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For some, getting choppered to the top of a sheer drop and left to find your own way down sounds like a very bad and somewhat dangerous joke. But for thrill-seeking downhill adventurers, heliskiing is the last word in must-do experiences.
There are a number of operators in Alaska, but we’re into Alaska Heliskiing. Why? Because while the operation is located right on the Canadian border near Haines and ventures to places with runs you can usually only dream about, it’s also got a huge range of options, including some for those who may be light of pocket. For instance, you can go for the whole package – seven nights in a fantastic lodge, 30 runs in the heli, everything included – for about US$6,250, or you can do a day in the big bird for about US$1,050.
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Test your vertical limit with ice climbing
Most people think of waterfalls as a refreshing spot to splash around in come summer. But for some, waterfalls are a winter playground to be conquered. Arm yourself with an axe and a rope and scurry up frozen falls, glimpsing water rushing beneath the ice as you climb.
There’s no better place to give ice climbing a go than the Norwegian town of Rjukan. Often considered Europe’s climbing capital, Rjukan heaves with climbers from December to March. Here you’ll find more than 190 waterfalls to poke your axe into, and are guaranteed to discover a wall of frozen water to suit any skill level.
Adrenaline-pumping bobsled ride
Feel your guts lurch and your body throb with pure adrenaline as you hurtle down a bobsled track in the Latvian town of Sigulda. Used by the Olympic team to train, this run is one of just 17 tracks around the world (only a handful of them are open to the public). Strap on a crash helmet, jump into a four-person sled with an Olympic athlete at the helm and whip through 16 turns, smashing speeds up to 110 kilometres an hour over 1,420 metres of ice.
You’ll be at the mercy of gravity and your driver as you hit 5 G-force on ‘the wall’, the track’s final corner. Once you’ve experienced the Olympic treatment, finish with a victory lap on the tourist bob to help your heartbeat return to normal.
Volcano skiing
The powder runs of Chile’s Pucon Ski Resort are hot property. And not just because they combine downhill thrills with spectacular Andean views. The resort occupies a precarious position on the flanks of an active volcano. While setting up shop by a rumbling pit of molten magma may seem a little risky – the charred remains of the old ski lift can still be found – the naturally occurring half pipes and jumps make it a worthwhile endeavour.
If the slopes don’t satiate your adrenaline craving, switch your skis for crampons and hike six hours uphill to peer into the crater before strapping on your skis for what we imagine will be the quickest run of your life.
Après-ski goes off in Heavenly
Of all the gin-soaked snow slopes in all the USA why would you choose Heavenly? Its eye-popping location on the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Tahoe doesn’t hurt, but it’s the nightlife that sets it apart from the country’s many other ski resorts. Because it’s located in both California and Nevada, there are enough casinos – and all the cheap entertainment and drinks that go with them – to stop you from sleeping. But even if you prefer to stay away from that sort of action you can’t miss one of the most outrageous parties on the slopes.
Unbuckle at Tamarack Lodge runs for just two hours each afternoon, but in that time gets real hot and sweaty. Shake it off with the Heavenly Angels dancers, imbibe some half-price drinks, pose in the photo booth, then ride the gondola back down to South Lake Tahoe. You know you want to.
Après-Ski in the French Alps
There are prettier resort towns in France than Alpe d’Huez, but from a purely practical sense, this has everything you could want – the Alps’ longest black run, the infamous ‘tunnel’ run, good beginner slopes and reasonable prices. Oh, and it’s also one of the best party spots in the mountains.
Head to La Folie Douce, a spectacular high-altitude club that, unlike many of its counterparts, takes its entertainment seriously. A creative team travels the globe finding the best DJs and performers – musicians, dancers and cabaret stars – and each year comes up with completely new concepts, costumes and productions. It’s the combination of an amazing setting and ever-building vibe that makes this après-ski event just as memorable as your day on the slopes.
Later in the evening you might also want to try Freeride, where the drinks are priced using a stock-exchange model (rising and falling throughout the evening), and there’s a slippery dip to the loos.
Feel the earth move
Encounter the only earthquake you ever want to feel at one of Chile’s watering holes. As local legend goes, the terremoto (earthquake) cemented itself in the nation’s boozing scene in 1985 when a German journalist reporting on a quake was served pipeño (sweet fermented wine) bastardised with a dollop of pineapple ice-cream. “This truly is an earthquake!” he is said to have exclaimed on tasting the strong brew.
Try it at La Piojera, a grimy but lively establishment in Santiago. Previously named Restaurant Santiago Antiguo, the working-class joint was unintentionally anointed La Piojera, or ‘fleahouse’, by then president Arturo Alessandri during a visit in 1922. The jibe stuck. These days a dash of pisco or fernet is added to its terremoto mix, and it’s still strong enough to leave you legless.
Dance With The Devil
Dancing devils at a religious festival designed to commemorate the triumph of good over evil? What?! It might sound like Satan’s sidekicks have stolen the show, but the Diablos Danzantes del Yare (Dancing Devils of Yare) celebrate the symbolic chasing away of evil spirits and purifying the community, a ritual so full of frenzied passion it’s become the biggest festival in Venezuela.
Celebrated throughout the central coast regions, the festival sees locals dressing up in fiery-coloured, elaborately embroidered costumes and fierce devil masks. Dances are performed mostly by men, with groups strutting through the streets with crucifixes, rosary beads and maracas to ward off evil spirits as they make their way to church. Here, the devils surrender in the final act of good triumphing over evil. Dancing with the devil has never been so exciting.
Visit Reaching Out Arts & Crafts
Reaching Out Arts & Crafts is a high-quality, fair-trade artisan market located in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Many of the beautiful pieces at this ethical showroom are made by people with disabilities, allowing differently-abled people to receive fair wages and lead independent lives.
An abundance of bedding, bags, jewellery, stationery and toys can be found here – perfect presents for your return home. The real magic, though, can be found in the back of the shop, where you can have a peek at the artists working away at their fine handicrafts.
Milia Mountain Retreat
Venture off the grid and get set for a Greek islands escape that defies clichés. Tucked away in the lush mountains of western Crete, this deserted seventeenth-century settlement has transformed into an eco-friendly paradise.
Each stone cottage has been delicately restored and features a small garden or balcony, elegant handmade furniture and a fireplace or wood-burning stove to stave off the winter chills. Leave your gadgets at home and prepare to disconnect – there are no in-room TVs or power outlets, giving you precious time to recharge.
Soak up the fresh air on a tranquil hike through the hills, sample a glass of wine from the local winery and enjoy the solitude. At night, dig into a delectable candlelit spread of organic homegrown Cretan delights and bask in the glow of the star-speckled sky.
