I have heard this question many times when I was a zipline guide, “what are some similar activities to ziplining we can do in the area?”. It makes sense; I was a tour guide working with tourists daily. They were looking for something fun and exciting, which is exactly what ziplining accomplished.
During my five years as a zipline guide, it did not take long to provide them with some amazing related activities in the area. I would mention the ropes course we also offered, rafting a nearby river, caving tours that my coworker provided, and some awesome local swimming spots.
There are a handful of activities similar to ziplining, but where you are located matters significantly because some areas offer more to do than others. That’s why I wanted to create a large list of similar things to do, like ziplining. This will give you more options no matter what zipline experience you just completed.
Let’s connect our trolleys and zip into the list!
1. Ropes Courses
Ropes courses are very similar to ziplining, and often a zipline course will also offer a ropes course too. Where I worked, we had the full 9-cable zipline experience and the 3-level aerial ropes course. You could even bundle them up as a package to save money.
Ropes courses include obstacles you must climb, crawl, jump, and hang through. Many courses also offer smaller ziplines throughout, so you get to enjoy a bit more of that cruising/hanging experience. They can be designed in the trees, or built from scratch using tall wooden or metal poles.
You are always in a harness, similar to ziplining, but you are in full control. You will be briefed beforehand during the safety speech on how the equipment works. Some courses are fully automatic, and you do not have to click or connect anything. Other types, you’re given a device that will connect you from obstacle to obstacle, but you are always clipped in no matter what.
I loved playing around on the ropes course, it tests your physical strength, but believe me when I say this, it tests your mental strength even more.
2. Highlining
If you love the heart-pounding sensation of being suspended high above the ground on a cable, then highlining is something you may want to check out. This extreme sport involves walking along a narrow, suspended rope or webbing set up between two points. Ever hear of slacklining? It is pretty similar, except you are balancing on the rope over really high points.
I recommend getting started on slacklining if you have never done the sport. This can be accomplished at a local park, you and your friends can practice for hours until you get the skill and courage to attempt highlining.
Highlining and ziplining certainly share their similarities, the balance, focus, and fear of heights that are a part of ziplining are all intensified in highlining. Ziplining, you quickly zoom through the heights, but highlining, you walk and balance slowly as you stand high in the sky. It is quite a mental game as it is a physical one.
3. Parasailing
Parasailing is a unique experience; you get to be towed behind a boat while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as the parasail. Wind will catch the parasail, and you’re lifted up high into the air. You get to see a view that you usually would not, while you feel weightlessness, similar to ziplining in a sense.
I recommend parasailing as many of us heading out ziplining are on vacation somewhere in a tourist destination. If you are near water, then parasailing is almost a guaranteed option for you.
Ziplining and parasailing offer a similar level of thrill; there are no significant falls or drop sensations. You are not required to do much work; your tour guides are doing everything for you, so as you parasail and zipline, all you have to do is enjoy the views around you as you soar through the skies.
4. Bungee Jumping or Giant Swings
If you are looking for more thrill (and an increased heart rate), this may be the choice for you. Ziplining, you are moving horizontally at medium speeds; you get to sit back and relax, catching the views around you. However, bungee jumps, and giant swings take the thrill of vertical movement to extreme levels.
Bungee jumping, you leap off a platform, free-falling until the bungee cord snaps you back. Giant swings offer a similarly exhilarating sensation, as you’re lifted up to extreme heights before being released to swing at heart-stopping speeds. Some giant swings, like the Nevis Swing in New Zealand, lift you up only to drop you a 300m full arc through the sky.
These two activities share the intense adrenaline rush and the challenging confrontation with gravity, which makes ziplining so appealing to us thrill seekers. The sensation of falling and bouncing in the sky is what makes bungee jumps and giant swings so appealing; they are similar yet distinct from ziplining.
Read our related post “10 Activities Like Bungee Jumping for Thrill Seekers” here.
