Asia is an incredible continent on many different levels. Take the food, for example. Oriental cuisine is unlike anything else in the world. The history and culture of Asia are also pretty impressive. However, for our money, Asia's adventure sports opportunities are the biggest thing the continent has going for it.
It seems as if everything they do in Asia is extravagant. Adventure sports are no exception. Just take a look at the collection of things we uncovered in our extensive research:
BASE-Jumping – Kuala Lumpur
The ‘base’ in BASE-jumping refers to buildings, antennae, span, and earth – all objects you can jump from with a parachute strapped to your back. BASE-jumping in Kuala Lumpur involves some of the most spectacular buildings in all of Asia. As the capital of Malaysia, this ultra-modern city offers you five of the tallest buildings in the country and an organised BASE jumping circuit that allows you to throw yourself from these structures without any legal ramifications. If you want to know what you can expect, Google the Menara KL Tower.
Mountain Boarding – Mount Fuji, Japan
Mountain boarding is a relatively obscure adventure sport despite it being around since the early 1990s. It combines the excitement of snowboarding with that of downhill mountain biking, using a purpose-built board with pneumatic wheels and two steering ‘trucks’. You can mountain board in the UK and Australia, but there may be no better place to do it than the Dragon Dirt track at the base of Mount Fuji. If you are looking for an adrenaline-inducing experience complete with as much danger as you can muster, this could be the perfect activity for you!
Land Sailing – India
It takes the right combination of flat land and favourable winds to create an excellent land sailing experience. That is exactly what you will find in the Gujarat region of western India. What's more, the closer you get to the coastal waters of the Arabian Sea, the better the sailing becomes. A constant but comfortable breeze keeps your sales full and your wheels moving. Nevertheless, beware of the sun. It can get very hot on the plains of Gujarat.
Tubing – Vang Vieng, Laos
Tubing (travelling down a river in an inner tube) is not normally thought of as a sport offering high adventure. Nonetheless, things are different in Vang Vieng, Laos. This tourist-centric city in the centre of Laos sits on the banks of the incredible Nam Sung River, which just happens to be one of the best tubing spots in the world. Adventurers pay to rent an inner tube in town, and then drive miles upstream to a predetermined launching spot. On the way back, there are plenty of adventures to be enjoyed including rope swings, suspension cables, caves, diving platforms and, yes, riverside beer stations.
Adventure takes on a completely new meaning when you visit Asia. If you go, be prepared to have your senses challenged in ways they have never been before. It is awesome!