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If you’ve never seen or experienced what goes on just under the surface of the ocean, snorkeling will absolutely amaze you. There is a dazzling new world down there, full of huge schools of brightly colored fish, beautiful coral reefs and fascinating marine creatures, and snorkeling literally puts you right in the middle of it all.

The sport itself is easy to get the hang of, but once you do, the possibilities for adventure in different exotic locations is endless. All snorkeling requires is a mask, a breathing tube and some flippers, and you’re ready to go. Anyone can learn on their own, but there are also snorkeling schools and introductory expeditions you can sign up for all over the world to help get the hang of it. And once most people do get the hang of it, they’re hooked for good.

Snorkeling mainly takes place on coral reefs around the world. As coral builds up over centuries over the ocean floor in shallow water around the world, it eventually forms what is called a reef. The reef supports an ecosystem unlike any other on the earth. Colorful fish come here in search of food, and often hide among the many different varieties of neon and brightly colored corals. There are all kinds of crustaceans like shrimp, crabs and lobsters scurrying across the ocean floor past exotic sponges and anemones. Reefs even attract larger species like sea turtles, bigger fish and even sharks. The biodiversity of the reef is staggering, and you are unlikely to experience the sheer variety of nature in one place through any other sport.

Snorkeling allows you to visit another world, and although most people don’t realize it, most coral reefs are within just a few feet of the shoreline in exotic coastal locations around the world! Anyone can explore these fantastic natural wonders with little or no experience.

Another great aspect of snorkeling is that it can take you to some of the world’s most relaxing and beautiful locations. Some of the best snorkeling in the world can be found in the Caribbean Ocean, especially on gorgeous tropical islands like St. Marten, Turks and Caicos, and off the coast of Mexico. The South-Pacific also offers incredible snorkeling opportunities, as Australia is home to one of the largest reefs in the world, The Great Barrier Reef, while more secluded islands like Fiji offer world-class snorkeling in a less populated environment.

Snorkeling offers you the chance to travel to paradise and experience a world you may never have known existed. It is sure to change your perspective on nature and the importance of the ocean as one of our greatest natural resources, as well as keep you coming back for more!

Mountain biking can mean different things to different riders, but generally it refers to riding specially built bicycles designed to take on more than just the open paved road. Mountain bikes use special sturdy frame designs, wide tires with lots of traction, and even specially designed shocks to take on anything their riders subject them to, from riding across sun-hardened deserts and through long forested trails, to down mountainsides or steep dirt tracks that lead to huge, perilous jumps. Mountain biking is great exercise whether you go out for a day ride or take part in several-day extended rides, and as an endurance sport that you can do pretty much anywhere you choose, you’ll never get bored or run out of options.

Generally, mountain biking is broken down into two forms, Downhill and Cross Country. Downhill is fast-paced and adrenaline-filled, as riders zoom down steep inclines at top speeds. Downhill mountain biking usually requires a few modifications on the bikes used, as they are not meant for peddling uphill, but instead for control and to manage often rough and rugged downhill courses at high speeds. Downhill courses can be particularly demanding, and requires strong riders with good reactions and experience in the sport. However, once you reach this level, downhill riding provides an incredible rush, as you can navigate even the steepest courses, hitting jumps and riding off small cliffs, allowing nothing to stand in your way.

One of the most famous locations for downhill mountain biking is on Vancouver’s North Shore in British Columbia, Canada. Bikers have been developing the area since the sport first started, and it is filled with many dirt jumps and hits, and even elevated wooden platforms, some no more that two inches wide that weave above the primary courses. For any serious downhill mountain biking fan, the North Shore is a Mecca.

Cross Country mountain biking focuses more on the endurance of the rider than their ability to handle the high-impact intensity of downhill riding. Cross country riding can occur just about everywhere, as riders often design their own extended trips on every continent, some lasting days and some even weeks. The great part about cross country riding is that you can explore some incredible locations, as its focus is more on touring. There are some beautiful places in the world to plan expeditions, including Moab State Park in Utah. Moab riders will experience gorgeous expansive views of the desert and navigate stone structures and plateaus that constantly rise and fall, offering technical challenges to the rider along the way. Many view Moab as one of the best regions for cross country mountain biking in the world.

There are also plenty of popular mountain biking hotspots in Africa, South America, Australia, and plenty of other countries. For a great physical challenge that at the same time offers incredible travel experiences, no adventure sport compares to mountain biking.

For those of you who have always dreamed of experiencing self-controlled flight, paragliding is sure to be an incredible thrill. This remarkable sport combines elements of parachuting and hang gliding to create an unbelievable way to harness powers of nature like wind and air pressure to soar over mountainous ridges and long sloping valleys, all the while controlling the direction and speed of your flight.

