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After 25 years of travel, you think you’ve seen it all, but there’s still plenty of experiences still to tick off our travel bucket list.
If I was starting all over again, knowing all I know now, what experiences would I really say are bucket list worthy?
Some of the usual bucket list items that people do have proven to be overrated for me (such as seeing the Grand Canyon), and some of the experiences I’ve had I’ve felt should be bucket list worthy after I’ve done it, without realizing how cool they are at the time.
In this guide, I’ve reflected on my 25+ years of global travel experience to highlight some experiences that are absolutely worthy of adding to the list of things to accomplish before you die.
Experiences To Add To Your Travel Bucket List
1. Live and work in another country
A bucket list experience everyone should have on their list is to live and work in another country. Living in another country gives you a whole new view of a place compared to just visiting.
When you live in another country, you learn to adapt to a new culture, way of life, and custom.
You also learn a lot about yourself and your ability to change, live in the moment, and adapt to a new life.
You also get to meet other travellers and likeminded people. The friendships you make as an expat are the kind of friendships that last a lifetime.
It doesn’t matter where you choose to live, just make sure it’s different from your home country.
2. Travel around Africa independently (no tour groups)
There’s something empowering about traveling around Africa without the help of a tour guide and navigating it yourself. Africa is a huge continent and every country is as vast and diverse as the next.
Getting around is an adventure, to say the least. You need to be prepared to rough it, and you will encounter challenges along the way.
It’s not an experience for the faint hearted, but if you’re looking to put yourself out of your comfort zone, then traveling around Africa should be a bucket list experience to remember.
3. Backpack Southeast Asia
Everyone needs to backpack Southeast Asia at least once in their life. It’s a traveler’s rite of passage.
You might think that spending a year traveling around Asia and living out of a backpack is only a trip for 18 year olds on their gap year – but this is a stereotype from the past. Today, it’s widely acceptable, and popular, to take a gap year at any point in your life.
You will meet just as many 30 years olds as you do 18 year olds.
Southeast Asia is a popular place to go backpacking, particularly for the first time, because it’s cheap, it’s easy to get around, it’s well trodden and you meet a lot of other travelers, and it’s full of bucket list experiences.
Whether you want to explore temples in Thailand, see the Asian elephants in Chiang Mai, or watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat in Cambodia, or learn to surf in Bali – backpacking around SE Asia will chill you out and make you realize what is important in life.
Once you start heading West to Central Asia, from India and Nepal onwards, then it’s a whole other kettle of fish!
4. Climb the Great Wall of China
Most people will have at least one or two of the New Seven Wonders of the World on their bucket list, and you should absolutely make sure to see as many as you can, but not all of them offer an experience, and are merely something to look at.
The Great Wall of China, a wall spanning 13,170 miles (21,200 km), which is so large you can see it from space, has many sections that allow you to climb or hike without the tourist crowds.
Why not add a hike along the world’s largest wall to your bucket list?
Question: How many of the New Seven Wonders of the World are on your bucket list? They are The Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Taj Mahal in India. Let us know in the comments!
5. Go whitewater rafting on the Colorado River
White water rafting is a unique experience that you may only want to do once in your life. It’s an activity that gets the adrenaline pumping, the heart racing, and the fear of God frightened into you – but it’s also incredibly thrilling and you feel so rewarded at the end.
The real question is, which river should you white water raft? We have white water rafted many iconic rivers, from the Nile River to Tongariro River in New Zealand, but one that is on many people’s bucket list is the Colorado River.
The Colorado River is world famous for its white water rafting, and has some of largest whitewater in North America!
It’s also spectacularly beautiful, as the river winds and turns between canyons in both Utah and Arizona.
If you’re only going to do one adrenaline-fuelled activity in your life, let it be this!
