A casual stroll down the Champs Elysees is nice, but why not find an amazing view and a walk that scares you silly instead? Here are some walks you can do around the world that will challenge your inner scaredy cat. Now we say walks, because there’s a whole other set of pants-wetting terror in store for hiking aficionados, but these accessible trails or lookouts are certainly not for the faint hearted…
First Cliff Walk, Switzerland
If Swiss mountains are your thing, you’ll definitely want to try the First Cliff Walk on for size. The path is nestled up close and personal to the stunning cliffs of Grindelwald and is perfectly safe, but it’s the narrow 45 metre walk across the nothingness to the windy viewing platform at the end that will make your palms sweaty. Easily worth it for the view though, right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44SSaVlvnuU
Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
Hiking alongside liquid hot magma isn’t an opportunity you get everyday, so if you ever end up in Antigua, Guatemala, it’s worth the trek up the active volcano to roast some marshmallows in the fiery crevices. Doesn’t sound scary? Well thanks to the unpredictable nature of volcanoes, it’s 3000% recommended you go with a guide. Warning: don’t wear your favourite kicks because the soles are very likely to melt from the heat.
http://www.instagram.com/p/BTpZEubF_gf/
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, China
This one may not be a long walk, but if you can drag yourself across the 430m of glass that separates you from the 300m drop into Tianmenshan National Forest Park, you deserve a pat on the back. The suspension bridge was opened in 2016 and is made from 99 panes of triple-layer glass that only 8000 people are allowed across everyday for safety reasons. Don’t look down.
RELATED: WOULD YOU BRAVE CHINA’S 3540 FOOT HIGH GLASS BRIDGE
Top of Tyrol, Austria
At an altitude of 3200 metres you’ll get an amazing view all the way to the Dolomites in Italy and over the Stubai Glacier ski fields, but all that’s saving you from heading off into oblivion is a steel fence and platform. You can only access the platform in summer as it’s too choked with snow at all other times. For the truly daring, try one of the yoga classes up there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtcRyOiA0s
Peek-a-boo Gulch, Utah
If you’ve got a touch of claustrophobia than keep clear of Peek-a-boo Gulch. The red, swirly rock face is stunning, but walking through the canyon is eerie thanks to the high walls and narrow passages that shrink to less than 30cms in some places. Bring the WD-40!
http://www.instagram.com/p/BU5mfs7F3F6/
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, Ireland
Walking on misty days (so most days in Ireland) isn’t recommended at the Cliffs of Moher, because there are sadly not many fences and one wrong step on the slippery pebbles could send you over the cliffs and 200 metres down into the deep blue sea. Oh, and did we mention it’s really windy up there on the treacherous cliffs? WALK WITH CAUTION…
Preikestolen, Norway
Preikestolen AKA Pulpit Rock, is the perfect place for a profile pic that will last the ages… but walkers beware! At the top of Preikestolen there are no safety rails, just a giant flat cliff top (that some say has fault lines that could send it plunging the 6km into the Lyseford at any moment) and it’s a steep AF two-hour hike up there and a (downhill obvs) trek back.
RELATED: I TRAVELLED TO NORWAY, THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, TO FIND OUT WHY THEIR ALL SO DAMN HAPPY
http://www.instagram.com/p/BWdZuUkAcft/
Stairs of Death, Peru
The Incans clearly didn’t use stairs as much as we do otherwise they may have built the floating ‘Stairs of Death’ at Machu Picchu a bit closer together. Given that they’re ancient too, the 600 small steps are quite slippery, uneven, and won’t likely be fixed up if they break. Given the dangerous drop and heritage listing, it’s a feature of the Inca Trail hike that isn’t actually open to tourists, but super cool to look at.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxa1eDYx3o8
El Caminito del Rey, Spain
The Caminito del Rey is considered the “most dangerous path in the world” and only reopened in 2015 after it was closed for 15 years due to too many accidental deaths. The 100-year-old path clings to the edges of the El Chorro gorge for 8km, and despite the new and improved path, with almost 100 metre drops and risk of falling rocks from above, helmets are mandatory.
You can actually ‘walk’ it using Street View on Google Maps here.
http://www.instagram.com/p/BRDJooPlyuU/
Walking not your style at all? That’s okay, you can chill in this INSANE pool in Texas that hangs 152 metres over the street instead.