The World’s 10 Most Gruelling Festivals

At number one, the most grueling festival takes place deep in the Karoo desert of South Africa. Thousands of people attend the week-long festival in the most basic and remote festival location. Festival or survival of the fittest? Cash serves no purpose as NOTHING is for sale. If you want even basic items like food and water you have to barter for it. Plus the weather goes from freezing to anything in the 40s. This is definitely as tough as they come. [Photo: AfrikaBurn 2012 Mirage/ Jonx Pillemer]

High up on the list is Sturgis Rally in South Dakota. Over 700,000 bikers head to the Black Hills every August for some old- fashioned rock and country music - so far, doesn’t sound so bad. However there is also some good old-fashioned brawling and body shots - ah, we may stay away from this one. [Photo: Motorcycle Lawyer]

With the cute name of ‘Snowglobe’ it’s hard to believe that it is the 3rd most hard-core festival. So whats so hard about it? As the name suggests the festival is freezing and is held in the -12C temperatures of South Lake Tahoe in Winter. Just why? [Photo: Visit Renotahoe]

This festival sounds harsh. Being six hours away from the nearest city and civilisation you really need to commit to the adventure of the festival in the black Rock Desert, Nevada. Don’t worry, men aren’t actually burnt however we can imagine scenes could get a little violent if someone didn’t prepare properly and runs out of the necessities of water and food on day two. [Photo: The Atlantic]

The festival set in Budapest, Hungary is one of the largest and longest festivals in Europe as it goes on for a mammoth seven days! We don’t quite know if we could be in the party mood for seven days straight. [Photo: Sziget Festival]

The annual festival is held in Norland country, Norway which in itself is a trek. You then have to take a ferry to Husoya where the festival is based. On the island the sun shines for 23 hours so good luck getting any sleep and we all know sleep deprivation isn’t fun. [Photo: Attendly]

Yes, our beloved Glasto comes in at number seven. We all know its a good time however we can all agree the British ‘summer’ weather of torrential rain and mud makes it a pretty dirty and gruelling experience. [Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images]

This is not a festival, this is a expedition. It’s two festivals, two countries and takes place within ten days. You start off in Serbia and then a few days later head to Montenegro to continue dancing on the seafront. [Photo: Exit]

This busy eight day festival in Denmark hosts 130,000 people - that’s A LOT of people. Also did we mention that there’s a naked run? Oh yep, there’s a naked run. [Photo: This Europe]

At number 10 comes Metal and Mosh pit filled Download. The British festival is definitely not one for the faint hearted and your ears could be ringing for weeks after. [Photo: Dave Etheridge-Barnes/Getty Images]