Out Of All The Trips I’ve Taken, These 12 Were Hands-Down The Best

Travel has shaped who I am in ways nothing else could. From misty mountain peaks to bustling city streets, my adventures have filled my life with incredible memories. Looking back at all my journeys, some stand out as truly life-changing experiences that I’ll cherish forever.

Here are the 12 trips that completely blew my mind and left me forever changed.

1. Kyoto During Cherry Blossom Season

Nothing prepared me for the magic of Kyoto in spring. Walking beneath canopies of pink cherry blossoms while ancient temples peeked through the petals felt like stepping into a watercolor painting.

My morning tea ceremony with a local family taught me more about mindfulness than years of reading ever could. Their patience in showing me each deliberate movement reminded me how beauty often hides in slowness.

Wandering through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest at dawn, with no crowds and only the sound of stalks gently knocking together in the breeze, was worth every minute of the 4am alarm.

2. Road Trip Along California’s Pacific Coast Highway

Driving with the windows down, salt air whipping through my hair, I followed the curves of Highway 1 as it hugged California’s dramatic coastline. Every turn revealed another postcard-worthy vista of crashing waves against jagged cliffs.

Stopping at tiny seafood shacks where locals gathered was the highlight. One weathered fisherman in Half Moon Bay shared stories of decades on these waters while I devoured the freshest crab I’ve ever tasted.

Watching the sunset at Pfeiffer Beach, where the light streams through a massive rock arch turning the sand purple, made me realize some moments are too perfect to capture on camera.

3. Safari Adventure in Tanzania’s Serengeti

Waking in my canvas tent to the distant roar of lions made my heart race with both fear and excitement. The guide’s knowing smile told me this was normal, but nothing about this experience felt ordinary to me.

During our dawn game drive, we watched a cheetah stalking through golden grass, its spotted body nearly invisible until it exploded into a blur of speed. My camera sat forgotten in my lap – some moments demand full presence.

Around the campfire that night, under stars so bright they seemed artificial, our Maasai guide sang traditional songs while teaching us words in Swahili. I’ve never felt so small yet so connected to everything.

4. Lost in the Ancient Streets of Marrakech

Sensory overload hit me immediately in Marrakech’s medina. The labyrinth of narrow alleyways buzzed with vendors calling out offers while aromas of saffron, mint tea, and leather tanning competed for attention.

Getting thoroughly lost turned out to be the best mistake. An elderly craftsman invited me into his tiny workshop where he created intricate wood mosaics using techniques passed down for generations. His weathered hands moved with surprising grace.

Later, from a rooftop restaurant, I watched the famous square transform at sunset as food stalls appeared like magic and storytellers gathered crowds. The call to prayer echoed across the city, momentarily hushing the eternal bustle.

5. Hiking to Machu Picchu at Sunrise

My legs burned with four days of trekking the Inca Trail, but standing at the Sun Gate as dawn broke over Machu Picchu instantly erased all fatigue. Golden light gradually revealed the ancient stone city nestled between dramatic mountain peaks.

Our guide Carlos shared stories of his ancestors who built this marvel, pointing out engineering details that have withstood centuries. His pride in this heritage was infectious, making history feel alive beneath my fingertips as I traced the perfectly fitted stones.

Finding a quiet corner away from other tourists, I sat silently watching clouds drift through the ruins. Sometimes the most profound travel moments come when you simply stop moving and let a place speak to you.

6. Winter Magic in Iceland’s Ice Caves

Crawling through a tiny entrance into a massive blue ice cave beneath Vatnajökull glacier was like entering another planet. The walls glowed an otherworldly azure, sculpted by centuries of melting and freezing into organic, flowing shapes.

My Icelandic guide Gunnar explained how these caves form anew each winter and disappear each summer. His casual reminder that we were standing inside a slowly moving river of ice – and that nothing here would exist next year – gave me chills beyond the freezing temperature.

Later that night, the Northern Lights danced across the sky while we soaked in a natural hot spring. The contrast of steaming water and freezing air while watching nature’s light show remains my definition of perfect contradiction.

