In my years of traveling I’ve done some pretty cool things. All unforgettable memories that you should add to your bucket list:
- whale watching in Canada
- flying a two-seater plane over the Niagara Falls
- seeing the Grand Canyon
- driving a motorbike through Vietnam,
- snorkeling in the Philippines,
- stargazing in the Sahara desert
- and many, many more
But there are still plenty of items left on my bucket list. We live in a wild and wonderful world and I want to see every inch of it. There are so many incredible one of a kind experiences to have. As Kristin Newman says in one of my favorite travel books: “I want to do the thing you’re supposed to do in the place you’re supposed to do it”.
I usually plan a lot of my trips on a whim, based more on practical reasons (good deals, weather, distance). I don’t have a long list of destinations that I want to tick off or places to see. But I do have a number of specific experiences that I want to have at some point in my life. While I am in no rush to complete these, I hope to do them some day. This is not comprehensive, my actual bucket list is a whole lot longer. But perhaps they’ll give you a bit of inspiration for your own travel wish list. And at least we can still say dream about future trips while we are stuck at home! So these are five things on my travel bucket list:
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Visit Antartica
Visiting Antarctica has been number one on my bucket list since I first heard about it. I never considered that you could travel to the South Pole! I’m not usually one for snowy vacations, I run cold. But this would be such an incredible experience, that I’d be willing to suffer the cold.
I cannot imagine how impressive it must be to see this icy continent with my own eyes. And hopefully spot some wild life, like penguins and whales! Unfortunately, cruises to Antarctica are very expensive. So unless I win the lottery, this will remain a dream for a while longer.
When I do get the money together, Intrepid Travel responsible and sustainable tour would be my first choice
Ride Icelandic horses and see the Northern Lights in Iceland
I know I just said that I don’t like cold, but here I am again with an icy destination. But honestly, can you blame me? Iceland is one of a kind, with some of the most dramatic and unique landscapes in the world.
I originally wanted to visit this year, but that didn’t happen for obvious reasons. Maybe 2021 will be the year I finally get to go to Iceland. After hearing and reading so much about it, I can hardly wait.
Not only do I want to swim in one of the lagoons and drive the Golden Ring. Most of all, I want to go on a horse riding tour of Iceland. I was a horse girl as a teenager for a few years (still embarrassing to admit), and ever since, I’ve wanted to ride an Icelandic pony in Iceland. It just seems like such a wonderful way to explore the landscape.
But the main reason I want to go to Iceland is to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. I am still annoyed that I missed it in Canada in 2019, so I need a redemption. The Northern Lights are one of those incredible natural phenomena that you have to see at least once in your life.
Road trip through Italy in a vintage Fiat 500
I’ve been to Italy many times and will continue to visit it every chance I get. It is probably my favorite place in the world. In the words of Phil Rosenthal: “You know the problem with other countries? They are not Italy”. Couldn’t agree more. Between the landscape, the food, the history, the culture, the weather and the architecture, what’s not to love?
Phil is the host of one of my favorite food & travel shows on Netflix
Although I’ve already had some epic trips in Italy and written about it extensively on my blog, one dream still remains. It is something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl: a road trip through Italy in a vintage Fiat 500. Now, I know there are a few issues with this: Italian traffic is a hot mess and old Fiat 500’s are notoriously unreliable. They also don’t have any air conditioning and break down constantly, as my dad likes to point out.
But you know what? I don’t care! I just want to drive my favorite car through my favorite country. With the roof down and the smell of warm pine in the air. With a hot guy by my side and a load of delicious Italian food and wine on the way. And probably a few roadside breakdowns. I can already see myself getting towed by an old Italian farmer in a tractor.
Am I a daydreamer with unrealistic expectations for life? Yes, I am 😉
Live the van life in New Zealand
After road tripping through California and Arizona, and traveling by van in Canada in 2019, this has climbed further up the bucket list. I fell in love with the feeling of freedom that you get from traveling by van.
I’ve wanted to visit New Zealand and marry Orlando Bloom since I saw the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I know that the second part of that is pretty unlikely, but I can travel to New Zealand. Getting a van and road tripping through the country seems like a popular way to explore the islands. And what could be better than being out in nature and waking up to those views every day?
Since it’s a pretty long way from Europe to New Zealand, and due to the current travel restrictions and my low funds, it’ll probably be awhile before I get to make this dream come true. But I know I will someday!
Go trekking in Patagonia
I hated hiking as a kid, but fell in love with it as an adult. I’ve done solo and group hikes in some pretty epic places, like Austria, Canada and Scotland. But one destination at the top of my wish list is Patagonia. I mean, just look at that view!
Patagonia is not just an outdoor clothing brand. It is also a region on the border between Chile and Argentina. Patagonia has an incredibly diverse landscape, with the Andes mountains, lakes, fjords, deserts and steppes. And a diverse cultural and ethnic heritage, with different indigenous tribes calling it home.
I would love nothing more than to experience the natural wonders and culture richness of this region for myself. I find that hiking is one of the best ways to connect with nature, it’s literally under your feet! There are loads of organized trekking tours that take you through these parts, with an increasing push for sustainable and ethical tourism. And that’s something I would be happy to support!
So, there you have it: the top items on my travel bucket list. Although it will probably be awhile before I tick any of these off, it is a lot of fun to dream about them and plan ahead. And the point of a bucket list isn’t to rush through it, but to set yourself goals. What are some experiences and destinations on your travel bucket list? Leave a comment below, I’d love to read them!
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I feel like a confused teenager by saying this BUT: I want to do all of the above too!! 😀
PS: Have done some trekking in Patagonia (my best friend would add that I complained for the most part) and I would definitely do it again, since there are plenty of towns and lakes I haven´t yet seen.
Let’s go together someday! 🙂
Snorkeling in the Philippines is a worthy stop on your bucket list – you won’t be disappointed, I assure you 🏊♀️
Yes, I did that a few years ago and it and it was so gorgeous!