5. Skydiving
If you are on the search for the ultimate thrill, skydiving is your must-do activity. Nothing compares to skydiving, you get to jump out of an airplane and freefall at top speed. Your brain and body know “This is not normal”, and the adrenaline takes over from there.
If you want a thrill that mixes heights and speed, skydiving is the best choice. Until you deploy your parachute, you will be falling at maximum speeds, up to 150-180 mph (240-290kph).
Leaping from an airplane and free-falling through the sky before deploying a parachute, you’ll feel a sense of weightlessness and freedom unmatched by most other activities. Like ziplining, skydiving gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world, along with a pulse-pounding rush that’s incomparable. While the sensation may differ from ziplining, the underlying excitement, fear, and exhilaration are strikingly similar.
Read our related post “25 Activities Like Skydiving for Adrenaline Junkies” here.
6. Canyoning or Caving
Where I worked at a zipline, one of the guys I worked with did some private tours in their spare time, caving being one of them. So we often recommend caving as an activity for our zipliners, it never disappoints.
Canyoning and caving offer an adventure; you get to explore through canyons, waterfalls, and underground caves. You wear some similar gear as you would ziplining, like a helmet and a harness. You will get the chance to rappel down rocky areas, climb rugged terrain, and swim inside caves.
One of my favorite things I have ever done was exploring cenotes in Mexico. These underground caves are filled with clear water; you get to swim around, climb through the darkness with your tour guides, see stalagmites/stalactites, and enjoy the exhilarating feeling of being beneath the earth’s surface. Many have fun water ziplines and rope swings where you hold on and let go into the blue crystal clear water.
Take a look at this GoPro video of mine at a cenote tour coming back from Chichen Itza, it was a bit busy at this popular one but it was such a cool location.
Both canyoning and caving offer a thrilling activity where you get to connect with nature’s hidden wonders. Whether navigating through narrow canyons or exploring underground caves, these tours combine the sense of adventure and physical challenges seen in some ziplining experiences.
7. Rollercoasters
The adrenaline rush of a rollercoaster, with its sudden drops, sharp turns, and high speeds, is 100% relatable to ziplining. In my opinion, I think rollercoasters can be more of a thrill because of their twists and turns.
I have never passed out on a zipline, but I have on a rollercoaster lol. The Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland put me right to sleep!
Ziplining is a straight ride, while rollercoasters are designed to throw you around, so you definitely get some intense g-force on them, which makes them quite intense.
If you want an extra bit of thrill, head to a wild amusement park and hit up some of those crazy rides!
8. Extreme Water Slides
If rollercoasters are a bit much for you, take a step down and try heading to a waterpark. Extreme water parks offer some pretty thrilling rides, but they won’t make you pass out like a rollercoaster might.
Extreme water slides add a splash of excitement to the thrill of high speeds and gravity-defying turns. Similar to ziplining, water slides offer a ride that’s both exhilarating and a lot of fun. The feeling of rushing down a steep slide, with water pulsing you ahead, coupled with the unpredictability of twists and turns, creates a wicked thrilling experience that you might get out of ziplining.
9. Go-Karting
If you are seeking high speeds, control, and some friendly competition, go-karting is a great thrilling activity! Safer than hitting the real race tracks, you can book a go-karting session with your pals and race each other for bragging rights.
Many go-karts today get up to some pretty high speeds, making it quite a thrilling experience.
Navigating a go-kart through tight corners and straightaways certainly resonates with the thrilling bouncy ride that ziplining offers. Both are very exciting and a must do if you and your friends are looking for a fast adrenaline-pumping joy ride.
Read our related post “17 Activities Like Go-Karting to Do With Your Friends” here.
10. Indoor Rock Climbing
Indoor rock climbing is a physical and mental challenge, this is quite relatable to ziplining. The vertical ascent, the push against gravity, and the strategic planning required to make rock climbing an engaging experience.