6. Go on a safari in Africa
Wildlife and animal lovers should make a safari in Africa number one on their list of bucket list experiences. There are many places in Africa to take a safari, but the most iconic are Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Masai Mara in Kenya, Etosha National Park in Namibia and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
There is something magical about seeing a giraffe eating leaves off a tree in the savannah, or see a herd of zebras grazing next to a water hole. You can also make your safari interesting by seeing how many of the big five you can see – elephants, lions, leopards, cape buffalo and rhinos.
For a once in a lifetime experience, consider taking a walking safari and get up close with African wildlife. You can smell where lions stood only hours before you, see tracks in the mud, and watch animals from within their habitat. It’s something you would only want to do once in your life.
7. Hike to Everest Base Camp
If you’ve never hiked a mountain before, it doesn’t really matter which one you choose, just make sure you hike one! Not only do you get incredible views from the top, but the accomplishment you feel when you’ve completed the journey is a feeling I cannot put into words.
Perhaps the biggest bucket list experience for hikers is to hike to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. This is like the grandaddy of hikes, without actually hiking to the summit.
The 21 day hike, reaching altitudes of 5,364 meters above sea level, is the ultimate test of endurance and stamina.
8. Eat street food
If street food is not part of your culture, be sure to add it to your list of bucket list experiences to do once in your life. There are many reasons to eat street food, but we honestly believe it’s some of the best food you can buy.
It’s cooked fresh in front of you, it’s cheaper than restaurants, and it’s delicious!
Some of our favorite countries to eat street food in are Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, China, South Korea and Poland.
9. Hitchhike at least once
Getting around is the hardest part of travel, as you are always trying to work out the local customs and how to get from A to B.
Once mode of transport that often gets overlooked is hitchhiking. Most people think of hitchhiking and think of horror movies where travelers get chopped up and shoved in a suitcase, but the reality is you get to have a deeper travel experience when you hitchhike.
In many countries, such as in Eastern Europe, hitchhiking is a common form of transport and is not unusual at all. We hitchhiked a few times in Namibia which was pretty common practice.
Try it at least once and see what happens! It’s best not to hitchhike alone and be sure to use your street smarts to assess whether the driver seems honest or not.
10. See the Silverback Gorillas in Uganda
When I look back at all my years of travel, I can honestly say that seeing the gorillas in Uganda were a memorable highlight.
That may have been because we were charged at by a silverback in the Bwindi National Forest, Uganda – you won’t forget the fear you felt that day in a hurry!
Being able to sit in a jungle amongst the trees and observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitat really drills home to you how precious this Earth is – not just for humans, but all life on it.
11. Attend a Full Moon Party in Thailand
If you’re at a stage in your life where you want to feel young again, then head to Haad Rin on the Thai island of Koh Phangan and party all night at a Full Moon Party.
Drink booze from a bucket, limbo under a fire stick, jump a fire rope, and dance the night away to dance music.
The next day, spend your time swinging in a hammock and nurse your hangover, and when the sun goes down, watch the sunset from one of the best beaches in Thailand. It’s not just the parties that makes Thailand worth visiting, but the beaches, the people, and the affordability.
12. Spend a summer in Europe
If you’re from America or Australia, then you may have been dreaming about, or heard people talk about, visiting Europe in the summer. It’s not that any other season is a bad time to visit Europe, but summer in Europe brings a whole new vibe to the continent.
Go on road trips through the Alps and hike through the lush meadows, swim in the ocean in the south of France, sit in piazzas in Italy and gaze upon the many historical landmarks in the basking golden sun, or feel the pulse of the nightlife in Paris pull you in.
Summer in Europe has warm weather that doesn’t feel too overbearing, long days of day light, and it’s when most people visit so you will always make new travel friends.
13. Island hop the Greek Islands
The Greek Islands are some of the most enchanting places in the Mediterranean.
You could spend weeks hopping around them, swimming in the azure waters, hiking in the verdant hills, exploring ancient monuments, and soaking up the laidback lifestyle.
