, then there is a good chance that you will be able to go home and tell your friends and family members that you have just visited the coldest place on this planet. In 1924, temperatures sunk to -96.16 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth. During winter, the average temperature here is -58 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, it is so cold that the ground is frozen all year.
Lut Desert, Iran
We go from one extreme to another as the Lut Desert in Iran is the hottest place on Earth. Here, the temperatures can soar to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you are visiting you need to make sure that you have plenty of water and know the signs of heat stroke. The desert supposedly gets its name from “Dash-e Lut” which is Persian for “toasted wheat”. The story goes that a bunch of wheat caught on fire after being left out there for a few days.
Atacama Desert, Chile
If you want to visit the driest place on Earth, then you definitely should plan a visit to the Atacama Desert in Chile. However, please remember to bring your sunblock. In a fifteen-year period, from 1903 to 1918, this place did not see one single drop of rain, making it the longest period without rain in recorded history. If you want to pay this remarkable place a visit, then there are actually a few hotels that you can choose from.
Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
Many of us will never have the opportunity to pay a visit to outer space, but you can get as close as possible by going to Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. This is an inactive volcano that last erupted hundreds of years ago and is more than 20,000 feet tall. While Mount Everest is 9,000 feet taller, the position of this inactive volcano on the surface of the Earth means that its peak is the furthest spot from the Earth’s center. This means that if you were to stand at the peak, you will be closer to space than you can be anywhere else on this planet.
Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom
If you are looking for the perfect place to get away from the mundane reality of everyday life, then Tristan da Cunha is the perfect destination for you. Although it is owned by the United Kingdom, it is over 1,700 miles from Africa. The island gets its name from Trista da Cunha, who was a Portuguese explorer that discovered it in 1506. Believe it or not, but there are actually around 300 people living on this island. There is no airport, so the only way that you can visit this island is by boat.
Mawsynram, India
If you live in a dry place and are after more rain, then you will not be disappointed if you take a trip to Mawsynram in India. This town gets an astonishing 467 inches of rain each year on average. In 1985, 1,000 inches of rain fell in a single year, making it the wettest place on this planet. The regular monsoons and subtropical climate make this a very difficult place to live, but people do live here, and it gets its fair share of tourists.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Waterfalls are amazing to look at and if you want to visit a waterfall, then you might as well visit the tallest one in the world, right? Angel Falls is not easy to reach as it is surrounded by thick jungle, but it is still the most visited attraction in Venezuela and is well worth the effort to get there. The falls are around 3,200 feet high and have a straight plunge of 2,648 feet.
Gansbaai, South Africa
If you want to see sharks up close and personal, then we really recommend that you take a trip to Gansbaai in South Africa. Here you can find the densest population of Great Whites in the world and you can get in a cage and watch as they swim by looking for food. If you do not think that your heart can take that, then you can do a spot of whale watching instead.