Just like ziplining, it connects us with our inner adventurer, allowing us to do the things we may have never thought were possible.
It is a similar experience to book and attend with a group of friends. Call and book a session and you are good to go! You will be briefed on how things work, you will sign a waiver, and then you will be geared up in a similar harness. Rock-climbing and ziplining gear are very similar!
Read our related post “10 Activities Like Rock Climbing For Adventure Seekers” here.
11. ATV/UTV Tours
A plus here is that some ziplining tours include ATV rides, but not all. When we had a small tour, typically less than 4 people, we would take our ziplining guests up the mountain in a UTV. This started the tour off by getting your blood pumping.
Being able to rent and ride your own machine is even more fun and exciting. Hitting high speeds, cutting through deep mud, and climbing up mountains is awesome! Riding such big ATVs is rushing and gets the adrenaline rushing through your body.
These tours will take you through scenic trails, where the excitement of traveling through mud, rocks, and bumpy hills connects with the adventurous spirit of ziplining.
12. Indoor Skydiving
I can understand that not everyone wants to jump out of a plane with their friends, I get it! No need to worry, that’s why indoor skydiving was invented. You get to experience skydiving in a wind tunnel, which is a controlled environment designed to keep you safe.
iFly is the most popular indoor skydiving facility in the world, you will see them all over the US, and there are locations in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, and also Belarus.
At iFly you can book a session for you and your friends. You show up 30 mins early, get an introductory safety speech, geared up in the red iFly suit, and eventually jump in the tunnel with a guide.
Once you learn the basics you can even learn tricks in the tunnel. Indoor skydiving is a thrilling experience and one that many zipliners love to do!
Read our indoor skydiving articles here to learn more:
- What Is Indoor Skydiving? (The Ultimate Guide)
- Is iFly Indoor Skydiving Safe? (iFly Safety Guide)
- How Much Is iFLY Indoor Skydiving Per Person?
- How Fast Is the Wind When Indoor Skydiving?
- Does iFLY Indoor Skydiving Have a Weight Limit?
- How Long Are iFLY Flights?
13. Whitewater Rafting
For me, whitewater rafting comes to mind as a recommendation for zipline lovers simply because a company near us in Newfoundland offered any of us zipline guides a free rafting tour. They were the owners of the rafting company and they loved ziplining with us so they said we can come for a thrill ride with them.
The wild rush of navigating through turbulent rapids makes whitewater rafting an adventure that appeals to zip-loving thrill-seekers. There is a combination of teamwork, physical exertion, and the unpredictable nature of the water is sort of scary IMO, this makes it the ultimate thrill.
A whitewater rafting tour is an adventurous way to explore outdoors, you get to travel to a rushing river, gear up in your floatation device, and take on the rapids in your multi-person raft.
Read our related post “10 Activities Like Whitewater Rafting for Thrill Seekers” here.
14. Axe Throwing
Ok, this one is a little more for the group of friends who want to take it down a notch when it comes to extreme. Axe throwing is the perfect activity to do with your group of friends! It has grown so much in the last couple of years that most cities have a facility available.
Axe throwing is similar to darts, but the activity is much more thrilling as you get to toss an axe over your head like a beast.
Like ziplining, it’s an activity that requires concentration and offers an adrenaline rush. It’s about harnessing power and accuracy, and the satisfaction of hitting the target resonates with the exhilaration of a perfect zip-line glide.
Read our related post “19 Activities like Axe Throwing to Do With Your Friends” here.
15. Snowmobile Rental/Tours
If it’s snowing and ATVs are not an option, you can jump on a snowmobile to have the time of your life. I grew up in Newfoundland, Canada and we get a ton of snow. Snowmobiling is one of the top activities in on the island.
Where I was a zip guide we operated year-round and we ziplined in the winter, which I highly recommend! To get to the start of our 1st line, we would take zipliners up on a snowmobile, and a lot of people have never been on one, and they loved it.
