10 great places to unleash your inner Indy

— -- With the latest installment of Indiana Jones flicks — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull —in theaters, this might be a good time to up your adventure ante. Just try to avoid dangling above snake pits and being chased by boulders. National Geographic's Boyd Matson, host of Wild Chronicles on public television and National Geographic Weekend on public radio, shares his favorite intrepid getaways with USA TODAY's Rebecca Heslin.

Mount Everest Tibet and Nepal

To really flex your explorer muscles, Matson suggests a trek to the Mount Everest base camp, about 17,000 feet up the 29,000-foot mountain on the Tibetan side. Or if climbing isn't your cup of tea, you may be more comfortable sipping something warm at the Rum Doodle Bar in Kathmandu, Nepal, in the shadow of the monster mountain. "The ceiling is covered with banners and T-shirts signed by trekkers, but behind the bar is a board reserved for the signatures of those who have made it to the top" of Everest, Matson says. visitnepal.com; therumdoodle.com

Djemaa el-Fna Square Marrakech, Morocco

For a scene that could be plucked straight out of the new film, Matson suggests checking out the palaces, mosques and Djemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakech. "This is the place I expect to see that big guy swinging the sword at Harrison Ford in the first movie come striding through the crowd," he says. "To up the adventure component, head into the Atlas Mountains for a little 4-by-4 travel and then spend a night in a traditional Berber tented camp in the desert." visitmorocco.org

Petra Jordan

"Hike or ride donkey-drawn carts through a slot canyon to arrive at this ancient city carved out of the sandstone cliffs," Matson says. "Petra offers the chance to hook up with nomadic tribesmen and do either a one-day or multi-day camel safari in the desert." Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this once-vibrant Nabataean city was an oasis where Greeks, Romans and Arabs met for caravan trading. visitjordan.com

Valley of the Whales Wadi al-Hitan, Egypt

From the tomb of Tutankhamen to the Pyramids, Egypt is filled with mystical quests. But Matson suggests heading off the beaten trail for Wadi al-Hitan, the Valley of the Whales. "You can hike around a small area in the desert that was once under the sea and is now filled with the fossils of prehistoric whales," he says. egypt.travel

Cloud Forest Monteverde, Costa Rica

Hike through Cloud Forest and see the rain forest as the birds do while you glide along a series of zip lines strung through the canopy. "You're strapped into a harness and then clipped onto a pulley system attached to a cable," Matson says. "You can easily imagine yourself making a daring escape while being chased by some lost tribe firing arrows at you." monteverdeinfo.com

Anasazi ruins Colorado and New Mexico

"A visit to Anasazi ruins is like an Indiana Jones expedition in search of a lost civilization that mysteriously disappeared," Matson says. "Start in Durango, Colo., with a visit to the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, then drive down to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico." Explore the trails, climb over the boulders and play archaeologist here. nps.gov/meve; nps.gov/chcu

Machu Picchu Agua Caliente, Peru

Gain some explorer creds by hiking the Inca Trail through the Andes Mountains to Machu Picchu, about 8,000 feet above sea level. With a guide, the trek can take four days. For a less-treacherous experience, take a train through the Sacred Valley to get a taste of the Lost City of the Incas. "You'll be amazed how anyone could build such a place in a relatively short period of time without the arch, the wheel or the written word," Matson says. Top off your trip with a "hike up the steep peak that overlooks Machu Picchu, where you'll discover other ruins." peru.info/perueng.asp

Sepic River Papua New Guinea

"Visiting Papua New Guinea can be like stepping into a time machine," Matson warns. It's easy to fancy yourself an explorer of medieval ruins when surrounded by men still carrying spears and bows and arrows with elaborately painted faces. "Travel up the Sepic River in a dugout canoe and visit the villages along the way," he says. "You just know there must be a crystal skull hidden somewhere in these jungles that are the home of former head hunters." www.pngtourism.org.pg

Jungle trek Bumthang, Bhutan

"This place offers amazing trekking opportunities through jungles in a mountain kingdom," Matson says. Wind through meadows and valleys, then meander through a mixed forest of bamboo and magnolia. Vacationers beware: This trek is not for the faint of heart. Himalayan bear have a high population here, so it's best to stick with guided tours. bhutanvisit.com

ATM Cave Belize

For the ultimate archaeological experience, Matson recommends the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave for skeletal remains aplenty. "Just like in Indiana Jones, all the artifacts are still in place," he says. Grab a guide for the one-hour drive from San Ignacio, Belize, then hike the remaining distance for another hour. "There is a place to break and swim and swing off jungle vines," Matson says. "Arriving at the entrance to the cave, you discover a deep pool of water — so the only way in is to swim." travelbelize.org