what is travel experience

Experiential Travel: Creating Memories, Not Checklists

Trends in the tourism industry are constantly evolving, and experiential travel is one of the latest trends that has only increased in popularity over the years. The key point of experiential travel is to create memories that will last you a lifetime, and if that sounds like exactly your type of travel, this guide will be helpful.

What exactly is experiential travel, why should you engage in it more often, and the top tour operators for experiential trips are just some of the key things covered in this detailed guide. Keep reading to learn more about experiential travel and see why so many people have become engrossed with it!

What Is Experiential Travel?

Experiential travel is a travel method that has been talked about for decades but has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It’s essentially a way of traveling that allows you to really dig deep into the local culture and fully experience every new place you visit.

Experiential tourism is mostly focused on experiences as opposed to destinations. It also entails spending more time with locals and exploring off-the-beaten paths, instead of just visiting tourist attractions with the highest ratings on Trip Advisor and Google Maps.

This type of tourism is also known as immersion travel because it entails travelers being fully immersed in a local culture. I like to think that immersion travel is just one aspect of experiential travel, and that adventure travel is just as an important part of it.

You can immerse yourself in a local culture all you want but if you don’t actually have authentic local experiences, I don’t think you can still call it experiential travel.

The complete opposite of experiential travel would be something like traveling to a foreign destination and staying at a resort the entire time you’re there. Sure, it’s nice to relax for a few days and spend your time sipping cocktails on the beach, but can you really say you’ve visited Mexico if you’ve never left the hotel? Experiential travelers would disagree.

Benefits of Experiential Travel

The main advantage of experiential travel is that you will end your trips feeling enriched by local cultures, and you will create memories that will last forever. You will actually get to learn and understand the history and traditions of a place, and if you do it right, you can make friends everywhere in the world.

Another benefit of experiential travel is that it should be more affordable. You wouldn’t stay in a fancy hotel, but rather in an apartment rented out by a local. You can even look into house-sitting and pet-sitting options, or just stick to couchsurfing for the most authentic experiences.

Choosing local accommodation instead of mass hotel chains allows you to get in touch with the hosts, which can provide valuable tips about the local communities and the destination’s culture.

Examples of Experiential Travel

When I plan a trip to a new country, I usually start off by creating a map on Google Maps with all the most famous landmarks, tourist attractions, and museums. I prefer to do things by myself and I avoid hiring guides and travel agents, so I do aim to achieve some level of immersion into local culture.

I also make it a point to eat at as many local restaurants as possible and try all the most famous foods in that city. The opposite would be sticking to Burger King or McDonald’s because they’re “safe” options.

While all of that is part of immersion travel, a true experiential traveler wouldn’t aim to visit just the most famous attractions in a new city. Instead, they would look for knowledgeable locals who would help them find all the best-hidden gems and places that locals enjoy the most. It could include visiting a quaint restaurant with the best local cuisine or partaking in an activity that is specific to that city.

It means joining a pasta-making class when you’re in Italy, partaking in a Flamenco dance class while you’re exploring Spain, or attending a local football game when you’re staying in England.

Planning an Experiential Travel Trip

When you’re planning an experiential travel trip, try to focus on encountering authentic local experiences. I would suggest starting off with a quick walking tour of the city. But try to look for local guides that do these tours in smaller groups – it will be a much more immersive experience and you’ll get to actually learn something, especially if you’re spending time with like-minded travelers.

Then, I suggest you do some research about the cuisine of the place you are visiting and learn about the different local dishes. Try to find restaurants that are frequented by locals – if you’re not having too much success, ask your host or a local guide for recommendations.

I’ve found that asking people on Reddit can also yield some great results because there are often locals who are willing to help tourists get to know their cultures.

Next, consider what the country or city you’re visiting is most famous for and try to find attractions or experiences that incorporate that to really get a sense of how the locals are living. An example of this would be going on at least one hike if you’re traveling in the more rural areas of Switzerland, or swimming in the Rhine River if you’re staying in Basel because it’s what the locals actually do.

Top Experiential Travel Companies

Velocity black.

Velocity Black is one of the best examples of a modern concierge service that goes above and beyond for its clients. Services offered by the company include organizing trips and holidays that are tailored to your wants and needs. Velocity Black can offer its members deals on flights with the world’s best airlines, free upgrades, and access to some of the best hotels in the world.

The company is also able to organize special experiences for its clients, which range from hanging out with celebrities to swimming with orcas. The annual membership fee is £2,000 and there’s currently a waiting list to join.

Vivid Travel

Vivid Travel is an experiential travel company that focuses on creating personalized travel itineraries for their customers. The agents will ask you questions about preferences for accommodation, ideas for experiences, and attractions, but also about your budget and preferred vacation length.

Then, they can create you a unique itinerary that explores all the things that interest you the most, while staying within your budget. They’ll do all the booking for you, and it’s a great company to use if you don’t like doing the research and bookings yourself.

Niquesa Travel

Niquesa Travel is another tour operator that specializes in custom travel itineraries. It’s more of a luxury travel company, so not the best operator to use if you’re trying to travel on a tighter budget. The company can plan and organize every aspect of your trip, from flights to immersive experiences.

You can contact Niquesa Travel to arrange any type of trip you want, and they also have a few pre-made itineraries that sound amazing. Travel to Morocco on a limited budget and follow a series of clues as you explore the local culture, or go on a road trip through England in a supercar.

Black Tomato

Black Tomato is a favored luxury travel company for experiential travel. This company has pre-made itineraries for virtually every corner of the world, but its agents can also create entirely new customized itineraries for customers.

Trekking in Nepal, safaris in Uganda, and sailing in the Galapagos Islands are just some examples of trips this company can arrange for you. Allowing Black Tomato to plan your trip means you’ll need to tell them everything about your preferences and budget, and they’ll do absolutely everything for you from booking the plane tickets to reserving you a spot in the pasta-making class in Tuscany.

Abercrombie & Kent

Abercrombie & Kent is one of the oldest luxury travel companies with a history of more than six decades. The company is known for incredibly detailed personalized itineraries, as well as excellent service.

Booking a trip with Abercrombie & Kent means that you could attend a private tour of a museum, get customized meals, and stay at places that are off-limits for regular people. This is one of the priciest tour agencies for experiential travel, but also one that can offer you a unique and personalized experience in every corner of the world.

Current Trends in Experiential Travel

Trends in the travel industry are constantly changing, but the core of experiential travel will always be immersive experiences. Adventure tourism is becoming an increasingly important part of experiential travel, and more and more travelers are spending their time hiking, backpacking, rafting, skydiving, and engaging in all sorts of other adventures that are typical for the places they are visiting.

Meaningful engagement with the local communities is also a growing trend in experiential travel. Forming an emotional connection with people in a foreign place is essential for creating lifelong memories, and an increasing number of people will spend their time visiting schools, museums, theaters, and similar places that the locals frequent in their daily lives.

But the way I see it, you should focus on experiences you’re genuinely interested in, and skip any experiences you might not enjoy, regardless of how local they are. An example of this would be if you were in London – maybe it would be a truly authentic local experience to spend an afternoon at a pub and go to a football match, but if that’s not something you would genuinely enjoy, you absolutely shouldn’t do it.

Instead, do something that’s fun for you – see a play at the Globe Theater, or spend an afternoon in the Natural History Museum, if that’s more up your alley.

The Future of Experiential Travel

Even with the rise of experiential travel among young adults, there is still absolutely a market for those who prefer to spend their vacation days lounging and relaxing. However, experiential travel has become extremely popular over the past few years, and it was in part a result of the global pandemic of 2020.

Most of the world was stuck for nearly a year, unable to leave their house properly, let alone travel to a new destination. When the countless restrictions were finely dropped and we were allowed to start traveling again, people wanted to get out of the house and do something.

The future of experiential travel lies in more personalized experiences and sustainability. More and more tour operators are shifting to offering immersive travel experiences to satisfy the growing demand for experiential trips. Also, the importance of AI is growing at the same time as the demand for experiential tours, and it’s hard to imagine a world in which the two don’t become integrated.

It’s expected that travel companies will turn to AI to help create unique and personalized itineraries and that VR will become a bit component of experiential travel. It’s only a matter of time until VR allows us to become fully immersed in destinations that we cannot physically visit, whether it’s a trip to Macchu Picchu from the comfort of your couch or a tour of ancient Rome.

About the Author Anna Timbrook

Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.

7 Personal Benefits of Travel

Forget milling around in your finest evening wear, Singapore Sling in hand: You'll be lucky to get peanuts. Flying isn't quite the party it was in Sinatra's days, and lots of time, energy, and money are expended to leave home, so why travel? How long do the personal benefits of travel last?

Getting away from home and stepping outside of your usual routine is beneficial for both mind and body. The long-lasting personal benefits of visiting a foreign country far outweigh the costs and time to get there.

The great travel writer Pico Lyer said: "Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits." Here are seven ways that travel, especially international travel, will enhance your life.

Travel Sharpens the Mind

You've done your old routine for so many years that you could run through it on autopilot. Being dropped into a new environment engages a dormant part of your mind and gets those synapses firing again.

Suddenly, you'll be required to navigate unfamiliar places, read foreign languages , try new things, make quick decisions, and choose your new eating and sleeping schedule.

Unlike at home, all the new sights, sounds, and places will require mental processing and filing. Your brain will welcome the workout! Once you return home, you'll be sharper than ever for better organizing and sprucing up your daily routine.

A Shift in Perspective

"Nobody comes back from a journey the way they started it." — Unknown

Being exposed to new cultures and people will greatly shift your paradigm and create a healthier perspective once you return back home. Seeing different social classes creates compassion and really makes you feel more blessed and content. Large portions of the world's population have to deal with daily threats such as hunger, disease , and landmines .

A hard day at work suddenly doesn't seem so bad when you see people in developing countries toiling in sun-scorched fields from morning to dark, or begging for a drink of water.

A Chance to Try New Things

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

While you may branch out at home from time to time by trying new restaurants or splurging on expenditures, traveling kicks you out of the comfort zone and forces you, for better or worse, to try new things!

Even if you don't enjoy your first attempt at scuba diving , at least you'll be able to relate in a new way the next time you see it in a movie or hear someone talking about it.

Becoming a well-rounded individual enhances self-confidence and will help you find new material for conversation in social settings with a wider variety of people.

Who knows, you may accidentally discover your new favorite food or find out that you want to pursue a new career in karaoke!

Meet New People

"A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles." — Tim Cahill

You'll meet far more friendly people on the road than you will under ordinary circumstances at home.

Other travelers are always looking to share experiences, give tips on places to go, and meet people from all over. Striking up a conversation with other travelers is extraordinarily easy.

A polite "so where are you from?" breaks the ice quite easily and may lead to lasting friendships with people from all over the world.

See the Real Deal

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." — Aldous Huxley

Until you visit a place and form your own opinions, your understanding only comes from what you were taught in school, read in books, or saw on media, which may or may not be a complete truth.

Don't over-research your upcoming destination in guidebooks. Do your best to avoid building a bias toward a place or installing mental filters before you visit. Wait to form your own opinion, remaining objective until you can make up your own mind.

Exercise and Sunshine

Sure, you could just go sweat in the gym under fluorescent lighting, but chances are that you'll be much more active from day to day while on the road, regardless of whether your trip is an adventurous one or simply a relaxing beach trip .

You could be exploring new cities on foot, hiking , swimming, walking between places, and hopefully soaking up some needed sunshine while doing so. And it's guaranteed to smell better than the gym.

Come Home Renewed

After stepping away from home for a while, you'll return with renewed energy, a new set of mental filters, and ready to take on the next big project or challenge. Call it a life reboot.

Getting away for some time, even though it requires effort, will greatly enhance your attitude and productivity once you return home. Sure, you may have some mail piled up and matters to attend, but those are simple challenges easily knocked out.

Breaking up the monotony for a while is a great way to reduce stress and give your life an injection of excitement. Don't be surprised if shortly after your return, you're already counting down days until the next trip!

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Is experiential travel the next big trend?

The nature of travel is changing, with a stronger focus on immersive experiences. What does this mean for travellers?

Broadly speaking, the concept of experiential travel refers to immersive experiences — the kind that aims to forge a deeper connection with a destination than can usually be had from traditional leisure holidays. These often involve an element of adventure, whether physical, cultural or spiritual. According to trend-spotting agency Mabrian, these kinds of trips are now almost as high on the average traveller’s wish list as more conventional holidays — defined as involving activities such as sunbathing, family gatherings or shopping.

Where are people going?

Experiential travel usually delves deeper into a given destination, ensuring visitors can experience it as authentically as possible. As such, tours tend to focus on less-touristy spots. Since the pandemic, for example, upmarket ski specialist Powder Byrne has found that destinations like Japan better represent a blow-out family ski trip than somewhere such as Switzerland. Add-on experiences such as temple tours and samurai sword-fighting displays add extra dimension.

