That desire is showcased at its breathtaking best in Lonely Planet's thrilling new full-colour hardback, Great Adventures, published this month.

Following in the footsteps of last year's best-selling Great Journeys, Great Adventures introduces classic challenges, takes you by boot, pedal or paddle to awe-inspiring natural spectacles, and provides the resources to plan your own trip of a lifetime.

Underwater chasms, ice-clad peaks and crocodile-infested rivers are just some of the highlights as Lonely Planet tours 75 of the world's most exciting adventures.

Great Adventures assembles these experiences thematically, with chapters devoted to:

* Hike – Tramp New Zealand's Milford Track; Summit a Nepalese Trekking Peak; Walk Turkey's Lycian Way; Trek Chile's Torres del Paine; Find the Source of the Oxus; Take on the Tour du Mont Blanc; and more

* Dive - Dive Bikini Atoll; Dive with Sharks in South Africa; Dive Iceland's Tectonic Plates; and more

* Bike – Mountain Bike Moab's Slickrock Trail; Cycle Through Vietnam; Mountain Bike Coed y Brenin; Cycle the Annapurna Circuit; Ride the Tour de France's High Passes; and more

* Above & Below – Canyoneer Utah's Paria Canyon; Paraglide Mont Blanc; Plunge into the Caves of Belize; and more

* Climb – Climb the Nose of El Capitan; Climb Mt Roraima, Venezuela; Climb Mt Everest; Take the Three Peaks Challenge; Summit Mt Kilimanjaro; and more

* Ice & Snow – Ice Trek Argentina's Moreno Glacier; Ice Climb at Banff; Ski Tour the Haute Route; and more

* Animals – See Pandas in China; Walk with Wolves in Yellowstone; Track Mountain Gorillas in Uganda; Wash Elephants in Thailand; Explore Kruger's Wilderness Trails; Ride with the Khampas; Camel Trek in Wadi Rum

* Water – White-water Sledge in New Zealand; Windsurf the Columbia River Gorge; Row the Thames; Kayak and Cruise Antarctica; Raft the Amazon; Coasteering in Pembrokeshire; Sail Croatia's Dalmatian Coast; Raft the Source of the Nile; and more

* Drive – Race a Rickshaw; Drive the World's Deadliest Road; Race the Plymouth–Banjul Rally; and more

Great Adventures also features an introduction by Ben Fogle, presenter of BBC Knowledge's five-part television series, Lonely Planet's Year of Adventures.

Lonely Planet's Great Adventures
Available in stores now
RRP: AU$49.99 / NZ$59.99

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/press/2012/11/14/published-this-month-great-adventures-from-lonely-planet/#ixzz2CE910i8b