Travel Special: Skydives and sour toes

Active Skydiving instructor Scotty Milne said: "I used to be a chief instructor in the army, and when I left, I was told that if I did anything other than use my training for this, I'd be going the wrong way.

"Interest is increasing each year. It's a real growth industry. People have a lot of time and money and they're looking for adventure."

Scotty is a five-times British champion with 10,000 jumps under his belt, and he specialises in week-long residential courses in Florida and the Costa Brava. He can be contacted at scotty@activeskydiving.co.uk.

Trek America is also in the market for wild breaks, from gripping a Tarzan rope-swing across rivers in Peru to sea kayaking in Alaska.

The 10-day Cowboys and Indians Discovery trek features horseback riding in a ranch near Bryce Canyon.

Kylie Jenkins said: "Even families are doing this now. People want to see more than just a beach. You can cram so much into these holidays and see some really cool stuff."

For something a little off the beaten track, $1,000 gets you a 10-day introduction to Shamanic healing in Peru. The Infinite Light community is based at Jenaro Herrera and practises Ayahuasca plant medicine, designed to allow participants to "tap into divine wisdom". The programme includes five ceremonies, airport pickup, accommodation and food, and an optional jungle survival hike. Go to infinitelightperu.com.

If you're looking for something that will stick in your mind (if not your throat), travel to Dawson City, Yukon, for a Sourtoe Cocktail. The Gold Rush outpost offers poker and hiking, as well as an odd cocktail club set up in 1973.

To become a member, just consume any type of drink, as long as there's a dehydrated and salted human toe in it. Unlike the mezcal worm, no one's asking you to swallow it.