Our Top 10 Places to Travel – Anywhere in the World.
Most of us have an innate yearning to travel to new cultures, distant seas, and remote wilderness areas. Travel is one of life’s spices, providing a getaway from the monotony of daily living while also creating a string of memories that will last a lifetime. While our beautiful world has many exciting activities and fascinating sites to offer travellers, only a few excursions are sure to transform your life completely. With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the ten most spectacular excursions you should take in your lifetime (each journey of them based on a 2 to 3 week holiday). Consider these the ultimate trips for discriminating travellers, combining some of the world’s most stunning landscapes and fascinating cultures.
Do you think I forgot one? Leave a comment with your best once-in-a-lifetime trip!
Australia
It appears that Australia has it. It does not fail to dazzle, with metropolitan cities like Melbourne and Sydney, stunning beaches, virgin rainforests, over-the-top hotels, and the harsh Outback. Every tourist’s bucket list includes seeing the famed sights of Sydney Harbor, the Great Barrier Reef, and Ayers Rock (Uluru), as well as viewing some of Australia’s fascinating wildlife, which ranges from completely adorable (penguins, koalas, and wallabies) to terribly deadly (tiger sharks) (crocs, sharks, and snakes). But get off the main path in Kakadu’s wetlands and Tasmania’s untouched wildness, and see what Oz is all about.
Travelling on a budget, or looking to experience more?
Read the Coast & Country Backpacking Melbourne Travel Guide
Cambodia, Laos, And Vietnam
The peninsula encompassing Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam is still Asia’s most beautiful region to visit. Indochina refers to all three countries, which share a history of French colonialism that may still be seen in the fading French architecture and cuisine. Laos is the most authentic country in Southeast Asia, with old temples, coffee plantations, and rural villages remaining relatively undisturbed by Western influence. The fascinating metropolis of Hanoi, the picturesque rock formations that dot the world-famous Halong Bay, and the gorgeous scenery that spreads along Vietnam’s coast are among the country’s highlights. But nothing compares to the cultural amazement you’ll experience at Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s famed temple ruin complex nestled in the jungle.
Transsiberian Railway (Russia, Mongolia, China)
One of the world’s most epic rail excursions is the Trans-Siberian Railway, connecting Moscow and Beijing. This is the world’s longest continuous rail line, stretching 9,289 kilometres (5,772 miles) and crossing seven time zones. After departing from Moscow, the train will travel across European Russia and the vast wooded areas of Siberia before continuing its epic trip into Mongolia’s huge plains, where Beijing will be seen. While the journey can be completed in as little as 9 days, most travellers will take longer to see the Romanovs’ last house in Yekaterinburg, trek near Lake Baikal, camp out in a traditional Mongolian Ger, and explore Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia’s capital city.
Western Canada National Parks
Begin your journey in the Rocky Mountains, where bison graze in boreal forests, moose amble across spectacular vistas, and grizzly bears wander free. You may easily spend months in the Rockies fishing, climbing, walking, riding, and ranching, from the soaring mountains of the Icefield Highway to the crystal clear water of Lake Morraine to the vast plains around Calgary. After that, take a day trip on Prince Rupert’s wonderfully picturesque Inside Passage. When you arrive on Vancouver Island, take a kayak ride with killer whales at Telegraph Cove before continuing to the Pacific Rim National Park, where mountains, rainforests, wild beaches, and luxury lodges collide in the most captivating panorama of all.
Hawaii And Alaska (USA)
In America’s Last Frontier, you’ll find unspoiled wilderness. The Alaskan wilderness’ unspoilt vistas, majestic grandeur, strong rivers, and awe-inspiring wildlife are overpowering and a wonderful choice for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Take a trip through the Inside Passage to see stunning fiords, marine life, and calving glaciers to begin your Alaskan journey. Then, take a car journey into Denali National Park to see the vast landscape and wildlife. Hawaii is only a 6-hour direct flight away from Alaska, despite its beauty and weather being worlds apart. The gorgeous islands of Hawaii, particularly Kauai, have some of the most stunning landscapes on earth, with lava-spewing volcanoes, verdant valleys, glorious waterfalls, and towering coastal cliffs, setting the perfect stage to complete this epic adventure in style.
Mount Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar, The Great Migration (Tanzania)
Tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebras migrate to greener pastures as the season’s change in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara, with lions, cheetahs, and other predators following them and waiting for an opportunity to kill the weak. Following your thrilling safari journey, Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest summit at 5,892 metres (19,331 feet), awaits you for an unforgettable adventure. While you do not need to be an expert climber to conquer the peak (only be physically fit), the gruelling climb – which takes at least 5 days – should not be underestimated. Then, you may end your once-in-a-lifetime adventure on the sugar-white, palm-fringed sands of Zanzibar, Tanzania’s exotic spice island.
United States National Parks
A stretch of spectacular National Parks may be found in America’s West. Begin your tour at Yosemite, home of stunning granite domes, colossal waterfalls, and the world’s tallest trees. You’ll grasp for air when you see the Grand Canyon after travelling through bleak Death Valley, while nearby Zion and Bryce Canyon are as impressive. Your next stop is Grand Teton and Yellowstone, in the heart of the United States’ most untamed wilderness, where you may view erupting geysers, stroll in the shade of rugged mountain peaks, and encounter bison and wolves roaming free in the valleys. Finish your journey with Glacier National Park, my favourite National Park, which offers incredible hiking options and the best possibility of seeing grizzlies in the wild.
Iguazu Falls, Atacama Desert, And Patagonia (South America)
Patagonia is a sparsely populated region shared by Argentina and Chile at the southern end of South America. From a boat, you may watch the Perito Moreno Glacier calve, stroll through the strange alpine scenery of El Chalten, and be amazed by the unmatched grandeur of South America’s most pristine wilderness area, Torres Del Pain. The strikingly bleak Atacama desert in northern Chile provides a striking contrast, just a short flight away from Patagonia. Photographers, nature enthusiasts, and active visitors will adore the deeply incised canyons, high steppe, and towering Andes mountains. Finish your “once in a lifetime” journey at Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian-Brazilian border, where you can get up and personal with 275 roaring waterfalls.
Tahiti & New Zealand (South Pacific)
Bilbo Baggins and Tolkien’s Middle Earth will come to life when you journey across New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes. On the North Island, the country’s position on two tectonic plates results in active geothermal activity, including hot springs, bubbling mud, spouting geysers, and volcanic eruptions. The beautiful Southern Alps, calm sounds, jagged coasts, and broad plains make up New Zealand’s South Island, which offers a more stunning landscape. While leaving Middle Earth is difficult, a 5-hour flight from Auckland will take you to Bora Bora, the most fabled of all Pacific Ocean islands. A stay in an overwater villa on stilts in Bora Bora’s gorgeous lagoon will leave you with lifelong memories and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular experiences.
From Victoria To Cape Town (Southern Africa)
Prepare for the ultimate trip of a lifetime as you follow in the footsteps of Dr Livingstone. From the magnificent Victoria Falls to the Mother City of South Africa, this epic tour via Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe take in all Southern Africa’s highlights. You’ll hike in the Fish River Canyon, see wildlife in Etosha National Park, track predators in the Okavango Delta (where you’ll find unrivalled luxury safari lodges), and watch the sunrise over the world’s highest dunes in Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, and be sprayed by the world’s largest sheet of falling water at Victoria Falls. Finally, you’ll finish your adventure in pure relaxation in Cape Town, the world’s most beautiful city, with breathtaking beaches, stunning mountains, welcoming vineyards, spectacular drives, and many trendy pubs and fine dining restaurants.