THE GREATEST ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD TODAY REVEALED

Thursday 8 August 2019 Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking to Machu Picchu and rafting the Grand Canyon voted top adrenaline-fuelled adventures

New study unearths the findings of the Explorer Gene - evidence that suggests we are born with a taste for adventure

Research commissioned to mark the launch of new series Expedition with Steve Backshall on TV channel Dave, airing Sunday nights at 8pm

Over eight in ten (84%) British adults under 40 choose experiences and adventures over traditional fly-and-flop holidays and almost nine in ten (88%) now identify themselves as adven-tourists

Half of Brits surveyed (50%) seek out adventure holidays which come with a sense of danger

A new statistical scientific study of 50 of Britains greatest ever explorers unearths the findings of the Explorer Gene - revealing our taste for adventure could be predetermined

Research also reveals the top 10 greatest adventures in Britain, with conquering Ben Nevis in Scotland, swimming with seals in Devon and potholing in Yorkshire topping the poll

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking to Machu Picchu and rafting the Grand Canyon have been named as the greatest adventures in the world, according to new a study released today that also uncovers the Explorer Gene, which suggests some of us are predetermined to be more adventurous than others.

Descending into the depths of Icelands Thrihnukagigur volcano, potholing in Vietnams Son Doong caves and reaching Base Camp Everest in Nepal also featured highly on the worlds greatest death-defying adventure list.

The new research was specially commissioned by TV channel Dave to mark the launch of their new series Expedition with Steve Backshall airing Sunday nights at 8pm. A panel of travel experts, teamed with celebrity explorer Steve Backshall and his Expedition team, created a shortlist of the greatest adventures around the world and across the UK, which was then put to a public vote of 2,000 British adults aged 40 and under.

Top 20 Greatest Adventures in the World Today

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania 37%

Trekking along the Inca trail, Machu Picchu, Peru 35%

Rafting the Grand Canyon, Arizona 31%

Descending into Thrihnukagigur Volcano, Iceland 29%

Exploring the Son Doong Caves, Vietnam 24%

Dog sledding to witness the Aurora Borealis, Norway 23%

Kayaking arctic fjords, Greenland 22%

Reaching Base Camp Everest, Nepal 20%

Cruising the Antarctic, Antarctica 19%

Cage diving with sharks, Cape Town, South Africa 18%

Swimming with Humpback Whales, Mozambique 17%

Cave diving, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico 16%

Diving the Great Barrier Reef, Australia 13%

Trekking the Great Wall, China 12%

Paragliding in the Alps, Switzerland 11%

Riding the Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia 10%

Volcano night trekking, Indonesia 9%

Hiking Mount Fuji, Japan 9%

Diving into Belizes great Blue Hole, Belize 8%

Finding the Lost City of Teyuna, Colombia 7%

The research also revealed that over half (58%) of Brits say they prefer to seek out adventurous experiences rather than the traditional fly and flop pool or beach holiday. Over eight in 10 (84%) of those surveyed said that their holiday tastes have evolved over the years and now choose activity filled adventurous holidays instead of lounging around on the beach or by the pool.

Almost nine in ten (88%) now identify themselves as adven-tourists, seeking experience and adventures when abroad, with 91% believing that they will go on more adventures in their lifetime than their parents generation.

The poll also shows that we are a nation of thrill seekers as half (50%) of Brits said the sense of danger attracted them most to adventure holidays with 42% seeking activities that get their pulses racing.

Eight in ten (80%) Brits said they has dreamed of becoming an explorer after hearing tales of historical explorers like Captain Cook and Sir Francis Drake, and watching film icons like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft.

The research also reveals Britains greatest adventures with conquering the highest mountain in the British Isles Ben Nevis, swimming with seals in Devons Lundy Island and potholing in Gaping Hill, Yorkshire, topping the poll.

Top 10 Greatest British Adventures

Conquering Ben Nevis, Scotland 71%

Potholing in Gaping Gill, Yorkshire 40%

Swimming with Seals, Lundy Island, Devon 33%

Open water river swimming in Oxfordshire 32%

Rock Climbing in Snowdonia, Wales 31%

Caving in the Peak District, Derbyshire 30%

Diving in Scapa Flow, Orkney 29%

Surfing off the coast of Mistral Beach, Cornwall 24%

Taking on the worlds fastest zip line, Wales 23%

Cycling the Giants Causeway, Ireland 20%

BAFTA-winning naturalist, explorer and TV presenter Steve Backshall said:

From an early age I knew I wanted to explore the world and thats never stopped. I have spent my life travelling to some of the most remote, dangerous and testing places on the planet. Im always on the hunt for a new challenge to discover the unexplored - my new show on Dave sees me document a number of world-adventure firsts, including the first descent of a white-water river in the Himalayas.

Dave Channel Director Luke Hales said:

Our new research reveals we are a nation of explores who enjoy a sense of adventure and danger. Brits are opting for a more adrenaline pumping activity-based trips rather than the traditional fly-and-flop beach holiday. It appears that the passion for adventure runs in our DNA with our research pointing to the discovery of the explorer gene - evidence that we could be born with a desire for exploration.

The new study by TV channel Dave also reveals that our appetite for adventure, risk and exploring is influenced by genetic and social factors. Statistical research carried out by Dr Geoff Ellis of 50 of Britains greatest ever explorers, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Ellen MacArthur and Mark Kingsley, examined share

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