There are many unique things worth experiencing at least once, and a polar plunge is one of them. This thrilling activity is not only thrilling but also beneficial to one’s mental and physical health. Those few seconds inside the chilling water may feel like several needle piercings at first, but when one gets out, there will be a rush of energy throughout the body. Doing it two or three more times is even more effective. It might be freezing there, but these destinations around the world are the perfect stages for an exciting polar plunge.

10 Antarctica

There are many unique things to do in Antarctica, but a Polar plunge is a great way to start, and there are also no shortages of places to engage in this exciting activity on the continent. With some of the coldest temperatures in the world, this white continent is an amazing place to experience some of the chilliest dips. Most voyages in Antarctica include this adventure in their itinerary as it is one of the best things to do in the region.

9 Canada

Canada is an extremely cold country that experiences temperatures as low as -40ºC accompanied by the chilling wind. This makes it one of the few places on earth to experience an extreme polar plunge. Nunavut is a popular place for this adventure in Canada as it is endowed with lots of chilling water bodies.

Related: Top 10 Viator-Awarded Experiences In Canada For 2022

8 Yakutsk, Siberia

With temperatures falling as low as -60ºC, the coldest city in the world is not a place to stay out for too long as one can literally freeze to death. But while simply staying outside in Yakutsk for just a few minutes is extremely dangerous, here’s one more extreme thing to do in this city - a polar plunge. To get a suitable spot for a polar plunge, a hole first has to be dug on a frozen lake until water is found. This will then serve as the spot for the polar plunge. However, this extreme activity should only be carried out by professionals as it is extremely dangerous.

7 Australia

Australia is always involved when it comes to extreme adventures, and when it comes to a polar plunge, there are lots of places around the country to engage in this adventure. The Derwent River is particularly popular for this activity due to its freezing water temperature during winter.

6 New Zealand

Polar plunges are held all over New Zealand during winter, which lasts from June to September. Omanu beach is one of the places to enjoy this activity, but one can also enjoy it on other beaches across the country. A polar plunge in New Zealand is also a super cooling activity for those who wish to escape the burning heat of summer in many parts of the world.

5 Norway

Nordic countries around the world have been known for their love for ice swimming for centuries, and Norway is a good country to enjoy this activity, while Svalbard is one of the best places to take the plunge in the country. Cruises in Svalbard during winter include polar plunges in the waters, which can go as low as -6ºC.

Related: 10 Unique & Interesting Things That Can Only Be Found In Norway

4 Iceland

Hot springs are not the only water-related activities to experience in Iceland. There’s also fishing and cruising and the chilly polar bear plunge. This activity is also beneficial to the body, like a dip in hot springs, just that it’s not so cozy as it involves dipping one’s bare skin into the water, which can have temperatures as low as 3ºC. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon - the deepest lake in Iceland, is one of the popular places in the country to engage in a polar plunge.

3 United States

The United States is one of the countries around the world with a strong love for the polar bear plunge. Here, it is even more than a mere activity as it has been transformed into a nationwide event that even has a day dedicated to it. January 1st is the national polar plunge day in the United States, but one can engage in this activity at any time in winter. Some of the coldest places to engage in a polar plunge in the United States include - Maryland, North Dakota, and Alaska.

2 The Netherlands

The temperature in the Netherlands may be freezing during winter, but it does not deter adrenaline seekers from taking a polar bear plunge every New Year's Day. Like many other polar bear hot spots around the world, this activity is done in the Netherlands for fundraising as well as for leisure. On January 1st, every year, thousands of people gather in different parts of the country to run at the same time into the freezing water and run out again. There are hundreds of venues to engage in this activity across the country, but the beach of Scheveningen is not to be missed as it hosts the largest population of polar plunge participants in the Netherlands.

1 The United Kingdom

The polar bear plunge is a popular winter activity in the UK, but unlike in other countries, it is held on different dates throughout winter at different swimming areas across the region. Dates to catch the biggest polar plunges in the UK include Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year. The Isle of Man is one of the popular destinations for a polar plunge in the UK.