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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.
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The ultimate in travel experiences
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.
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.
A Holy Pilgrimage: Boudhanath Stupa
In a city filled with the incessant tooting of taxis and rickshaws, and stall owners selling their wares, Boudhanath Stupa is a peaceful retreat nestled among the constant hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. Built during the fourteenth century, the stupa is situated near the outskirts of the city in Bouda, and has been an important place for pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepali people for centuries.
Get close to the divine as you walk around the white dome in a clockwise direction to pay your respects, inhaling sweet incense and blooming marigolds, listening to the hypnotic tune of chiming prayer wheels being turned and monks chanting as they make their way around the temple’s base. Once you’ve completed your journey, climb to a balcony at one of the surrounding cafes or the monastery for panoramic views of the city and mountains. Damaged during Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquakes, the stupa is currently being restored but is still open to visitors who wish to experience its spiritual and humbling atmosphere.
The Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda
There are few more humbling experiences than spending an hour in the company of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. While their numbers have increased – 10 years ago they were close to extinction – there are still fewer than 500 left in the wild. Depending on the family of gorillas you are allotted, the trek up into the thick jungle of the Parc de Volcanoes can last anywhere from one hour to over six, but once you are among these creatures any fatigue dissipates and is replaced by pure awe.
In 2010, get lost took a group of readers to meet the mountain gorillas. Below is a short clip of what you can expect.
São Francisco: Church of Bling
Whether you believe in god or not, a visit to this magnificent place of worship in Salvador’s colonial quarter is a religious experience in its own right. The elaborate Franciscan church dates back to 1686 and took decades to complete due to the intricate, gilded design of its facade and interior.
Pay a visit during Sunday morning mass and prepare to be dazzled by the ornately painted ceilings and woodwork, plated with nearly a tonne of gold leaf, or come on a weekday evening to bask in quiet contemplation amid the glow of prayer candles.
Watch lightning lash the earth at the Catatumbo Delta
If you don’t believe in ancient Greek gods, let alone their hold over the South American continent, prepare to have your convictions rattled.
In the Catatumbo Delta you will be gobsmacked as Zeus – the god of sky and thunder – slices a fiery incision across the heavens with his infamous lightning rod.
The mouth of the Catatumbo, where the river empties into Maracaibo Lake, is an electrical hot spot, where lightning strikes up to 280 times an hour, on about 150 nights a year.
Start your journey by boat, cruising through Juan Manuel National Park, where you’ll spot howler monkeys, iguanas and exotic butterflies, before moving onto Maracaibo Lake, home to freshwater dolphins, pelicans and more than 130 different types of fish.
As the sun sets, cruise into the stilt village of Ologa, settle in to camp and prepare for a spectacular show as the night sky blazes.
