15 Adventure Activities To Amp Up Your Adrenaline

Mountain biking along Nordic villages or horse surfing in Florida? Brace yourself for an exhilarating ride through our list of high-octane activities from around the world-some familiar, others lesser known.

- SHIBANI BAWA

1 Take on Via Ferrata Routes in Malaysia

Via Ferrata is an extreme sport with a pathway across a mountain consisting of a series of rungs, rails, cables, and bridges.

The sport boasts more than 300 routes across Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, United States, and Canada. But the world’s highest, and Asia’s first via Ferrata is located in Malaysia at the Mt Kinabalu’s Panalaban rock face–Mountain Torq. Starting at 3,200 metres and going up to 3,776 metres above sea level, Mountain Torq offers two routes—Walk the Torq and Low’s Peak Circuit. Both are well suited for beginner and intermediate climbers and even without prior professional mountaineering experience. The former is less challenging and the latter is a longer route, ideal for enjoying the lesser explored side of the mountain with breathtaking sights, over a journey of four to five hours. mountkinabalu.com

2 Hit the Snowy Slopes of Japan

There’s no dearth of lavish ski resorts in Europe. But did you know that Japan’s remarkable snow conditions make it one of the best places in the world for skiing and snowboarding? Niseko in Hokkaido is a premier ski destination as it receives the world’s best powder snow all through winter. You can pick from four interlinked ski resorts in Niseko—Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, and Hanazono. Each resort has a number of slopes to choose from and the terrain works well for beginners as well as professionals. The stunning views of Mt Yotei and wide-open powder bowls where skiers can carve and turn to their heart’s content combined with inimitable Japanese hospitality make this a memorable skiing destination. nisekotourism.com