Adrenaline, rugged wilderness, and boundary-pushing expeditions.
Amina DialloGlobal Travel & Nature Editor
Winner
Queenstown
Overview
For travelers who prefer hiking boots and bungy cords over sun loungers. We ranked adventure hubs on diversity of outdoor sports, safety infrastructure, guide quality, and raw wilderness challenges.
Winner spotlight
№1Queenstown, New Zealand, is the undisputed Adventure Capital of the World. From commercial bungy jumping birthplace at Kawarau Bridge to jet boating through narrow canyon gorges, heli-skiing, and alpine trekking along the Routeburn Track.
At a glance
| Pick | #1 Queenstown Adventure Capital | #2 Iceland Ring Road 1,332km Circuit | #3 Interlaken Bernese Oberland | #4 Costa Rica Pura Vida Wilds | #5 Patagonia (El Chaltén) Trekking Capital | #6 Nepal Himalayas Everest & Annapurna | #7 Banff & Jasper Icefields Parkway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Scenery | Iconic | Stunning | Beautiful | Lovely | Charming | Nice | Nice |
| Crowd level | Manageable | Moderate | Busy | Busy | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet |
| Food scene | World-class | Excellent | Great | Great | Good | Good | Good |
| Best season | Spring | Autumn | Spring | Autumn | Summer | Spring | Autumn |
The list
Ordered by overall score across every test. The “best for” note tells you exactly who each pick is for.
1Bungy jumping, jet boating, skydiving, and heli-skiing against alpine lakes.
Best overallWhy buy
Keep in mind
2Glacier ice climbing, snowmobiling on icecaps, and volcano lava trekking.
Glacier & volcanic thrillWhy buy
Keep in mind
3Paragliding over twin lakes, canyon swinging, and Eiger mountaineering.
Alpine sportsWhy buy
Keep in mind
4Class V whitewater rafting, jungle canopy ziplining, and surf breaks.
Jungle & ocean sportsWhy buy
Keep in mind
5Fitz Roy granite spires, ice field treks, and wind-swept wilderness.
Wilderness trekkingWhy buy
Keep in mind
6High-altitude teahouse treks through 8,000m Himalayan peaks.
High-altitude trekkingWhy buy
Keep in mind
7Backcountry canoe expeditions, ice climbing, and grizzly territory hikes.
Backcountry wildernessWhy buy
Keep in mind
Deep dive
| Feature | Queenstown | Iceland Ring Road | Interlaken | Costa Rica | Patagonia (El Chaltén) | Nepal Himalayas | Banff & Jasper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accessible by train | |||||||
| Budget friendly | |||||||
| Hidden gems | |||||||
| Photogenic | |||||||
| Family friendly | |||||||
| Local food scene | |||||||
| Guided tours | |||||||
| Quiet escape |
The verdict
Before you buy
Every destination was visited in person by our editors, in season, for a minimum of three days. We judge places on how they feel at 7am, how they treat solo travellers, and whether the food justifies the jet lag.
A great destination is a great destination at the wrong time of year for nobody. Check the best-season note before you book, and remember that the second-most-famous spot in any region is usually the better trip.
The winner of our The 7 Best Adventure Travel Destinations ranking is the pick that scored highest across every test — but 'best overall' isn't always 'best for you'. Use the 'Best for' note under each of the seven to match a pick to your budget, your space and your habits. Every entry on this list earned its place; the ranking simply tells you where to start.
Questions
We don't pretend to be objective — we're transparent. Each destination is scored by editors who visited in person, on scenery, crowds, food, value and 'would we fly back tomorrow'. The score is an average of those five.
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