18 Bucket-List Trips Worth Taking In A Lifetime + 3 Hacks To Make Them Better
Tired of the same old vacation routine? If you’re craving something unforgettable—something that shakes up your worldview and leaves you awestruck—you’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up once-in-a-lifetime adventures that belong at the very top of your travel bucket list.
Imagine watching the northern lights swirl over an Icelandic glacier, or drifting in a hot air balloon above the golden plains of the Serengeti. These aren’t just trips—they’re stories you’ll tell forever. And don’t worry, I’m not sending you out there unprepared.
I’ve sprinkled in my favorite travel hacks for scoring deals, avoiding crowds, and getting the absolute most out of these epic experiences. Which of these adventures has your name written all over it?
1. Train Ride on the Trans-Siberian
Rolling through eight time zones and 5,772 miles of stunning landscapes, the Trans-Siberian Railway is the ultimate slow travel experience.
You’ll watch birch forests, tiny villages, and the vast Siberian plains pass by your window. The journey from Moscow to Vladivostok takes about a week, but smart travelers hop off to explore cities like Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Don’t miss Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake!
Winter trips offer snow-covered panoramas while summer brings endless daylight. Pack books, download podcasts, and prepare to make friends with locals sharing your cabin.
2. Use Local SIM Cards (Travel Hack)
International roaming fees can destroy your vacation budget faster than you can say “upload to Instagram.” Buying a local SIM card immediately upon arrival saves serious money and keeps you connected without stress.
Most international airports have kiosks selling prepaid SIM cards with data packages. For about $10-30, you’ll get enough data to navigate, translate, and share your adventures without worrying about shocking bills when you return home.
Research options before arriving and remember to unlock your phone. Take a paperclip to open your SIM tray and store your home SIM somewhere safe until your return.
3. Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef
Floating face-down in warm Australian waters while technicolor fish dart beneath you feels like entering another world entirely. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,400 miles and houses more than 1,500 species of fish and 400 types of coral.
Many visitors base themselves in Cairns or Port Douglas, where daily boats transport snorkelers to outer reef locations. The moment your mask hits the water, you’ll spot giant clams, sea turtles, and perhaps even reef sharks! Morning trips typically offer calmer waters and better visibility.
Even non-swimmers can experience this underwater paradise using flotation devices provided by most tour operators.
4. Camping in Patagonia
If jaw-dropping mountain views and pristine wilderness call to your soul, Patagonia camping should top your bucket list. Straddling Chile and Argentina, this region boasts some of Earth’s most dramatic landscapes – jagged peaks, massive glaciers, and turquoise lakes.
Torres del Paine National Park offers both established campgrounds and backcountry camping for the adventurous. The famous W Trek takes 4-5 days, with each night spent under stars so bright they seem artificial.
Weather changes rapidly here, so pack layers and waterproof everything. Fall asleep to the distant rumble of calving glaciers and wake to sunrise painting the mountains gold and pink.
5. Travel Off-Season Always (Travel Hack)
Visiting destinations just before or after peak season is the smartest travel move you’ll ever make. Prices drop dramatically – sometimes by 50% – while weather often remains nearly perfect. May and September in Mediterranean Europe offer warm days without the crushing July crowds.
Bali in April means occasional rain showers but half-empty beaches and negotiable hotel rates. You’ll interact with locals who aren’t burned out from tourist overload.
Research seasonal patterns before booking and aim for that sweet spot – the “shoulder season” when attractions remain open but cruise ships and tour buses have disappeared. Your photos won’t have strangers photobombing every shot!
6. Glacier Hiking in Alaska
Strapping crampons to your boots and stepping onto a massive river of ancient ice changes your perspective forever. Alaska’s accessible glaciers offer day hikes where you’ll discover ice caves, moulins (vertical shafts), and impossibly blue pools.
Matanuska Glacier near Anchorage and Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park provide guided experiences for all fitness levels. The crunch of ice beneath your feet and the otherworldly landscape of frozen waves make you feel like you’ve left Earth entirely.
Summer months bring 20+ hours of daylight for extended exploration. Listen for the glacier’s occasional groans and cracks – signs that this seemingly solid terrain is actually slowly moving beneath you.
7. Safari in the Serengeti
Nothing prepares you for your first lion sighting in the wild – that moment when your safari vehicle stops and you lock eyes with the king of beasts. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park hosts the famous Great Migration, where over two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle follow seasonal rains.
Early mornings reveal predators returning from night hunts while afternoons bring elephants to watering holes. Your guide’s expert eyes will spot camouflaged leopards in acacia trees and distant rhinos grazing on the horizon.
Luxury tented camps let you fall asleep to hyenas whooping and lions roaring in the distance. The vastness of these golden plains, stretching seemingly forever under enormous skies, redefines your understanding of wilderness.
