Looking for an adventure with an added element of danger? From high peaks and perilous pathways to boiling lakes and thundering waterfalls, some of the world's most beguiling attractions are also the deadliest. Here are some places that should be on every intrepid explorer’s wish list.

Deadly hot but drop-dead gorgeous, Death Valley National Park lures visitors with its surreal landscape of undulating sand dunes, rock-salt spires and salt flats.

The hottest and driest place in America, temperatures can hit 48°C (120°F) in summer so visit at your peril. Unsurprisingly there have been numerous heat-related fatalities in Death Valley, which was given its foreboding name by a group of pioneers who got lost in the remote wilderness in the 19th century. During August 2019 temperatures of above 120°F were recorded with USA Today reporting multiple deaths in the National Park, citing the extreme heat as the most likely cause. 

A collection of emerald pools, cascading waterfalls and craggy red gorges, Karijini National Park is the Australian outback at its most wild and beautiful. But beware, this remote part of Western Australia is prone to extreme weather including cyclones. The dangerous roads plus the lure of the cool water have also led to fatalities.

Flash floods, rockfalls and people losing their footing on slippery rocks have resulted in several deaths in Karijini too. Thankfully the enticing waters are crocodile-free as it’s too far inland for the predators – but you may find yourself coming close to a snake or two.

The gorge walk from Hancock to Weano Gorge – known as Miracle Mile – was once a test of endurance for Perth schoolboys and more recently a favourite backpacker challenge. Access to this precarious route through the gorges is now restricted but people can join canyoning tours down into the hidden crevices and rock pools.

The sacred Mount Huashan in the Shaanxi province has long been a place of pilgrimage thanks to its temples but modern visitors flock here for a thrill of a different kind – completing one of the world’s deadliest hikes.

A network of trails snake around the mountain, including steep stone steps. But it's the infamous Plank Path – narrow and rickety planks bolted onto the sheer mountainside around 5,000 feet (1,524m) in the sky – that is the most treacherous stretch.

Rising out of the thrashing Atlantic waters, Skellig Michael is a craggy isle off the coast of Kerry that was once the windswept home of hardy monks. It’s a tough climb up to see the ruins of the ancient monastery that perch near the top.

Roughly-hewn stone steps zig-zag steeply up the isle to the monastery. With no handrails and sheer drops, the route can be treacherous with some climbers having fallen to their death.

Majestic views across to Little Skellig – home to the world’s largest gannet colony – make the exhausting and knee-knocking ascent well worthwhile. Since it was used as a filming location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the intriguing isle has become even more popular.

From avalanches and rockfalls to potential encounters with mountain lions and grizzly bears, Canada’s stunning Rocky Mountains are fraught with danger. Of course this frisson of jeopardy is one of the reasons why they have become a year-round adventure playground.

Winter in the Rockies offers up numerous dangerous activities including ice climbing. The Weeping Wall, a series of waterfalls that cascade from Cirrus Mountain in Banff National Park, is one of Canada’s most famous icefalls. The thick ice sheets are a popular and perilous ice climbing location.

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It might look pretty, but beware: the snow-capped peak of Villarrica is one of South America’s most active volcanoes. Rising above the lake and town of the same name in southern Chile, it erupted as recently as 2015, spewing ash and lava high into the air and causing a mass evacuation in the area.

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Despite recent seismic activity, Villarrica remains popular with adventurers who climb the treacherous peak to peer at the cavernous steaming crater in its summit. Its slopes are also popular with daredevil skiers in winter.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most lauded sights. Millions of tourists flock here every year to drink in dramatic sea views, enjoy the abundant birdlife and peer across to the rocky Aran Islands on a clear day. The cliffs’ weathered expanse unfolds for five miles, reaching more than 700 feet (213m) at its highest point.

But with great height, comes great danger and the clifftop’s dramatic brink has caught explorers off guard before. More than 30 accidental deaths have occurred here since the early 1990s and in January 2019 a student fell to his death after taking selfies near the cliff's edge. Portions of the cliff are also liable to collapse, so it’s wise to heed those signs urging you to stay back. Not everywhere in Ireland is as dangerous as this, though - here are the country's highlights.