Paragliding is built around the parasail or chute, which allows you to take advantage of simple phenomenon regarding air and wind patterns to experience long sessions of controlled flight. The two basic kinds of paragliding are called “Ridge Soaring” and “Thermal Gliding”. Ridge soaring usually requires a mountainous area, as it relies on using the updrafts of wind over ridges and other natural obstructions to lift the glider into the air. The glider then navigates the air current as they slowly glide down the ridge to their next take-off point. Thermal Soaring works by allowing gliders to use rising hot drafts of air to lift them into the atmosphere, usually caused by the sun heating up boulders or other structures below the take off point of the glider.

Paragliding is truly a breathtaking experience, and it can be practiced in many exotic locations across the world. All it really requires is terrain where mountains and ridges are plentiful, so there are many paragliding hotspots in destinations such as India, Germany, lots of locations across South America. And since it does require practice and training, there are all sorts of travel programs for paragliding enthusiasts that specialize in everything from lessons on the basics of flight to helping you organize trips to some of the world’s premier locations. Paragliding has a dedicated following around the world, and joining the community of gliders is a huge part of the sport itself.

Paragliding is a feeling like no other. Imagine being able to stand on the edge of a cliff or ridge that falls away far below you and actually be able to simply step off and take flight! And while it does take a fair level of practice to master, the reward of experience is incredible, as many paragliding experts are able to stay in the air for hours at a time using nothing but the power of the wind.

The mystery of flight has puzzled humans for centuries, and it is something that every human dreams about. Paragliding is able to deliver that experience to adventure sports enthusiasts, and it allows us to achieve that dream!

Over the years, the sport of rock climbing has grown exponentially in popularity all over the world, and continues to be one of the most exciting and challenging outdoor sports for beginners and advanced climbers alike. Rock climbing offers its fans a unique way to push their physical abilities to the limit while communing with nature in some of the most serene and beautiful settings in the world. It is a sport that truly has something to offer everyone, since it can be performed in many different regions and locales with varying degrees of difficulty.

The premise of rock climbing is very simple and self-explanatory, although there are a surprising number of techniques. The most popular is the straightforward type of rock climbing that involves scaling the face of cliffs, ledges or mountainsides, usually with a system of ropes known as a belay that is held in place by a partner. Bouldering is another popular form of rock climbing which usually involves a smaller rock formation that is not particularly tall, and centers more on lateral as well as vertical climbing techniques.

The thrill of rock climbing is unparalleled. Imagine, hanging on to the side of a beautiful wind-carved sandstone face, often with only your fingertips and toes, or feeling your way along the edge of a cliff that is thousands of years old. One of the most fascinating and inspiring aspects of rock climbing is the special relationship the experienced climber develops with the natural structures they climb. The sense of pride and accomplishment that goes along with that kind of physical challenge is also unmatched in almost any other outdoor activity, as there is no way to describe the feeling one achieves after scaling a tough face and staring back out over the world from a new height, with a new perspective.

And there are some fantastic locations available on every continent that truly define the pinnacle of what rock climbing is about. The Dolomite Mountains in Italy are considered by many to be the birthplace of the modern sport of rock climbing, and they still offer some of the most technical and exciting climbs in the world. North America offers some incredible opportunities for rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and of course some of the world’s most renowned climbs exist in the mountains of Australia.

Perhaps the greatest thing about rock climbing is that it is an accessible sport for anyone, even if you’ve never tried it before. Many mountains and rock climbing regions have devised difficulty grade systems and multiple routes that offer great climbs for all levels of experience. There are also all kinds of group rock climbing expeditions and tours that can take you to exotic locations and teach you the sport in some of the world’s most breathtaking locations.

Rock climbing is also one of the most physically beneficial sports for the body, since it involves the strenuous use of so many different muscles (including some in your finger and hands you might never have known you had!). Dedicated fans of rock climbing are some of the most physically fit athletes in the world.Rock climbing is all about reveling in the beauty of nature and the special satisfaction that comes from challenging yourself to go just a little bit farther and try just a little bit harder. It is recommended for anyone who is a fan of the outdoors or is simply looking for an interesting new way to push themselves physically.

Rafting takes advantage of the turbulence and fury of some of the world’s most beautiful rivers to give adventure travelers the thrill of a lifetime. Imagine floating down a majestic river like the Rio Grande, giant cliffs rising up on either side of you. Up ahead, you begin to hear the sound of water racing. Slowly, the raft picks up speed and you and your fellow passengers lift your paddles in nervous anticipation. Before you know it your boat is zooming through chutes of water between rocks and flying up over swells of roaring water, soaking you to the bone as you deftly paddle to the next rise, working with your team to navigate the fierce pull of the river.

