‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.‘ A well-known phrase that we all like to write in our social media bio, but one that few people live up to. Living your life to the fullest means that you should explore your boundaries and experience things outside your routine life. And here are 12 adventures that can help you do this in 2019.

January: Kayak with orcas in Norway

This one is high on my own list as kayaking with wildlife is among the best things you can experience in your life. The Norwegian fjords just north of the Lofoten are the destination of big pods of killer whales who are feasting on herring that migrates here in this time of the year. Encountering killer whales while paddling your kayak with the mountains in the background will be one of the ultimate adventures in your lifetime!

February: Snorkel or scubadive the Belize Barrier Reef

Belize is one of my all-time favorite destinations when it comes to adventure travel. The country is covered by dense jungle and dotted with maya ruins that give you an Indiana Jones or Lara Croft vibe. And it is bordered by the Belize Barrier reef, one of the most impressive marine ecosystems in the world. If you are feeling really adventurous, you can scubadive the Great Blue Hole.

March: Zipline a volcano in Costa Rica

March is one of the best times to visit Costa Rica as this is the dry season on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts. One of the best things to do is climbing the Arenal volcano before soaring it down by ziplining.

April: Climb Newtontoppen on Spitsbergen

Climbing mountains is a thrilling adventure. Though when it comes to Newtontoppen, it’s not the mountain itself that offers the challenge, but the way leading to it. Newtontoppen is the highest peak on Spitsbergen and located in the mainland of the archipelago. To reach it you need to cross glaciated terrain where polar bears roam.

May: Run the Great Wall Marathon

Ever wanted to run a marathon? Why settle for a city marathon when you can run on one of the world wonders? Every year in May, the Great Wall of China is the course for one of the most adventurous marathons in the world. Be sure to prepare well as you will have to climb some steps as well during this running contest.

Source: great-wall-marathon.com

June: Witness the Serengeti Great Migration

The Wildebeest migration in Tanzania / Kenia is one of the greatest natural spectacles on this planet. Millions of wildebeest migrate in a search to find water and food. In June, the herds are often found on the south side of Grumeti river.

July: Paddle the Yukon river

The section of the Yukon river between Whitehorse and Dawson City takes about sixteen days to complete and offers a ultimate wilderness experience. During this journey you will need to paddle 320 kilometers on a class I river and be self-sufficient for most of the way.

August: Hike the Tour de Mont Blanc

The Tour de Mont Blanc is amongst the most scenic hikes in the world and circumnavigates as the name suggest around the Mont Blanc massif. During this 10-day trek you will cross France, Switzerland and Italy while enjoying the finest views on Western Europe’s highest mountain. Along the way you will spend the night in valleys or mountain huts.

September: Dive with sharks in South Africa

Want to feel the adrenalin pumping through your veins? Well, we’re pretty sure that will the case when you find yourself eye tot eye with a white shark. South Africa offers the option to go diving with these predators. Oh, don’t worry, you will be safe in a cage.

October: Climb the Pico de Orizaba in Mexico

Pico de Orizaba (5693m) is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest on the North American continent after Denali (6190m) and Mount Logan (5959m). From a distance the peak seems like a perfect cone and the best thing is, it is a goal you can set as a novice climber. Though the incline can get steep, there are few crevasses that will impose any danger. Still, if you have no experience with alpine climbing, a guide is recommended.

November: Get your rafting skills pushed to the limits on the Futaleufú

Ask any ambitious rafter which river is on their ultimate bucket list, and the Futaleufú will come up time and time again. There’s a reason for that. The Futaleufú  has about 60 kilometers of pristine, raftable river –  with the trickiest part being the upper section, which is 20 kilometers with six Class V rapids and the seemingly never-ending “Wild Mile” Class IV section.

December: Learn to ski in Winterberg

It’s only ‘ve been a few years since I started to ski. Despite my great love  for the mountains, I never went on a wintersport holiday when I was younger. My parents didn’t ski, my friends didn’t ski, so I didn’t either. Still, it was on my list to master it one day. Eventually, the past few years I went to Winterberg, Germany. Though not as high as the Alps, this winter resort offers the best conditions to improve your skiing abilities.