Ready to take a trip but not sure where to start? Sometimes I feel that way, too!
The world is so big, so diverse, so beautiful. Figuring out where to go, especially if you can only take one “big” trip a year (or every two years), can be overwhelming.
But don’t let that overwhelm lull you into not going anywhere. Pick one from this list–you won’t be disappointed, no matter what you choose!
Easter Island
This is one if the most mysterious, unique, intriguing places on the entire planet. No one speaks the Rapa Nui language, much less reads it, so everything about this once densely populated island is a mystery. How did they make the Easter Island Heads? How did they move them? Why are there almost no trees? What happened to everyone? There is archaeological evidence, but even now, no one knows much about the Rapa Nui people at all. With the island’s remoteness, how did the Rapa Nui people even get there?
All this and more make Easter Island one of the most epic places to visit before you die. Do
n’t believe me? Go and see it for yourself!
Galapagos Islands
Speaking of islands, you can’t miss the Galapagos. This unique group of islands is almost as remote as Easter Island, but you can get there when you fly via Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador. You need to go with a company that can provide you with guides–we loved our trip with Galapagos AlterNATIVE–because the islands, and their animals, are so protected. The unique species here roam truly free and are not afraid of people. They have no need to be, since the islands are all included in Galapagos National Park. Most of the animals are endemic, which means they exist nowhere else in the world.
You can get up-close and personal (as long as they go up to you, not the other way around) with Giant tortoises, Galapagos penguins, sea lions, iguanas, even flamingoes, and so much more! We went swimming with seals and penguins, I turned 30 with 150-year-old tortoises, and we watched blue-footed boobies dive for dinner. Whether you choose a land-based or sea-based tour, you will remember this experience forever.
Egypt
This is truly a bucket list trip of a lifetime. Everyone knows the pyramids, and practically everyone wants to see these ancient wonders for themselves. They are even bigger and more complex than you think, and as the only Ancient Wonder of the World still in existence, they do not disappoint. But there is so much more to Egypt! From luxury Nile Cruises to resorts on the Red Sea, and from Biblical sites to tombs and temples many thousands of years old, a trip to Egypt is the trip you’ve waited for your whole life… But why are you still waiting?
Australia
The land “Down Under” was on my personal bucket list from the time I was a little girl, and when I finally traveled there in my 20s, it exceeded my expectations
! From the Sydney Opera House (tour AND an opera) to the Sydney Zoo and Harbor Bridge Climb, to snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef and (legally) holding a koala, to walking miles around Uluru (aka Ayers Rock), this is an unforgettable, unique place to travel.
Be sure to spend plenty of time here so you can explore all it has to offer!
Angkor Wat
This is the only specific site on this list—as in, not an entire country or island. While Cambodia is absolutely worth seeing and experiencing, the temple complexes of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are possibly the most impressive spiritual places in the world. They are so intricate, so large, and so ancient, you’ll need many days to truly explore them and take in all the sites. Not only that, the location is almost more epic than fiction, covered in overgrowth in the jungle, complete with monkeys.
Iceland
Speaking of epic locations, Iceland is just that. The “Land of Fire and Ice” is definitely the place to go to see unbelievable landscapes. You could spend an entire trip just visiting Iceland’s waterfalls alone, but don’t miss the puffins, black sand beaches, unique architecture, the Blue Lagoon, natural hot springs, glaciers, and volcanoes. It is often explored by RV or camper van, giving visitors once-in-a-lifetime views of the Northern Lights on the long, dark winter nights. Anyone who has ever visited Iceland finds something incredible here.
Hawai’i
This is one of my personal favorite destinations. I love it so much, my husband and I have been more than 10 times. Before we go, I always think, “It can’t possibly be as beautiful or amazing as I remember.” But then, it is. It’s better, more incredible, and entirely worth the long flight to get there from my home base on the east coast. These islands are truly enchanting, even captivating. Their history and culture are so unique—did you know it’s the only state that was once its own monarchy? Whether you’re into hiking, snorkeling, food, or simply gorgeous scenery, the Hawai’ian Islands have everything to offer you.
Greece
When I told people we were going to Greece, their reaction was, “Wow! I’ve always wanted to go there!” So why haven’t you? It’s one of the world’s most consequential countries, and the birthplace of so many important pieces of world history. Even better, the people are entirely hospitable, the food is beyond delicious, and the sites will blow your mind. Start in Athens, explore as much of the mainland as you can, and then relax on one of the famous Greek Isles (or a few). It’s definitely trip-of-a-lifetime material.
The Holy Land
As I write this, there is still a full-scale war erupting between the nation of Israel and the terrorist entities of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran, collectively. I don’t advise visiting until this war comes to an end. That said, your trip here will be worth the wait, and perhaps even more meaningful because of the waiting period. Jerusalem is one of the holiest cities for the world’s three major religions—Christianity, Islam, Judaism—and the surrounding towns and sites hold significant meaning to people of all three faiths as well.
For a place so spiritual, so war-torn, and so different from the rest of the Middle East, this is a must-visit for well over half the world’s population.
The Place That’s Always Been On Your List
This one is up to you! What place did you dream of visiting when you were a little boy or little girl? What travel experience do you think would be life-renewing? About what place would you like to say, “I’ve been there. It was incredible!” What’s the one place you’ve always dreamt of visiting? And why haven’t you been? Identify the barrier, work around it, and go! You won’t be sorry you went, but at the end of your life, you will regret missing it.
