5 Intrepid Valentine’s Day Trips

Skydive over Dubai

If you or your partner has a fear of heights, skydiving is a thrilling choice that’s both relatively safe and absolutely liberating. Rather than admiring some of the world’s largest things from the ground (like the indoor aquariums to skyscrapers and impressive resorts), you can get a bird’s-eye view of the desert city. While licensed divers can do a solo run, newbies and first-timers can strap in with an experienced instructor and freefall from 4,000 metres for a memorable minute. After the speedy freefall, you’ll have a few minutes to get your bearings, relax and enjoy the view of the area as you parachute gently to the ground.

Divers can choose from drop zones inside the city or in the desert. You will, of course, receive photos and videos taken by a camera-strapped diver, and be able to look back at the crazy experience.

Doze off above the Bavarian Alps

If you enjoy the thought of spending time in the great outdoors, you might want to take your next camping trip up a notch. From the heights of the Bavarian Alps in Pfronten, Germany, an adventure camp named Waldseilgarten offers not only rope climbing, archery and igloo building, but also alpine tours, and most impressively the ‘sleep in a portaledge’ experience.

For the faint-hearted, you can choose to dip your toes in the outdoor sleeping experience by spending the night on a seven-metre high platform suspended between trees. Otherwise, you can sleep among the stars dangling from a portaledge, or a floating tent, suspended from a thick branch, and you’ll have to climb up and down a rope to get to your ‘bed’. For the avid rock climbers, you can choose to pitch your floating tent from a rock wall hundreds of metres above the ground.

Swim with sharks in French Polynesia

Love tropical weather and beaches? Consider heading to the beautiful and tranquil islands of French Polynesia and swim among colourful fish, breathtaking whales, elegant stingrays and reef sharks. If you’ve already been to Bora Bora, Moorea is another fantastic and less frequented island choice.

Hire a private boat tour for a full day, and enjoy some up-close and personal encounters with marine life in shallow and crystal-clear turquoise waters in the lagoon. You’ll also get to learn more about these creatures and their environment from your experienced guide, and snap some beautiful photos as timeless keepsakes.

Hike up Mount Etna in Sicily

One of the best ways to feel alive is to hike along and admire the world’s most active stratovolcano, Mount Etna. A UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled on the eastern coast of Sicily, the history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years. Made of layers of ash and lava, Etna has unique hues of brown and grey and a summit of over 3,000 metres along a 15-kilometre trek, at the end of which you can peer into the craters (depending on how active they are). On the popular summit tours, you’ll be guided along the seven-hour excursion.

Rev your way around Ho Chi Minh City

If controlled risk or danger is the ultimate aphrodisiac, then riding a motorbike or scooter in old Saigon may be just the right adventure. There are plenty of safe and guided tours you can take, which involves hopping on the back of a motorcycle to taste street food, explore historical sites and beyond. If you want to explore the town on your own, you can also choose to rent your own scooter or motorcycle, with free city maps and training provided.

And while it might not be fine dining, finishing with a visit to the vibrant night markets and sampling local delicacies will be the best way to bond and share your experience.