Laying on the beach under the sun, while enjoying the sound of the waves may not be everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday. Some live for the adrenaline rush that they get while jumping off a helicopter or diving deep under the sea.
Indulging in adventure sports such as skydiving and bungee jumping are increasingly common nowadays. In fact, many people include these extreme activities on their bucket list of things they want to do in their lifetime. For some adrenaline junkies, it’s on their after-lunch to do list.
According to a survey by TripAdvisor, 59% of the respondents said they indulged in such activities to gain varied experiences in life, while 32% like the thrill, excitement and the sense of risk attached to it. A total of 31% said they felt such sports gave them a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, here is a guide to the top five destinations for adventure sports under a reasonable budget.
1. Sky diving in Thailand
It’s no big secret that skydiving is a popular activity for the thrill-seeking travelers, but where is the best place to do it on a constrained budget? Thailand, of course.
Besides the adrenaline rush you experience while free-falling thousands of feet in the air at 200km per hour, you will also enjoy a beautiful bird’s-eye view of different beaches and the Gulf of Thailand from a unique vantage point as you descend.
The most budget-friendly way to do this is when you participate in the activity in a group, rather than solo. Here’s how much it can cost to do tandem sky diving in Thailand:
| Number of people | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 pax | RM1,262 |
| 2-3 pax group | RM1,210 |
| 4-5 pax group | RM1,164 |
| 6-7 pax group | RM1,095 |
| 8-9 pax group | RM1,049 |
| 10 and more pax group | RM1,026 |
2. Hang gliding in Nepal
If R. Kelly’s song, I Believe I Can Fly is your anthem, you would love hang gliding. You don’t need to travel to Rio de Janeiro or California to experience the amazing feeling of gliding through the air like a bird. You can do it at Nepal!
To the uninitiated, hang gliding is an air sport where the pilot hangs from the wing frame made of aluminium alloy and glides through the wind as if flying.
While feeding the expectations of the adventurous traveler within you, you will get a one-of-a-kind glimpse of the majestic Himalayan mountains while gliding above it. There is many hang-gliding tour operators all over Kathmandu.
It costs approximately RM600, inclusive of transportation from and to the hotel, photos and videos, and refreshments.
3. Bungee jumping in Macau
Bungee jumping in Macau Tower will be one of the tallest bungee jumps in Asia. At 233m high, this bridge makes for one of the most exciting bungee jumps of all-time, with a heart-racing rush any thrill-seeker will love.
If you’re looking for an action-packed holiday, this commercial bungee spot might be a good start.
| Packages | Price per person | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| First jump | RM1,701 | Inclusive of certificate, membership card and specially designed T-shirt |
| Second jump | RM563 | |
| Full package | RM2,064 | Inclusive of photos and videos in USB, e-certificate, membership card, T-shirt and tower entrance ticket. |
4. Mountain climbing in the Philippines
If you would like to test your endurance, then mountain climbing is just the right activity for you. It is a challenging sport and requires skills to choose the right technique at the right time, effectively and efficiently.
One of the best places in Asia to do is at Mount Apo, the tallest peak in the Philippines at 2,956 meters above sea level. It is a highly recommended place for mountaineering and climbing activities, not just for the breath-taking views, but also the chance to immerse in the rich culture of the locals living at the foot of the mountain.
The mountain area is covered by an array of landscapes, virgin forests, crags, rivers, lakes, mossy swamps, volcanic structures, and crater of sulphuric deposits, and you will be rewarded with the marvellous sight of sunrise at the highest point of the mountain The cost of this three days, two nights hike differ according to the number of people in the group.
| Number of people | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 pax group | RM607.22 |
| 3 pax group | RM664.00 |
| 4-5 pax group | RM538.00 |
5. Scuba diving in Cambodia
The 800 islands in Cambodia are famous for its virgin beaches and unexplored beauty of nature. These small islands are known for exciting scuba diving to explore the underwater world and admire the unique sea creatures.
