20 Amazing Travel Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List
Travel is not always about the destination. Around the world, there are hundreds of unique experiences to have and places to explore, and these twenty bucket list trips are less of a vacation, and more of an adventure. Get lost in desert dunes, jungle wilderness and ancient cities. Travel centuries-old paths to unknown cities. Absorb cultures unlike anything you know at home. With these experiences, your journeys will never be the same.
Explore a Lost City
Petra is one of the most legendary cities in the world. Inhabited as early as 7000 BC, Petra was left abandoned in the 4th century, not to be seen again until Westerners rediscovered it in 1812. Visiting Jordan, you can explore the “Rose City” by camel or even by candlelight and take in the magnificent scenery. Rounding canyons and gorges, you’ll have your very own Indiana Jones moment when you catch sight of the Treasury. The entire city was expertly carved into sandstone; keep wandering to see the Silk Tomb and Monastery for more marvels.
Sleep in the Sahara
There’s nothing quite like going to sleep knowing you’re the only human for miles. Most travelers venture out in the Moroccan Sahara, and it’s best to go with a Berber guide. Berbers are experts at navigating the deserts, and they can take you far from the tourist path. You can learn about their way of life, befriend a camel, and experience Berber hospitality in a desert camp, complete with a home cooked meal. To close it all off, you’ll have an unrivalled view of the night sky.
Hike to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is another lost city on the other side of the world. The Incan stronghold clings to the side of a mountain, and pairs stunning scenery with fascinating history. To get there, most visitors trek on the Inca Trail, a 26-mile path linking some of the best Inca sites in all of Peru. You can hike the trail in as little as three days, but it’s better to take it slow. Visiting other magnificent sites like Sayacmarca and summiting fog-shrouded mountains makes the Inca Trail more about the journey than the destination.
Look at the World’s Biggest Mirror
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is one of the world’s most unique landscapes. At 10,000 sq km, it’s Earth’s biggest salt falt. The land is so flat, it even throws off human depth perception, leading to visitors’ trademark silly photos. It’s best to get here just after it rains, when the plain is flooded. The flatness makes the water reflect everything. At sunset, the entire world turns purple and orange, and at night, you’ll see endless stars in every direction. It’s truly like nothing else on Earth.
Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway
There’s no train journey that quite rivals the Trans-Siberian. Running 9,289km from Moscow to the edge of Russia in Vladivostok, travelers have a chance to see parts of the country tourists rarely see. Explore destinations like Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, visit Buddhist monasteries at Ulan-Ude, and visit Siberian metropoli like Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, as well as villages like Tomsk and Yaroslavl. No matter which stops you choose, the Trans-Siberian has endless adventures.
Bungee Jump in New Zealand
New Zealand is the extreme sports capital of the world. And what better place to go bungee jumping than the place that invented it? New Zealand has several amazing bungee spots, most of which are near the city of Queenstown. Get your adrenaline pumping at Nevis Canyon, the third-highest jump in the world, get wet in the river at Kawarau Bridge, or jump with a city view at The Ledge. Pick just one or all three, but you’ll never forget hurling yourself off a platform surrounded by the beautiful New Zealand scenery.
Relax Hungarian-Style
Budapest is known as a vibrant, youthful party town, but there’s also another, more relaxing side of the city to experience. Budapest sits on a series of hot springs, which have sprung up into numerous historic bathhouses. The most popular is Szechenyi, with over 18 baths and 10 saunas, and the Gellert Baths, with its art-nouveau labyrinth of thermal pools. Both also offer massage and spa treatments, so you can spend the day winding down after a night of partying. Plus, you’ll get a unique taste of Hungarian culture while you’re at it.
Trek to Everest Base Camp
The trek to Everest Base Camp might not get you to the top of the world, but it’ll get you closer than many ever will. The journey starts with a bang as you take the world’s scariest flight into mountain-shrouded Lukla airport. The next two to three weeks is like trekking through another world. You’ll hop between trekkers’ villages, pass colorful stupas and prayer flags, and take in sweeping views of the Himalayan scenery. Whether you’re an avid trekker or not, the Everest Base Camp journey is a true bucket list experience.
Celebrate Oktoberfest
No one knows beer like the Bavarians. Every year in late September, the city of Munich erupts in a frenzy of joyous drinking, singing, and celebrating. Be one of the several million visitors and wander along the Theresienwiese’s 34 beer gardens and tents and toast with Bavarian students and dignitaries alike. Other not-to-miss events are the costume and brewery parades, and the mayor’s tapping of the beer barrel. So, put on the traditional attire, take a seat (pretzel and beer in hand), and experience Bavarian camaraderie at its finest.
Get a Bird’s-eye-view of Cappadocia
The unique landscape in Cappadocia, Turkey is best experienced from above. The world’s number-one spot for hot air balloon rides, travelers fly up with over 100 balloons for sunrise over the volcanic landscape. The journey takes you as high as 800 meters, and down face-to-face with the area’s famed “fairy chimneys”. Once you’re back on solid ground, spend the day exploring on foot. Cappadocia’s one-of-a-kind scenery stretches underground, too, and you can explore carved-out homes and underground cities.
