The original: Diving with sharks

The alternative: Run with sardines

What’s better than the fear of giant gnashers? The overwhelming swirl and madness of sardines, that’s what. In one of the largest animal migrations in the world, these sardines form densely-packed schools that number in the millions. The sheer scale is unfathomable until seen and schools can stretch for 30 kilometres. From the air, the sardines look like an oil spill seeping every which way. 

It’s not just the sardines you’ll see either. Sharks may also be on the menu, as well as seabirds, dolphins and orcas who are lured in to feast on the tiny fish. Their predation is a vision of the circle of life with the larger marine life rounding the sardines up into bait balls while the birds take advantage of the situation as the fish rise to the water’s surface.

The place to try it is on South Africa’s Wild Coast, departing from Durban. The winter months of June and July are the best time of year too.

The original: Climb Mt Everest

The alternative: Climb Mera Peak

If you’re not quite up to the death-defying challenge of climbing Mt Everest, but want to achieve more than Everest base camp, climbing Mera Peak is your answer.

Still in the Himalayas, still a challenge and with a view of Everest to bowl you over, Mera Peak is no molehill, rising to 6476 metres. 

This is the heart of sherpa territory and while sherpas are associated with assisting treks, the term actually describes the Tibetan ethnic group found in this region.

Sherpas are conditioned for high altitudes and this genetic advantage allows them to tackle the climbs with ease. There is less technical nous required to climb this peak than Everest as it has fewer crevasses. You’ll spend one night at a camp 5800 metres high before striking out for the summit.

The original: Cycle through the Alps

The alternative: Tackle the Tour de France

Even if you’re not a cyclist, you’ll know the level of prestige that the Tour de France commands.

The first option is to complete the length of the course, which will require roughly 3500 kilometres of pedal power. The alternative is to take on the most testing stretches of the road race. After all, the high passes are where champions excel and amateurs aspire to ascend.

For time-poor but capable cyclists, the high passes of Col du Galibier, Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux and Alp D’Huez all present ample opportunities for a calf-flexing endurance ride.

These stretches are so steep they defy typical cycling classification. The average gradient of all four starts at 7% and rises to 8.1%. It mightn’t sound like much, but once you start pedalling you’ll probably reassess that notion.

The original: Dive the Maldives 

The alternative: Dive Sipadan Island

Malaysian Borneo is lauded for its eco-credentials and abundance of wildlife. The thing is, it’s more often recognised for its jungle, when in reality its coastline and reefs are just as dramatic and varied.

The islands off the coast of Sabah, such as Sipadan and Mabul, are all palm trees, white sand and translucent water. They are tightly controlled reserves as well, with just 120 divers permitted to explore the underwater terrain each day. Expect a real-life aquarium filled with nature’s colourful treasures. Even legendary diver and filmmaker Jacques Costeau compared Sipadan’s diving to the reefs of 45 years before. “We have found an untouched piece of art,” he said. 

The original: Swim with whale sharks

The alternative: Swim with manta rays

Both these marine animals have similar attributes. Whale sharks are the placid giants of the oceans and manta rays are the silent and graceful gliders. 

You can head to Ticao Island in the Philippines to swim with manta rays and bear witness to a biological phenomenon. Off the island, there is a so-called manta bowl and for six months of the year the rays come in for a good clean. Cleaner wrasse wait in this area and preen the rays of their parasite hangers-on. 

While this is an alternative to seeing whale sharks, you will still be able to see these creatures at Donsol during this time, due to the concentration of plankton, giving you two experiences for the price of one.

The original: Hot air balloon over Siem Reap in Cambodia 

The alternative: Hot air balloon over Bagan in Burma

Ballooning over the temples of Bagan is an ethereal experience. There are 2000 intricate pagodas that vary in size, scale and design. Some have crumbled to ruins, while others are frequented by religious devotees. From the air, however, the archaeological condition does not impact on the overwhelming impression. 

Dating back to the ninth century, these Buddhist monuments pay homage to the historic ruler King Anawratha. The ballooning season runs from October to March and companies operate sunrise and afternoon flights. If you’re lucky, a misty morning is one of the most enchanting ways to see Bagan.