8. Exploring Petra by Night
While daytime crowds swarm Jordan’s ancient city, true magic happens after sunset when 1,500 candles illuminate the narrow Siq leading to the Treasury. This special night experience occurs just three evenings weekly, making it both exclusive and unforgettable.
Walking the candlelit path between towering canyon walls creates an atmosphere of mystery that matches Petra’s 2,000-year history. The Treasury’s elaborate façade glows amber against the night sky while Bedouin musicians play traditional instruments.
Arrive early to secure front-row seating on mats placed before the Treasury. After the short musical performance, linger to photograph the scene without crowds – something impossible during daylight hours.
9. Sailing the Greek Isles
Imagine waking to gentle waves lapping against your sailboat, then diving directly into crystal-clear Mediterranean waters before breakfast. Island-hopping through the Greek archipelago combines adventure with relaxation in perfect balance.
The Cyclades chain offers postcard-perfect white villages spilling down hillsides to turquoise harbors. Drop anchor in secluded coves accessible only by boat, where you’ll swim in water so clear you can count pebbles 30 feet below.
Each evening brings a different island taverna serving just-caught fish and local wine. Sailing knowledge helps but isn’t required – chartered yachts with skippers allow anyone to experience this dream trip. May and September offer ideal conditions with steady winds and fewer crowds.
10. Watching Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Arriving in darkness, you’ll join pilgrims and photographers positioning themselves along the reflecting pools facing Cambodia’s magnificent temple. As first light breaks, Angkor Wat’s distinctive silhouette slowly emerges against the changing sky, perfectly mirrored in still waters below.
This 12th-century Hindu-turned-Buddhist temple complex represents the cosmic world, with its five towers symbolizing Mount Meru’s peaks. After capturing sunrise photos, explore the vast site while morning temperatures remain cool.
Don’t rush away after dawn – most tourists depart for breakfast, leaving you with relatively empty temples to explore. Bring a headlamp for pre-dawn navigation and wear temple-appropriate clothing covering shoulders and knees.
11. Book With Points Strategically (Travel Hack)
Credit card points and airline miles can transform expensive bucket-list trips into affordable adventures if you use them wisely. Focus on high-value redemptions rather than easy ones – save points for business class on long-haul flights or luxury hotels in expensive cities.
Transfer points between partner programs to maximize value. For example, credit card points often gain value when transferred to airline partners for premium cabin redemptions. Booking 11 months in advance (when award calendars open) secures those elusive seats.
Tools like Award Hacker help identify the cheapest mileage routes between destinations. Remember that flexible points from cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum offer the most redemption options.
12. Walking Japan’s Nakasendo Trail
Centuries before bullet trains crisscrossed Japan, samurai and merchants traveled the Nakasendo, an ancient highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. Today, preserved sections offer hikers a journey through time, passing through perfectly maintained post towns where traditional inns welcome weary travelers.
The Kiso Valley section between Magome and Tsumago remains the most accessible and atmospheric stretch. Stone paths wind through bamboo forests and mountain villages where you’ll stop for green tea and local sweets.
Staying in a ryokan (traditional inn) completes the experience – sleep on futon mattresses, bathe in communal hot springs, and savor multi-course kaiseki dinners. Fall brings vibrant maple foliage while spring offers cherry blossoms along the route.
13. Cruising the Galápagos
Where else can you snorkel alongside playful sea lions, watch giant tortoises roam freely, and step around marine iguanas sunning themselves? Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands offer wildlife encounters so intimate they seem almost staged.
Small expedition ships carrying 16-100 passengers provide the best experience, allowing access to remote islands while minimizing environmental impact. Daily excursions include guided hikes, snorkeling, and zodiac rides along shorelines where blue-footed boobies perform mating dances just feet away. Animals here evolved without fear of humans, creating unprecedented photography opportunities.
The diversity between islands – some lush and green, others stark volcanic landscapes – showcases evolution in action, just as Charles Darwin observed nearly two centuries ago.
14. Driving Iceland’s Ring Road
Iceland’s Route 1 forms a perfect circle around this otherworldly island, connecting waterfall after glacier after volcanic beach in an 828-mile highlight reel of natural wonders. Renting a car (or better yet, a campervan) gives you freedom to stop whenever something catches your eye – which happens approximately every five minutes.
The complete loop takes 7-10 days, though summer’s midnight sun extends your sightseeing hours. You’ll soak in geothermal hot springs, walk behind thundering waterfalls, and photograph horses with flowing manes against dramatic landscapes.
Summer brings easier driving conditions but winter offers northern lights possibilities. Gas stations are surprisingly far apart, so fill up whenever possible and download offline maps before setting out.