Looming above Yosemite National Park, Half Dome lures thousands of intrepid hikers every year determined to scale its curved summit. The 14-mile (22.5km) round trip to the top takes walkers into the wilderness and has a reputation for dangerous conditions – a hiker was killed in September 2019 after falling 500 feet (152m) while climbing. Rockfalls are also frequent and can be deadly. Not to mention Yosemite’s resident black bears.

Having avoided hazards along the route, many hikers are defeated by the final incredibly steep stretch of the Half Dome trek, which involves ascending the summit using steel cables.

At 8,800 feet (2,682m) above sea level, stamina and a head for heights are a must to conquer the peak. The successful hiker’s reward is the unparalleled views of the majestic Yosemite Valley below.

This teetering walkway clings to Málaga’s El Chorro gorge and is nicknamed the “Walkway of Death” for a reason. The path includes a rickety suspension bridge, straddling the gorge and soaring almost 350 feet (106m) above the waters below. The sheer thrill factor attracts adrenaline junkies from around the world.

Following upgrades completed in 2015 and new visitor restrictions, the walkway is much tamer (and safer) than it once was – but it still takes a lionhearted traveller to brave such heights. Not least because several hikers have plummeted to their deaths here over years, the most recent case involving a group of walkers in 2000.

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Mont Blanc is the loftiest peak in the Alps, and the snow-cloaked mountain is perfect for the daring hiker. It reaches around 15,780 feet (4,809m) and some 30,000 people come to tackle it annually. But despite its majesty, it’s regarded as one of the deadliest mountains in Europe.

Up to 100 people die each year as they attempt to scale towards the summit. The deaths have been related to treacherous terrain and changeable conditions, often paired with hikers’ lack of adequate kit.

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Seriously stunning landscapes and world-class hiking routes reward visitors to South Africa’s remote and often overlooked Drakensberg Mountains, including the infamous Drakensberg Traverse – an unmarked route that spans around 150 miles (240km).

The mystical mountains are aptly named: Drakensberg means "dragon mountains" in Afrikaans. They’re part of the Great Escarpment – the highest range in southern Africa – and characterised by rugged peaks, waterfalls, forests and caves with walls covered with ancient Sani rock art.

The Drakensberg Traverse has no set route or track but hikers must start at the Sentinel Car Park in the north and finish at Bushman’s Nek in the south. It takes in numerous steep peaks and is a tough route, suitable for experienced walkers.

Right at the top of the thunderous Victoria Falls, Devil's Pool is nature’s most precarious rock pool. Swimmers take the plunge at their own risk – one wrong move and they could plunge down into one of the world’s most dramatic waterfalls.

The pool is only accessible from mid-August to mid-January, depending on the Zambezi’s water levels. The sound might be deafening but you won’t get a more exhilarating outlook on the raging waters of the Victoria Falls. 

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New Zealand has danger appeal aplenty for adrenaline junkies but the 11-mile (18km) two-day Cascade Saddle Route is a true test of stamina. The gruelling trek, which crosses from the West Matukituki valley to the Dart Valley, rewards hardy hikers with spectacular alpine views.

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The route is prone to adverse weather and multiple deaths have occurred from falls and exposure. The slopes can be slippery year-round, but only the foolhardy would attempt the Cascade Saddle in the winter when the risk of avalanches is high.

The Blue Hole is a favourite dive site of daredevils looking to test their mettle. North of Dahab in Egypt’s Red Sea, the sinkhole drops down to depths of around 300 feet (91m) with a notorious horizontal tunnel known as the Arch.

The Red Sea is abundant with marine life that can be seen on shallow dives but many explorers are lured into the Blue Hole with its reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous dives. Most fatalities have occurred when divers have attempted to go through the Arch which leads from the sinkhole to open water.

This island group is in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait and, in 1883, its namesake volcano had one of the deadliest eruptions in history. The immense ash clouds and the powerful tsunamis created by the historic explosion killed around 36,000 people.