This is how much you will be expected to fork out for a diving trip there:
| Packages | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 8 dives in 2 days | RM1,590 |
| 4 dives in 1 day | RM1,188 |
| 1 day dive | RM262 |
| 1 night dive | RM201 |
With thrills come risks
Though extreme sports and activities mentioned above are definitely fun to many, they also come with high risks. It’s undeniable that these activities court significant dangers and individuals who engaged in these activities are essentially gambling their personal safety for a momentary rush of excitement.
Broken collarbones and limbs, paralysis, and frostbite are just some of the likely scenarios if things go awry in these activities. In the worst case scenario, it could be death.
The saying, YOLO is true. But only if you truly understand the risks you are undertaking and have ways to mitigate such risks. One way to help you prepare for any unfortunate accidents while getting your adrenaline fix during your holiday is by getting the right travel insurance.
However, before you take up just any travel insurance, find out if extreme activities that you would like to indulge in are covered or excluded in the policy.
There’s one travel insurance plan that was made for adrenaline junkies: the Hong Leong Travel Insurance plan. It not only offers complete benefits for 24 hours a day, it also comes with the new Adventurous Activity Cover.
| Hong Leong Travel Insurance Benefits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | For both international and domestic travelers | ||
 | Cover up to 90 days (annual cover) or 185 days (single trip cover) per overseas trip | ||
 | Coverage includes death or injuries resulting from adventurous activities subject to policy terms and conditions | ||
 | 24-hour worldwide travel assistance hotline for: Pre-travel advice on visa and vaccination requirements Medical assistance in an emergency or if an evacuation or repatriation is required Travel assistance pertaining to lost luggage, passports, money and credit cards |
||
Coverage includes death or injuries of insured person in respect of Section 1: Personal Accident and Section 2: Medical and Other Expenses, resulting from adventurous activities such as:
- Bungee jumping
- Sky diving
- Hang-gliding
- Helicopter rides for sightseeing
- Hot air ballooning
- Jet skiing
- Mountaineering which requires the use of ropes and other climbing equipment (applies only for mountains below the height of 3,000 metres above sea level)
- Skiing or snowboarding (within officially approved areas of any ski resort)
- Canoeing or white water rafting (with a qualified guide and up to Grade 3 of International Scale of River Difficulty)
- Underwater activities involving artificial breathing apparatus (for diving up to a maximum depth of 30 metres with a qualified diving instructor and with recognised diving certification)
Also, important to take note that the above activities are only covered if done on an amateur basis and for leisure purpose with a licensed operator during your holiday. All other terms, conditions and exclusions of this policy continue to apply.
| Coverage at a glance | |
|---|---|
 | Personal accident (Accidental Death & Permanent Total Disablement) Up to RM250,000 |
 | Medical Expenses Up to RM300,000 |
 | Emergency Medical Evacuation / Repatriation of Mortal Remains (including Burial and Cremation) Up to RM1 Million |
 | Travel Inconvenience • Loss /Damage to Luggage & Personal Effects • Luggage Delay • Travel Cancellation or Curtailment • Travel Delay, Missed Travel Connection, Travel Reroute |
 | Adventurous activity |
 | Hijacking & terrorism |
For the jet setters, you can take up the annual travel insurance which covers unlimited number of trips in a policy year. The annual cover is more cost efficient and you don’t have to get a new policy every time you travel, which saves you a lot of time.
Assuming you make 12 trips (with 1-5 days per trip to Area 1) in a year:
| Single Trip | Annual Cover |
|---|---|
| Premium Calculation: 12 trips x RM39 = RM468 (No GST charged for Area 1,2 & 3) | Total Premium = RM256.52 (including 6% GST) (Savings of RM211.48) |
If you are participating in an activity that is inherently risky, it’s pretty much a must for you to protect yourself as much as possible. That doesn’t mean just with gear and safety steps but also your finances. Don’t let that one fun jump ruin the rest of your days or even your families!
If you do get into an accident while you are traveling, having the right protection can help you settle your medical bill so your loved ones won’t be financially burdened. Having fun responsibly means knowing your limit and risks, as well as being prepared for any eventualities.
