Living on the edge isn’t a lifestyle reserved for athletes and super heroes. Leave the hotel behind, ditch the poolside activities, and join ranks with thrill seekers for once-in-a-lifetime experiences all over the world. From heli-skiing to scaling the Seven Summits, take your holiday to the next level...the extreme.

Heli-Skiing

Start with skis, add a helicopter, the threat of avalanche, unparalleled access to backcountry powder and extreme slopes and you have heli-skiing. For some, it’s simply about getting away from the resort crowds. For others, it’s all about vertical drops, adrenaline rushes and defying death. Momentum Adventure offers a unique heli-skiing package in British Columbia, complete with guide (one of the pioneers of heli-skiing), training in avalanche safety and rescue, and accommodation on a remote, working cattle ranch. Throw in 1600-metre runs on virgin powder, a training course in cougar tracking, and a traditional cleansing ritual with a local Shaman and the experience goes from extreme to a completely unforgettable. The full itinerary and pricing is available at www.momentumadventure.com.

To Infinity and Beyond

Star Trek had it right…space is man’s final frontier. Space travel is the dream for every child and child at heart. Unfortunately, for most, it’s a dream that will have to stay that way. For others, astronauts and billionaires, entering orbit is a real possibility. Space Adventures reigns supreme in space tourism, but 2012 promises some stiff competition. In 2005, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic started taking reservations for their VIP space experience. (Going to space isn’t VIP enough?) Virgin Galactic promises that "the journey starts from the moment a deposit is paid, with membership to perhaps the world's most exclusive club and privileged access to all aspects of the project as it progresses.” With Virgin, passengers enjoy six minutes of weightlessness on a 2.5-hour, sub-orbital flight in SpaceShipTwo for a more budget-friendly $200,000 (ha!).

Scale the Seven Summits

There’s mountain climbing, and then there’s mountain climbing. Experience the world anew from atop the Seven Summits: Kilimanjaro, Denali, Everest, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Carstensz Pyramid and Vinson. Few have made it to the top of all seven and it takes more than just your average climber to make an attempt. Adventure Consultants offer a one-on-one training course with a skilled mountain guide. Based in New Zealand's Southern Alps or the European Alps, the course covers the skills required and emulates conditions climbers might encounter while on each of the mountains. After successful completion of the course, use Adventure Consultants to organize your expedition to each of the peaks. Prices and packages are available at www.adventureconsultants.com.

Explore the Poles

Skip the frozen daiquiri and explore the frozen tundra instead. Ice, snow, deadly predators, and bone chilling winds…that’s the Arctic and Antarctica in a nutshell. Why would anyone go? Well, what they lack in warmth and basic shelter, they make up for in breathtaking beauty and that ever-elusive "extreme factor." It can’t get more extreme than subzero temperatures and the possibility of snow blindness. Luckily, Momentum Adventure makes the Arctic slightly more hospitable with their Arctic Adventure package. Learn how to hunt and survive in the Arctic from the Sami people, manage a dog-sled team, see the Northern Lights and sleep in Momentum Adventure’s custom-made ice caves. Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent host their own adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. With Abercrombie & Kent, journey to the heart of Antarctica by dog-sled and skis…the same modes of transportation employed by world-renowned explorers and adventurers from the past.

Fast and Furious

No matter what you've seen in the movies, street racing is still very much against the law. However, there are plenty of completely-legal, adrenaline-inducing racing schools equipped to make speed-demon dreams a reality. Come close to breaking the sound barrier with the help of trained professionals. Global Racing Schools offer programmes for individuals or groups. With access to an extensive network in the motorsport industry, they can put you behind the wheel of almost anything. Packages range from a one-day course to training courses for the ultimate career change. Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School can show you how to race like a champion in your own car. Or, simulate the Nascar experience with the help of The Nascar Experience at tracks all over the United States. Price varies depending on the package.

Journey to the Bottom of the Ocean

It's been nearly 100 years since the Titanic sank to the bottom of the Atlantic, but the grandeur of the ship and the magnitude of the disaster still captivates the imagination. In fact, James Cameron made more than a billion dollars from that fascination. For a very pretty penny, you can explore the deck of the ill-fated ship for yourself with the help of The Great Canadian Adventure Company. The 11 to 13 day expedition begins and ends in St. John’s, Newfoundland. On dive day, a submersible descends the nearly 2.5 miles to the deck of the RMS Titanic.The Great Canadian Adventure Company plans to run at least one expedition in the summers of 2011 and 2012 (dates have not been finalised). Check out the prospective itinerary at adventures.com.

Swim with the Sharks

Oceans have been decidedly less crowded since Jaws hit theatres in 1974. For some thrill seekers, Jaws had the opposite effect. The film inspired a new generation of divers to up the ante. Get up close and not at all personal with the ocean’s most misunderstood inhabitants from the safety of underwater cages. Learn about the sharks and about measures to ensure their protection and conservation. Shark Diver offers several diving options, including great white diving in Isla Guadalupe, tiger shark expeditions in the Bahamas, and submarine missions to see prehistoric sixgill sharks in Roatan. There are number of diving companies to choose from in South Africa as well. White Shark Ecoadventures offers cage diving near Gansbaai in "Shark Alley." Shark Bookings also offers great white diving and other expedition packages.