Everyone’s idea of the perfect vacation is different. Some people spend their lives wistfully thinking about what they would do if they won enough money to indulge in an around-the-world cruise. On the other hand, others look for ways to achieve their ambitions of backpacking across Europe with nothing but a windproof travel umbrella and an extra pair of socks.
However, just because your ideal trip is likely to differ from your best friend or neighbor’s – doesn’t mean that there aren’t some universal experiences out there that everyone should at least try to get a taste of. Following, we’ll cover some of the most amazing travel experiences to have, so that you can begin building the ideal vacation bucket list.
Feel free to use this to inspire your list, or add your own suggestions in the comments below.
1. See the Northern Lights
Stunning, romantic, and wonderfully mystical – the northern lights are one of the most beautiful displays ever created entirely by nature. A mysterious, yet stunning show of multicolored lights which illuminates the sky with an incredible swirling, dancing glow – the Northern Lights are, in one word – breathtaking.
Although somewhat elusive, the northern lights are absolutely something that you should consider placing on your vacation bucket list. It doesn’t matter where you go to find your perfect view – but remember that this phenomenon typically occurs in the Arctic region. Chances are, you’re going to need to do some research if you want to see it at its best and brightest.
2. Trek Through Machu Picchu
From icy locations where you might be left clutching your windproof travel umbrella – to something a little warmer. Machu Picchu is an incredibly well-known tourist destination and another must for your vacation bucket list. There is no other Southern American archeological site that comes even close to this location’s experience.
Keep in mind that Machu Picchu has seen a significant boost in popularity over the recent years, so you might need to think carefully about when you’re going to go and avoid the crowds. However, with the right approach and some careful planning, you’re sure to be enchanted by what you find. Just remember that you’re going to do some serious walking here, so the right apparel and travel accessories are essential. Good hiking shoes and plenty of breathable clothing is a must.
3. Watch the Great Migration of the Serengeti
If you’re a lover of “The Lion King” then you’ll probably appreciate this suggestion. No matter how many times you’re lucky enough to see the Serengeti – the magic of this place never seems to fade. Wild and beautiful, the location is so vast that it leaves you feeling as though you could explore forever and never quite see it all.
If you need another reason why this is one of the most important travel experiences to have – how about the fact that when the UN delegates met in 1972 to choose World Heritage sites – this place was at the top of the list. Today, the Serengeti is one of the most famous national parks in the world – renowned for it’s incredible “great migration“.
4. Dive into the Great Barrier Reef
From one form of wildlife to something entirely different – the Australian Great Barrier Reef is a place that is simply impossible to ignore for those constructing the ideal vacation bucket list. Considered to be a wonder of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches for 1,430 miles across the Queensland Coast, all the way from the Torres Strait to Bundaberg.
Not only is this the world’s biggest ecosystem for coral – it’s also the largest protected marine area in the world – supporting 400 different species of coral, alongside 4,000 types of mollusk, and 1,500 species of fish. Alongside a color wheel of tropical fish, the Great Barrier Reef is also home to turtles, whales, dugongs, dolphins, reef sharks, and various birds too. According to the news lately, it’s important to plan your trip to the Great Barrier Reef soon if you don’t want to miss your chance.
5. Huddle Up in Antarctica
Sometimes, it can seem hard to escape the modern rat-race that pervades the world today. There are queues for everything – from reaching the summit of Everest, to getting flights straight to the most luxurious hotels in the rainforest. So how can you experience something completely natural and raw? Though we’ve colonized a great deal of the modern world, if you’re looking for something special to add to your vacation bucket list – Antarctica remains largely untouched.
Frozen, and hauntingly beautiful, Antarctica has never been permanently occupied by the human race. The location is only available to explore between November and March, and there are absolutely no villages or towns. Instead, all you will see is the awe-inspiring mass of a great, unpredictable wilderness.
6. Walk the Great Wall of China
It might seem like a cliché – but there’s something truly impressive about the Great Wall of China that you can only really experience if you visit it for yourself. More than just a triumph of engineering for the human race, the Great Wall is a direct link to the past of China, and it seems to take you away from the world as you know it a- into something impossibly durable. Looking at this wall – made of stone and brick, and snaking across the mountainsides of northern China, you can really imagine millennia of history with every step.
Most people find that a day trip is enough to satisfy them when they’re counting down their vacation bucket list, but if you want to explore, you can cycle sections too. There’s also an option to take helicopter flights around the perimeter of the wall or spend a night nearby in a boutique hotel. To add something extra to your trip, you can always combine your trip to the wall with some more great experiences. Nearby, you can find the Eastern Qing Tombs, as well as the Ming tombs, and the Ming-era village of Chuandixia.