What kind of trips are being taken?

Active adventures are growing in popularity, with more extreme options on offer than ever before. An example includes the Shackleton Challenges. Launched to complement Shackleton’s polar-proof outdoor clothing, they’re — for the most part — Arctic and Antarctic mini-expeditions. Even the entry-level Polar Skills Challenge in Norway involves hauling a pulk (an equipment-laden sled) as you ski tour across the snow.

What about closer to home?

The growth of experiential travel isn’t restricted to long-haul pursuits. Take, for example, the popularity of wild camping in the UK. Of course, lovers of Britain’s national parks have been doing it for generations. But when a YouTuber such as Claire Wildbeare attracts an audience of 220,000 subscribers and posts 113 wild-camping and bivouacking videos — closely followed by fellow YouTube star Paul Messner — it’s clear something extraordinary is going on. Every weekend, it seems, a small army of thrill-seekers is dispersing across Britain’s moors, fells and munros. Their mission: to experience Britain in its rawest, most unvarnished state. As a result, mountain sports outfitter Ellis Brigham has seen its robust, weatherproof tents fly off the shelves. “It seems that enthusiasm for the adventurous side of camping is stronger than ever,” observes Luke Scrine, the brand’s chief tent buyer.

What if it’s not for me?

Of course, not everyone wants this kind of experience. People still fly and flop in their millions. And while some well-heeled travellers are hoping to come back with tales of life-changing encounters in faraway places, others are flocking to the next must-stay luxury hotel. HBO’s TV series White Lotus was cynical about such behaviour in 2021 and 2022, but that didn’t stop demand for the property featured in its second series — the Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, Sicily — skyrocketing in the show’s wake.

What are the benefits?

The deeper we get into a destination, the more widely our money spreads. Original Travel’s Tom Barber is well aware of the benefits. “We’re big promoters of community-based tourism,” he says. “We identify locally owned accommodation, restaurants and activities so our clients can make informed decisions as to where their money goes. It’s important not to be preachy, but more and more clients are opting for experiences and accommodation where they know their money can be used to make a genuine difference.”

The benefits remain for the traveller, too. Spending time chatting to locals and getting to know about their day-to-day lives — including tour guides, hosts and others who work in tourism — could provide meaningful insight into the lived reality of a given destination. These kind of colloquial exchanges also contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of a place, which could prove just as memorable as a guide’s treasure trove of facts and history.

What do I need to know?

Travellers should check the exclusions on their travel insurance policy closely before they go, particularly if there are likely to be physical activities. There will also likely be a level of fitness required for some activities too — check you’re fully prepared before booking.

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What is Experiential Travel, and why is it important

by Paula McInerney | Dec 14, 2016 | DESTINATIONS , Experiential Travel | 8 comments

So what is Experiential Travel, and why is it so important? Let me explain.

It was the imperfect start to a perfect day and the start to our immersion experience in Valencia Spain. Chef Cross, and yes that is his real name, was cranky. We were unavoidably late to our paella class in Valencia, Spain . I tried to explain why we were late, but he didn’t speak English, and I don’t speak Spanish, so my explanations were sort of pointless; and well, he seemed just a little ..well…angry.

I was hot, and I was bothered because I have this punctuality fetish. He was hotter and seemingly more bothered that we were late to his Academy of Paella and he appeared to be a proud man. It was a Mexican standoff between one short, red-headed Australian with a bit of a temper and one big and cantankerous Spanish chef. Chef Cross had a beer in front of him, in the cobblestone alley outside of his school in this appealing Spanish city . I pointed to it, grabbed it, and took a sip…ok, ok, I took a gulp. He looked at me, smiled and therein nearly ended our Mexican standoff.

But more of that later.

I will just say that the best thing about experiential travel is the people you meet. The lovely man who was the volunteer tour guide in Tokyo, Japan, the girls from Antwerp who were hungry and chose to help us eat our meal. The ski instructor from Kitzbuhel and even the man from Kitzbuhel who firmly believed that I was his first affair at Bondi Beach. That is where the stories come from, and where the invaluable travel experiences come from.

It is rare that you will meet a person telling you that their travels went perfectly. The best stories are the ones where ‘things just happened’.

Gordon and Ichiro – our volunteer Tokyo Tour Guide

What is Experiential Travel?

1 What is Experiential Travel?
2 What Travelers Want
3 Why the Rise of Experiential Travel
4 What does Experiential Travel mean for Travel Bloggers?
5 Let me tell you about more Chef Cross

Well, experiential travel, often called immersion experiences, and are what a lot of travelers have been doing for a long time, but what a lot more are now demanding from the travel industry. It is about experiencing a place with all of your senses . Your sense of smell, taste, touch and the other ones, and getting a better feel of how other people live. Many people want to walk into a boulangerie and practice saying ‘Bonjour” and order a baguette in France, to drink kava in the Pacific islands , and to get naked and have an onsen in Japan , because these are examples of experiential travel. It can also be a cooking school, working with local people, and more importantly it is those serendipitous moments that you can never plan.

Outside the male and female onsens in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

It does not mean forsaking seeing iconic things like the Eiffel Tower, the Colisseum, and the Taj Mahal because there are very good reasons why these places became famous in the first place. Experiential travel means having it all. Seeing wonderful things, and watching people do their washing, or shopping at the markets.

What Travelers Want

Let’s think about this logically. Are you going to go to Ireland and not have a Guinness? Now, I don’t even like the stuff, but I will surely be having one when we go later next year ..to be sure, to be sure. I am planning on sitting in a pub, listening to Irish music, hearing lamentable and drunken poetry readings, and there will be a Guinness in front of me. I will listen to James Joyce, and Oscar Wilde readings, and probably endure Waiting for Godot just once . Why? Other than I don’t like Samuel Beckett’s play, these are the things that I associate with Ireland. The literary heritage that emerged from the pubs. And I will be looking for Leprechauns too. You can read all about our experiences in Ireland.

Music in an Irish Pub

Photo: Mitternacht

I associate struggling artists like Van Gogh in the Parisian cafes of Montmartre. It is why you could have a totally immersive and drunken travel experience if you trod in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway. The man was everywhere from Paris to Madrid, from Cuba to Idaho. In fact, what an amazing experiential travel experience that would be, except that he might have committed suicide after this, possibly linked to his lifestyle choices, or it could have been Haemochromatosis .

street scene Montmartre

Why the Rise of Experiential Travel

Experiential Travel is the catch phrase in the travel industry, and is all about the rise of having immersive travel experiences. This travel term has been spoken about over the years, but 2017 would appear to be THE year where people are seeking these experiences in the places that they visit. This has been touted at many travel conferences like to World Trade Market held in London and will be a focus at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in 2017.

Trying to organize these serendipitous moments of getting a glimpse into others lives is difficult. It sometimes just happens like the barman we briefly met from Newport, Rhode Island , where he worked at a fish whisperers restaurant, and who we still keep in contact with, despite him not living in Iceland.

People you meet while traveling

As Jeremy Smith, at the World Travel Market said,

“If there was a First Rule of Authenticity, it would be: You cannot create Authenticity. […] If there was a Second Rule of Authenticity for 2016, it would be: You do not talk about being authentic. At least not if you actually are.”

But, one of the best qualities of man is our ability to try to understand others, our innate curiosity in others and this is why experiential travel often just happens.

New? No, and many will correctly argue that no transient traveler, can ever truly be immersed in another culture. Does it matter if they or we are only getting a snapshot or a caricature of the place? I don’t think so. It is better than not getting any insights.

On the way to Battambang, Cambodia you see people living on the Tonle Sap River

What does Experiential Travel mean for Travel Bloggers?

People will base their travel decisions on many emotive factors. They have seen a beautiful photo, read an engaging story, seen an amazing video or documentary that makes a destination or/and an experience more appealing to them. Yes, there are iconic things that they want to see , but they and we also want to get a feel of the place. They and we want that Guinness in the pub in Dublin.

It means for travel bloggers and writers that as we share our experiences, our readers can get a feel and a sense of a place. We involve readers and fellow travellers in our stories. It could probably be suggested that the trend for travel bloggers in 2017 is the rise of the story teller. The rise of humanistic storytelling, grammatical errors and all, show we as travel writers are human also. OK, I made up the grammatical errors because this is not my forte, but at least people know when they are reading a Paula article. Travel blogs need to engage on this personal level with the readers and fellow travelers.

If you want to start a travel blog, click here .

Doom Island is in Indonesia on the way to Raja Ampat

Let me tell you about more Chef Cross

Chef Cross rode my ass all day as I learned how to make this Valencian dish of paella. This was probably because I was busy chatting to two lovely people from Switzerland, and figured that Gordon was sanctifying himself by being a model student. Chef Cross called me outside. I thought, OMG he is kicking me out of his school. But no, he sat down to have another beer and gave me another sip. We looked up and down the cobblestoned lane, and we just enjoyed a day in the sun in a Spanish city with little to no words spoken.

It was a perfect day, and he presented us with our Paella Graduation Certificates because he and I had got to understand one another a little better, and Gordon is just a good student. It was an authentic travel experience. The experience where you don’t mention the word authentic.

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This is the very reason I travel. I agree with the point about not being able to create authenticity and I’m not sure how satisfied travellers will be if they expect their travel agent to “arrange” this for them. I get that we can arrange immersive activities with a tour company etc, but whilst experiential travel definitely requires us to explore wider and approach people, in my experience the most memorable moments of when I’ve befriended a local or witnessed a display of typical culture have often been chance encounters. Sometimes it seems to pay when you don’t try too hard and simply let fate take its course. And that’s what I love about experiential travel!

100% agree, we say it is all about serendipity when we have some of our best encounters when traveling.

Count me in! I love doing, seeing, tasting, smelling and experiencing everything when I travel. You ask my husband – I’m like a puppy let out of the kennel! I love your sentence “We involve readers and fellow travellers in our stories”. I think this so true about travel bloggers. We do tell it like it is. Nice post. 🙂

I am the same, I love everything about travel. I feel quite childlike at times, but I love the puppy analogy – as did Gordon when I read this to him.

Love this! My thought is that the reason for the rise in the desire for experiential travel is a direct juxtaposition to the consumerist, “stick in a box and put a name on it” kind of travel that has been doing the rounds for a while now. Warning though, don’t go too hard on the Guinness, I put on 5kg in 4 weeks drinking the stuff 😉

I am just going to get photos of me with a Guiness in front of me 🙂 You have a distinct point about experiential travel.

Experiential travel is my favorite way to travel. Seeing sites is fine but learning about and from people makes travel come alive.

I want it both ways, and that is the best part of travel, that you can.

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GENERAL TRAVEL

15 Life Lessons Learned From Traveling

Liz is a collector of grand adventures. She first discovered her passion for meaningful travel wh...

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They say that travel changes you. When you choose to indulge in your wanderlust and see the world, you will rarely ever return as the same person. More likely, you’ll come home as a more confident, independent, self-aware human. A better human. So what is it about travel that’s so life-changing?

After traveling meaningfully, you’ll never be the same.

There is something incredible about opening your eyes to how other parts of the world live, speak, eat, and work. It shifts your perspective in a whole new way when you visit new countries and learn about new cultures. And yet, some of the biggest life lessons learned from traveling are gained not only through the places you go, but how you handle your travel experiences—the travel mishaps and cultural blunders.

Every aspect of travel is a learning experience, and lessons learned from traveling can’t be learned anywhere else.

What does traveling teach you?

There is truly nothing more memorable in life than travel. It’s one of the few things we can do over and over in life while constantly discovering something new. Every travel experience is different—we’re exposed to different people, different ways of life, different food, languages, and cultural experiences.

Once we get a taste, we want more and more because there is nothing like the personal growth, expansion, and adventure that come with wandering through foreign lands.

Travel has the power to both delight us and challenge us. And it’s through both that we learn. What travel teaches you is that it doesn’t matter where you go—it only matters that you give yourself the opportunity to leave the places you know and let wanderlust take you by the hands and start to dance.

When you do, the life lessons learned from traveling can completely alter your path.

15 life lessons learned from traveling

backpacker traveling off the beaten path

Traveling is one of life’s greatest teachers.

So what does traveling teach you? These are some of the most important lessons learned from traveling the world.

1. Be humble.

No matter who you are, how many years you’ve been on this Earth, or what you’ve done with your life thus far, you will never know everything there is to know. There is always more to discover, more to learn.

What travel teaches you is that you’re not so big in the grand scheme of the world— you are no more important than any other person and there is always room for growth. Travel truly humbles you.

2. You are never alone.

You’ll be amazed how easy it is to bond with other travelers.

Loneliness is a universal feeling; all humans have a desire to fit in, to belong, to have a tribe. One of the most important life lessons learned from traveling is that you are never alone in your feelings of loneliness, and at the same time, you are never truly alone.

