Men's Health - UK (2019-07)

MEN’S HEALTH 55

41-42

Enter the

Tiger’s Nest

The mountain kingdom of

Bhutan has a near-mythical

status among explorers. The

Tiger’s Nest is one of the

country’s most iconic Buddhist

temples, located deep in the

Paro Valley and perched

perilously on the cliff side.

Reaching this stronghold

requires a gruelling pilgrimage

through the mountains – there

is talk of building a highway,

but don’t hold your breath.

gadventures.co.uk

Like that?

Head into the desert for

another pilgrimage of sorts

• this time to race quad bikes
  in Namibia. You’ll glide over
  golden sands next to herds of
  zebras, ostriches... even lions.
  A truly spiritual experience.
  naturalworldsafaris.com

47-48

Heli-Ski Russia’s

Kamchatka

Peninsula

M18 helicopters? Awe-

inspiring scenery? Flying down

volcanoes on two narrow strips

of plastic? Put a big fat tick

next to all of the above,

because Pelorus’s Russian

heli-skiing excursions have

you covered. Beginning in

Moscow, you’ll fly out to the

remote Kamchatka region

where, over six days, you’ll

have the pick of 2,000 vertical

metres of ski runs, all curated

by local guides. And, yes,

there will be vodka. Anyone

know the Russian for après?

pelorusx.com

Like that?

For a (marginally) tamer

slope-side experience,

unleash your inner Tarzan

on Canada’s zip lines and

treetop walkways, taking

in the Whistler and the

Blackcomb mountains.

whistler.ziptrek.com

43-46

Next-Level

Bouldering

Paul Jackson,

coach at Jurassic

Climbing, helps

you get a hold on

the world’s best

bouldering sites

“Hampi in India

is a bouldering

playground. The

weird, wonderful

landscape of this

Unesco site is full

of precariously

balanced gigantic

boulders, making

it unlike anywhere

you have ever

encountered.”

“Fontainebleau

Forest is just an

hour’s drive from

Paris, yet it could

belong to another

world. In 250km^2

of woodland, you

will find every

kind of bouldering

route, many of

them world class.”

“Petrohrad, just

west of Prague,

is a Czech

landscape

of woodland,

wildflowers and

granite boulders.

Virtually

untouched, it

boasts more than

3,000 routes.”

“The Buttermilks

in Sierra Nevada

have served

as a climbers’

training ground

for centuries.

A surreal way

to train among

the best.”

49-50

Ta ke a Wa l k o n

the Wild Side

For a nature-spotting trip

unlike any other, go to Slovakia,

where experienced park rangers

will put you on the trail of black

bears. Over the eight-day trek,

you’ll follow their tracks to see

them in their natural habitat,

while also keeping an eye out

for red deer and golden eagles.

Best of all, tours are restricted

to groups of eight to minimise

disturbance, with the whole trip

tailored to protect the bears.

You’ll stay in hotels and ranger

cottages, with hearty meals

provided – just try not to spill

any honey on your shirt.

walksworldwide.com

Like that?

For more ursine adventures,

head to the Arctic and track

polar bears on the Norwegian

island of Spitsbergen from

the safety of your cruise ship.

bspoketours.com

adrenalin-pumping? The
Top Gun package offers
a gruelling aerial aerobatics
course. Strap in tight.
skycombatace.com
Like that?
From the stratosphere
to the Earth’s dark depths:
the 5.5-mile-long Son
Doong Cave in Vietnam

• the biggest in the
  world – will challenge your
  perspectives. It’s so huge
  that it could contain
  a block of 40-storey
  skyscrapers, and it even
  has a jungle inside.
  oxalis.com