Why not make this year the year to cross something off your bucket list? We have compiled a variety of travel inspired bucket list ideas that will give you a once in a lifetime experience. We will do the work for you, searching thousands of flights, hotels, specialist tours and excursions to make these unique experiences a reality.
Witness the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are one of nature’s most spectacular displays, a multi-coloured light show that never ceases to amaze viewers. There are a huge range of holidays available for viewing the Northern Lights, but one of the best places to see them is Iceland. There are several northern lights excursions in Iceland which we can package together for you, along with your hotel, flights, transfers and other activities you might want to enjoy whilst you’re there, such as a visit to the Blue Lagoon. Often, Northern Lights tours come with a free do-over if you don’t see anything, so it’s best to stay a couple of nights in case you don’t catch them first time around. The best time to catch this famous light display is September to mid-April, but after 2019, sightings of the Northern Lights will be fewer due to decreasing solar activity, so don’t miss your opportunity!
Ride Europe's tallest & fastest rollercoaster
If you’re an adrenaline junkie and love the thrill of rollercoasters, you have to tick this one off your list. Red Force in Port Aventura’s Ferrari Land is labelled as the highest and fastest vertical accelerator in Europe. This thrilling ride launches you 112 metres into the air, accelerating from 180km/h in just 5 seconds. Ferrari Land has 10 other rides to enjoy, along with shows, events, shops and is also conveniently placed right next to the beach resort of Salou where you can chill out after all the excitement.
Walk the Great Wall of China
This is the longest wall in the world, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great wall is over 21,000 km long and takes a winding path over rugged country and steep mountains. You can walk different sections of the wall, experiencing the changing landscape and with a guide, you can learn all about the deep history of each part of the wall. You can take just a day trip, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, it’s possible to run or cycle along certain sections, or take a helicopter flight to get a sense of the immense scale of the wall. You can even sleep in one of the watchtowers! At the end of your trip, you can walk, take the cable car or the toboggan slide down. There are several tours which allow you combine your Great Wall trip with visits to the Terracotta Army, the Yangtze River and more.
Join the world's biggest water fight
Songkran is the Thai New Year’s festival, and is Thailand’s biggest celebration. The Thai New Year’s Day is the 13th April, but the festival continues until the 15th April, as the whole country shuts down for a momentous water fight. In cities like Bangkok, there are a host of street parties and water fights, with stalls selling water guns, balloons and anything they can use to soak others. As April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, this country-wide water fight brings great relief from the soaring temperatures. Foreigners are also welcome to help bathe sacred Buddha images at the temples, an act that is believed to bring good luck for the New Year.
Visit the Amazon
The Amazon is a 4,400 mile river and its forest is the largest on earth, with a biome of amazing and immense diversity including thousands of exotic plants, birds, mammals and fish. It streams in eight countries and is usually visited from hubs in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. In fast tributaries of the river, you can take part in activities like whitewater rafting and kayaking. But it’s in the slower watercourses where the exotic wonders await. One way of experiencing the Amazon is by staying at a jungle lodge. Most lodges include meals, daily excursions and some even include a chance to sleep in the forest! There are a wide range of tours and itineraries available that allow you to explore the Amazon in whichever way suits you.
Marvel at the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a world-renowned building and a UNESCO heritage site. It’s also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Attracting millions of visitors each year, it’s open for tourists to view the wonderfully constructed temples Monday-Thursday. The history, architecture and glamour of the Taj Mahal attracts all kinds of visitors from across the globe. With the amazing marble details inside the temple, combined with eminent culture from the Mughal era, it’s a sight you can’t miss out on. There are plenty of tours that allow you to visit the Taj Mahal, as well as other significant sights around India.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most remarkable natural gifts, and the world’s largest coral reef. It’s so large in fact, that it can be seen from outer space! The reef holds an abundance of colourful marine life, including over 100 species of jellyfish, 1625 types of fish, over 100 varieties of sharks & rays and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. During July and June each year, you can actually swim with Dwarf Minke Whales at the Reef, which is a truly unforgettable experience. Other experiences include snorkelling, scuba diving, glass-bottomed boat viewings, whale watching, swimming with dolphins, and you can even stay overnight right in the heart of the Reef. If you have never done a scuba dive before, the Great Barrier Reef offers some amazing places to learn, and we can book these lessons for you.
Set foot on Antarctica
Antarctica is the ultimate wilderness destination and the most unexplored place on the planet, perfect for those seeking an adventure. It’s only possible to visit Antarctica between November and early March. February to March is the best time to visit if you want to see whales and seals, or visit in December to see the Penguin chicks begin to hatch. One of the best ways to visit Antarctica is on a cruise ship, most of which provide frequent shore trips and Zodiac dinghy tours. Some even offer the option of kayaking, mountaineering or cross-country skiing. There are also several land expeditions you can join, enabling you to explore the iconic sights, and you may even have the opportunity to camp on this spectacular continent.
Witness Sri Lanka's great elephant migration
Tourists from around the world are flocking to Sri Lanka to witness a stunning wildlife spectacle, an experience they will never forget. Each year, in Sri Lanka’s Minneriya National Park, hundreds of elephants make a journey they have made for centuries, travelling to an ancient reservoir to bathe, socialise and feed as part of an annual event known as “The Gathering”. Hundreds of elephants make this journey between May and October, so September is just about the perfect time to catch them playing in the waters. The best way to experience this is on a jeep tour, allowing you to explore the landscape with a knowledgeable guide who will find the best spots for you to fully enjoy this experience.
Take an American road trip
If you want to experience a classic American road trip, there are a variety of unique and stunning routes you can take. America holds vast and varied landscapes, so you’re bound to find a route that suits you. Whether you dream of driving through the deserts of the Wild West, the bustle of New York or the renowned Route 66, we can help you plan the drive of a lifetime. Some of the most popular USA road trip routes include the Blue Ridge Parkway – a 469 mile drive that connects two national parks, the Overseas Highway from Miami through the Florida Keys on Route 1, and of course the iconic Route 66.