14. Watch a sunrise over Mount Bromo, Indonesia
There are many places in this world that are known for their sunrise views, but when I think of sunrise, I think of Mount Bromo in Java, Indonesia.
Mount Bromo is one of the most famous volcanoes in Indonesia, and it’s unique in that it’s surrounded by several others, so the landscape is often shrouded in smoke and haze from the active volcano craters around it.
As the sun rises, the scene becomes incredible. You can see all the folds, dips and crevaces, in each volcano, and if you’re lucky, see the smoke bellowing out of the crater into the sky.
15. Watch a volcano erupt in Guatemala
Speaking of volcanoes, have you ever wanted to see one erupt? You could go to KÄ«lauea in Hawaii, Bardarbunga in Iceland, or if you want somewhere more affordable to visit, I recommend visiting Mount Fuego in Guatemala.
Just outside the city of Antigua, Fuego, or Chi Q’aq to the locals, is the most active volcano in Guatemala, erupting on average every 20 minutes.
Most people will hike up Acatenango, a dormant volcano offering views over Fuego’s active crater. It’s best to hike to the top, and camp over night, so you can see the lava in all its glory erupting in the dark.
The sounds of the lava booming into the sky, the dazzling display of molten rock and lava being thrown in all directions, is something you will never forget. Nature is wonderful. Nature is powerful.
16. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, then the most iconic beach in the world to learn at is Bondi Beach in Australia. Made famous for the TV show of the same name, Bondi Beach is a surfer’s paradise, offering excellent surf no matter how skilled you are.
On top of that, Bondi Beach has a surf culture. Everything from its shops to its cafes to its people are all about surfing.
You might even be surfed out after you visit!
17. Jungle trek in Borneo to see wild orangutans
Another wildlife experience for the animal lovers, is to see wild orangutans in the Bornean jungle. There isn’t much jungle left in Borneo, unfortunately, but it’s still possible to see them if you choose the right place.
I recommend a jungle trek at Bukit Lawang, Sumatra. The Rainforest of Gunung Leuser National Park is known to be one of the best places in the world to see orangutans.
You can find more places to see orangutans in our guide on sanctuaries in Borneo.
18. Meet the Masai Warriors in Kenya
Part of the reason I love traveling is to integrate and experience a culture and way of life so different from mine. It teaches me valuable lessons on kindness, generosity, and to truly appreciate my life.
There is no community I’ve met on my travels more diverse and interesting than the Masai Warriors in Kenya. The experience of visiting their village, seeing their traditions and hearing their stories, is an experience I won’t forget.
No matter where you go on your travels, spend time, lots of it, getting to know people from all walks of life.
Learn how they live and what is important to them. Make friends in every country you go.
19. Cruise down the Amazon River, Brazil
Wow, what an adventure!? There is no greater bucket list experience to give you an appreciation for this planet than a cruise down the Amazon River.
The largest and longest river in the world is flanked by verdant rainforest, filled with squawking animals and thriving wildlife. You can see pink dolphins swimming in the river, see toucans resting on branches, catch pirranha off the back of the boat, and stop off for jungle treks to see bugs and anacondas in their natural habitat.
If you want to feel the power of nature, this is the ultimate way to do it.
20. Watch the Northern Lights in Finland
The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are a highlight on most people’s bucket list. Experiencing this dancing display of color from Lapland in Finland is a whole new level of wonder.
This far north, the aurora is at its most vibrant, and it’s possible to see it without the use of a camera.
There are not many places where the lights are visible with the naked eye (mostly in Scandinavia such as Sweden or Norway), so if you’re planning a trip to Finland, be sure to make the trek up north to see this spectacle.
21. Dune safari the Sahara Desert
A desert safari, or dune bashing as it’s often referred to, is an off-road experience where you drive through the desert in a 4X4 Jeep, climbing up sand dunes and whizzing down them. It’s a thrilling experience no matter where you go!
Of course, if you’re going to go dune bashing, you got to do it in the largest sand desert in the world!
