The Ultimate Travel Bucket List: 201 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences Around the World
This guide brings together 201 once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences across every continent: from hiking to Everest Base Camp and watching the Great Migration in East Africa, to exploring the remains of Babylon, navigating through Antarctic icebergs and walking beneath Madagascar’s baobabs.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or dreaming about future adventures, this list is designed to inspire meaningful travel experiences rather than simply ticking countries off a map.
bucket list
[/ˈbʌk.ɪt ˌlɪst/]
1. [noun] a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.
Travel shouldn’t just be about counting countries. A day or two in a place, a rushed passport stamp, a quick photo in front of a landmark –I don’t believe that’s truly visiting.
For me, travel has always been about the experiences a place gifts you: sharing mint tea in a medina, learning history where it happened, hiking toward horizons that make you feel small, and meeting people whose stories stay with you long after you leave.
In a nutshell so far…
(it’s definitely not about the numbers, but I’m nerdy this way)
Experiences from my bucket list: 85/201
UN recognized and observer states: 60/195
TCC: 72/330 · MTP: 182/1500
I was born in Chile, and discovering its nature and history taught me early on that travel is not only about landscapes, but also about the realities that shape a place and its people. That’s how this bucket list was conceived –not a compilation of destinations, but a collection of experiences I hope to live, and perhaps inspire you to dream about too.
Whether you seek culture, adventure, wildlife, or life-changing journeys, I hope this list helps you dream bigger and travel deeper.
201 Travel Experiences Bucket List ✨
This is a lifetime project, both traveling and writing about it. I already lived the experiences with a mark (✓) while the ones with links are those I’ve written about. The rest is coming soon. Now let’s explore!
The Americas
CHILE
(my home country so it has a special place in this list)
→ Wander through the surreal landscapes around San Pedro de Atacama ✓
→ Climb the colorful cerros and street art-lined hills of Valparaíso ✓
→ Stand before the moais of Easter Island and learn about the Rapa Nui culture
→ Explore the Maipo, Casablanca and Colchagua wine valleys ✓
→ Ski beneath the peaks of the Andes ✓
→ Hike Chile’s Lake District and climb Villarrica volcano ✓
→ Venture into Chiloé’s magical world of mythology, stilted palafitos and wooden churches ✓
→ Raft the turquoise roaring waters of the Futaleufú River
→ Sail through the Marble Caves of Patagonia
→ Trek the iconic trails of Torres del Paine
SOUTH AMERICA
→ Dance tango through the night in Buenos Aires ✓
→ Indulge in chocolate and alpine charm in Bariloche ✓
→ Stand in awe of the Patagonian peaks around El Calafate and El Chaltén, and hike the Perito Moreno Glacier
→ Learn about nature and politics in the Falkland Islands / Islas Malvinas ✓
→ Drift between Uruguay’s colonial towns, vineyards and windswept beaches ✓
→ Hike through the Cordillera Blanca, and let Lima’s world-acclaimed food scene be the reward
→ Trek the Salkantay Pass to Machu Picchu and explore Cusco ✓
→ Walk across the surreal salt flats of Uyuni ✓
→ Uncover Bolivia’s mystical culture and ancient rituals at the Witches’ Market in La Paz ✓
→ Journey into the heart of the Amazon rainforest ✓
→ Feel the power of water at Foz do Iguaçu waterfalls ✓
→ Give in to the rhythm of Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro
→ Sip caipirinhas to the beat of Afro-Brazilian culture in Salvador de Bahia ✓
→ See the Lago Azul de Ypacaraí in Paraguay ✓
→ Swing above the clouds at Casa del Árbol in Ecuador
→ Walk beside giant tortoises in the Galápagos Islands
→ Wander Cartagena’s colorful colonial streets and Caribbean nights ✓
→ Stand before the majesty of Angel Falls in Venezuela
→ Venture into the overlooked corners of South America: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana
CENTRAL AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
→ Walk through the ruins of ancient civilizations in Mexico, from Teotihuacán to the Yucatán peninsula ✓
→ Swim in a Mexican cenote ✓
→ Dive into the Great Blue Hole in Belize
→ Walk above the clouds in the forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica
