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Edge Walk, Dubai, UAE
Hands-free … Dubai’s highest open-air sky walk.Credit: Dubai Tourism
Dubai has lots of skyscrapers, but only Sky Views allows you on the outside for a ledge walk 219.5 metres above the ground. And yes, you can lean over the barrier-free edge of the walkway for the obligatory photo. More unnerving is the Sky Slide between levels 53 and 52. At 12 metres, the slide through a transparent tube is short, but your momentum and the drop below makes you feel as if you’re falling. See skyviewsdubai.com
SkyPoint Climb, Surfers Paradise, Australia
Australia’s tallest building features a dizzying external climbing platform 270 metres above sea level.Credit: Destination Gold Coast
The landmark Q1 Tower is Australia’s tallest building (322.5 metres) if you include its spire. Not surprisingly, it offers our highest external climb, too. This ascent is made on steps that lead up the seemingly fragile crown of the building to a viewing platform lodged at its apex, 270 metres up. The descent is scarier than the ascent, given you’re looking 77 floors straight down. You can also do the climb at night. See skypoint.com.au
CopenHill, Copenhagen, Denmark
Climb … or ski? Copenhagen’s Copenhill.Credit: Copen Hill
Here’s something different: the world’s tallest climbing wall (85 metres) on the exterior of the Amager Bakke waste incinerator plant. As well as artificial outcrops, the climb makes use of building features such as ridges and roofs, and skirts around windows. You have to be an experienced climber, however you can also ascend the building on hiking trails – and ski on artificial grass down its sloping roof, which has four ski lifts. See copenhill.dk
SCAD Freefall, Soweto, South Africa
Plunge into a giant safety net at SCAD Freefall.Credit: Soweto Towers
You aren’t outside but inside the huge cooling tower of a decommissioned power station here, so scream and you’ll hear it echo. This is the world’s highest SCAD freefall (70 metres), which means you aren’t attached to a cord but are dropped from a metal cage into a giant safety net below, rather like those you see below trapeze artists. You can also bungee jump, BASE jump and rap jump at Soweto Towers. See sowetotowers.co.za
Sky Jump, Las Vegas, USA
A 253-metre plunge at Sky Jump in Las Vegas.Credit: Golden Entertainment
A vertical cable ensures you don’t get blown into The Strat building in what’s otherwise a freefall (though you only reach a third of terminal velocity) from the 108-floor observation deck. Your protective jumpsuit is more to make you look silly than save you. You face a 253-metre plunge and, just when you think you’re going to be splattered on the landing pad, you’re decelerated and deposited gently down as if saved by Superman. See thestrat.com
EdgeWalk, Toronto, Canada
One of the world’s highest external walks at CN Tower, Toronto.Credit: Destination Ontario
If the indoor Glass Floor isn’t enough, then get yourself to level 116 of CN Tower for one of the world’s highest external walks, which takes you on an open metal mesh right around the building on a 30-minute ordeal.
The culminating challenge is being invited to lean over – frontwards, after an initial backward lean for wimps – attached only to your harness. It’s 356 metres to the ground, or a bit less if your knees buckle. See cntower.ca
Edge The Harukas, Osaka, Japan
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You’ll only get 15 minutes on the 60-centimetre-wide ledge atop Abeno Harukas, which isn’t long enough to still your thumping heart. You’re 300 metres up on Japan’s second-tallest building. The experience isn’t as hairy as some, since a glass railing separates you from emptiness, although you still wear a harness. The platform is short rather than circumnavigating the building. A less challenging alternative is stepping out on the rooftop helipad. See abenoharukas-300.jp