Travel brings people together. Even when you’re traveling solo , all you have to do is smile at a stranger and ask a question to spark conversation. Before you know it, you’ll have friends to join you for dinner or tag along with you to the next city.

3. The friends you make abroad are friends for life.

There’s no stronger connection made than between two people who are out of their comfort zones, having the experience of a lifetime, in the same moment in time. While it’s easy to make friends while traveling , the friendships made are also solid ones.

Travel allows you to get to know people in their most vulnerable states, creating bonds that are difficult to break. The friends you make while traveling are often friends you will keep for life and will open doors to further travel opportunities.

4. Do the things that scare you.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” When we leap outside of our comfort zones, we have the ability to continuously learn, expand, and shift our perspectives.

Travel allows you the opportunity to constantly do things that scare you, whether that’s eating fried crickets or jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet in the sky . Every one of these experiences teaches you something about yourself that you never knew before and allows you to push your boundaries.

5. Getting “lost” is relative.

traveler in a yellow dress wandering down a street in chefchaouen morroco

Letting yourself wander can lead to some of the best moments.

One of the best parts of traveling is getting lost in a new place—wandering aimlessly down cobbled streets with no map, taking the train to the end of the line and exploring somewhere new, following your gut instead of your iPhone to show you hidden treasures.

What travel teaches you is that getting “lost” is relative. And in fact, when you find yourself somewhere unexpected, this is where the real adventure happens.

6. Go with the flow.

No matter how much you plan while traveling, it’s inevitable that at some point you’ll throw your plans out the window. Things won’t always go your way when traveling; sometimes that will look like a canceled flight, and other times it will look like falling in love with a new city and canceling that flight yourself.

To quote another great, John Lennon reflects that “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” So forget the plans and let go of the schedule because travel teaches you to be impulsive and go with the flow.

7. Experiences far outweigh things.

When you’re living out of a backpack, sleeping under the stars, or spending hours on slow moving trains, you’ll find that you actually need very little to keep you happy. One of the most valuable life lessons learned from traveling is to place value on experiences over material things.

You don’t need fancy cars, a flashy wardrobe, or king-sized beds to bring you joy. In fact, the new experiences, exotic street foods, and late night conversations with new friends are what you’ll remember most while traveling.

8. Patience is the greatest virtue.

Be prepared to be unprepared.

Mishaps are inevitable while traveling. Whether that comes to you through a missed connecting flight, a train strike leaving you stranded in a foreign city, or a miscommunication while struggling with a new language, travel teaches you not to sweat the small stuff.

In the spirit of going with the flow, travel will teach you to deal with anything that’s thrown your way with patience.

9. There’s nothing more beautiful than Mama Earth.

Natural beauty around the world will take your breath away and leave you in awe, from snow-capped mountains to deep blue oceans to lush green rainforests and exotic wildlife, and everything in between.

You’ll also undoubtedly witness the heart break in earth’s ecosystem, the fragility of melting glaciers and dying coral reefs, the beaches and hiking trails covered in plastic waste . Both will give you a greater appreciation for the magic of Mama Earth and how precious her resources are.

10. Appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

Some of the best moments in travel could be sitting around a campfire telling stories with your travel mates, sharing a home cooked meal with locals, or having a hot shower after a day of wandering until your feet are caked in dirt.

These things don’t require elaborate plans or spending a lot of money. It’s one of the simplest life lessons learned from traveling—to be present with the people around you and indulge in your senses.

11. Just smile.

two backpackers walking down a street and smiling

As a traveler, how could you ever run out of reasons to smile?

With over 7,000 languages spoken throughout the world, it’s incredible that there is one universal language: a smile. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what language you speak, travel teaches you that smiling is the same everywhere.

It displays friendliness, gratitude, and helps you connect with those around you. When in doubt, offer a smile…and don’t be afraid to smile more often!

12. Think outside the box.

Travel opens your mind in more ways than one. When dealing with the inevitable mishaps that come with every travel experience (whether that is losing your luggage, getting sick with food poisoning, or struggling with the language), travel teaches you to deal with all kinds of situations by thinking outside the box.

You’ll become more innovative, adaptable, and gain problem-solving skills that will help you deal with anything life throws your way.

13. We are all the same.

Through travel, you have the ability to experience different cultures and see how other parts of the world live and operate. Yet what travel teaches you is that we’re not all that different. Humans all over the world appreciate connection and family above all else. And there is comfort knowing that no matter how or where we live our lives, we all have core values in common.

14. You can do ANYTHING.

Travel changes you. It makes you more confident and independent. It offers a freedom you can’t find anywhere else. It teaches you how to problem solve, make friends even in the loneliest times, navigate language barriers, and get through hard things. All in all, it teaches you that you are powerful and gives you the courage to do anything you set your mind to.

15. There’s no place like home.

The flight home is almost always a bittersweet moment.

Travel offers a completely new perspective on home. It may help you appreciate what you left behind and help you dig stronger roots to where you’re from. For others, it may reveal that you belong elsewhere and help you plant roots where you truly belong. No matter the outcome, travel teaches you there’s no place like home.

3 ways to start traveling

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Why it’s great: International TEFL Academy could be the first step in your career as a global citizen. This program offers TEFL certifications both online and in-country to help you gain the knowledge and experience to start teaching English abroad. Whether you want to make a little money to fund your travels or open the door to working across multiple continents, International TEFL Academy is committed to getting you abroad and immersed in local culture, all while funding your travel and making an impact.
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Your life will feel full after traveling.

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Traveling allows so much to gain and nothing to lose.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or have yet to leave your hometown, there’s no doubt that traveling is the experience you need to make your life fuller. If you’re ready to learn, grow, and transform into a new and better version of yourself, let yourself catch the travel bug. It will teach you endless lessons about who you are as a person and what life is all about.

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7 Easy Steps to a More Authentic Travel Experience

01/23/2017 by Kristin Addis 6 Comments

Easy ways to have a more authentic travel experience without a big budget or rigorous planning required!

For most people, especially young professionals, the point of traveling is to feel like you really experienced a new place to the fullest, without a manufactured experience that you paid too much for or that just didn’t feel real.

Evidence shows that the trend for desiring authentic and experiential travel is growing. We want to feel like we got to experience the real thing .

How can you make sure that, even if you have limited time and resources, you get to have a truly special, authentic travel experience?

There’s no secret or personality type that lends itself better to authentic experiences and meaningful connections. Anyone can have them with the right approach. It’s not about being the life of the party, the person who knows everybody at the hostel because he’s been there for months, or being the most gregarious person in the room. It’s not person in the room who who did the most research before starting his/her trip who will get to have those magical, authentic experiences.

7 easy steps to earning a more authentic travel experience! Learn how you can have a genuine and wholesome adventure everytime you hit the road | Be My Travel Muse | Backpacking tips | Travel Tips | Off the beaten path

The secret sauce is being authentic yourself in your approach and your interest level. That endears you to people, and opens up a lot of doors.

How can you do that? These seven easy steps are my recipe for authentic travel experiences, and they can work for anyone:

1. Take genuine interest in other people

how to have an authentic travel experience

Whether it’s a fellow traveler, the guide for your day tour climbing on glaciers , or the person sitting at reception at your guesthouse, taking a genuine interest in people opens so many doors, not just to friendship but for adventures too.

Even if you’re the shy type, you’ll find that if you stay in social places, conversations will happen, even if you’re not the one to initiate them. Just sit in the common room of a social hostel and you’ll see what I mean.

There are so many times when chatting with someone, giving them not just my full attention but also my genuine interest, led to them sharing a travel secret with me, going the extra mile to make my stay better, or even offering up an amazing opportunity to join them at a local event .

2. Take genuine interest in their culture

Most people really love sharing their culture and the things that they’re proud of about where they’re from. If they can tell you are genuinely interested in learning more about the way that they prepare and eat food, celebrate holidays and milestones, and even how they drink tea, you’ll be welcomed in and will get those unique cultural experiences that money can’t buy.

Once in El Chalten in Argentinian Patagonia , I asked a local girl who was also cooking in the hostel kitchen if she would show me how to properly drink mate , a tea that is popular with locals and also a communal activity. She spent the next hour excitedly explaining the details to me while we drank the mate and chatted with her family, cooking together, sharing a bottle of Malbec wine, and having a lovely evening.

When people can tell that you genuinely care about them and their customs, they tend to be amazing hosts.

3. Remember things that people tell you, especially their names

Do you plan on being in one place for a while, or even just a few days? Make it a point to learn the names of the people who work at the guesthouse or hotel you’re staying at, who you see the most often in the common areas, or who helped you plan something.

Names are one of the hardest things to remember when you travel because you meet so many people, but if you can say it in your mind a few times or even write it down if you need to, it’s much easier to make, and keep, friends on the road.

As Dale Carnegie said in his incredibly insightful book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (affiliate link), “Using a person’s name is crucial, especially when meeting those we don’t see very often. Respect and acceptance stem from simple acts such as remembering a person’s name and using it whenever appropriate.

Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

4. Eat where locals eat

If you want an immersive experience and particularly if you’re on a budget, you’ll love that eating well can be both cheap and authentic – just eat the street food! To someone who has never seen or eaten it before, that can sound like it would be dirty, but it’s often some of the best eats around, particularly in places like Vietnam , Thailand , the Philippines , and even Germany, just to name a few.

In Jodi Ettenberg’s book, The Food Traveler’s Handbook , she emphasizes how affordable, fresh, and delicious street food can be. Along with a bunch of other helpful tips, one of the things she suggests is to eat where local people eat and bring their kids. If it doesn’t get them sick, you’ll be fine too.

Eating local is what led me to a coconut brawl in Nepal , something that I didn’t see any other foreigners at and haven’t really heard of anyone attending since, just outside of Kathmandu. When a local saw a friend and I eating traditional Nepalese food at a tiny stall instead of at the fancy tourist cafes nearby, he felt compelled to tell us about the festival, which was one of the coolest things I did in Nepal.

5. Be kind with people even when they’re not kind with you

Not everyone is going to be receptive to your friendly approach. Sometimes, people are having a bad day or they just seem disinterested at first. In these cases, it’s even more important to be friendly.

When I approach people, I think about the way my mom’s dog, Ollie, does it. Everyone has the potential to be his friend, it doesn’t matter how they look. You’d have to just not like dogs in order to not like Ollie, he’s so friendly, excited, and genuine with his approach.

When I approach people in that way, with friendliness and a smile, it makes it a lot harder for them to dislike me. Even if I don’t get a warm response, I don’t take it personally, and I don’t lose my friendliness.

I’m not always successful at being a ball of joy, radiating happiness, but when I am, things go my way more often than not.

6. Read up on customs and learn how to say hello and thank you right away

In Thailand, it’s rude to face your feet at someone, a temple, or the front of a boat. In India, pointing, especially with your left hand, is considered particularly rude. It’s helpful to know this cultural etiquette and to practice it when you’re on the road, as well as learning how to say the basics like ‘hello’ and ‘thank you.’

It goes back to point number 2 – if people feel you’ve not only taken an interest, but genuinely respect their culture, they’ll be a lot warmer towards you. For etiquette around the world, check out this listing on eDiplomat .

7. Remember you’re not so different than the people in the country you’re visiting

How often have you heard fellow travelers talk about the people in the country they’re visiting like another species?

“Can you believe that’s what they eat?”

“Have you seen the way they do XYZ? It’s absurd!”

It seems obvious when written out in plain black and white that this would naturally be a negative behavior when traveling, but it happens all the time in hostels, and I’ve even caught myself doing it, to be honest.

We’re all human beings, though, and we have so much more in common than we often realize. We all love, laugh, cry, sleep, hope, dream, and yearn for meaningful connections. When we acknowledge that about each other, it’s a lot easier to find some common ground.

Basically, authentic travel experiences come down not just to being an egalitarian traveler, but an overall kind and genuine person. When you’re the open-minded type of person who takes an interest in things that other people can feel and see is real, your world literally opens up.

Give a few of these tips a try and let me know if they work for you! If you have any to add, please do so in the comments.

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

What Is Experiential Tourism?

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“Experiential tourism” has become a popular term for travel marketers, but it can mean different things to different people. For some, experiential travel means doing anything that falls outside of a standard sightseeing, museum-going itinerary. For others, it is defined by interactions with locals or by going to places that might not be considered tourist attractions at all.

The definitions might be different, but the goals of experiential travelers are usually similar: to immerse themselves in a way that leads to some sort of discovery, insight or inspiration. This travel philosophy is usually championed by fully independent travelers (those who travel without help from agents or guides), but tour companies and even non-profit organizations have embraced the trend, promising transformative experiences to people who buy their vacation packages or join their volun-tourism programs .

Is experiential tourism redefining travel or is it a fad that will eventually fade? If it is a lasting travel trend, how will it affect off-the-beaten-path destinations that usually do not see many mainstream tourists?

