10 Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Experiences You Should Add to Your Bucket List
Some things in life are worth doing at least once, especially when it comes to travel. More than your average vacations, they’re the kind of experiences that shift your perspective, stay in your memory, and make great stories later. If you haven’t done these yet, now’s a good time to start planning.
Sleep in an Overwater Bungalow in the Maldives
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Waking up with the ocean at your doorstep is hard to beat. In the Maldives, overwater bungalows offer private decks, glass floors, and uninterrupted sea views. These luxury stays sit above clear turquoise waters and are usually part of secluded island resorts.
Watch the Northern Lights Dance Across the Arctic Sky
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Northern Lights are best seen from places near the Arctic Circle: Iceland, Alaska, and Norway are popular picks. The display can last a few minutes or fill the sky for hours, streaking green, pink, and purple overhead. Book a glass-roofed cabin or an igloo and you can watch it all from bed, no snow boots required.
Ride a Hot Air Balloon Over Cappadocia, Turkey
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Cappadocia’s strange, moonlike terrain looks even more surreal from above. Early morning balloon rides float over its “fairy chimneys,” cave dwellings, and rock valleys. Flights take off at sunrise for the best views and calmest winds. While operators run year-round, weather cancellations happen.
Spot the Big Five on an African Safari
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The Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo—are animals that travelers often hope to see in the wild. National parks in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa give visitors a front-row seat. Game drives with experienced guides increase your chances of close-up encounters, especially during the dry season when animals gather at watering holes.
Trek to Machu Picchu Through the Andes
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Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a four-day journey through some of Peru’s most scenic mountain terrain. The route winds past cloud forests, archaeological ruins, and dramatic passes before arriving at the Sun Gate overlooking the ancient citadel. Permits are required, and spots fill up months in advance.
Take a Cruise to Antarctica
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Antarctica isn’t for casual travelers. Ships leave from the tip of South America and cross rough water to get there. There aren’t any hotels or roads, and everything happens from the ship. You step onto the ice, see penguins up close, watch icebergs drift past, and spot the occasional whale. You won’t find crowds or gift shops; it’s just a wide-open and quiet space. The trip costs a lot, but you’re visiting a place most people will never see.
Explore Petra’s Ancient City Carved in Stone
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Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved from rose-colored cliffs more than 2,000 years ago. Entering through the narrow Siq canyon builds anticipation until the view opens to Al-Khazneh, better known as The Treasury. But that’s just one part: temples, tombs, and staircases stretch across miles.
Drive Through America’s National Parks on a Road Trip
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The U.S. is packed with stunning national parks, and a road trip connects the dots between them. From Yosemite’s granite cliffs to Yellowstone’s geysers, each park offers its own flavor of the outdoors. Popular loops include Utah’s Mighty Five or the West Coast stretch that links Redwood, Crater Lake, and Olympic National Parks.
Climb Sections of the Great Wall of China
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The Great Wall stretches over 13,000 miles, though tourists usually visit restored sections near Beijing. Some areas are paved and easy to walk, while others, like Jiankou, offer steep and crumbling paths for more adventurous hikers. The wall winds through mountains and forests, with panoramic views that make the effort worthwhile.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
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The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching along Australia’s northeast coast. Snorkeling and diving trips from Cairns or the Whitsunday Islands reveal corals, clownfish, rays, and reef sharks. The reef is under threat from warming oceans, so efforts are being made to protect its biodiversity.
Ride the Maharajas’ Express Across India
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India’s most luxurious train weaves through cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra in old-world style. The Maharajas’ Express features elegant cabins, gourmet dining, and guided tours at major historical sites, including the Taj Mahal. The train also includes a bar car, observation lounge, and personalized service.
Walk Among Moai Statues on Easter Island
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Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, lies more than 2,000 miles from mainland Chile. The island is known for its moai, massive stone statues carved by Polynesian settlers centuries ago. Over 800 statues dot the island, some standing, others half-buried or toppled. Their purpose remains debated, but their presence leaves a lasting impression.
Visit the Taj Mahal at Sunrise
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The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, unsurprisingly draws millions each year. Arriving at dawn has perks: cooler temps, fewer crowds, and soft light that turns the marble a warm peach. Built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, the symmetry and detail are stunning up close.
Island Hop Across the Greek Islands
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Schedules are simple: pick an island, buy a ferry ticket, and go. Big names like Santorini fill up fast, but quieter stops like Naxos and Milos keep things laid-back. Each spot has its own way of doing things—different food, different pace, different beaches. The sea does most of the work, taking you from one view to the next.
Float Down the Nile River in Egypt
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Nile cruises run between Luxor and Aswan with a set route. You’ll see ancient sites like Karnak and Edfu, but most days are split between sightseeing and stretches on deck watching the river pass by. Life along the Nile looks much like it did centuries ago: small villages, green banks, and temples at the water’s edge. The pace is slow, the setting steady.