Skydiving tops the bucket list of many adventure junkies, and there are incredible destinations around the world where people travel just to check it off. The world’s best skydiving places have gorgeous terrain, fun tourist experiences and a whole lot of adrenaline.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown offers a long list of adventure activities, living up to its self-proclaimed title “Adventure Capital of the World”. Queenstown attracts adventurers from around the world who come to take part in everything from hiking and whitewater rafting to climbing and skydiving. In fact, it’s internationally renowned as one of the top places on the planet for this extreme sport, where skydivers can take in New Zealand’s breathtaking beauty from 15,000 feet above the ground. After exiting the plane, the spectacular sights include the Remarkables, a lake-dotted mountain range home to the mirror-like waters of brilliant blue Lake Wakatipu, the nation’s third-largest lake.
Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is an island nation made up of more than 500 lush green tropical islands as part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines. While it’s best known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and amazing diving opportunities, some of the more adventurous types are discovering it’s a fantastic place for skydiving.
Swiss Alps
When you think about magnificent mountain scenery, the Swiss Alps are probably one of the first spots that come to mind. The Jungfrau Region is made up of the white peaks of three soaring mountains, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau which present a striking contrast with the lush green valleys like Lauterbrunnen. The “big three,” also have an enduring place in mountaineering legend, particularly Eiger, with a fearsome north wall that’s claimed numerous lives, and remained unconquered until 1938. If you’re not up for a challenging climb, skydiving is the best way to take in the area’s more than 70 waterfalls, glacial lakes and spectacular snow-capped mountains. Lauterbrunnen is known as one of the planet’s most scenic places to skydive, and it’s also one of only a few destinations where tandem jumpers reach altitude by helicopter.
Sydney, Australia
Skydiving in Sydney is especially unforgettable, with the chance to take in fabulous views of the coastline as well as the occasional dolphin, whale, or other marine life that happens to be swimming through the Pacific. Tour operators take skydivers floating over the golden beaches just south of Sydney, gliding for five to seven minutes after the parachute is deployed. You can soak up the glorious beauty of the Illawarra coastline before making a beach-side landing at North Wollongong’s Stuart Park.
Grand Baie, Mauritius
Skydiving is a fairly new activity available on Mauritius, a volcanic island nation in the Indian Ocean, famous for its picture-perfect beaches, azure lagoons and protected treasure trove of coral reefs. Whether you’re a solo adventure traveler, on your honeymoon or even on a family vacation, this destination is ideal. Experience a thrilling aerial view of the tropical landscape that includes the mountains and glistening blue lagoon from 10,000 feet above.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Niagara Falls is a world-renowned destination, and what better way to see these iconic falls than by jumping out of a plane? You’ll find a number of options, including tandem jumps, with all flights to jump altitude flying directly over the falls at around 6,000 feet, provided the weather cooperates. If inclement weather gets in the way, or if you aren’t quite ready to jump out of a plane but still want to experience the thrill of skydiving, try indoor skydiving. Indoor skydiving takes flyers into a wind tunnel at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour – it’s safe and available for all ages.
Oahu, Hawaii
Hawaii is stunning no matter how you look at it – from the land, water, or from above, although those who’ve skydived here will argue that it’s impossible to beat the vistas while sailing through the Hawaiian skies at 120 miles per hour. Jumping from the island of Oahu’s North Shore is especially unforgettable, as you fly over famous landmarks like Pearl Harbor, the glistening expanse of the Pacific, sweeping verdant mountainsides and rugged, ancient volcanoes.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Many come to the southwest to visit the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Brilliant colors and unforgettable panoramas make it one of the most popular attractions in the United States. Pictures just can’t do it justice – and reading statistics, like the fact that the canyon measures in at an average width of 10 miles, a depth of one mile and length of 277 miles, can’t really prepare you for what you’ll see in person, it’s a destination that must be seen to be believed. But skydivers can now do a whole lot more than just peer over the rim, for an especially memorable experience.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
The almost-always brilliant blue skies and jaw-dropping scenery that includes one of the most dramatic skylines in the world, make Sao Paulo an ideal drop zone. You’ll find operators with skydiving excursions available in this area, taking jumpers to the drop zone in Boituva where they’ll embark on a tandem free-fall with an expert before gliding gently down in a parachute, taking time to appreciate the beauty of Brazil and its stunning scenery from a bird’s-eye-view.
Snohomish, Washington
In the Pacific Northwest, you’ll find a surprisingly outstanding skydiving location tucked between the Cascade Mountain Range and Puget Sound. In Snohomish, less than a 30-minute drive from Seattle, skydivers can take in views of the area’s many majestic peaks like Mount Baker and Mount Rainier along with the Snohomish River below.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most famous attractions and the largest single structure made by living organisms. This legendary coral ecosystem covers 133,000 square miles, about the size of Japan, and includes more than 3,000 coral reefs that are renowned for diving and snorkeling, home to more than 1,600 species of tropical fish, dolphins, rays, turtles, sharks and giant clams. It’s so vast that it can be seen from outer space – and not only does it offer extraordinary underwater opportunities, but seeing it from above while skydiving is pretty incredible too.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys, often referred to as America’s Caribbean, are jaw-dropping from the ground, but just wait until you see them from above. You’ll have the opportunity to take in views of not only The Keys, but the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and all of the gorgeous reefs below at the same time. Once your parachute opens, you might even be able to spot dolphins dancing in the surf.
