If you thought jumping out of planes, rock climbing, and surfing were extreme in the world of sports – how about the wave of extreme tourism (or shock tourism) catching on around the world? An exploration of this sort of niche travel involves the visitation of "dangerous" places in an effort to test the nerves and gain one of the most exciting rushes of adrenaline in your life.
An increasing amount of people are seeking the never-ending collection of mountains, deserts, caves, and jungles of the world in order to capture their very own slice of immortality. It is the element of risk that generally attracts this type of traveler, who is interested in engaging in extreme sports, such as drifting in the air with the help of a foot-launched power hang glider, wave jumping at tropical locales, or ice climbing under extreme weather conditions.
Usually, these kinds of activities place an individual in the midst of high levels of physical strength, great heights, speed, specialized gear, and fascinating stunts. Adding to the thrill of such extreme adventures is the allure of besting an environmental challenge or obstacle. For example, when competing against other athletes in a game of basketball – there are basics you can always count on that include typical moves, the threat of a foul, or the ticking of the clock. 
However, with extreme tourism and sports, there are numerous variables you cannot pinpoint, control, or even count on. In many cases, the weather is uncontrollable and plays an important role in the majority of the sports or activities associated with extreme tourism. One blast of wind, burst of snow, crack in the ice, rush of water, or crumble of the mountain can send you into the arms of danger. This is the sort of uncertainty and challenge that extreme sports enthusiasts (like climbers, surfers, and snowboarders) crave.
Today, extreme tourism is a business greatly expanding throughout destinations, such as Russia, Ukraine, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and even the mountain-dotted lands of Northern Pakistan. For some, industry leaders are only limited by their imagination, creativity, and what Mother Nature has placed before them. 
Sound interesting? A couple of exotic and extreme travel suggestions to consider include:
- Brazilian Rope Jumping
- Ice Diving in the White Sea
- Wind Suit Flying
- BASE-Jumping off of a Television Tower
- Zorbing
- Windsurfing Competitions at the Beaches of Eisk
- Cupola Acrobatics – Parachutes
- White Shark Dives in Gansbaai (South Africa)
- Rappelling in South Puerto Rico (Utuado and Adjuntas)
- Tiger Shark Diving at the Farallon Islands – Bahamas