Chris Hemsworth has revealed the terrifying moment he feared for his safety after his family's dream holiday took a frightening turn during a lightning-filled plane ride over Costa Rica.

The Australian actor, 42, shared dramatic footage from what he described as a 'life-threatening plane ride' in a new five-minute YouTube vlog.

The shock footage shows his small aircraft buffeted by wild weather as lightning flashes alarmingly close outside the windows.

At one point, the Thor star appeared to mouth, 'What the f**k,' as the plane jolted through the storm, making for one of the most dramatic moments of the family's action-packed getaway.

The hair-raising flight was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled experiences Chris, his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children embraced during their recent Costa Rica escape, which also included cliff diving, rock climbing, surfing and deep-sea fishing.

Despite the frightening ordeal, Chris later declared it was 'one of the best trips we've ever had.'

The adrenaline-fuelled clip follows Chris, Elsa and their children – India, 14, and 12-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan – as they embrace a string of high-octane activities.

Chris couldn't hide his pride as he watched his children fearlessly tackle the extreme challenges.

'My kids continue to crush all the extreme, adrenaline-pumping activities, no matter where we are,' the proud father said.

Elsewhere, the family's adventurous streak continued as sons Sasha and Tristan leapt from towering cliffs into the ocean below, while daughter India tackled a steep rock face at sunset.

In another playful moment, Elsa, 50, caught her husband off guard by shoving him into the water as their children prepared to cliff dive nearby. 

Chris later revealed the video was simply 'a few of the highlights from my camera roll.'

'Hope you enjoy it, and maybe it inspires you to get out there and make some memories with the people you love,' he told fans.

'Thanks for coming along.' 

The tropical family escape came before Chris began filming Extraction 3, the third instalment of his hit Netflix action franchise, on the New South Wales South Coast earlier this month.

When they're not travelling the world or working on blockbuster films, the Hemsworths call Byron Bay home.

The couple tied the knot in 2010, just three months after being introduced by their agents, and have since become one of Hollywood's most enduring marriages.

Speaking recently on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, Chris revealed the secret to their lasting relationship, saying 'having an adventurous spirit and making time for one another' was key, while also crediting 'fun' for keeping their marriage strong.