The strength of the eruption meant the original volcano largely collapsed. But some decades later, a new one was born from the crater – it’s known as Anak Krakatoa, or “Child of Krakatoa”. This volcano remains active and experts predict that, should the cone reach the size of its predecessor, it could present a similar level of danger. You're still able to visit the volcano on guided tours. 

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At 26,545 feet (8,091m) at its highest point, Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain on the planet. It may be overshadowed by its lofty neighbour Everest, but Annapurna is notoriously difficult to climb: it’s ranked as the world’s most deadly peak due to its high fatality rate.

Climbers attempting to reach Annapurna’s summit must push their physical and mental endurance to the limits on the punishing mountain where deadly snowstorms and avalanches are common.

Down in the foothills, scenic trails snake around the deadly mountain, passing peaceful temples, remote villages, and rhododendron forests.

Like your alpine views with a side of danger? The historic via ferratas in the Dolomites offer a dizzying range of high-altitude hiking and rock climbing routes through the risky terrain.

Meaning iron roads or ways, the via ferratas were built by troops in the First World War and criss-cross the mountains from Italy to Austria with a network of bridges, rungs, steps, tunnels and ladders.

The Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona, which runs along the ridge of Monte Cristallo, has the longest suspension bridge in the Dolomites. Don't look down if you don't have a head for heights...

The beaches of this French enclave in the Indian Ocean are exquisite and remarkably crowd-free, especially compared with glitzier neighbour Mauritius. Known for its epic waves and laid-back atmosphere, Réunion is also a surfing mecca for those in the know.

Unfortunately, it's also one of the most shark-infested spots in the world. In the past eight years it's believed there have been 24 attacks and 11 fatalities. Two deaths have occurred in 2019 so far when a fisherman was killed by a bull shark in January and a surfer died after losing his leg in May. Saint-Paul on the west coast has seen the most attacks with 19 since 1981, including a 15-year-old snorkeller who was killed just off the beach in 2013. It led to the government banning swimming and surfing at any beaches without shark nets.

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Plummeting down one of the world’s most dangerous roads on a bike may not be everyone’s idea of fun but North Yungas Road just near La Paz has become one of the world’s most thrilling mountain bike rides.

The extremely narrow road hugs the mountainside and winds through steep terrain. Thankfully a new road allows cars to bypass some of its most dangerous sections but cyclists can still risk their lives on them should they wish. 

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Riders are in for an exhilarating but bumpy 40-mile (64km) descent with sheer cliff drops just inches away. Don’t get distracted by the vertiginous views of the Amazon rainforest, whatever you do as it's believed 18 cyclists have died in recent times. 

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Known as "nature island" Dominica is one of the most unspoiled spots in the Caribbean. A strenuous but scenic hike through Dominica’s lush rainforest and into the Valley of Desolation (pictured here) will take you to see one of the island's most intriguing attractions – the so-called Boiling Lake.

Dominica's Boiling Lake is actually a flooded fumarole – a crack in the Earth’s crust – and has been known to drain entirely and for its water to suddenly cool. But when it’s at its hottest, the murky water spits and bubbles like a cauldron. It can spray out burning hot water, so it's best not to get too close.

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This ridiculously beautiful rock formation in western Norway is a magnet for selfie-taking hikers. At around 3,600 feet (1,097m) above sea level, the only way to get onto the precarious ledge, which overhangs Ringedalsvannet Lake, is via a demanding seven-mile (11km) hike each way.

Although tourists can stand (or sit) right on the edge of Trolltunga, it's at their own risk. Sadly, a woman slipped and fell to her death here in 2015 and visitors taking photos are advised to be mindful of the often strong winds that whip around this isolated spot. 

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Finally, while this isn't the most dangerous destination on our list, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge is certainly bound to get your adrenaline pumping. Located in Northern Ireland it's just 18 inches wide, so lose your footing and you might well be in for a fright. It's suspended 98 feet above the rocky coastline at the province's northern tip between two cliffs, 66 feet (20m) apart.