Wealthy adventure seekers will travel the globe -- and even defy gravity -- sparing no cost to experience the ultimate thrill. These excursions are equally thrilling and luxurious as we go from the bottom of the sea to the top of the world.
Tandem HALO Sky Diving
A normal tandem skydive is a great leap for most people, but HALO Jumper takes skydiving to the extreme. HALO, short for High-Altitude Low-Opening, jumps occur at about 30,000 feet -- that's 16,000 feet higher than the average plunge. The higher altitude means that the air is thinner and the temperatures lower, usually between 25 and 40 degrees below 0 at the jump point. This experience is so exclusive that only about 50 people around the world have actually executed this $3,500 jump. Drop zones are located in Mississippi and Tennessee or HALO Jumper will travel to additional drop zones that have the appropriate equipment and pilot on hand.
Super Boat Racing
Super Boat Racing adds a shot of adrenaline to glamorous boating. These super boats reach speeds up to 140 mph and are ready to hit the waves in all weather and conditions. At the annual Super Boat International race on New York's Hudson River, wealthy daredevils take to the waves in swanky turbine-powered boats suited for the rough waters.
Subaviators
A trip in a subaviator comes with some pretty cool bragging rights as few people get the chance to fly under the sea. A Super Aviator sub moves through the ocean much like an aircraft jets through the sky, offering the opportunity to explore the ocean without ever getting wet. Excursions with the Super Aviator Underwater Flight School teach the basics of piloting these hydro-dynamic subs and cost between $5,000 and $15,000. Serious sea explorers can even spend a cool $2 million on a custom-made super subaviator.
Volcano Heliride
A helicopter ride over steamy hot lava is a thrilling way to explore Hawaii's most explosive topography. Daring helicopter pilots lead tours above the Big Island's active Mount Kilauea volcano. Passengers feel the heat as they hover just 500 feet above the sputtering lava.
Zero G Gravity
Why wait for commercial flights to depart for the moon when you can experience weightlessness right here on Earth? Zero G Gravity Flight uses parabolic flight, sending the plane on a topsy-turvy ride that goes up at a 45 degree angle and then dives nose down at a 30 degree angle. The result is 30 seconds of gravity-free floating in the belly of a Boeing 727. The pilot repeats this process about 15 times to give passengers 8 weightless minutes to float, tumble and fly through the air. The Zero G plane travels around to large cities, including Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles and others, making this simulated spacewalk accessible to anyone willing to shell out $5,000.
Shipwreck Dive
Mad Dog Expeditions takes curious divers 185 feet under the sea to explore the Caribbean's deepest shipwreck. The Bianca C., located off the coast of Grenada, is a 600-foot liner that went under in 1961 after a fire onboard. This advanced dive promises a diverse ecosystem as well as a splash of history as divers may get a glimpse of artifacts from the ship's luxurious past life.
Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving
Bob Bondurant's Racing School in Phoenix, AZ, promises aspiring speedsters a true race-car experience. The facility's racetracks, known as the "fastest 60 acres in America," are complete with hair-raising hairpin turns and wide-open stretches of road to exceed the speed limit. For $5,000, drivers can reach up to 120 mph on smooth straightaways behind the wheel of a Corvette, Cadillac or Pontiac GTO.
Shark Cage Diving
Strangely enough, you don't need a scuba certification or even the ability to swim to try shark cage diving. Still, San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions is no trip to the aquarium -- participants of the excursions have the chance to meet ferocious sharks on their own turf. This is one shark story where it is safe to go in the water, but only because you're protected in the confines of a steel cage. These cages are lowered from a boat into the ocean where participants watch the aggressive great white sharks glide by the cage, maybe in search of a snack.
Singita Safari
The Singita Game Drive in South Africa's Kruger National Park boasts one serious safari experience. In addition to the big 5 (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino), guests may get a glimpse of rarer animals like antelope or the black rhino. The skilled guides make this super safari extra special. After a day in the park, safari-goers are ready to be pampered at the first-class Lebombo Lodge.
Nimmo Bay Resort
The adventure potential at British Columbia's Nimmo Bay Resort reaches wild extremes, from sea level to 13,000 feet above the sea. The world is your oyster at this adventure resort, thanks in part to the luxury chopper that shuttles guests to the area's best wilderness terrain. Each day guests are invited to choose their own adventure, from white-water rafting, fishing for wild salmon or hiking. A visitor's typical day may start with beachcombing along the Pacific Ocean and end with a glacier hike on Mt. Benedict.
North Pole Cruise
Fewer than 10,000 people have ever been to the top of the world, literally at 90 North, the world's top line of latitude which is more commonly known as the North Pole. And even fewer have popped a bottle of champagne and sipped bubbly there aboard a Quark Expeditions cruise. The journey begins from Russia aboard a nuclear-powered ice breaker that plows through ice as thick as 10 feet on its way to the North Pole. The cheapest cabins are around $25,000, a small price for a trip to the top of the world.
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