Are you, too, hooked on bungee jumping? And are you by any chance planning on spending some time in Greece this summer?
So many people go to Greece and the Greek Islands for their summer vac thinking of blue skies, white buildings, blue blue seas, wonderful beaches, great food, Zorba’s Dance… hmm, I could go on for ever, but the thought of an extreme sport at the same time might not have occurred to you. However, it might interest you to know that the second highest bridge-bungy jump in Europe is also here… The Liquid Bungy Jump off the Aradaina Bridge, Sfakia, 85 km south west of Chania (or Hania), Crete.
As a sport for exilarating emotions, bungy (or bungee) jumping has acquired its own fans in Greece. It only became known a few years ago as among others, there are not enough high buildings or large bridges to attract jumpers who want to create their own personal record.
However, the desire of many young persons to live this unique feeling caused by jumping into the void was the motivating force for the creation of specialised companies that train people in bungy jumping. The areas where people jump from are closely linked to bridges, especially those at the Isthmus in Corinth and at Chalkis.
A characteristic of these companies is their professionalism and their attention to detail, while the prices they charge the public make this sport available to just about everyone.Every day during the summer months, as well as on every weekend during the other months of the year, hundreds of people take their first jump under the careful eyes of a professional team, from modern bungy platforms that conform to strict safety standards certified by international organizations.
“You have the best bungee site in the world, my friend!”
comment from a jump master at AJ Hackett’s (the founder of bungee jumping) group
138m of high octane adrenaline
This old military bridge is the highest one in Greece and the Balkans and links the edges of a wild canyon. Liquid Bungy operated for the first time in Greece in 1999 and since 2004 on the Aradaina Bridge, but please note that it is only open during the summer months and weekends only. Pretty long opening hours though – from 12 a.m. to dawn! But if you can put your own group together of a minimum of 10 people you can arrange to jump whenever you want – during the summer. By September this jump will be closed again…
Liquid bungee follows the “Bungee Jumping Code of Practice” and it is internationally recognised in its field for 100% safe jumping and the standard of material used.
Neil, perhaps you can try this one out for us one day and let us know how it compares…
As extreme sports go, bungee jumping is fairly addictive!
And whilst you’re in Crete, why stop at bungee jumping? You can also try out other extreme sports like scuba diving, sea kayaking, windsurfing, kitesurfing… to name but a few. Or you could just hang out in Crete’s most evocative city – Hania.
Hania has had a turbulent past which has left it with few impressive monuments, but she wears her scars proudly. Dating back to the Minoan days, Hania is Crete’s most beautiful city. Even during the height of the tourist season when tat fills the shops, she retains the exoticism of a city caught between the East and the West. Great restaurants too.