7. Living with Monks in a Japanese Monastery

Arriving at the remote mountain monastery, I worried about surviving a week of 4am wake-ups, meditation, and simple vegetarian meals. My first morning, struggling to sit still while my legs screamed in pain, I wondered if I’d made a terrible mistake.

By day three, something shifted. Chopping vegetables in the kitchen with silent focus became a form of meditation itself. The head monk noticed my changing attitude and invited me to help prepare the morning incense ceremony, an unexpected honor.

Leaving felt strangely difficult. The simplicity I’d initially feared had become a comfortable refuge. Sometimes the most transformative trips are those that strip away comforts rather than adding luxuries.

8. Sailing Through Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands

Jumping from our chartered sailboat into the crystal-clear Adriatic became our morning ritual. The water was so transparent it was like hovering in midair above the seafloor twenty feet below.

Each day brought a new island to explore. On Vis, an elderly woman waved us into her garden where she poured homemade rakija (fruit brandy) and insisted we try her lavender honey despite our language barrier. Her hospitality spoke volumes without words.

Mooring in tiny harbors each evening, we’d wander to family-run konobas (taverns) where fishermen delivered their catch directly to the kitchen. One night, a local guitarist had the entire restaurant singing Croatian folk songs until dawn broke over the harbor.

9. Stargazing in Chile’s Atacama Desert

Lying on my back in the world’s driest desert, I gasped at stars so numerous and bright they seemed close enough to touch. The Milky Way stretched across the sky like spilled paint, more vivid than any photograph could capture.

Our astronomer guide used a powerful laser pointer to trace constellations while sharing both scientific facts and ancient Incan mythology about the same stars. Learning how different cultures interpret identical skies reminded me how perspective shapes everything.

During the day, exploring otherworldly landscapes of rust-colored canyons, salt flats, and geysers felt like walking on Mars. The absolute silence of this place – no birds, insects, or plants – created a meditative emptiness I’ve never experienced elsewhere.

10. Immersed in Balinese Village Life

Staying with a family in a small village outside Ubud changed how I approach travel forever. Rather than ticking off tourist sites, I spent mornings helping in rice paddies and afternoons learning to make offerings from palm leaves with grandmother Wayan.

My host’s teenage son Made (pronounced mah-day) became my unexpected guide, proudly showing me hidden waterfalls and teaching me Balinese phrases between fits of laughter at my pronunciation. His perspective on his island home opened my eyes to details I would have missed.

Participating in a temple ceremony, wearing borrowed traditional clothes and following my host family’s gentle guidance, I felt the rare privilege of genuine cultural exchange rather than mere observation. Connection became the destination.

11. Crossing Mongolia’s Vast Steppes on Horseback

Galloping across endless grasslands with no roads, fences or buildings in sight gave me a taste of true freedom. My sturdy Mongolian horse seemed to read my thoughts, responding to the slightest shift in weight rather than rein pressure.

Each night we’d stop at a different nomadic family’s ger (yurt), always welcomed with fermented mare’s milk and mutton stew. One grandmother insisted I try on her traditional deel robe, then clapped with delight when it fit, refusing my attempts to return it – my most treasured souvenir.

During our journey, we encountered a naadam festival where local horsemen competed in races and wrestling. Their skills developed through necessity rather than sport highlighted how differently we experience the same world.

12. Living Aboard a Houseboat in Kerala’s Backwaters

Drifting through Kerala’s intricate network of canals and lakes aboard a traditional thatched-roof houseboat slowed time to a delicious crawl. From my wooden deck chair, daily life along the shores unfolded like a documentary film.

Children in school uniforms waved enthusiastically while women in bright saris washed clothes by slapping them against smooth stones. Fishermen cast nets with graceful, practiced movements that seemed choreographed.

Our onboard chef created magic in his tiny kitchen, serving fish curry on banana leaves and teaching me to eat properly with my right hand. “Food tastes different when you feel it,” he insisted. After awkward attempts, I discovered he was absolutely right – another sense had been awakened.