Our zipline company offered snowmobile rentals and many people would rent the machines as they were a great thrill on their zipline ride.
Finding deep powder and boondocking in and out of it is so satisfying. Traveling out on the groomed trails to explore mountains is an amazing time. If you have the chance to jump on a snowmobile for the day, take it you won’t be disappointed.
16. Trampoline Park
Bouncing, flipping, and defying gravity at a trampoline park creates a fun and energetic experience! It may not seem like the most thrilling thing to do, but leaping around on a bouncy floor and the sense of weightlessness relates this activity with the flow of ziplining in the air.
Both offer a unique perspective on movement and freedom that your body really enjoys. This activity is also great for friends that may have kids as younger ones love jumping around non-stop for hours.
My friend who worked at the zipline with me also worked at a gymnastics facility, which has some similar obstacles a trampoline park has. I had gone a handful of times with him and learned so many crazy things I could have never imagined doing. I did a backflip on flat ground just from going to this place for a few days, I was ecstatic.
Trampoline parks have foam pits and practice areas where you can learn flips too. It is fun telling your friends and family that you know how to do a backflip!
17. Cliff Diving
I don’t necessarily mean jumping off massive cliffs, I want you to have fun not hurt yourself. I grew up going to swimming holes with my friends and my favorite part was jumping of rocks into deep waters. Take a look at my video above to see me jumping off a cool spot in Mexico!
The zipline I worked at flew back and forth over a huge waterfall, and at the top of this waterfall was a swimming hole called The Falls. This spot had a 25-foot jump into the top of a flowing waterfall, it was crazy! Jumping into water at any height is thrilling and exciting, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys swimming and people to cool down after a hot day ziplining.
There are many large cliff diving locations I’m the world, if you seek extreme adventure maybe they are perfect for you. If you want to have fun, with a small thrill, just try jumping off a dock or smaller rocks, it is still exciting.
18. Scuba Diving or Snorkeling
If you are on vacation down south, like Mexico, Florida, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, or anywhere similar, scuba diving and snorkeling are extremely popular tours you can book.
Exploring the underwater world while scuba diving or snorkeling is a serene and exciting experience I recommend.
Ziplining through the treetops is like exploring the world above water while diving and snorkeling is like exploring what is beneath the surface. It is amazing to see what the earth’s water offers in terms of sealife, plus seeing underwater landscapes is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Learning to scuba dive is a lot of fun, being able to become certified to explore underwater provides you with the ability to travel to some pretty amazing places. Swimming underwater for longer durations is thrilling!
19. Paragliding
Paragliding is like ziplining on steroids, you get to fly where you please up high in the sky for a long time. You get a similar sensation as you would bouncing on a cable, but you are strapped into a large parachute.
Soaring through the sky with a paraglider offers the closest thing to true flight. The quietness of floating above landscapes, the light gentle pull of the wind, and the unparalleled views make paragliding an experience you’ll never forget.
Ziplining you get a nice aerial perspective, but paragliding you get the ultimate aerial perspective for sometimes hours! If you loved the feeling of ziplining through the air for a short duration, you need to try flying in it for a longer amount of time.
Read our related post “13 Activities Like Paragliding for Thrill Seekers” here.
Final Thoughts
Looking at these 19 activities like ziplining, I think I did a pretty decent job of showing you some thrilling things to do with your friends. After all, I was a zipline guide and have gone ziplining thousands of times, I do know what is similar to the exciting experience.
If you are looking for the most thrill, then you have the options like skydiving, bungee jumping, and paragliding. If you want to tone it down, try throwing axes or snorkeling. If you want a workout, you need to try a ropes course or learn how to go highlining because its hard work.
If there’s an activity you think should be on the list I would appreciate you list it in the comment section below to help out anyone on the search for a fun and thrilling activity to do with their friends.
Still unsure what activity is best for you and your friends? Read our related post “99 Adventurous Things to Do With Your Friends” here.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