The Sahara Desert spans 11 countries, covering an area of 9.2 million square kilometers. Some of the dunes are as tall as mountains, reaching heights of up to 465 meters!
After dune bashing, head to a Bedouin camp for an authentic desert dinner and to star gaze under some. ofthe darkest skies in the world.
22. Snap selfies at in the salt flats in Bolivia
The Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia is one of the most unique places to visit in Bolivia and is known for its vast, desert-like landscape that often reflects in the sun and provides optical illusions for visitors.
Capturing an iconic optical illusion photo in this desert is one of the quirkiest bucket list experiences you can get!
The Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest salt flats in the world, covering an area of 11,000 square kilometers, and are also dotted with small, cacti studded islands.
The salt flats appeared after a prehistoric lake dried up, but it still is called home by many pink flamingos who migrate here each year. Pretty cool, huh?
23. Ride a camel around the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza, a Seven Wonder of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are some of the most iconic historical landmarks in the world.
The sheer size and magnitude of what the Ancient Egyptians built, is an experience in itself to witness. However, if you’re going to see the pyramids, you’ve got to do it in style.
People having been riding camels in Egypt for more than 2,000 years, so it’s arguably the most authentic way to experience the pyramids. Camel rides take you to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Don’t forget to get your iconic photo of yourself on a camel with the pyramids behind you!
24. Climb the Eiffel Tower
Perhaps the most iconic monument in Paris is the Eiffel Tower, a wrought-iron lattice tower known for its unique engineering and architecture.
The best way to appreciate this engineering however is to go up the tower and see it close up. You can take a lift, but you don’t get to see the lattice-work and intricacy as close as you would if you took the stairs.
It’s not too challenging to walk up to the viewpoints, plus you should go slow anyway to admire the details.
You can read more about how to climb the Eiffel Tower in our guide here.
25. Ride a gondola in Venice
Another iconic experience not to miss off your bucket list is a chance to ride in a gondola in Venice, the most romantic city in the world.
Gondolas have been a mode of transport in Venice for more than 500 years, and are synonymous for being a romantic activity to do in Venice.
If you’re planning a proposal, or you’re looking for a unique bucket list item to check off with a loved one, call over a gondolier and ride around the canals of Venice. Here’s how to spend a day in Venice and the guided walking tour of Venice that included our private gondola ride.
26. Ride in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey
Riding in a hot air balloon should be an experience on most people’s list, but if there’s one place in the world where hot air balloons are more than just a ride in the sky, it’s Cappadocia.
Every morning at sunrise, more than 150 balloons soar into the sky, giving riders a birdseye view of the rocky landscape below.
Being in the sky at the same time as hundreds of other hot air balloons at once is a unique experience you won’t find in any other place in the world.
27. Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines
One of the most well known places in the world to swim with whale sharks is Bohol in The Philippines. It’s where some. of the largest concentrations of whale sharks in the world live.
The Lila whale sharks which swim here are often fed by tour groups, which brings them back to the waters where they know they can. befed.
It does mean you can get a pretty close up photo of them in the water, but to ensure the whale sharks are undisturbed in their natural habitat, they only allow tourists to swim with them in the morning.
28. Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
For those wanting to explore the udnerwater world, what better place to do so than on the largest living reef in the world?
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia spans for 348,700 square kilometers and is made up of 2,900 individual reefs.
The reef is also threatened, with climate change, pollution, and over fishing threatening its life span. However, it’s resilient, and is bouncing back each year, as long as we continue to protect it.
Swimming in the Great Barrier Reef is not just about looking at pretty coral and shoals of fish, but to understand and learn about the threats humans have on our planet and to do your bit to stop it.
29. Sleep in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives
Another romantic bucket list experience is to sleep in an over water bungalow in the Maldives.
Wake up to sounds of fish jumping out of the water, and sip your morning coffee while looking down at black tip reef sharks swimming beneath your living area.
