Teetering a thousand feet above jagged rock faces in the Alps, this is the world’s scariest hostel. The white and red metal tube is designed to hold up to 12 weary climbers crossing the deadly Mont Blanc mountain range in Italy. It includes wooden bunk beds, a kitchen, dining room, storage racks and a living room with stunning views over the Fribouze Glacier. Climbing experts believe the hut could save the lives of stranded climbers if they are caught in blizzards and lost in the dark. The solar-powered refuge replaced a shabby wooden hut that was built in 1948. Some climbers say the new ‘garish’ structure is not in keeping with the surroundings but local authorities wanted something that was easy to spot.

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They are the real deal: the original bungee jumpers! Deep in the jungle of Pentecost Island, part of the Vanuatu archipelago of the South Pacific, young men fling themselves from wooden towers 100 feet high, with nothing but slim tree vines to stop their fall. They have no nets and no safety equipment, no water or cushions to soften the impact. The idea is to jump from as high as possible, and to land as close to the ground as possible. It is also a harvest ritual. The islanders believe the higher the jumpers dive, the higher the crops will grow. Some ritual, eh?

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