See the Northern Lights
In terms of natural phenomena, the Northern Lights can’t be beat. Visible from several countries, the best spots for viewing are in Alaska and northern Canada, or Scandinavia.
View from Rovaniemi, Finland with a side of sleigh rides and Christmas cheer, or head to Abisko National Park in Sweden, where you can stay in the famous ICEHOTEL. Stateside, Denali National Park, is a popular spot, as is Yellowknife, Canada. Each destination has its own charms, but all of them give you a chance to see those unforgettable dancing green lights.
Experience the Galápagos
Nowhere on Earth has such unique wildlife than the Galápagos Islands. Located 1,000km off the Pacific coast of Ecuador, the isolation has spawned some of nature’s most fascinating creatures. You’ll have to visit via a cruise, but that also means you’ll have expert guides taking you all around the islands.
You’ll get to hang out on the beach with giant tortoises and penguins, dive with sea lions, and see what happens when nature is left completely alone.
Safari in the Maasai Mara
No bucket list is complete without a safari adventure. Africa is full of worthy destinations, and its varied landscapes always offer something new. Unlike other national parks in Africa, the Maasai Mara belongs to the Maasai tribe, so visiting here won’t just get you close to wildlife, you’ll also see a thriving traditional community.
There’s no shortage of species here; safaris take you up close to “Big Five” (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo), as well as giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, hippos and wildebeest.
Taste Tuscan Wine
One thing is for sure: Italians know how to have a wine tasting experience. Tuscany is Italy’s most famous wine region, and it’s set over miles of golden rolling hills. Not far from the cultural capital of Florence, the Val d’Orcia connects villages, vineyards and villas.
One of the best ways to experience Tuscany is by renting a car or scooter and exploring on your own. Stay out of town in one of the many nearby villas, and visit the dozens of vineyards on the path from Montalcino to Montepulciano. It’ll be a journey full of great wine, cheese, and Italian hospitality.
Walk the Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is one of most expansive and legendary man-made structures, stretching thousands of kilometers through nine Chinese provinces. Most tourists visit through Beijing, but if you really want to get the Great Wall experience, go further afield to avoid the crowds. Other sections include the historical villages in Simatai and Xingcheng, Shanhaiguan, where the wall meets the sea, or Huangyaguan intact towers. While a trek across the entire wall isn’t very realistic (it would take at least 18 months), it’s definitely worth it to stop in at a few of the Wall’s most intriguing outposts.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
No diver can resist the call of the largest barrier reef in the world. The entire system takes up 344,400 sq km of the Queensland coast, and has one of the most diverse displays of marine life. To explore the reef, many opt for day tours, but to really get deep into the reef, stay overnight. It may be a splurge, but staying at an eco-resort lessens your impact on the reef, which is already suffering from mass tourism and global warming. Plus, you’ll be staying on the reef itself, providing direct access to diving, snorkeling and relaxing on the beach.
Explore the Amazon
The Amazon is the world’s largest untamed wilderness, taking up 40% of the South American landmass, and reaching across nine countries. It’s really only possible to visit by tour, and it’s worth finding one with local guides. Many of these guides grew up in the Amazon, so they can not only take you to fascinating wildlife and junglescapes, but also introduce you to local villages, customs and people. Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are the most popular tourist spots, and you can find a wide array of accommodations, from luxury lodges to jungle tents. Regardless of your style, exploring the wonders of the Amazon is unforgettable.
Follow the Silk Road
Back before the modern age, the Silk Road is what made the world go round, sending Asian silks and spices thousands of miles away to Europe. Today, these trade networks are recognized by UNESCO as a collection of cities and outposts running from Xi’an, China, all the way to Istanbul. For the best journey, begin in China’s westernmost city, Kashgar, and head into Central Asia. These countries are still largely unexplored by tourists, and ancient cities like Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan ring with color and evocative charm. Further along, routes like the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan give way to starkly beautiful landscapes, completely unique to the region.
Cross Perito Moreno Glacier
Between the towering peaks of Patagonia lies the massive Perito Moreno Glacier. It’s nature at it’s finest, the crackling glacier lies on a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, with a turquoise-blue lake at its foreground. There’s plenty of hiking and kayaking in the area, but for a completely unique experience, go ice-trekking. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart; it’s incredibly demanding, not to mention adrenaline-pumping. Perito Moreno is the world’s fastest moving glacier, so no trip out on the ice will be the same.
Cruise the Nile
A Nile cruise is an absolute must for history-lovers, but it’s really the experience of a lifetime for anybody. Starting in Aswan, all of the best Egyptian ruins lie within throwing distance of the Nile. Traveling up the river, you’ll see the temples of Luxor, Kom Ombo and Edfu, before reaching the metropolis of Cairo and the Giza pyramids. For the best comfort, take a dahabiya cruise, or for the more adventurous, rough it in a felucca. Nothing will beat cruising down this ancient river, escorted by river crocs and millenia-old ruins.
Whether journeying by boat, train, or foot, these experiences will take you to places you could never imagine. Even in today’s world, you can still find the extremes of the Earth, and have adventures stranger than fiction. No matter which road you decide to travel, with these twenty experiences, you won’t soon forget. Have you participated in one of these experiences? Do you have another idea you think should be on the list? Let us know in the comments.