It’s an expensive activity, but it’s absolutely worth it.
More Bucket List Inspiration
To help you put your bucket list together, here are some other helpful guides:
- I want to Know your Secret
- You’ve got Time + the end of 22 years of nomadic travel
- Experiences NOT to put on your bucket list!
- Destinations to add to your bucket list
- 20 Places to see before you die
- Festivals around the world to add to your bucket list
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What would be on your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments!
Hey, Thanks so much for the mention, or should I say description, it means a lot guys thanks so much.
As for the list, If I could complete half of that list I would be over the moon but seeing as you’ve gone to all this effort we’ll see if we can get them all done over the years!
Cheers!
.-= Poi´s last blog ..Could we do more? =-.
Thanks so much for the inspiration! Yes you can!
All excellent things and ones I should add on my personal bucket list. I plan on embarking on my world travels next spring. Glad to have found your site.
.-= Doug´s last blog ..Run, Pack and Laugh =-.
I look forward to hearing all about your adventures Doug! Thanks for finding our site!
Great list! This question really caught my attention: What place in the world has deep significance for your country and culture?
I had to think about this for a sec. But just recently, after making some new friends here in Taiwan, they told me they were native aboriginals, Amis, and took me to meet some of their family. I was fascinated by their culture as it felt like something deeply familiar and it was something I did not expect to come across in this part of the world thousands of miles away from my island home. And when they shared with me their language, I realized there were quite a few keywords that were cognates with Hawaiian. After I went home and did some research, I found that our cultures were linguistically related, which meant that at sometime, thousands of years into the past, our ancestors were the same. There were some fascinating theories about how this spread came about, but ultimately this helped me to see the connection that we all have, no matter what culture we come from.
Thanks for sharing this list!
.-= JR@TheDriftersBlog´s last blog ..Trekking Through Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica =-.
That is a cool story. Isn’t it amazing how something so random turns out to be so significant for you? I think that is one of the greatest gifts of travel is that it opens your eyes up to how deeply we really all are connected. Joy!
Hey guys, thanks for the post! Just like Poi & Kirsty, I am a 1st time RTW traveler, still planning out my itinerary, getting excited & feeling all the anxieties associated with long-term solo travel. I appreciate any advice I can get from seasoned travel veterans like yourselves.
A lot of the things on your list sound like there’s any interesting story there. I look forward to following links.
I am also Australian, & look forward to an Anzac Day trek..
Hi Ian, thanks for stopping by. I like your website, has a great energy to it. We would love to help out any way we can. We always get excited helping out new time travelers as we know just what a great time lies ahead of you. The Anzac Day trek was definitely a highlight of our travels so far and so emotional- good and bad! Can’t wait to hear more of your travels: I love your About me tagline: Am I really living? or just existing?
A really great list and is inspiring for me to start my own list.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..Reunited and it feels so good =-.
That’s great Ayngelina! Let me know what you are going to put on your list.
Inspiring list. It really makes me want to start a string of must-dos, sees, and feels on my own travels. Off to start that now…
So many places to go and so little time. Like your list!
Thanks for sharing your list. It made me sit-back and think of of my own ( we share many : Africa, staying w/travelers, war -torn countries, hiking, sunsets from some of my fav places… )
looking forward to adding you to my lost of fav travel blogs.
Thanks Tracy. I would like to hear some of your adventures. There is so much of this beautiful planet left to explore, I’m so grateful I’ve been able to do as much as I have.
Interesting list guys! I always enjoy reading what inspires others… I especially like ‘getting charged by a silverback’
Thanks Guys! (Can you say Canuckians?) Getting charged by a silverback was definitely an experience I will never forget!
