World's Most Extreme Travel Adventures

The global extreme travel market is projected to reach $91 billion by 2032 so its clear there's growing demand for this brave brand of travel.

Thrill seekers can look forward to plenty of pulse-pounding experiences when they travel but some stand out as truly unique and hair-raising.

Whether crossing something off your bucket list or venturing outside of your comfort zone, these experiences are poised to become memories that last a lifetime.

Here are some of the most extreme travel adventures around the world.

The St. Regis Maldives offers guests a unique maritime adventure at the renowned Whale Shark Point at the southern tip of Ari Atoll. Travelers board a 66-foot yacht before snorkeling alongside massive and majestic whale sharks. The half-day experience also includes opportunities to spot dolphins and enjoy delicious snacks in between up-close encounters with the Maldives' vibrant marine life.

Travelers can visit Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for the unique chance to see gorillas in their natural habitat. With the help of expert guides, small groups can come within just a few feet of the world's largest living primate. "Eight tracking permits are issued per troop per day, meaning the encounter is as intimate and as unobtrusive as possible," Visit Rwanda notes.

Sonoma Zipline Adventures allows travelers to experience Northern California's beautiful wilderness from a truly unique perspective as high-speed ziplines offer stellar views hundreds of feet above the ground. Scenic walks and informative guides complement the experience. However, guests can take their adventure a step further by spending the night in a luxe treehouse.

Tennessee's Sequatchie Valley is known as the the "Hang Gliding Capital of the East" and offers adrenaline junkies the chance to soar over mesmerizing hills, lush forests, cliffs and rivers year-round. "There is no engine. There is no noise. This is as close as you can get to flying like a bird," says Dan Shell, a longtime board member with Tennessee Tree Toppers.

Iron Mountain Resort in Dahlonega, Georgia is ideal for those travelers who crave extreme adventure. Here, visitors can navigate 150-plus miles of off-road trails suited for Jeeps and full-sized 4x4 vehicles in addition to dirt bike tracks. Drivers can rent a Side-by-Side from $650 per day to get their adrenaline pumping on trails ranging from mild to wild.

For a true Top Gun air combat experience, head to Mesa, Arizona where you can fly or simply ride with no pilot experience necessary. With Fighter Combat International, adventure seekers can choose from a thrilling air combat experience, an aerobatic stunt plane flight or a combination of the the two. 

A variety of extreme travel adventures await in Bellevue, Washington, including dramatic hot air balloon rides over Woodinville Wine Country. In addition to scenic sunrises and sunsets, riders can see Puget Sound, and the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges from a bird's eye view. This region also offers stirring seaplane rides, kayaking, mountain biking, paragliding adventures and much more.

Aurora Expeditions can make your dream of skiing through Antarctica's dramatic landscapes a reality. With the help of experienced guides, travelers can spend several hours touring one of the world's most remote destinations, climbing and descending magnificent slopes and glaciers en route to the thrill of a lifetime.