Leveling the field

For some places, the experiential travel trend could be a game-changer. Smaller destinations cannot hope to compete with tourism heavyweights when it comes to infrastructure, advertising budget and investment. They can, however, differentiate themselves by focusing on the unique experiences they offer.

Manitoba provides an example. The oft-forgotten Canadian province highlights how local tour companies and communities can use the experiential trend to gain an edge in the ultra-competitive travel marketplace. Travel Manitoba explains that small operators can “avoid unnecessary risks and major investments by shifting the opportunity focus from building more infrastructure to building the capacity of people who can tell your ‘story' and connect with the traveler.”

According to Manitoba’s tourism stakeholders, the “ingredients” of a successful experiential tourism strategy include hands-on activities and interactions with locals . They also highlight the need for guides to change their approach to guiding. The goal should be to facilitate tours so that tourists can make discoveries and gain insights on their own.

Can all smaller destinations benefit?

On paper, the Manitoba approach sounds like a great idea, but is it practical? Some conscientious travelers might choose a destination because they want to support such grassroots efforts, but most are, first and foremost, seeking experiences. If they want to succeed, these destinations have to deliver.

New Zealand’s tourism development in recent decades suggests that experiential tourism can indeed help off-the-radar places develop into mainstream destinations. Admittedly, this Southern Hemisphere country was able to take advantage of the buzz from the "Lord of the Rings" movies to help its tourism efforts. However, New Zealand has stuck with advertising campaigns that focus on adventure and culture rather than on attractions related to the popular films.

Adventure sports, culinary and wine tourism, and cultural excursions have led to a boom for New Zealand in both the U.S. and Asia Pacific markets. This has happened at a grassroots level, with more than nine out every 10 tour companies in the country having fewer than five employees. This means that even if people are there for the skiing or wine and nothing else, they will often be interacting directly with local people in a way that is more personal than in destinations with more traditional tourism infrastructure.

An emotional connection

Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island has, like Manitoba, published a list of ingredients, which they call “essentials,” necessary for a successful experiential tourism sector. Keywords like “hands on” and “authentic” are part of this document, but so is something else: “emotion.” In other words, the goal of travelers is to find experiences that allow them to feel a connection to a place rather than to just see it.

This is not a new idea. You often hear people express affection for major world cities like Paris, Hong Kong or New York without ever mentioning the Eiffel Tower, Victoria Peak or Times Square. Perhaps the real allure of experiential tourism is that it makes it acceptable to seek out this kind of emotional connection.

A win for sustainability

The issue of sustainability might be important to travelers, but it might not always be practical to travel in a sustainable way and to support the preservation of local culture and ecosystems. This is especially true in mainstream tourist destinations.

Experiential tourism, on the other hand, can make sustainability more practical when it comes to both culture and the environment.

How is this possible?

Uniqueness is one of the biggest assets that a place can have when it comes to experiential tourism. Ideally, tourists who are interested in this kind of travel would reward a destination for preserving its nature, culture, historic architecture and other aspects of their destination by spending their travel budget there.

Culinary tourism

Ulf Liljankoski / Flickr

One of the most popular forms of experiential travel is culinary tourism. This can involve visiting neighborhood restaurants or markets with a local guide, or it could be more in-depth and include cooking classes, wine tastings and even picking trips to farms or gardens. La Boqueria, a classic market in Barcelona, has been successful at offering cooking classes and other immersive experiences to people who would otherwise only come there to sightsee.

Food tourism is currently one of the most accessible forms of experiential travel. Tourists seem drawn to culinary experiences , proving that experiential travel can cross over into the mainstream. The foodie trend also shows that worries about the "McDonald's-ization" of the world are unfounded.

An authentic image

Andri Koolme / Flickr

Social media has played a part in the rise of culinary tourism. Whole social accounts are based on nothing but pictures of raw ingredients and beautifully plated dishes. This points to a larger trend that shows that, like it or not, social media is how people connect with and get inspired by like-minded travelers. What does this mean for experiential travel?

The “Instagram effect” is real, and marketing offices have started inviting photographers with large Instagram followings on press junkets. This has helped to redefine travel , with people wanting to have the same experiences as those they see on social media.

At a recent tourism event, the head of marketing for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya, pointed out that the process of taking images to post on social media can be beneficial for experiential travelers if the images are authentic. “An authentic image can tell a very complex story in a very simple way. These simple images are shared by travelers on a day to day basis.”

He went on the explain that destinations and tourism industry stakeholders should be responsible for presenting tourists with the opportunities to create such images. “We need to make sure that we are creating authentic experiences that are shareable."

Volunteer, see the world

Another aspect of experiential tourism involves immersing yourself in something that you are truly passionate about. This could be cooking, pottery or something more obscure, like the conservation of wild plants. Such nature-based immersive experiences are offered in Southern Oregon by the Wild River Coast Alliance , which organizes programs that support communities and ecology in the region.

For some, simply getting beyond the tourist trail and seeing the real culture of a destination is the ultimate example of experiential tourism. This has always been a popular option for youth travelers or so-called “gap-year” tourists. Tour packages offering such experiences often have an educational angle (studying abroad or participating in a language immersion program). Some involve homestays or volunteering on development projects while living abroad.

Understanding the place

Are tourists simply ticking experiences off their to-do list just as they’d tick off sightseeing sites, or are they actually gaining understanding of the places that they visit? The criticism of the experiential trend is that immersion experiences are, in general, just another way to package tourism. The trend may allow smaller destinations to capitalize on their unique attributes, but the travelers are still short-term visitors whose travel experiences are lacking .

Is it possible to be overzealous in this pursuit of experiences? In Luang Prabang, an historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Laos, one tradition has become quite popular with tourists. The practice of donating food to feed the city’s monks occurs every morning. Local people congregate at the roadside and put food into the monks’ bowls as they walk past. Tourists began coming early in the morning to photograph the procession-like practice. Some even take part, raising concerns that this once quiet, solemn religious affair has descended into a noisy spectacle.

The Luang Prabang Airport reportedly has signs that offer advice on how to participate in the almsgiving in a respectful way.

The future of experiential tourism

The demand for air travel is expected to double in the next two decades. Tourism is growing at a steady rate. Despite criticisms and drawbacks, the growth of experiential tourism could allow smaller players in the tourism industry to benefit from this growth without having to sacrifice their culture, sell their land to developers or change the way that they live.

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The 25 Travel Experiences You Must Have

A pair of internationally minded writers, a chef, an architect and a landscape photographer made a list of the most extraordinary adventures a person should seek out. Here are the results.

By Alwa Cooper , Ashlea Halpern , Debra Kamin , Aileen Kwun , Miguel Morales , Dan Piepenbring and Michael Snyder

One July morning, a five-person jury — including the writers Pico Iyer and Aatish Taseer , the architect Toshiko Mori , the chef and food scientist David Zilber and the landscape photographer Victoria Sambunaris — gathered over Zoom to debate what, exactly, constitutes a “travel experience” and how some might rise above the rest. To get the conversation started, each panelist had nominated at least 10 selections in advance of the call; their job now was to slash that list from 55 to 25.

The participants were all polite, often deferring to whomever they deemed an expert on a particular subject: Zilber, who worked at Noma and co-authored the Copenhagen restaurant’s 2018 book about fermentation, on outstanding restaurants; Sambunaris, who traverses the country several months a year by car to capture her images, on the spectacular topography of the American West. They were also quick to sacrifice their own darlings, particularly if they felt they were too familiar (Petra, Machu Picchu), too obscure (Alvar Aalto’s Muuratsalo Experimental summer house in Säynätsalo, Finland — a Mori selection), too personal (driving the Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan and China — something Taseer heard about from his father) or too commodified (a Nile River cruise, most hotel stays ). As Iyer put it, “Hotels offer luxury and comfort, but they rarely touch my soul.”

Some panelists rescinded nominations for experiences they hadn’t had themselves, despite having dreamed for years about what it might be like to, say, hike through Japan’s remote Yakushima Island National Park , the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki ’s “Princess Mononoke” (1997) . (“I feel like I don’t know if going there would destroy or enhance my fantasy,” Mori said.) Others opted to keep in the mix selections to which they couldn’t personally attest — proving how powerful our collective imagination can be. If something seemed too easy, they worried it might not be special enough. At the same time, not every experience chosen is rare or difficult to access: Sometimes it’s just a matter of opening your eyes (or mind) to whatever magic a place has to offer.

The panel considered safety, too, with some participants concluding that what might make a destination “dangerous” is largely, though not entirely, shaped by personal history and worldview. Others wanted to be sure readers were asked to conduct their own research before deciding whether or not to set out for a certain place, as situations on the ground can change rapidly. At the time of publication, the U.S. State Department had issued its strongest possible warning — Level 4: Do Not Travel — for four of the destinations on the following list; several others have been categorized as Level 3: Reconsider Travel. But most of the panelists agreed, time and again, to include politically, ethically and ideologically fraught locations . “War-torn countries and places in conflict right now haven’t always been and might not always be,” said Zilber. “I don’t think [their current status] should negate their inclusion.” (In the months between when this panel met — on July 20, 2022 — and the list’s publication, the world continued to shift: the Russian war with Ukraine deepened; Iran erupted in protests following the arrest and subsequent death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman accused by the country’s morality police of violating their hijab law; and Ethiopia and the Tigray Defense Forces, a paramilitary rebel group, agreed to a cease-fire after two years of ruinous civil war.)

The final lineup, which is grouped geographically but not ranked, includes experiences of art and architecture, food, history and religion. There’s something for every whim and every kind of traveler — even those who may never leave their armchairs. — Ashlea Halpern

This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Ashlea Halpern: I’m curious to hear how each of you defined the word “experience” when you sat down to make your list.

Pico Iyer: I asked myself, “Which are the moments that most stay with me 30 years on in my life? Which are the most moving and also the most unexpected?” I wouldn’t include seeing the Taj Mahal by moonlight, because most Times readers would be aware of that. So something slightly different, but something that still reverberates inside me half a lifetime later.

Victoria Sambunaris: I defined “experience” as a journey, because that’s what I do in my life: I’m on the road for months at a time, immersing myself in the landscape. I’m interacting with people and learning about the [local] culture, history, ecology and geography. No reservations anywhere, being spontaneous, camping under the stars — there’s a great sense of adventure.

Aatish Taseer: I veer toward man-made things — cultural and civilizational complications. When a natural experience leaves me with a sense of wonder that I didn’t expect, it breaks the mold. Everyone travels with a sense of what they’re going to see; no one is completely blank. Then, occasionally, there’s a real element of surprise. That’s what I looked for.

David Zilber: “Experience” is really broad; everything is an experience. Binge-watching Netflix while sick is an experience, though I can’t remember what I binge-watch when I’m bedridden at home. But I do remember my 45-minute drive through the mountains of Crete to eat at this man’s biodynamic farm with his kids running around — and I probably will when I’m 75.

Toshiko Mori: I thought of natural wonders, because we forget how small we are, and of being able to observe animal life in a habitat without interfering with it. With Instagram, everybody posts awesome images; [the depicted locations] become huge attractions and it’s destructive to the environment. Also, I thought of certain civilizations and places that have had challenging pasts — like Kurdistan after ISIS retreated. It’s essential for us to engage in experiences like this, because we are incredibly privileged and protected. I didn’t want to forget places that really need attention.

A.H.: Let’s start with Europe. Spain received four nominations from four different panelists — more than any other country on your initial longlists.

1. Taste Wood-Smoked Sorcery at Asador Etxebarri in Spain’s Basque Country

The chef Victor Arguinzoniz was raised amid the rolling green hills of Atxondo, a small village in Spain’s Basque country where, when he was a child, his family kitchen had neither electricity nor gas. Perhaps that’s why the open hearth can produce such magic for him. He has no professional training but for 30 years has overseen a temple to smoke and flame at the Michelin-starred Asador Etxebarri, a rustic restaurant minutes from his childhood home. Arriving there, with its view of cattle grazing in the foothills below, is like stopping time. But in the kitchen, the clock has inched slightly forward: The six custom-made grills, designed by Arguinzoniz and adjustable via pulleys, are tools of culinary alchemy. The chef prepares his own wood coals in special ovens that are cranked up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. For each protein, he pairs a fuel with the precision of a sommelier, selecting holm oak for delicate shellfish and turning to heartier vine wood for red meats. There’s only one service — at 1:30 p.m. — and one menu per day. The meal, served in 15 courses, is a symphony that builds, plate by smoke-kissed plate, to a crescendo: first the smoked goat butter with Périgord truffle; then the salted, home-cured anchovies on grilled bread; then the beef chop with its crisp black sear and lustrous purple center; and finally a coda of smoky-milk ice cream with an infusion of sweet beets. This is fine dining in its purest, most unpretentious form. — Debra Kamin

D.Z.: Meals are some of the stickiest memories around, and this is definitely in the top three of my lifetime. It goes without saying that the Basque Country of Spain revolutionized food in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the repercussions of that have been felt around the world. I started cooking in 2004, and all the techniques that I’ve learned came from that region. We can talk about Ferran Adrià and his El Bulli and all the progeny who are still cooking today in Barcelona and Madrid, but Etxebarri best encapsulates what this region is about and its deep connection to the land and its people. There’s no one who comes out of that restaurant who doesn’t leave deeply touched.