→ Wander Havana’s fading grandeur and read between the lines of a society shaped by ideology
→ Swim with stingrays in the Cayman Islands ✓
→ See where the Americas were “cut in two” at the Panama Canal ✓
→ Explore Jamaica’s vibrant culture and lush landscapes ✓
→ Hike through the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala and Copán in Honduras
→ Climb Ometepe’s volcanoes and wander Granada’s colonial streets in Nicaragua
NORTH AMERICA
→ Take in the Rocky Mountain views from Banff National Park
→ Stand at the edge of Niagara Falls and reflect on how two countries share the same wonder so differently
→ Watch the Manhattan skyline light up from the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset
→ Catch beads and jazz at Mardi Gras in New Orleans
→ Reflect on history and power along the National Mall in Washington DC
→ Hike through the great US National Parks, from Yellowstone to Zion
→ Stand before the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon
→ Take a scenic road trip and go wine tasting in Napa Valley
→ Witness the birth of new land at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Europe
NORTHERN EUROPE & THE UK
→ Explore London’s multiculturalism ✓
→ Marvel at Stonehenge and wander the colleges and courtyards of Oxbridge ✓
→ Walk the Royal Mile in Edinburgh ✓
→ Chase the legend of Nessie through the Scottish Highlands
→ Journey through Ireland from Trinity College’s Long Room to the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway
→ Wander Wales through medieval castles that still stand guard over dramatic landscapes ✓
→ See the Northern Lights from a hot tub in Iceland
→ Spot puffins nesting on dramatic clifftops in the territory where they outnumber people: the Faroe Islands
→ Venture to the edge of the world in Greenland’s vast Arctic wilderness
→ Hike to Trolltunga, Preikestolen or Kjerag (extra points for more than one!)
→ Explore the Baltic capital cities and St. Petersburg ✓
- Saint Petersburg, a city guide through a love letter
- Bonus track: Helsinki, the coolest things to do in the Finnish capital
- Posts about the Baltic States are coming!
→ Look for Santa Claus and his reindeers in Lapland
CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
→ Visit 4th century monasteries in the Caucasus region ✓
- Azerbaijan: travel off the beaten path
- Georgia: mountains, monasteries and wine
- Armenia: from the Pink City to stunning monasteries
→ Shop at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul ✓
→ Fly in a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia
→ Explore the world’s last divided capital in Cyprus
→ Visit a piece of the Soviet Union in the 21st century in Transnistria ✓
→ Tour the world’s largest wine cellar in Moldova ✓
→ Travel back in time to 1986 in Chernobyl ✓
→ Drink at a ruin pub in Budapest ✓
→ Search for the ‘Man at Work’ in Bratislava ✓
→ Join the festivities at a Christmas market in Prague ✓
→ Walk through the silence of Auschwitz ✓
→ Wander Minsk and seek to understand the politics and realities of Belarus
→ Walk around the Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow ✓
SOUTH EAST EUROPE
→ Wonder at the Parthenon in Athens ✓
→ Swim in the Aegean Sea on a Greek Island ✓
→ Meet a dragon at Ljubljana’s castle and walk around lake Bled ✓
→ Hike around Plitvice National Park (extra points if it’s frozen!) ✓
→ Swim in the blue lagoon of the Adriatic Sea, and explore some of Croatia’s thousand islands ✓
→ Walk the city walls of Dubrovnik ✓
→ Explore the old city of Kotor ✓
→ Find where East meets West in Sarajevo ✓
→ Explore Belgrade’s nightlife to the echoes of Yugoslav history ✓
→ Uncover Albania’s hidden past, from Ottoman towns to the Riviera ✓
→ Look for Alexander the Great in North Macedonia ✓
→ Cross into Kosovo and experience one of Europe’s most complex borders ✓
→ Trace Bulgaria’s layers of history from Roman ruins to Orthodox domes in Sofia ✓
→ Visit the world largest Parliament in Bucharest ✓
→ Wander Transylvania’s medieval Saxon villages and fortified churches —and hunt Dracula along the way
WESTERN EUROPE
→ Walk the streets and glide through the canals of Venice during Carnival ✓
→ Explore the Dolomites, hiking or skiing (extra points for both!) ✓
→ Step back into the Renaissance in Florence, explore the hill towns of Tuscany, and climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa ✓
→ Hike through the Cinque Terre ✓
→ Pair history with gelato in Rome and marvel at the treasures of Città del Vaticano ✓