This is the excitement of whitewater rafting. This incredible sport has been around for some time, but new advancements in the use of rubber inflatable boats and specialized paddles have brought rafting a long way from its roots. These days, travelers from all over the world take to the rivers to experiences this incredible thrill, which is truly like none other. Some even compare it to a natural rollercoaster! But while it is a very accessible sport for beginners, rafting also requires strength and skill, so adventure travelers looking for a challenge will be highly pleased with the experience.

Another great part about rafting is that often the best rivers are also in some of the most awe-inspiring locations on earth. One of the most popular destinations for rafting adventures in North America is the Colorado River. The Colorado River travels for roughly 265 miles through the bottom of the Grand Canyon, one of the most incredible natural wonders on the planet. With canyon walls as high as a mile in some places, rafting down the Colorado at the base of the canyon is truly a humbling experience, as you get to fight some difficult rapids and see beautiful beaches, waterfalls and cliff formations while you’re at it. Even historian David Halberstam once said, “There are two things every visitor to the United States must do, and two things only. The first is to see Michael Jordan play basketball, and the second is to raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.” This experience is something one will remember for a lifetime.

There are rapid and rivers all over the world that are used for rafting, and some are more challenging than others. There is a classification system for rivers that many enthusiasts and rafting organizations employ that grades a river’s turbulence and difficulty. This scale goes from Class 1, being the easiest and least turbulent, to Class 6, representing extreme danger and turbulence. Class 6 rivers are generally only recommended for professionals.

There are also some excellent rivers for rafting with incredible scenery in New Zealand, one of the sport’s biggest destinations. However, there are many river in Europe as well, with one of the best being the Enns River in Austria.

Rafting provides a level of excitement that few other sports can match, and when coupled with the experience of spending a few nights in the outdoors camped alongside the river you’re riding, it can be downright inspiring.

Whether sleeping out under the stars on a deserted, darkened beach or snug in a tent on the side of a snowy mountain, camping offers some of the most rewarding outdoor adventures one could ever experience. Camping out in the wilderness, whether for just one night or for several weeks is an incredible way to leave the constant struggles of everyday life behind and relax in nature with little or no schedule to follow. Camping reminds us where we come from, and gives us time to think and meditate on our natural surroundings. It can help to clear the mind, and many find it very reassuring, as too often we get caught up in our daily lives and forget to take pleasure in the beauty that is all around us.

The best part about camping is that it really doesn’t require any special skills or training. The simplest camping expeditions can involve a sleeping bag and tent, while a more complex trip might involve a Recreational Vehicle.

Another great part about camping is that you can combine it with other activities to plan a truly great outdoor trip. Many people choose to combine camping and hiking, and there are all sorts of trails laid out for people who want to take extended hikes that involve overnight stays along the way. Once of the most famous in North America is the Appalachian Trail of the eastern United States, which runs some 1500 miles along the Appalachian Mountain chain, from Northern Georgia all the way up into Maine. Along the way hikers get to experience some truly incredible views from the tops of the Smoky Mountains. The Appalachian Trail really allows you to feel like you’re on your own in a vast wilderness, as it can run for long stretches without coming anywhere near a town or settled area. Camping can also be combines with overnight rafting or kayaking expeditions, or even rock-climbing trips.

There are all kinds of ways to camp, and an infinite number of beautiful locations for it on every continent. For those looking to experience a number of locations for only a night, car camping can be a great option, since it also allows for additional storage for supplies. And for more experienced campers who want to really fully immerse themselves in nature and the experience there are plenty of well established camping trails and national parks throughout the world that allow you to go off into nature on your own and really get away.

There are all sorts of other highly popular camping destinations in North America and throughout the world. Desert camping is a highly popular activity, although it requires more gear than usual to accommodate both the extraordinary heat of the day and chilling temperatures at night. Desert camping can be found in state and national parks throughout the southeastern U.S., as well as the great Outback of Australia and in beautiful locations in Kenya and other African countries. Europe also offers splendid opportunities for camping in its many diverse regions and climates, from the hills of Ireland to the Alps Mountains of Austria, Germany and Italy.

Perhaps the greatest thing about camping is that it can be done just about anywhere. Many countries have camping organizations dedicated to informing campers and helping them choose a location or plan a trip, from a weekend getaway to a long excursion deep into the wilderness. No matter where you plan to go camping, it always offers an incredible opportunity to get away from everyday life and think, and often provides a new perspective and outlook on life for many of its fans.