2. Search for Muslim Spain in Al-Andalus

From the eighth to the 11th centuries, the Iberian Peninsula, then under Muslim rule, was one of the world’s most important intellectual and artistic hubs. In the region of southern Spain known as Andalusia — the name a Hispanicization of Al-Andalus, as Islamic Spain was known — that heritage remains visible everywhere: in the crimped vocalizations of flamenco music; in the elaborate geometric friezes of Seville’s Alcázar Palace; in the infinite recess of the red-and-white archways of the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba; and, above all, in Granada’s storied Alhambra, the last Moorish stronghold on the European continent, where it glitters in honeycomb muqarnas and moonlight-washed, waterway-threaded gardens. During the so-called Reconquista, as the centuries-long process through which Catholic kings gradually eroded territories accumulated by successive Muslim dynasties has been historically misnamed, the great cities of Andalusia became spectacular palimpsests of divergent faiths superimposed on top of each other. In Seville, the 15th-century cathedral — the largest Gothic-style building in Europe — stands on the footprint of an Almohad mosque whose graceful minaret was repurposed as a church tower, while in Córdoba, a Renaissance cathedral bursts from the austere, rhythmic heart of the mezquita , itself built atop the remains of a sixth-century Visigothic basilica. After experiencing these spaces, one finds that the influence of Islamic aesthetics throughout Spain — and, indeed, throughout the Americas, devastated and remade under Spanish colonial rule — reveals itself everywhere. Beyond its beauty, Andalusia is a tribute to the indelible marks that cultures and communities leave on one another across time and space. — Michael Snyder

A.T.: Nothing in the world prepares you for the strangeness of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba [Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba]. I’ve grown up in places where there are the mosques on the bones of temples on the bones of Buddhist viharas, but this business of church upon mosque upon church, where you walk in and see the remains of a Visigothic church but you’re in one of the most beautiful mosques in the world [and since the 13th century a church again], it’s like an act of reclamation — or historical revenge. Even the minaret is buried in the belfry of the church. It’s a theme that I love — layers upon layers of history — and just one of the reasons I thought it was absolutely marvelous.

P.I.: I was the one who suggested the Alhambra, so it comes down to whether we want a zoom lens or a wide angle. I chose the Alhambra for all the reasons that Aatish was mentioning: the overlapping of cultures, the historical significance and also the fact that the Alhambra is fairly well known. On nights when it’s open after dark, you’re getting a familiar place in a relatively unfamiliar context. So our question, really, is whether we want to introduce everyone to that entire region or just a microcosm of it.

A.T.: There’s a development I like in a broader trip, where you come to Seville, see the Giralda, which was originally built as the minaret of the old Almohad mosque, now part of this cathedral, and then you’ll journey a little farther and go to Córdoba and see this stunning mosque that has been turned into a church, and then finally it culminates in this last gasp of Islam in Spain, the Emirate of Granada, which then obviously results in the Catholic monarchs and the end of Muslim Spain. But Pico is absolutely right: The Alhambra is the epicenter — the Moors’ last sigh.

T.M.: I like this idea of a journey. This exposure to Muslim culture is so much more interesting than a single place.

3. Venture Into the Norwegian Night in Search of the Northern Lights

Spotting the aurora borealis, the elusive natural phenomenon colloquially known as the northern lights, involves careful coordination of time, place and, yes, luck. Like a digital rendering or laser beams projected above an after-hours rave, the unpredictable show illuminates the sky with dancing streaks of saturated yellow, pink, purple and green, a tangoing of solar gas and Earth’s magnetic field rendered in Technicolor. Locales roughly 66.5 degrees above the Equator, where the Arctic Circle begins, are considered prime viewing spots; cottage industries across Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia have sprung up to sell package tours and overnight accommodations to aurora hunters. Lofoten, an archipelago off Norway’s northwest coast, offers one of the most picturesque backdrops for witnessing this mercurial sight. There, a coastline framed by jagged peaks, sweeping fjords, sandy beaches and rorbu , old fishermen’s cabins painted cherry red and pine green, makes for a serene visit, day or night. Winters on the archipelago are long (November to April) and dark (for five weeks in December and January, the sun doesn’t even rise), so consider them a prime time to settle down on a north-facing beach (Unstad and Gimsøy are particularly beautiful) or sink into a hot tub at a heritage fishing lodge, neck craned skyward — and wait. The anticipation is half the fun. — Aileen Kwun

D.Z.: The northern lights are one of those earthly phenomena that don’t make sense — I don’t think that my brain could fully compute what it was like until I saw it in real life. And Lofoten is just extremely picturesque: It’s hard to get to but very rewarding once you’re there. But I don’t know. Maybe the northern lights are the Mona Lisa of the natural world?

A.H.: Anyone else seen the northern lights in Norway or elsewhere?

T.M.: Yeah, I have, because I’m in Maine and you can see it in northern Maine, but I don’t think it’s anything like what Dave is talking about. Lofoten is on my wish list.

A.T.: I saw them in Iceland but I’m 100 percent pinching David’s idea.

P.I.: I was really excited as soon as I saw this [on the list]. I’ve been up to Fairbanks, Alaska, to see the northern lights, and I know people go to Churchill in Manitoba. But the combination of the northern lights and this remote setting sounds irresistible.

4. Journey Across Two Continents and Eight Time Zones on the Trans-Siberian Railway

Traveling to Russia now, as its war with Ukraine continues, is virtually impossible: Nearly all international flights have been suspended, and the State Department has recommended that Americans steer clear of the country. How or whether Russia’s relationship with the rest of the world, not to mention its tourism industry — a frivolous concern compared to the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people — will recover remains to be seen. But in more peaceful times, riding the Trans-Siberian Railway and its shorter connecting lines is an unparalleled experience — a tour through the many and varied cultures that make up the largest country on Earth. The 5,772 miles of track from Moscow to Vladivostok, built at the turn of the 20th century at the behest of Emperor Alexander III, constitutes by itself the longest continuous railway in the world, and before the pandemic and then the war interrupted its international reach, sleeper cars could take you from most major Western European capitals to Moscow in two or three days. From there, you can make it to the other end nonstop in seven days, but arranging layovers along the way allows for a variety of side excursions: Hop off at Yekaterinburg to see the Soviet-era architecture of Russia’s fourth-largest city, for example, or Irkutsk to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake. Better yet, switch at Ulan Ude to the Trans-Mongolian Railway, which extends through the capital of Ulaanbaatar and into the Gobi Desert, ideal for fossil hunting and camel riding, before arriving in Beijing. — Alwa Cooper

V.S.: OK, I know Russia is controversial right now. But this is the longest [direct] train journey in the world. You’re going through ancient cities, deep forests, breathtaking mountains and Siberian outposts. You’re seeing a lot.

A.H.: How does the panel feel about including Russia?

A.T.: I feel absolutely fine. Russia existed before Putin, and Russia is going to exist after Putin. I mean, how could I, with a straight face, eliminate traveling through Russia and then go scurrying down to my Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy? I have a firewall between this idea of Russia as a culturally rich nation and the political reality that one can speak critically of. Lots of nations that we love will come to be ruled by bad people.

P.I.: I agree with Aatish. Political complication, historical complexity and texture are really what make these places something more than sites.

5. Savor an Unforgettable Lunch at Ntounias in Western Crete

It takes a 45-minute drive from Chania, Crete, through the Greek island’s White Mountains to reach this mecca of homespun cooking in Drakona. Through scenic Therrisos Gorge, with occasional stops for sheep crossings, the journey is best made with the windows down, cooled by the hillside breeze and dazzled by the sun winking across limestone mountain caps. Expect a warm greeting upon arrival — the view from the terrace of the valley below will make up for any bumps in the rugged and twisty road — but don’t expect a menu. Along with his wife, Evmorfili, Stelios Trilyrakis, the chef, farmer, shepherd, butcher, owner and maître d’, takes care of all that. The daily bounty comes from an organic garden, part of the tavern Trilyrakis took over from his parents in 2004 after years of working as a chef in Chania. Guests are invited to tour the grounds and the nearby apiary as well as the wood stoves and ovens in the kitchen, though the meal rightfully remains the primary attraction. There might be a village salad (horiatiki), farm-baked bread and freshly churned butter, stuffed vegetables cooked in a traditional clay pot, potatoes fried in olive oil for close to an hour, goat sizzling in its own fat and house wine made on-site. In a country known for its cuisine, Ntounias stands apart. — Miguel Morales

D.Z.: This man used to be a chef in Chania and then seemed to think, as I did, that the world of restaurants is just not where it’s at. So he left and founded a little biodynamic farm. He has this plot of land that overlooks a verdant gorge, and he cooks everything on an open fire. You get snails, lamb stew, whatever is in season. It’s not complicated food; it’s never going to be in the Michelin Guide or on the “World’s 50 Best” list. But it’s the closest I’ve tasted to soul food.

T.M.: I love Crete. It’s a very beautiful place and it still has a certain authenticity about it. The roads sometimes dead-end, and when I was there, you needed at least three maps to figure out where you were. It’s a real physical landscape.

D.Z.: The island itself is one of the oldest continually inhabited civilizations in all of Europe. It has a crazy history, and just going there and eating this food, the way that he cooks it, it’s so honest.

6. Join the Faithful in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a Different Kind of White Christmas

There is no Santa Claus in Ethiopia, no halls decked with holly. Christmas, which in so much of the Western world is a commercialized affair, is an intensely spiritual day here, observed not with gifts but with community, incantation and candlelight. The majority of Ethiopians are Christian and most worship freely, despite a history of extremist attacks on churches across the country. The nation follows a solar calendar, and Christmas, known as Genna, is observed on Jan. 7. The holiday begins with fasting on Jan. 6, when, at dusk, devotees head into the streets. In bustling Addis Ababa, a hush falls as thousands of men, women and children, all dressed in white and many wrapped in the traditional cotton robes called netelas , file to church like slow-moving snowdrifts. Many will worship all night, traveling by foot, lit candles in hand, from one church to the next until the small hours of morning. Ethiopia is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Africa, all of which are filled to capacity on Christmas Eve. (Visitors are welcome to observe.) In the capital, these include the Medhane Alem Cathedral, with its turquoise domes and columnar facade, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, with its grand murals, jewel-toned stained glass windows and granite tombs in which Emperor Haile Selassie and his consort are interred. Some of the world’s oldest known human fossils have been unearthed from Ethiopian sands. On Christmas Eve, a nation that continues to endure famine and ethnic violence pauses for a prayer of peace. As worshipers pass one another and declare, “ Melkam Genna! ” — “Merry Christmas” in Amharic — the streets all but vibrate. — D.K.

P.I.: I seem to be haunted by places of spiritual intensity, from Lhasa to inner Australia. But I’ve seldom found anywhere to rival the power and magnetism of Ethiopia. It is, by some accounts, the oldest Christian country in the world, and when you drive through it, you feel like you’re going through the biblical books of Kings. But it comes to its culmination on Christmas Eve, when it seems like everyone in the capital is dressed in white, gathering around what look like mangers while these burning-eyed, bearded priests are rocking back and forth with little Bibles that fit in the palms of their hands. I’m not a Christian, but you look around and feel you could be in Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus and that so little has changed in the past 2,000 years. Part of the poignancy is that life tends to be very difficult in Ethiopia, [teetering] between political uncertainty and impoverishment. So there’s this real sense that the religion and the moment mean even more than they might in Madrid or Paris. Although I was there 28 years ago, I’ll never forget walking through the night from church to church, seeing these people with tears in their eyes, gathered in the darkness, holding their candles and singing.