15. Sleeping in a Sahara Camp
After bumping across rocky terrain in a 4×4, you’ll transfer to camelback for the final approach to your desert camp. As Morocco’s Sahara dunes turn golden in sunset light, the immensity of this landscape becomes overwhelming – endless waves of sand stretching to the horizon.
Berber-style tents equipped with proper beds and rugs provide surprising comfort amid wilderness. After a tagine dinner around the campfire, local guides often play traditional drums beneath stars that seem close enough to touch.
Climbing a nearby dune for sunrise reveals constantly changing colors across the landscape. The silence here is profound – a rare commodity in our noisy world. Most camps lie near Merzouga or M’Hamid, requiring at least two days’ journey from Marrakech.
16. Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia
Few travel experiences match floating silently above Cappadocia’s surreal “fairy chimney” rock formations as dawn breaks. This Turkish region hosts hundreds of colorful balloons each morning, creating both a spectacular sight from the ground and an unforgettable journey for those airborne.
Flights typically begin before sunrise, when winds are calmest. As your balloon rises, unique geological formations spread below – valleys filled with mushroom-shaped rocks and ancient cave dwellings where early Christians once hid.
Pilots maneuver surprisingly close to rock formations, offering incredible photography opportunities. Most flights conclude with a champagne toast after landing. Book well in advance as this bucket-list experience sells out quickly, especially during summer months.
17. Road Tripping New Zealand
Middle Earth comes to life as you drive through New Zealand’s staggeringly beautiful landscapes. The country seems designed for road trips, with well-maintained highways connecting glacier-carved valleys, coastal rainforests, and volcanic wonderlands – often with no other cars in sight.
South Island’s highlights include Milford Sound’s towering fjords and Mount Cook’s alpine scenery. North Island offers geothermal wonders at Rotorua and perfect beaches in the Bay of Islands. Friendly locals provide directions with the bonus of charming accents.
Campervans offer the ultimate flexibility – many areas permit free overnight parking with million-dollar views. Allow at least two weeks to explore one island properly, or a month for both. Drive on the left and watch for sheep crossing!
18. Chasing Northern Lights in Finland
Finnish Lapland offers front-row seats to nature’s greatest light show. Above the Arctic Circle in winter, darkness reigns for 20+ hours daily, maximizing your chances of witnessing the aurora borealis dance across the sky in green, purple, and pink ribbons.
Glass-roofed igloos and cabins around Rovaniemi and Kakslauttanen let you watch for lights from your bed. When temperatures drop below -20°C, the displays often burn brightest. Aurora-chasing tours take you away from light pollution to optimal viewing spots.
Beyond aurora hunting, try reindeer sledding, ice fishing, and authentic sauna experiences. September-March offers viewing opportunities, but December-February brings the darkest skies and most reliable conditions, despite the serious cold.
19. Visiting Antarctica by Ship
Earth’s final frontier remains its most pristine and otherworldly destination. Expedition ships depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the notorious Drake Passage before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula’s ice-filled bays and channels.
Daily zodiac excursions bring you face-to-face with penguins, seals, and whales against a backdrop of towering glaciers and icebergs in impossible shades of blue. The complete silence, broken only by crackling ice and penguin calls, creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on the planet.
Most voyages operate November-March (Antarctic summer), with December-January offering 24-hour daylight and peak wildlife activity. Choose ships carrying fewer than 200 passengers – they can land at more sites and offer a more intimate experience.
20. Hiking the Inca Trail
Reaching Machu Picchu after four days of challenging hiking through the Peruvian Andes creates a sense of accomplishment that day-trippers never experience. The classic Inca Trail winds through cloud forests, alpine tundra, and ancient ruins before culminating at the Sun Gate with your first glimpse of the lost city.
Professional guides and porters make the journey accessible to reasonably fit hikers. You’ll camp beneath star-filled skies and wake to misty mountain vistas each morning. The trail’s 26 miles include significant altitude changes, with the highest pass reaching 13,828 feet.
Permits are strictly limited and sell out months ahead. May-September offers the driest hiking conditions, though this UNESCO World Heritage site impresses year-round.
21. Rafting the Grand Canyon
Floating the Colorado River through America’s most famous canyon offers a perspective few ever witness. Multi-day rafting trips reveal hidden waterfalls, side canyons, and Native American sites inaccessible by rim viewpoints, all while billion-year-old rock walls tower thousands of feet overhead.
Commercial trips range from 3-18 days, with motorized rafts offering shorter journeys while oar-powered expeditions provide the full wilderness experience. Rapids range from gentle ripples to legendary whitewater like Crystal and Lava Falls. Nights spent camping on sandy beaches beneath star-filled skies create lifelong memories.
Most trips run April-October, with spring offering wildflowers and fall bringing cooler temperatures. Permits for private trips require entering a lottery years in advance.