Hurling yourself out of a plane (strapped to an instructor who knows what they’re doing) from a great height is going to be thrilling anywhere you do it. But there are some places that are just, well, better.
Here are 5 of the greatest tandem skydiving destinations in the world.
Wollongong, Sydney, Australia
If the quality of a tandem skydive destination lies in the scenery, Wollongong has it in spades.
Taking in both the Australian coastline and Sydney itself, this 14,000ft drop lets you see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world – complete with whales and dolphins, as well as one of the greatest modern cities in the world. Plus there are student discounts.
Victoria Falls, Zambia
Victoria Falls is the highest waterfall on Earth and is often called one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A tandem skydive here gives you a beautiful aerial view of the falls as well as the Zambezi River and all the local wildlife. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Victoria Falls and its surroundings, skydiving is the way to see it all at once.
Lincoln, England
The Lincolnshire countryside may not be as glamorous as other places on this list, but being British we can’t help getting a little misty-eyed at the thought of seeing so much English countryside all at once. And besides, at 15,000ft (the highest tandem skydive in the UK) the scenery may not be as exotic, but your time in the sky is longer than most skydives.
Interlaken, Swiss Alps
If you want to see the snow-capped mountains from up high before global warming gets them, but you don’t fancy yourself as much of a mountain climber, then this skydive over Interlaken is the way to go. After a 12-15 minute flight that lets you take in one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world from the safety of the plane, you’ll drop over two crystal clear lakes past some of the snowiest peaks planet Earth has left to offer.
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
For real adrenaline junkies only, skydiving in the Kamchatka Peninsula was made famous by Valery Rozov’s stunt for Red Bull (google ‘Russian skydives into active volcano’). You won’t skydive into the volcano, but it may be steaming while you go past it.
Definitely not one for beginners, more something to aim for if you catch the skydiving bug.
Author: Rebecca Hall is resident copywriter and tandem skydive enthusiast at Exelement.