Zip wire rides: Where to find the best in the world
Searching for the ultimate adventure? We've rounded up the fastest, highest and most awesome zip wire rides around the world. Whether you're after jaw-dropping ski views as you whizz across a cable 10,000ft above ground, or fancy flying above hungry alligators to make you go faster, see our pick of the coolest zip lines on the planet.
La Tyrolienne, France
The world's highest zip wire ride is located in the French Alps and offers intrepid skiers the chance to fly over snowy mountains at 10,000ft. A ride on La Tyrolienne lasts one minute and 45 seconds, allowing you to take in the breathtaking surroundings from the Three Valleys peak at 10,500ft and over to the Val Thorens crest at 9,800ft. The 1.3km ride is a new link between the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys and has been dubbed "a route through the skies mimicking the journey of an eagle in flight".
Oasis of the Seas Zipline
Cruisers can experience a thrill like no other on one of the only zip lines at sea aboard Royal Caribbean's mega ship Oasis of the Seas. Suspended nine decks high above the seaside pier-style Boardwalk, you'll have the best view on the cruise ship as you whizz across the zip line. Royal Caribbean guests also have exclusive access to Labadee, an exclusive Caribbean cruise destination with pristine beaches and awe-inspiring scenery - and on it is an adrenaline pumping 2,600ft-long flight line. The Dragon Breath Flight Line offers a view that only the birds have enjoyed and allows you to soar 500ft above the beaches at speeds of up to 50mph.
Aerial Bicycle, Ecuador
Mashpi Lodge's Aerial Bicycle offers a twist to the traditional zip wire, with guests at the Ecuadorian eco-lodge pedalling their way along a cable stretched between two points in the heart of Andean Cloud Forest. The Aerial Bicycle provides a bird's-eye view of the forest and tumbling hills that surround the lodge, creating an original and exciting way to explore the forest canopy up close. It was designed for two people to use at once and is silent, easy-to-use and fun - perfect for observing the natural world close to the lodge.
Zip World, Wales
Fancy flying through the sky on the longest zip wire in the Northern Hemisphere? Zip World is an exhilarating new experience in the UK's 'heart of adventure' North Wales. The attraction, located in the world's largest old slate quarry in Gwynedd, sees visitors travelling at speeds of 100mph on a zip line that takes them 500ft over a mountain lake and boasts views across Snowdonia, to the Isle of Anglesey and even the Isle of Man on a clear day.
Ziptrek Ecotours, New Zealand
If you've ticked off the bungee jump and fancy practicing your superman techniques through the forests of New Zealand, Ziptrek Ecotours will take you high above spectacular Queenstown on a series of zip lines with superb views. Choose from the Moa 4-Line Tour for a starter adventure or the adrenalin pumping Kea 6-Line Tour which takes you down a steep incline with outstanding alpine views. On the Twilight Tour, you'll plunge into the darkness and step blindly into the night from treetop decks 65ft above the valley floor for an unbeatable rush of adrenaline.
Atlantean Flyers, Dubai
Thrill seekers visiting Dubai can experience the Middle East's longest zip line circuit at Atlantis, The Palm. Atlantean Flyers transports visitors from sea to air, flying 65ft above the resort's Aquaventure Waterpark and white sand beach. The zip line measures 1,640ft and provides flyers with spectacular views as they reach speeds of up to 10mph.
Zip 2000, South Africa
With speeds of up to 100mph, South Africa's Zip 2000 in Sun City once held the title of the world's fastest zip slide for six years and claims to be the original zip wire ride. Riders can expect average speeds of 75mph along the 1.25-mile line and hang two-by-two from the cable with a fin between their legs for extra speed. Heights vary between 10 and 1,000ft and the South African grasslands below offer pretty awesome views.
Screamin' Gator Zip Line
At Florida's Gatorland, alligators and crocodiles are added to your zip wire ride to make it even more terrifying! Riders are launched from heights of up to 65ft and experience 1,200ft of high flying. The Screamin' Gator Zip Line makes for a heart-pounding thrill as you soar above Cuban and Nile crocs and across the breeding marsh before racing to the finish. There are 130 giant gators watching from below and you'll fly at speeds of 30mph over them.
SkyWire, Cornwall
Prepare your vocal chords for a resounding cry of 'Tarzaaaaan', as you launch yourself off the Eden Project's SkyWire. It's the longest zip wire in England and gives visitors an exhilarating ride across the top of the attraction's world-famous Biomes. While you won't get any jungle views, you will enjoy exotic sights of St. Austell Bay and the beautiful countryside that surrounds Eden. Strapped into a safety harness and suspended from a wire spanning the width of Eden's 35 acre pit, daredevils can experience the 2,165ft-long ride over the rooftop of the Rainforest and the Mediterranean Biome.
Copper Canyon ZipRider, Mexico
For an amazing adventure in Mexico, soar over iconic Copper Canyon on a series of zip wires measuring 8,350ft. The Copper Canyon ZipRider consists of seven zip lines and visitors take two hanging bridges down to the ground before catching the cable car back up - all with breathtaking views of the canyons and beyond, of course. There's a hike over steep and rocky terrain between the zip wires and those who have experienced zip lining in forests will be taken to a whole new level as they enjoy the vast canyon all to themselves on this awe-inspiring ride. Journey Latin America organises zip wire rides on its 12-day Canyons and Kayaks holiday.
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