7. Traverse the Blossoming Oases and Ancient Desert Towns of Morocco’s Draa Valley

In precolonial Morocco, the imposing grandeur of the Atlas Mountains marked the boundary between the bilad el-makhzen — land under the rule of the Alaouite sultan — and the bilad el-siba , or “region of anarchy.” Today, to drive the circuitous route through the Atlases and into the Draa Valley is to exist on that line: It’s a liminal place where verdant gardens and soaring minarets open onto the vast barrens of the Sahara. Departing from Marrakesh, head southeast to Ouarzazate, or “the door of the desert,” and then onto M’Hamid, whose Dar Paru hotel exemplifies Berber architecture, with its rammed-earth walls and geometric parapets. From there, follow the N9 and N12 roads to hew close to the Draa, a river that runs along the Algerian border, nourishing a landscape of riotous color: The mountains’ ochers, umbers and emeralds cede to rippling oases of blue palms, olive groves, fields of golden barley and sun-baked adobe casbahs. Once home to a bustling trade route, the region bears the marks of Morocco’s imbricated faiths and folkways. Fragrant date palms, first grown by Arabs who arrived in the seventh century, freckle stretches of arable land hemmed in by sand dunes. Towns such as Tissint draw their influences from the Berbers, who have lived in North Africa for more than 4,000 years. (“Tissint” is the Berber word for salt, another early commodity.) Further southeast, in Akka, more than 300 miles from Marrakesh, are the remains of a community of Jewish merchants and silversmiths who plied their trade in the area as early as the second century. Their homes — made of mud brick and stucco, with walls now jagged or altogether missing — stand as monuments to the Draa’s rich, syncretic past and to the enthralling boundlessness of its present. — Dan Piepenbring

A.T.: I’d been to Marrakesh; I’d been to Tangier. Morocco, for me, was a known commodity. Then I did this journey south a couple of years ago. This is an Arabic place, and yet there’s this very profound other culture that’s always under the surface. The most startling moment came when I arrived in a town where there was an old Jewish quarter of silversmiths and we went into a house that felt like it had been abandoned yesterday. It was just one of those moments where suddenly all of the pieces fall into place and you get a window into another vein of culture or civilization and how it interacted with this Arabized Muslim state of Morocco. I also have to say, landscape-wise, it’s the only place other than Yemen where you’re driving through and you have these discrete, scarified mountains on either side, and every now and then there’ll be, like, a flowering tree against the desert. It’s stunning stuff.

8. Come Face to Face With a Rare Marine Mammal Off the Coast of Southern Mozambique

Sea pig, sea cow, sea camel — the dugong’s epithets aren’t particularly evocative, but its serene presence is the highlight of any dive trip. The 200 or so animals that scientists estimate live in the protected waters of Bazaruto Archipelago National Park constitute the largest remaining dugong population on the East African coast. To experience them, you must fly into the nearest international airport, in the town of Vilankulo, and then organize a helicopter or dhow ride to one of the archipelago’s many resorts and lodges. There are numerous diving and snorkeling spots along Bazaruto’s famed Two-Mile Reef, which offers unusually clear visibility and a thriving coral population. Found in the shallow coastal waters of as many as 40 countries, the large and placid dugong (imagine a manatee with a wider, shorter snout) is intensely shy, and its population is considered “vulnerable,” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Its hearing is sharp but its vision is poor; moving in slowly, silently and respectfully is key. Even so, only the luckiest Bazaruto divers will ever spot a dugong — often from a distance of several meters — drifting alone or in pairs. — A.C.

A.T.: When I’m obliged to write about the natural world, I get kind of nervous because I think, “Oh, am I going to feel something? Am I going to know how to translate that feeling in my writing?” By April [2022], I had become very scared of travel: the pandemic, the restrictions, the fear that you were going to be stuck somewhere and not allowed back. All of this was weighing on my mind, and I’d almost lost that sense of wonder, that willingness to leave home. And in this place, which is the basin of the Indian Ocean in that part of the world, the plane tilted and I saw the sand flats push through this ancient archipelago and I thought to myself, “Of course, this is why one leaves home!” I hadn’t scuba-dived in 15 years, and here I was with blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles swimming into the raking light with plankton. Dugongs are incredibly rare, but as we came up from this dive, we saw one. It was a kind of emotional state brought on by the pandemic — a fear of leaving home running smack into that total excitement to be out in the world again.

A.H.: Many other lists like this would probably include an African safari; it’s refreshing not to promote a more traditional safari experience.

T.M.: The African safari has a checkered history because it’s related to hunting animals. There’s a balance now between conservation and infringement, but how those animals are really protected or may not be … there’s a lot we don’t know. So I’m definitely sensitive about not recommending a safari as an experience.

THE MIDDLE EAST

9. discover paradise on earth in the secret courtyard gardens of yazd, iran.

The very concept of paradise was born in Iran around 550 B.C., when Cyrus the Great, in the days of the Achaemenid Empire, oversaw the construction of a spectacular walled oasis called Pasargadae — a place of symmetry, flowering trees and calming waters — setting an example of how man might bend nature in pursuit of ultimate beauty. So deep do the Iranian roots of nirvana run that even the English word “paradise” comes from paridaida , the Old Persian term for walled garden. For those wishing to commune with Eden today, there’s perhaps no better place than Yazd, a 1,600-year-old Iranian desert town that was once a critical stop on the Silk Road. Here, the garden hotels of the city, which today is home to 530,000 people, pay homage to the Iranian legacy of paradise with their hidden courtyards. From the lush Kohan and the majestic Moshir Al Mamalek to the family-run Dad Hotel, the accommodations range from humble to luxurious. For guests who step through the door and out into the enclosed garden, hushed earthly delights of fountains and flowers — soft calla lilies, tulips and desert roses — await. — D.K.

P.I.: In all my traveling life, Iran is definitely the richest, most sophisticated, most surprising place I’ve been. And it’s the one I’m always urging my friends in California to go to — partly because I worry, as with Cuba or with other Middle Eastern places, that we’re reducing them to one-dimensional stereotypes from afar. And I’m so keen for people to experience the human reality firsthand. Sometimes friends will ask me, “Is it safe to go?” Well, I’m sitting here near Los Angeles, which for most of the planet is a really scary place.

Before I went to Iran, I was told by people who had been there that you only have to worry about two things: Everywhere you go, you’re going to be swamped with more friendliness than you know what to do with, and everyone’s going to invite you to dinner. The only reason that didn’t always happen to me was that people took me for Iranian, so they weren’t as excited as if they’d seen a more visible foreigner.

A.T.: I loved Yazd. I have to say that I did run afoul of the authorities in Iran and was turfed out with 48 hours to leave and probably couldn’t go back, but I completely second what Pico said. Up until that point, I had been met with nothing but hospitality and friendship, and Yazd was one of the highlights of that trip.

10. Swim in a Desert Oasis in Oman

Many of Oman’s wadis, or desert valleys, dry up in the scorching summer months, but at Wadi Bani Khalid, wide pools of water glisten year-round. You drive through the desert and suddenly there it is: a cliché of a gleaming desert mirage. But this is no illusion. Above the pristine pools, date palms sway in the breeze, and the rocky white cliff sides of the Hajar Mountains reveal canyons and caves; if you hike into them, you can see shimmering waterfalls. Thousands of tiny garra fish flash beneath the surface of these pools, ready to nibble at the dead skin on your toes. Wadi Bani Khalid is a three-hour drive from Muscat, making it an ideal day trip, although there are lots of budget hotels and desert camps in the area. Many visitors stop first at the sandy outpost of Al Wasil for camel rides and an overnight stay in a Bedouin-style tent. From there, the mountain road winds through fishing villages until the vast expanse of Wadi Bani Khalid, with its nearly 12-mile stretch of water, appears on the horizon. Its natural beauty is as intact today as it was when Oman’s Bedouin tribes relied on it, and a visit here offers an instant connection to the region’s deep history. The Oman government has helped develop the site in recent years, too, bringing with it a paved parking lot, bridges and public restrooms. — D.K.

T.M.: I share Pico’s notions that people should travel to the Middle East. The geographical diversity is incredible, and Oman is a peaceful and stable place. It’s absolutely gorgeous, the air is clear, the food is great and the climate is wonderful. It’s so easy for people to go here, yet Dubai takes all the tourists.

P.I.: I’m so happy to see Oman on the list. I think of it as the Bhutan of the Middle East because it’s so tastefully developed and preserved.

11. Delve Into 6,000-Plus Years of History at Erbil Citadel in Iraq

The longest continuously inhabited settlement in the world, Erbil Citadel lies at the heart of the modern-day capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. To the north, the Zagros Mountains beckon. The Kurdistan Regional Government has been developing trails there to promote hiking across a range that rivals the Alps in size — an impressive backdrop for one of the cradles of civilization. The 6,000-year-old fort sits atop a tell, a 100-foot-high mound the size of 19 football fields made by generations of Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities that built on top of one another. Courtyard homes constructed with oven-fired brick, said to be inspired by the ring of tents nomads once formed around their cattle, nestle inside the citadel walls. Their plain facades conceal branching floor plans that gave privacy to the extended families who once lived there. Visit the citadel with a guide in the late afternoon, when its brick walls turn the color of amber, and then drop by the bustling Qaysari Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Dating to the Ottoman era, it houses stalls of jewelry, textiles, crafts and sweets. Erbil and its citadel have withstood waves of conquest by Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Achaemenids, Greeks, Parthians, Romans, Sassanids, Muslims, Timurids, Mongols and Ottomans. To repair and preserve the settlement, the High Commission for Erbil Citadel Revitalization was formed in 2007; the Kurdistan Regional Government has allocated more than $30 million to the undertaking. But just as the citadel was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, the rehab stalled temporarily owing to the rise of ISIS. Work has since resumed; the ancient tell remains open; and, despite centuries of conquest and long spells of neglect, the citadel stands: a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. — M.M.

T.M.: Kurds will say, “We have no friends but mountains.” This is one of the world’s largest stateless populaces and it’s constantly in danger, sandwiched between Turkey and Iran. The citadel is still going through reconstruction. I wouldn’t say it’s beautiful, but it gives you a real sense of place and what it’s like to live in a region that has had to defend against ISIS attacks. It’s not a safe choice, but Kurdistan is a strong and resilient community that has survived ongoing and periodic attacks. There are prominent politically progressive women in the government and there are many untouched archaeological sites.

12. Marvel at the Threatened Mud-Brick Skyscrapers of Yemen

In an ancient Semitic world as yet undivided by modern faiths, long before the rise of Christianity or Islam, the cities of what we now call Yemen emerged from the desert as their inhabitants made their fortunes on frankincense and myrrh. As trade between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean flourished, beginning around the third century B.C., these new urban centers sprouted along the so-called Incense Route , their occupants developing, over time, ingenious systems of irrigation and urban planning that are as remarkable today as they were a thousand years ago. In the 2,500-year-old historic center of Sana’a, the capital of modern Yemen, residents adorned the ocher walls of their multistory homes with garlands of gypsum plaster, while in the town of Shibam, which emerged in its current form in the 16th century, rammed-earth towers rose as high as seven stories from a cliff’s edge overlooking the Wadi Hadhramaut, a vertiginous landscape that blurs the boundary between the natural and the man-made. For decades now, these ancient settlements and the people who reside within them have suffered crisis upon crisis — floods and famines and a years-long civil war that, since its beginning in 2014, has precipitated mass starvation, even as historic neighborhoods are shredded by U.S.-backed Saudi bombings. Among the most extraordinary human settlements on earth, the tower cities of Yemen — and, more important, the communities that have for millenniums called them home — are in grave danger of disappearing for good. — M.S.

A.T.: Singularly, without a doubt, this was the most incredible trip I’ve done in my life. This is a rare, stuck-in-the-past kind of country: Like pre-Islamic Arabia, it felt Semitic in the deepest sense. Yemen, for me, was that one place where there was no creeping globalization; it was unbelievably pure. There were some dangers then, too, but not like there are now. I hesitate to recommend it because of the safety situation.

P.I.: I was thrilled to see it on the list. And if we have to single out one element in Yemen, those skyscrapers would be the place to start: Anyone who’s seen them is never going to forget them. I think we shouldn’t worry about safety. It is one of the great countries on Earth and, as Aatish was saying, not like anywhere else.

V.S.: Yes, I agree. We should keep it. Just Aatish’s description — I’m ready to go.

13. Follow the Silk Road Through the Caravan Cities of Uzbekistan

Step back in time with a visit to three of the most important stops on the Silk Road, each city a distinctive meld of Greek, Turkish, Mongol, Muslim and Russian cultures. In the tiled expanse of the Registan, ancient Samarkand’s public square framed by three madrasas (Islamic schools), stand transfixed beneath the grand portals, patterned minarets and ornate cupolas. A little down the road to the west lies Gur-e-Amir, the resting place of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Tamerlane. Resplendent with intricate tile work and crowned by a heavenly blue dome, the mausoleum inspired the Mughal master craftspeople of the Taj Mahal. A leisurely walk northeast, past new developments and century-old buildings, calls for a stopover at Siyob Bazaar, where you can wander the food stalls selling pomegranates, dates, halvah, naan and more. A few hundred paces away is Bibi-Khanym: One of the largest mosques built in the 15th century, the structure was restored to much of its former glory in the latter half of the 20th, its grand azure dome and four minarets suspended against the backdrop of the iwan. There are no direct flights from Samarkand to Bukhara, so take the scenic route by train, past rippling red sands, the oases that punctuate the bleached-out plains of the Kyzylkum Desert and Poi-Kalyan, the sprawling mosque complex, where the baked brick of minaret, madrasa and mosque glow pink at sunset. And though all three cities have centuries-old caravansaries — the famed inns where Silk Road merchants stayed — Ichan-Kala, a remnant of the ancient Khiva oasis, checkered with medieval Islamic buildings, appears completely untouched by time. Countless others have walked these walls before, and now you have joined your steps to theirs, grounded together in the richness of the past. — M.M.