Some great suggestions and a few to add to my list. A few more to consider:
1. Experience the white, the emptiness and incredible scale of Antarctica
2. Barter for something you value in a spirited marketplace
3. Donate anonymously for a favourite, worthy cause
4. Experience an Olympics
5. Enjoy the arid expanses of a night in the desert
6. See a pod of whales up close
7. Walk among the huge mountains of the Himalaya
8. Splurge once on a world class restaurant
and I am sure there are many more.
Oh.. I like all these ones. I’ve done a couple of these. Have you walked among the Himalayas? That would be incredible
As I’m in the process of thinking up a bucket-list for travel, this is amazing and helpful! I get so caught up in the speed of getting out there I forget what I want to gain. This reminds me to slow down and find something special in each place, whether or not it has to do with what is famous, popular or a ‘must-see/do’ in that place!
Starting my own bucket list now…
Walking safari in Africa ? Sound great idea.
You inspire me much! Thank you for sharing.
It is fabulous. A great way to see the Parks. I’m glad we could inspire you. Thank you
Walking safari in Africa? Sound pretty good idea. You inspire me! Thank you for sharing.
No worries! Do it. The perfect way to get your heart racing.
definitely done a lot of this one! Probably 80% of the time!
“Get around on local transport – some of your best stories will come from doing this.”
Have a beetroot burger at sunset on the shores of any Queensland surfing beach.
So funny, my husband and I just tubed in Vang Vieng Laos last week. We had read about how crazy it is and that it’s really fun. We had a beautiful time but it was totally deserted. There are only two bars that are allowed to be open now the entire river down. You can see the relics of where there used to be slides, zip lines and bars/restaurants which have all all been dismantled. After all the deaths in recent years I know these changes are understandable. When we were on the river we were the only two people that were even there. It was a ghost town. Our guesthouse said there used to be 30 rooms filled every night and now they are lucky to fill 3 or 4.
Beautiful list, and this one of my new favorite blogs!
It was nice and worth reading . I share with you with #24.
Caz – I juts discovered your website. Very nice with great information, and inspiration.
However, one of your comments in your bucket-list made me cringe: “Spend time in a war-torn country so you learn that war brings only death and destruction; there is never a good cause for it.”
Yet, in your article about Thailand you write: “Our natural state of being is freedom.”
So, regarding your comments about the futility of war — that is not always the case. Should the US Civil War not have been fought, and the slaves kept in servitude by the independent Confederacy? Should the Nazis have been allowed to deprive hundreds of millions of life and freedom? The same freedom you knowledge enable you to do what you do. Should the Chinese, the Koreans, and millions of Asians NOT have tried to repel the invading Japanese in the 1940s? They’ would have been enslaved and murdered .
War may be stupid. But, there are good and necessary wars.
Thanks. Love your blog.
I have traveled in only north america, mexico, canada, and united states.farthest south was Jamaica, farthest west was Hawaii.I want to go to Eurasia, my family is from Serbia, ukraine, .italy, and the united kingdom.I want to travel to those places and everywhere in between meeting local artisans and taking pictures of religiousrelics
? What would it all mean, idont know, but I just want to go.
It’s amazing how many of these I’ve ticked off already. You have great taste when it comes to travel. We did 7 weeks camping in Africa (including up close and personal with the silverbacks), Anzac Day at Gallipoli and 10 days Greek Island hoping in 2012, then 2 weeks in Thailand for our honeymoon last November. We are heading to Europe in September for 6 weeks. Can’t wait to tick a few more off our list. Can you tell me if the photo on this post was from Zanzibar?
Yes Mel, that sunset photo was taken from Stone Town in Zanzibar 🙂
Great list, guys! I definitely found a few more amazing travel experiences to add to my list. I love the idea about the Masai warriors in Kenya and Hill tribe people in Sapa. That sounds ridiculously interesting!
Hi there,
Thanks for the bucketlist. Great inspiration for our own travel bucketlist.
We live in Amsterdam near the tulip fields and flower park Keukenhof. Every Spring we have a wonderful colored landscape. Maybe you should place it on your bucketlist =)
Bye, Marco