Valle Verzasca, hydroelectric dam, Switzerland by Martin Abegglen

The Best Place to Go…Bungee Jumping

In Valle Verzasca, in the Italian region of Switzerland, you can jump from the famous hydroelectric dam where the James Bond film Goldeneye was filmed. The dam stands at a whopping 220 m. If you wish to match the daring-do of Mr. Bond, you’ll need to make an advance reservation, have a medical evaluation and fit the proper height and weight requirements.

The Best Place to Go…Paragliding

France is home to the highest number of paragliding sites in the world. Perhaps the most thrill-inducing is the site on top of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Other good places include Annecy and Treh.

Alternatively, you can also paraglide over the castle in Neuschwanstein, Germany. This flight provides stunning views of the iconic castle, set against the backdrop of beautiful green scenery.

Mont Blanc paragliding by Yves Jusot

The Best Place to Go…Mountaineering

The sport of mountaineering was born on the slopes of the Matterhorn in Switzerland, a snow-covered crag of rock stretching up into the sky. To successfully complete this 9-hour climb, you’ll need to be in good physical condition, have reliable gear for climbing and also the funds to hire a guide. You’ll also need to find a reputable tour operator to make sure you have a safe climb.

The Best Place to Go…Skydiving

Skydiving can be a rather pricy sport, but for the bargain price of 205 euros, you can jump from 15,000 feet over the orange trees in Seville, Spain. Other great places to dive include the mountainous regions of Interlaken, Switzerland and Le Marche, Italy.

The Best Place to Go…White-Water Rafting

If you’re looking for Class V waves, then the Noce River in the Italian Dolomites is the place to go. You can also try your hand at kayaking on these fantastic waves. Just make sure you go with a guide if it’s your first time.

White-Water Rafting by Ian Armstrong

The Best Place to Go…Cliff-Diving

Also known as “tombstoning” because many unfortunate participants have found their way to a tombstone earlier than expected, the best places to try it in Europe are the cliffs near Santorini, Greece. Afterwards, join the partygoers on the beach for a well-earned cocktail.

If you attempt any of these death-defying activities, just make sure you are going with a reputable tour operator and that you have the necessary training. You don’t want to have to hire a head injury solicitor at the end of your trip.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Marcel Janus

The area is popular tourist destination thanks to the beautiful countryside and unspoilt nature. Allgäu Alps with an altitude reaching more than 2000 metres above sea level are popular places for winter sports. Its highest point is Großer Krottenkopf with the hight of 2,656 metres above sea level, however, Nebelhorn is the most famous peak reaching an attidue of 2,224 metres.

Allgäu is one of the most popular tourist areas and winter resorts in Germany. For Alpine skiing lovers, there is a large selection of well groomed slopes – and it does not matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier with high demands. Most of the slopes are artificially cared and such they have enough snow until the end of March. After skiing you can drink in one of the cozy cottages, cafes and pubs, or lately at night in one of clubs.

You can choose from a number of skiing resorts that include Adelharz-Breitenstein Lifte, Alpsee Bergwelt, Balderschwang, Bolsterlang/Hornergruppe, Breitenberg, Buronlifte Wertach, Fellhorn – Kanzelwand, Grasgehrenlifte, Grunten, Halblech, Hornergruppe/Fischen, Hörnle, Hündle-Thalkirchdorf, Luggi-Leitner-Lifte Scheidegg, Oberjoch Bad Hindelang, Oberstdorf/ Nebelhorn, Oberstdorf/Sollereck – Hollwies, Ofterschwang, Scheidegg, Schwäbeleholz / Sonthofen, Steibis, Steibis-Hochgrat, Tegelberg, Thalerhöhe Skilifte, Weiler/Simmerberg.

In the eastern part of the Allgäu is located famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Allgäu is also known for the dairy industry. One of the best known product is Hirtenkäse – herdsman’s cheese.

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More than 300,000 visitors from all over the world visit the castle each year. It is open all through the year from 9am to 6pm (April through September) and from 10am to 4pm (October through March). Guided tours are provided in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Slovenian and Japanese.

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