A.T.: I mean, unparalleled, the most wonderful Silk Road trip you can do. Stunning monuments, red desert, old Persianate culture mixing with the culture of the steppe and then, obviously, the Soviet empire. I would recommend it very highly.

14. Tour the Lofty Potala Palace in Lhasa, a Sacred Repository of Tibetan Artifacts

Rising out of a cliff face more than 12,000 feet above sea level, Tibet’s Potala Palace feels like a lavish retreat, a religious sanctuary and an impregnable fortress all in one. The climb to the top of the 13-story building is breathtaking in every sense of the word; make sure you’ve acclimated to the altitude before you attempt it. And the palace’s sloped red-and-white facade — repainted annually with a mixture of honey, milk, brown sugar and saffron — is as inviting as it is magisterial. (Frank Lloyd Wright found it so inspiring that he kept a photo of it in his drafting room.) Completed in 1649, the palace’s two divisions, one red and one white, together comprise at least one thousand rooms that encapsulate the vibrant multiplicity of Tibetan history. Guided tours, lit by traditional butter lamps, take you through rooms crowded with hundreds of murals, works of porcelain and jade, intricate carpets and Buddhist scriptures; the world’s longest scroll of Tibetan calligraphy, measuring 676 feet in length, has been housed here since 2014. Also on display are astonishing gilded stupas — wooden towers of concentric rings inlaid with jewels, each crowned with a sun and moon — containing the remains of eight Dalai Lamas. The Potala is a tribute to Buddhism and an embattled people; located on a mountaintop in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, or “place of gods,” it has survived numerous attempts at looting and destruction since Tibet was annexed by China in 1950. Its resilience is reason enough to go. — D.P.

P.I.: Tibet is a really important place for people to visit culturally and politically because it’s so imperiled. Ladakh is more beautiful and Bhutan is more protected. But Tibet, the center of this rich culture and religion, is being destroyed very quickly, and anyone who goes there suddenly feels deeply invested in its protection.

15. Explore the Architectural Syncretism in South India’s Deccan Plateau

The vast highlands stretching between the eastern and western coastal ranges of the peninsular subcontinent have seen the rise and fall of countless kingdoms, each of which has left behind architectural remains as proof of its former glory. Nowhere is that immense cultural wealth more evident than in the temple towns and former imperial capitals of northern Karnataka, near the Deccan Plateau’s semi-arid heart. Beginning in the sixth century, the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, a vast and culturally diverse empire, turned its successive capitals in the now-sleepy villages of Aihole and Badami and the ceremonial center of Pattadakal into hubs for experimentation in religious architecture, assembling free-standing temples from elaborately carved stone that drew influence from both North and South India and excavating and erecting sites of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist devotion. In the 14th century, the Muslim Bahmani kings introduced Persianate domes and crenellated walls at the fortress capital of Bidar, while in Bijapur, roughly six hours southwest, the skyline bristles with minarets and domes left behind by the Adil Shahi sultans, who ruled there in the 16th and 17th centuries. Farther south, the subcontinent’s last great Hindu empire blossomed in the city of Vijayanagar, built over the course of 200 years, then abandoned in 1565 after its defeat by the sultanates of the northern Deccan. Now known as Hampi, that great city marks the pinnacle of Dravidian architecture, with its soaring temple towers and colonnades. Taken together, these cities and towns, clustered in the northern districts of Karnataka state, represent a practically endless trove of architectural treasures at least as rich as the Mughal mosques and Rajput temples of North India’s well-trodden tourist circuit. More important, they speak to the long tradition of syncretism that has always defined India, a tradition that contemporary politics increasingly — and tragically — aims to erase. — M.S.

A.T.: I went to school in South India, and the Deccan is very far from the world of the Taj Mahal and North Indian Islamic architecture. It was this unbelievable trail with beautiful temples in Aihole and Badami. Then you come to Hampi, which was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, and it’s a site like Angkor Wat: absolutely stunning. Then you carry on to Bidar and Bijapur [Vijayapura] and you see mosques — it’s one of the most interesting, beautiful meeting points of Islam and Hinduism, but in the south of India as opposed to the north.

P.I.: I’ve been to India quite a few times and I’ve never heard about those wonders. It’s a fresh, eye-opening suggestion.

16. Hike Japan’s Lore-Steeped Kumano Kodo Trail

South of the ancient cities of Kyoto and Nara, Japan’s Kii Peninsula offers dramatic ocean vistas and dense old-growth cedar forests. Its flickering shadows, creeping mosses and shrouds of ethereal mist have enraptured pilgrims and seekers since antiquity, and the region’s awe-inspiring tranquillity has come to embody the long commingling of Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Every year, as many as 15 million people hike the Kumano Kodo, a network of trails more than a thousand years old and totaling more than 600 miles, whose cobblestone stairs and long wooden footbridges lead to three grand shrines: the Kumano Hongu Taisha, the Kumano Nachi Taisha and the Kumano Hayatama Taisha, all prized for their ability to heal and purify. (That last one is said to date to A.D. 128, when it was built for gods who’d descended to Earth.) Comprising seven routes around the peninsula or through the heart of the Kii Mountains, the Kumano Kodo is so sprawling that no two journeys will ever be alike, though all are formidable; its Kohechi trail, a four-day, 43-mile hike over three mountain passes, includes vertiginous ascents of more than 3,200 feet and is renowned for its difficulty. Those who make the strenuous climb will find weathered milestones, natural hot springs and a hand-operated cable car suspended over a riverbank. Visitors can seek shelter for the night at designated campsites or at minshuku, guesthouses scattered along the route. Further on, at the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine, a stately three-tiered pagoda overlooks the 436-foot Nachi no Taki, Japan’s tallest single-drop waterfall, long considered a sacred entity, which has enveloped generations of travelers in its awesome roar. — D.P.

T.M.: I like the idea of Shinto mountain worship: It’s a challenging but incredibly cleansing experience — like the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

D.Z.: I know two people who’ve done it, both after their fathers died. They said it was transformative.

T.M.: It’s arduous, and that makes it a strange spiritual experience unlike anything else.

17. Spend the Day in the Womblike Emptiness of the Teshima Art Museum in Japan

Before the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of travelers visited the art islands of Japan, a collection of some 20 former fishing and industry isles turned art havens scattered across the Seto Inland Sea, just over an hourlong flight from Tokyo. They made the trek via a combination of train, ferry, car, bus and bicycle, some with visions of Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” (1994), a polka-dot yellow fiberglass pumpkin positioned at the end of a pier, in their heads. That sculpture was responsible for much of the foot traffic at the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima, a small island with several museums designed by Tadao Ando, until it was swept out to sea during a typhoon in 2021. (The work was eventually recovered, restored and, last month, put back on display.) As Japan slowly reopens, the Art Islands continue to attract pilgrims. Inujima, Shodoshima and Megijima host installations and art fairs in once-abandoned buildings, but it’s Teshima Island, home of the Teshima Art Museum, that travelers most need to experience. Designed by the Tokyo-based architect Ryue Nishizawa, the museum’s low-lying concrete shell is a feat of engineering and a work of art in itself. Inspired by the bulbous curve of a water droplet resting on a sheet of glass, it appears to emerge organically from a forested hillside overlooking the sea. Inside, two open-air oculi frame shifting scenes of water, sky and sunlight alongside the museum’s single permanent installation, 2010’s “Bokei” (Matrix), by the Hiroshima-based artist Rei Naito. The contemplative work features beads of water that emerge from, pool atop and are reabsorbed into pinholes perforating the floor. To enjoy a few hours in its engulfing silence, watching the light change with each passing hour, is to surrender to time itself. — A.K.

P.I.: I’ve been really impressed by the art project around Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea and how it has developed over the past 30 years. Though I would recommend the entire Naoshima project, the most piercing place is Teshima. You take a bus across a quiet island, end up on a hill and step into this vast empty space, which is the museum. There’s nothing there except two openings in the roof and drops of water being made to emerge from the ground. And somehow it’s transfixing — like a James Turrell Skyspace doubled and taken in an almost feminine direction. So many people, from billionaires to meditation teachers, have told me this is the single most moving place they have ever been.

THE AMERICAS

18. take the ultimate road trip: drive the pan-american highway from argentina to alaska.

Roughly tracing the path that early man followed after crossing the land bridge over the Bering Strait, the Pan-American Highway runs at least 19,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia at the edge of Tierra del Fuego, a subantarctic territory split between Chile and Argentina. Crossing 14 countries and interrupted only by the ecologically fragile forests of the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia, the highway — really a collection of interconnected freeways splintered across various routes — traverses the tundra of western Canada and the peaks of the Rockies, the deserts of northern Mexico and the pampas of Patagonia. Options for detours along the way are almost endless. You might weave through the national parks of the American West. In Mexico, depending on which route you take, you might feast on roasted goat in Monterrey or raw seafood in coastal Mazatlán. You could wander colonial cities like Antigua, Guatemala, or Granada, Nicaragua, and bird-watch in the rainforests of Costa Rica. In the valleys between Colombia’s triplicate Cordilleras, you could sip coffee among green hills in the department of Quindío and salsa dance in the lowland city of Cali. Following the Andes south, you’ll gaze upon the gilded extravagance of Ecuador’s whitewashed capital, Quito, or hike in the highland planes below the snow-dusted dome of Cotopaxi, that country’s highest active volcano. You could deviate from the main road to lose yourself in the endless white expanse of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, then follow the spine of South America through regions of Argentina and Chile punctuated by vineyards and lakes. To drive the Pan-American Highway is to glimpse the immensity of the Americas and the unthinkable marvels of a world both ancient and irrepressibly new. — M.S.

V.S.: You’re driving through at least 14 countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. There’s surfing, jungles, swimming, birding, colonial towns, the history, the culture, glaciers, caves, blue lakes, beaches, hot springs in Mexico — it gives you everything.

19. Behold the Natural Wonders of Chile’s Atacama Desert

Ranging from the Pacific Coast to the Andean Altiplano and locked in the rain shadow of the world’s longest mountain range, the Atacama Desert, located mostly within northern Chile, is among the most alien landscapes on the planet. Pink flamingos gather at the edges of salt lakes the color of lapis or topaz or garnet. Perfectly conical volcanoes loom over salt flats and desolate plains where guanacos, elegantly proportioned cousins of llamas, and viscachas, which resemble long-tailed rabbits, drift through prickly wisps of ground-hugging vegetation. Jets of steam slip through the arid turf in some of the highest geyser fields, and rocky hills drop into the frigid blue waters of the Pacific. Uncontaminated by light or clouds or moisture, the night sky explodes with stars, recorded and studied by some of the most advanced telescopes on Earth. Covering a swath of 70,000 square miles and contiguous with similar biomes in neighboring corners of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia, the Atacama is so extreme in its atmospheric conditions that NASA used it as a test site for its Mars rovers in 2017. Until civilian space travel becomes a reality, the Atacama, with its spectral beauty, will remain perhaps the closest one can get to an extraplanetary experience. — M.S.

V.S.: The Atacama is the driest nonpolar desert on Earth. And I love extremes, obviously. I felt that this would offer a remote and diverse experience with lunar landscapes, salt pools comparable to the Dead Sea, sand dunes, rock formations, hiking and incredible stargazing.

T.M.: You can have an amazing time looking at stars, and it’s incredibly dry, so the atmosphere is very different. A truly visceral experience.

20. Feast on the Cuisines of Oaxaca City, Mexico

The state of Oaxaca has long been a focal point of Mexican culinary identity. But in the past few years, the namesake capital’s limestone buildings and dazzling evening light have attracted unprecedented numbers of visitors, upending the equilibrium between its Indigenous identity and the constant demands of tourists for elegant restaurants and luxury hotels. Yet growing awareness of Oaxaca’s cultural wealth and diversity has also made it possible for chefs with local roots to open revelatory new businesses in spaces as simple as they are unforgettable. At Levadura de Olla, for instance, the chef Thalía Barrios García prepares food straight out of the remote hill country south of the city where she grew up. Bowls of black beans fragrant with wood smoke or, in season, tacos made with the brilliant crimson flowers of the pipe tree are the closest thing to country cooking you’re likely to find in any major city. Outside the center, the chef Jorge León has turned the tranquil garden of his family home into a restaurant called Alfonsina, where he serves an ambitious, adventurous tasting menu that draws on his experience as a cook at Pujol, the high-concept gastronomic temple in Mexico City, while his mother and aunts turn out a parallel menu of traditional dishes like a meticulously prepared hoja santa-scented mole amarillo. Every corner of this wondrous city and its surrounding countryside contains its own culinary jewels — from market stalls selling steamed tamales swaddled in banana leaves and crisp corn tlayudas folded like envelopes around sheets of chile-rubbed beef, to relaxed mezcalerías and market halls redolent of barbacoa cooked overnight in underground pits. The newer restaurants aim neither to replicate nor supplant these spaces but, rather, to honor them and, in their down-to-earth manner, expand their reach. — M.S.