→ Wonder at the ruins of Pompeii, climb Mt. Vesuvius and eat pizza in Naples ✓
→ Surrender to the chaos, beauty and flavors of Sicily ✓
- Along Wine Roads of Western Sicily: A Journey of Slow Living and Taste
- From Rubble to a Canvas of Absence: The Artful Afterlife of Gibellina, Sicily
→ Hike up to the San Marino Towers ✓
→ Mix art and food while wandering the streets of Paris, and explore the Château de Versailles ✓
→ Watch Mont Saint-Michel become an island ✓
→ Explore the châteaux and wines of the Loire valley, Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux
→ Walk through the lavender fields in Provence
→ Gamble at the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco ✓
→ Cross the Pyrenees to Andorra ✓
→ See las Majas, las Meninas y Guernica in Madrid and walk around Gaudí’s world in Barcelona ✓
→ Follow my roots from Castrodeza, the tiny Castilian village where my father’s story began, to Constanța and Konstanz, the home cities of my maternal grandparents that inadvertently gave me my name ♡ ✓
→ Walk through the Alhambra and explore the hidden treasures of Andalusia
→ Get lost between Lisbon’s miradouros and Porto’s azulejos ✓
→ Go to the top of Europe on the Aiguille du Midi, in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ✓
→ Visit the Human Rights Council at the Peace Palace in Geneva ✓
→ Taste Brussels’ chocolate and beer, and wander fairy-tale Bruges ✓
→ Uncover the secrets of Amsterdam and see the tulips in Lisse ✓
→ Contemplate the art of the Berlin Wall ✓
→ Raise a stein at the original Oktoberfest in Munich ✓
→ Follow Mozart’s footsteps through baroque Salzburg and imperial Vienna ✓
Asia
MIDDLE EAST
→ Walk through the conflicting histories of Jerusalem, the holy city of Jews, Muslims, and Christians
→ Float in the Dead Sea ✓
→ Tour around the Wadi Rum and stand in awe before Petra’s Treasury and Monastery in Jordan ✓
→ Experience Beirut through its cafés, coastline and resilience ✓
→ Travel back in time through Palmyra, Damascus, Aleppo and Krak des Chevaliers in Syria ✓
- Traveling to Syria: insights on visiting under the al-Assad regime
- Palmyra: the rise, fall and survival of Syria’s desert jewel
→ Wonder at the remains of Babylon in Iraq
→ Learn about Kurdish culture and identity in Erbil
→ Experience the Persian culture while discovering the endless treasures of Iran ✓
- Part 1: First stop and my impressions on the country
- Part 2: The breathtaking nature
- Part 3: The picture-perfect architecture
- Part 4: Iran’s greatest treasure, its people
→ Traverse Oman’s contrasts, from the frankincense trails of Dhofar to the dramatic fjords of Musandam
→ Skydive from Palm Jumeirah in Dubai
→ Walk among the tombs of Al-Ula, go dune bashing, and step to the Edge of the World in Saudi Arabia
→ Explore the one-of-a-kind nature of Socotra island in Yemen
CENTRAL ASIA
→ Follow the Silk Road through the five Stans, and stand before the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan
→ Hike the unexplored Tajik mountains and the Afghani Wakhan Corridor
→ Wander around Hazaristan in the highlands of Afghanistan, and head north to visit the Mazar-e Sharif Mosque
→ Explore the rugged peaks and hidden villages of Pakistan
→ Hike the Baltoro Glacier through the Karakoram range to K2 base camp
→ Traverse from the steppe to the Gobi desert in the Trans-Mongolian Express
HIMALAYAS & SOUTHERN ASIA
→ Climb to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan
→ Contemplate Mt. Everest from base camp in Nepal
→ Learn about Buddhism in Kathmandu
→ Meditate in Lhasa
→ Celebrate Holi Festival in India
→ Stand in awe before the Taj Mahal
→ Make a pilgrimage to the holy cities of Varanasi and Bodh Gaya
→ Drink tea in the Ceylon plantations of Sri Lanka
→ Walk through the Sea of Stars on Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives
EAST ASIA
→ Hike through the surreal landscape of Zhangye National Geopark
→ Get a glimpse of history with the terracotta warriors of Xi’an
→ Walk along the Great Wall of China
→ Stand on The Bund and feel the full weight of contemplating the skyline of the world’s next superpower
→ Visit the Big Buddha in Hong Kong
→ Stand in awe before Mount Fuji, wander through Kyoto’s temples, and get lost in the chaos of Tokyo
→ Explore Seoul’s royal palaces and the contrast of tradition and hypermodernity
→ Walk the streets of North Korea and try to understand one of the world’s most closed realities
SOUTH EAST ASIA
