Do the thing that scares you: bungee, skydive or paraglide

Doing the thing that scares you means one jump or one flight with a professional: a bungee from a bridge, a tandem skydive strapped to an instructor, or a tandem paraglide off a mountain. First-timers need no training, only nerve and a certified operator, and a friend in the queue makes the waiting easier and the story better.

Where to do it

Queenstown, New Zealand

The Kawarau Bridge bungy, just outside town, opened in November 1988 and is widely credited as the first commercial bungy site: a 43 m jump to the river. The town also offers skydives and paragliding over Lake Wakatipu, making it the easiest place in New Zealand to try all three.

Interlaken, Switzerland

Between two lakes below the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, tandem paragliders spiral down to land on the Höhematte meadow in the middle of town. Skydives over the Alps fly here too. In Switzerland, clear mornings give the calmest air.

Pokhara, Nepal

Tandem paragliders launch from Sarangkot hill and circle over Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range behind. Flights in Nepal run in the dry months outside the summer monsoon, usually from late morning.

Ölüdeniz, Turkey

Tandem flights launch from Babadağ mountain, high above the Blue Lagoon, and land on the beach. The flight down is long and gentle, and the descent over the bay is one of the great views in Turkey.

Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa

On the Garden Route, the bungy from the Bloukrans Bridge drops 216 m toward the river, and has run since 1997. It's one of the highest commercial bridge bungies anywhere, and the walk out under the deck in South Africa is a test on its own.

Macau Tower, Macau

Guinness World Records lists the tower's platform, at about 233 m, as the highest commercial bungee facility on a building. Jumpers in Macau fall on a guide cable that keeps them clear of the tower.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tandem skydives over the Palm Jumeirah land on a drop zone by the sea, with the skyline as a backdrop. Book well ahead for the cooler months in the United Arab Emirates.

Mission Beach, Australia

On the tropical Queensland coast, tandem skydivers land on the beach, with islands and the sea of Australia's reef coast below.

How to make it happen

• Go tandem for a first time. A tandem skydive straps you to a rated instructor; a tandem paraglide pairs you with a licensed pilot. You need only a short briefing.
• Choose a certified operator. Ask about licenses, how long they've operated and how equipment is checked. Good operators weigh you and ask about your health without being prompted.
• Know the limits. Weight limits apply, and bungee and skydiving aren't advised with heart conditions, back or neck problems, recent surgery or pregnancy. Ask a doctor if unsure.
• Check age rules. In the United States, tandem skydives need you to be 18; other countries set their own minimums.
• Leave room for weather. Wind, cloud and rain cancel jumps and flights. Book early in your trip and keep a spare day.
• Read your travel insurance. Many policies exclude these activities unless you add cover.
• Nothing to drink beforehand.

If you'd rather float than fall, try a balloon or a helicopter first.