The moment the helicopter arrived near the stranded jeep

In the second of our Best Of 2014 series, we look back at our most memorable experiences of the year, from hunting with Bushmen in Namibia to being chased down the street by raging bulls in Spain.

14) Walking with dragons in Indonesia
Mark Eveleigh reports from what could be the most spectacularly dramatic predator territory on the planet.

Nothing prepares for the thrill of a trek through dragon territoryNothing prepares for the thrill of a trek through dragon territory
Mark Eveleigh

13) Trekking Morocco's High Atlas Mountains
City gal Coralie Modschiedler explores Morocco's spectacular Berber homeland in search of her inner mountaineer.

Another Berber village comes into viewThe Berbers’ way of life has barely changed for centuries
WTG / Coralie Modschiedler

12) Getting high: 15 of the best adrenaline activities
Our pursuit of new highs has spawned a glut of adventure activities. From horse boarding to storm chasing, we round up our favourites.

Test your balance on the wings of a planeTest your balance on the wings of a plane
Creative Commons / Smudge 9000

11) Learning to surf at the Gate of Hell
We sent Daniel Fahey to the very cusp of the known world to catch some Chinese monsters. Here’s how he got on.

Year-round waves make Hainan Island the best surfing spot in ChinaYear-round waves make Hainan Island China's best surfing spot
Dora Whitaker / Lonely Planet

10) Exploring the Land of the Living Skies
City slicker Jack Palfrey takes a walk on the wild side as he explores one of Canada's lesser-known provinces: Saskatchewan.

Jack Palfrey sets out to conquer the Canadian wildsJack Palfrey sets out to conquer the Canadian wilds
WTG / Jack Palfrey

9) Living life on the edge
We round up some of the world's most intrepid travel adventures, from cliff-edge camping in Germany to extreme hiking in China.

CliffCampingHanging out in Bavaria, Germany
Waldseilgarten-Höllschlucht

8) Scared witless in Wales
Daniel Fahey heads to Wales for a weekend of downhill mountain biking and gorge walking in Owain Glyndŵr country.

A downhill rider grabs some airA downhill rider grabs some air
Creative Commons / Jacobo Hoyos Zea

7) 15 microadventures to try this weekend
Bored? Skint? Get out there and try one of our 15 microadventures, from staying in a mountainside bothy to wild swimming.

Reawaken your adventurer this weekendReawaken your adventurer this weekend
Alastair Humphreys

6) Hunting with Bushmen in Namibia
As Ruth Styles discovers, a trip into the wild with Namibia’s San people means swapping air-conditioned safari vehicles for survival skills and poison-tipped arrows.

The Ju/'hoansi San Bushmen are indigenous to northern NamibiaThe Ju/'hoansi San Bushmen are indigenous to northern Namibia
Dan Kitwood / Thinkstock

5) The 19 strangest places to ski
Hitting the slopes? Then have you considered Algeria or Pakistan? We round up the world's most unusual ski spots.

Beyond the ramparts of Marrakech lie powdery ski slopesBeyond the ramparts of Marrakech lie powdery ski slopes
Fafou / Thinkstock

4) Fighting the tide in Nova Scotia
Tidal bore rafting is testament to the timeless appeal of mindlessness. Gavin Haines reports from the brutal Bay of Fundy.

It's anything but smooth sailing in the Bay of FundyIt's anything but smooth sailing in the Bay of Fundy
Tidal Bore Rafting Park and Cottages

3) The 10 best pilgrimages for modern travellers
Searching for spirituality or moral sanctuary? We unearth 10 of the best pilgrimages to cleanse the modern soul.

Rediscover your spirituality with a trek in JapanRediscover your spirituality with a trek in Japan
SeanPavonePhoto / Thinkstock

2) The thrill of the chase: Pamplona
Forget jumping out of a plane – if you need an adrenaline rush, test your mettle at the Running of the Bulls. Damien Gabet reports from Pamplona.

Deadmans cornerThe infamous Deadman's Corner in Pamplona
123rf / Mikhail Mandrygin

1) When travel goes wrong: Rescued by the Bolivian Army
When travel goes wrong: the incredible story of Jennie Wagstaff, whose jeep got stuck in the middle of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.

The roof rack was taken off to prevent the jeep from sinkingThe roof rack was taken off to prevent the jeep from sinking
Jennie Wagstaff

Liked this? You may also enjoy these articles:

Our 14 favourite foodie finds for 2014
On the radar: 12 places to go in 2015


 

 

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.