→ Watch the sunrise over the Bagan Temples and explore the Pagodas of Yangon in Myanmar
→ Witness the dawn alms-giving ceremony in Luang Prabang and uncover the mysteries of the Plain of Jars in Laos
→ Motorbike through Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh
→ Explore Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace in Cambodia
→ Embrace the contrasts of the vibrant chaos and quiet temples of Bangkok
→ Slow down among elephants and temples in Chiang Mai
→ Cross the skybridge between Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Twin Towers
→ Swim above the Singapore skyline in the infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands
→ See Komodo dragons and island-hop through Indonesia
→ Soak in the rhythms of Bali and let the island redefine what stillness means
→ Explore Timor-Leste, one of the world’s newest nations still writing its post-independence story
→ Marvel at the Banaue Rice Terraces and dive in the Philippines’ coral reefs
Africa
NORTHERN AFRICA
→ Sip mint tea in the bustling Jemaa El Fna in Marrakesh ✓
→ Get lost in the souks of Fez and the blue city of Chefchaouen
→ Cross the Sahara in a freight car of Mauritania’s Iron Ore train
→ Wander the Casbah of Algiers, cross the bridges of Constantine and explore the Roman ruins of Djemila
→ Explore Sidi Bou Said, wander Carthage and sleep beneath the stars in the Tunisian Sahara
→ Stand in awe at Leptis Magna and seek to understand Libya beyond the headlines
→ Dive in the Red Sea ✓
→ Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Upper Egypt, from the Valley of the Kings to Abu Simbel ✓
→ Explore the forgotten pyramids of Sudan
EAST AFRICA
→ Watch Mount Kilimanjaro rise above the plains of Tanzania ✓
→ Witness the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti National Parks ✓
→ Indulge in the luxury of waking up to giraffes on your balcony at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi
→ Track silverback gorillas in Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (extra points for both!)
→ Meet our closest relatives in Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Mahale Mountains or Gombe National Park ✓
→ Explore the mysteries of Lalibela and the otherworldly Danakil Depression in Ethiopia
→ Make new friends in the Omo River region
→ Walk beneath Madagascar’s ancient baobab trees
WEST AFRICA
→ See Timbuktu before it’s lost and explore the villages of Dogon Country in Mali
→ Confront the horrors of the slave trade on Gorée Island and explore the vibrant culture of Dakar
→ Visit a cocoa farm in Côte d’Ivoire and face the uncomfortable distance between a chocolate bar and the hands that grew it
→ Sail through the “Venice of Africa” in Ganvié, Benin
CENTRAL AFRICA
→ Climb Mount Nyiragongo in the DRC and witness lava in one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes
→ Stand before the immense Inga Falls on the Congo River
→ Visit Boca do Inferno and the idyllic beaches of São Tomé and Príncipe
SOUTHERN AFRICA
→ Explore Cape Town’s layers, from the cable car on Table Mountain and the wines of Stellenbosch, to the painful history of District Six
→ Track the Big Five on safari in Kruger and learn about the complex politics of conservation in post-apartheid South Africa
→ Dive in the Bazaruto Archipelago and explore the remote coral paradise of the Quirimbas in Mozambique
→ Drift through the Okavango Delta in Botswana
→ Swim in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls
→ Road trip through Namibia’s otherworldly landscapes, from Etosha to the towering dunes of Sossusvlei
Oceania
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
→ See kangaroos and koalas in the wild in Australia
→ Watch Uluru change colors at sunrise and learn about the Anangu people’s ancient connection to the land
→ Dive in the Great Barrier Reef
→ Learn about Māori culture and explore the stunning landscapes of New Zealand
→ Bungee jump in Queenstown
THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
→ Make new friends among the tribes of Papua New Guinea
→ Stand where the Equator and the International Date Lines meet in Kiribati
→ Dive the world’s largest barrier reef lagoon and explore a culture where shells are still currency in the Solomon Islands
→ Wonder at the glowing crater of Mount Yasur in Vanuatu
→ Relax in Bora Bora
Antarctica
→ Sail through towering icebergs and glaciers on the frozen continent of Antarctica
Travel Bucket List FAQs
How do I create my own travel bucket list?
I believe the most meaningful travel is about experiences rather than country counts.
Instead of asking where to go next, ask what you want to feel, learn or witness –think about the moments you dream of living: wildlife encounters, cultural deep dives, slow journeys by train, historic sites or adventure experiences. I made this list truly my own by combining all of these with personal touches, like visiting the birthplaces of my grandparents ♡
If you want to explore a specific area, use the continent guide at the top of this page to jump straight to the part of the world that inspires you most. If you want to go deeper into research and inspiration before you go anywhere, my books full of wanderlust post might be the perfect place to start.
For other travelers’ tales about how a trip was transformative, check these life-changing travel experience stories. And my travel lessons after visiting 50+ countries for insight on all that traveling can bring to your life.
Which once-in-a-lifetime and unique travel experiences should be on every bucket list?
The best bucket list experiences are often the ones that combine nature, culture and emotion: the journeys that stay with you long after you return home.
It’s obviously up to your own interests, but some of the most unforgettable experiences include climbing to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, watching the sunrise over Petra, walking beneath Madagascar’s ancient baobabs, exploring the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, and sailing among icebergs in Antarctica.
Unique travel experiences can range from taking the Trans-Mongolian Express and exploring closed-off places like North Korea and Turkmenistan, to wandering through Socotra Island, drifting through the Okavango Delta, hiking through Zhangye National Geopark, walking around the temples of Bagan, and witnessing the dawn alms-giving ceremony in Luang Prabang.
Don’t forget to include iconic experiences like shopping at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, walking the Great Wall of China, floating in the Dead Sea, marveling at the Taj Mahal, swimming in Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls, flying on a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, and raising a stein in the original Oktoberfest in Munich.
What are the top bucket list adventures in the world?
Some of the best adventure travel experiences include rafting the roaring waters of the Futaleufú River, bungee jumping in Queenstown, skydiving from Palm Jumeirah, trekking the Salkantay Pass to Machu Picchu, climbing active volcanoes in the DRC, Nicaragua, Vanuatu and Chile, riding Mauritania’s Iron Ore train, and hiking to K2 and Everest base camps.
Keep in mind that the best adventures are not just about adrenaline, they’re about pushing you out of your comfort zone and making you realize what you’re capable of. Although the adrenaline rush is always welcomed : )
Which cultural travel experiences belong on a bucket list?
Some of the most meaningful cultural deep dives include walking through Jerusalem, Varanasi, Athens and Rome, exploring the ancient monasteries and temples of Kyoto, Angkor Wat and Tikal, following the Silk Road, wandering the pyramids of Egypt and Sudan, and understanding life in places shaped by complex histories, such as Syria, Libya and Belarus.
Journeys focused on learning about indigenous peoples include meeting ancient tribes in Papua New Guinea and the Omo River region of Ethiopia, learning about the Rapa Nui in Easter Island and about the Māori in New Zealand –encounters that remind us that culture is not only what survives in stone, but what lives and breathes today.
What are the most unforgettable wildlife travel experiences in the world?
Some of the most incredible wildlife experiences include witnessing the Great Migration in the Serengeti or Maasai Mara, coming face to face with gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, meeting chimpanzees in Uganda or Tanzania, seeing Komodo dragons in Indonesia and giant tortoises in the Galápagos, swimming with stingrays in the Cayman Islands, spotting puffins in the Faroe Islands, and exploring the diverse flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest.
If what you’re looking for is underwater wildlife, then include diving in the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Philippines’ coral reefs, the Great Blue Hole in Belize and the barrier reef lagoon in the Solomon Islands.
The most meaningful wildlife encounters are often those that combine awe with a deeper understanding of conservation and the communities behind it.
Some of these experiences are still dreams, others have already become stories.
You can trace the journey here → My life’s journey, where I’ve been through the years
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