A.T.: A lot of food scenes can be quite fussy. What was moving to me here were restaurants like Levadura de Olla, with a woman who’s come from the hills of Oaxaca to bring the cuisine of her home to this restaurant. Besides the food being wonderful, it seemed like a real break from the sort of fine dining you find elsewhere.

21. Dance Until You Drop at Carnival in Cuba

Cuba’s massive Carnival celebrations have been held in some form or another since the 17th century. As a series of winter events tied to the Catholic Church’s calendar, Carnival was largely reserved for Cubans of mostly Spanish ancestry, while its summer counterpart, the Mamarrachos, allowed laborers and the lower classes (mostly enslaved Africans and their descendants) a period of riotous release after the sugar cane harvest. Many other Carnivals across the Caribbean are still observed in February, before Lent, but Cuba’s Carnival has evolved into an exuberant summer event that is celebrated across the country. The most famous parties, held in Havana in August and in Santiago de Cuba at the end of July, have preserved the vibrant spirit and Afro-Caribbean influences of the original Mamarrachos. Spangled and feathered groups of dancers called comparsas perform in the streets between giant effigies of religious figures and celebrities, decorated floats and conga performers. The mainstreaming of festivals that originated from marginalized communities hasn’t been entirely seamless, with periodic attempts by conservative Cubans to sanitize them, but the omnipresent rhythm of the Carnival drums is a permanent reminder of their roots in resilience, triumph and pure joy. — A.C.

P.I.: Cuba is one of the most powerful places I’ve been and Carnival is a wild concentration of its energy, music and spirit.

A.T.: That’s a great way to do Cuba — because it’s atmospheric. Going there is one of those experiences that, 20 years on, I can’t stop thinking about.

22. Take In the Magnificent Scale and Immutable Geology of the Colorado Plateau

The high desert of the Colorado Plateau covers 150,000 square miles, stretching across the Four Corners region in an arid, empyrean expanse including not only its namesake state but parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, as well as the whole of the Navajo Nation. From its massive sedimentary rocks rise gnarled, sweeping geological marvels that seem to defy gravity and dwarf the human concept of space: Here are the mesas, petrified forests, monoliths, pinnacles and hoodoos that define the rugged archetype of the American West. The Ancestral Pueblo people, who lived on the plateau until around A.D. 1300, left ruins in the form of kivas — circular subterranean chambers often used for ceremonies — adobe pueblos and intricate dwellings built into the sides of cliffs. These are enshrined among the plateau’s eight national parks and 18 national monuments, which together constitute some of the greatest, most diverse terrain in the United States. In addition to the Grand Canyon, there’s Bears Ears, a pair of burnt-sienna buttes revered by Indigenous groups; and Grand Staircase-Escalante, an imbricated series of ascending rock layers punctuated with canyons and cliffs. The plateau, in its vastness, offers many opportunities for hiking, cycling, rafting and birding, but the best way to experience it is to camp there, watching as its endless horizons become a vault of stars. — D.P.

V.S.: This area of the country is physically magnificent and encompasses so much of what I find engaging in the West: the Kodachrome red rock formations; the sweeping views; the canyons, mountains, valleys, deserts; the 600-million-year-old geologic history of the plateau and the culturally significant sites of Ancestral Puebloans, reminding us of what was here before. It’s an awe-inspiring trip that will remind you of our fleeting time here while you experience the grandeur where past and present converge.

23. Witness a Solar Eclipse in a Sleepy Fishing Village in Newfoundland, Canada

The next total solar eclipse in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. Among the many scenic vantage points on its path of totality is Bonavista, a town of some 3,000 people on a bucolic peninsula in Newfoundland. There are plenty of remote places here from which to take in the atavistic spectacle: a sublime, disquieting experience, full of renewal and destruction, that shatters one’s sense of magnitude. When you’re not watching the moon engulf the sun in a rite of astronomical passage, you can enjoy more earthly pleasures at the Bonavista lighthouse, which looks out onto a seascape of unsurpassed beauty, featuring calving icebergs, breaching humpback whales and ambling colonies of puffins. Nearby are the Dungeon, a collapsed sea cave warped by erosion into a natural archway, and the Ryan Premises, a set of white clapboard buildings from the 19th century, striking in their simplicity, and once the locus of the town’s thriving cod-fishing industry. (Their slogan: “Where cod is culture.”) Bonavista takes its name from the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto, often Anglicized as John Cabot, who is said to have exclaimed, “O buona vista!” upon glimpsing its shores in 1497. A full-scale replica of Cabot’s ship, the Matthew , floats in a harbor near the village center, where visitors can rent kayaks for whale-watching excursions. — D.P.

D.Z.: The one experience where I’m like, “I will die on this hill for this,” is to observe the next [full] solar eclipse in North America from the path of totality. I’ve never had the chance to [do this] myself, but I will be traveling to Toronto with my son — he’ll be two then — and I want to “ Lion King”-style raise him into the eye of the moon when this happens. It’s something our ancestors have built entire mythologies around: a way of keeping track of celestial bodies and realizing there were powerful forces far beyond our own imagination. With the association eclipses have historically carried with the end of the world, it’d be fitting to witness it from what’s colloquially known as the end of the world: Newfoundland. The province [Newfoundland and Labrador] doesn’t get a lot of credit, but it has some of the most beautiful coastal wild nature in North America. April is also iceberg season, which will only compound the viewing experience.

24. Labor on an Organic Farm in New Zealand

Travel can be alienating, expensive and bad for the environment. WWOOF , or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, was started in England in 1971 by Susan Coppard as “a way of getting back into the countryside.” The first weekend she spent on a biodynamic farm spawned a global movement with a simple premise: Volunteers lend a hand on organic farms in exchange for food, lodging and an introduction to agriculture. WWOOFing in New Zealand, particularly in Northland, the milder, less-urbanized agrarian hub that spans much of the North Auckland Peninsula and is renowned for its white-sand beaches and giant Kauri forests, pairs this enterprise with a fairy-tale atmosphere. More than 100 farms here accept volunteer workers throughout the year, letting you experience nature and tend to it at the same time, living alongside New Zealanders, learning firsthand about their way of life and finding a way to give back to the picturesque landscape. Farm life often requires rising with the sun, but chores, whether pulling redroot weeds or tending sheep, usually conclude by lunch. Afterward, grander adventures can be had as well: backpacking Northland’s Great Walks, where you can rove through remote subtropical forests, or canoeing down the Whanganui River. But the most rewarding and memorable aspect of the trip comes from forging a bond with the earth and the resilient people who work it. — M.M.

D.Z.: Working on a farm is something everyone alive should do so that they understand where food comes from. WWOOFing is a great way to do that.

A.H.: It’s interesting in that it touches upon a recent trend toward voluntourism but in a less expected way.

T.M.: I have a miniature farm, but it takes all seasons and years to really understand a cycle. It depends on when you go, but you might see the planting, you might see harvesting; you might only get to do weeding.

D.Z.: It’s not a hotel; you can’t come and go as you please. But I don’t think the fact that you don’t get to completely embed yourself in agriculture over the course of multiple years or seasons negates the importance of learning what it’s like to farm.

A.H.: Why New Zealand specifically, David?

DZ: New Zealand, which is absolutely otherworldly for its natural landscape, is also an island nation that is super self-reliant thanks to the work of its farmers. If you chose to, say, help locals regenerate their surroundings by planting food forests, harvesting fruits in an organic orchard or rewilding land to create more habitat for native and endangered species, you would also get to reap the benefits of spending your off hours exploring Middle-earth, finding yourself a short drive from amazing landscapes like Spirits Bay [Piwhane] at the very tip of the North Island or the Te Paki sand dunes. Plus, I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a Kiwi bird in real life, crossing your path as you work in the field?

25. Float in a Zodiac to the Edge of Human Experience

The only continent with no permanent residents, Antarctica is synonymous with isolation. A two-day cruise through the notoriously rough Drake Passage (or a two-hour flight over it) from the tip of either Argentina or Chile brings you to the planet’s southernmost landmass. Once you’re there, the sights are simultaneously imposing and palpably ephemeral; the grandeur of miles-high glaciers in an exquisite spectrum of blues and greens is only heightened by the fragility of the climate that supports them. Antarctic sea ice is melting less quickly than that of the North Pole, but the vulnerability of the frozen sheet that contains more than half of the Earth’s freshwater supply has never been more difficult to ignore. Earlier this year, Antarctic ice was measured as at a record low (though it fluctuates from year to year, in contrast to Arctic ice, which has been consistently shrinking for decades). If the world’s governments fail to limit warming in the coming years to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, as seems increasingly likely, ice sheet collapses in the Antarctic could cause a catastrophic rise in sea levels over the next several centuries. Still, Antarctica’s sublime beauty persists. In addition to its penguin colonies, best encountered from November till January, the whale watching is revelatory. Go in February or March, when receding ice allows the dozen or so passengers in the inflatable Zodiac rafts of expedition cruises to get up-close views of blue whales, orcas, humpback whales and other cetaceans. Travel to Antarctica remains heavily regulated: Unguided landings are forbidden, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1991, instituted “leave no trace” guidelines designed to limit the human impact of tourism and scientific exploration alike. Before you go, do some research to identify the most sustainable way to explore . — A.C.

P.I.: I’m not very sensitive to nature, but this was beyond anything I’ve imagined or experienced, even in nearby Patagonia. It awakens you to the environmental concerns of the world, which are probably paramount in most travelers’ minds these days; being exposed to such majesty and beauty and also to the underlying frailty, you go home with important questions for your conscience as well as radiant memories.

At top: Footage of the World/Getty Images, Nick Ballon, Andrew Rowat, Iwan Baan, M’Hammed Kilito, Fernando Maquieira, Michael Turek (3), Nick Bondarev, Salvatore Di Gregorio, @SteMajourneys (2), Sjo/Getty Images, Luca Donninelli, Felix Odell, Stefan Ruiz (2), Grant Harder (2), Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images, James Thompson, Kelly Cheng/Getty Images

Research Editors: Mario Mercado and Alexis Sottile

Copy Editors: Diego Hadis, James Camp and Polly Watson

Photo Editor: Katie Dunn

Ashlea Halpern is a Contributing Editor for T Magazine.

An earlier version of this article rendered incorrectly the name of a city in Cuba; it is Santiago de Cuba, not Santiago del Cuba.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of a city in the Achaemenid Empire; it was Pasargadae, not Parsargadae.

How we handle corrections

What is experiential travel and why are travellers going to demand more of it in 2022 and beyond?

Regional Product Manager in the Americas, Simon Lindsay, shares his insight on the shifting demand from the traditional flop and drop to immersive, multi-day experiential travel within the North American market.

The world has changed. We hear this phrase more often due to several factors impacting our planet: the COVID pandemic, climate change, political instability and uprisings, the demand for a better world… However, one thing has remained constant: our desire to connect with people and our planet. People want to reconnect with friends and family, want to escape the stresses of daily life, learn new things, and have new experiences. 2020 gave us time to reflect on what is important; we became more aware of our personal wellbeing. These factors will be important considerations when travel returns.

The media reports on a substantial pent-up demand for travel as borders reopen and flights resume. Holidays, of course, are synonymous with good feelings, great memories, and the escape from the daily grind. But what type of vacation do people want to take, as they make up for ‘lost’ time?

Discova-Dominican-Republic experiential travel

Visiting a craft shop in the Dominican Republic

Whilst flop-and-drop continues to be one of the main reasons for travel to the Caribbean/Americas, we are seeing an increasing demand for more experiential travel inclusions – a notable change from previous years.

The big focus on requests from our partners is centred around personal wellbeing and immersive culturally rich inclusions. Yoga, wellness, spa inclusions – these experiences giving people time for mindfulness and healing are proving popular in Tulum, Isla Holbox and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as well as in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.

Activities that ignite the senses and broaden cultural understanding are also proving popular inclusion requests for multi-day itineraries. These are hands-on experiences such as food and drinks tours, cooking classes, market visits, homestays, and other introductions to the local way of life. The focus here is on immersion as opposed to mere observation.

Interest in Experiential Travel

There is interesting data on millennials who, according to Bloomberg, now make up the largest generation (31.5% of the world population). The data shows that 86% of millennials want to travel for experience and culture, immersing themselves into their destination, staying clear of tourist traps – 60% rank authentic culture as the essential part of their trip, 78% want their visit to be educational.

Our Discova multi-day itineraries encompassing these experiential and sensory activities have proven extremely popular, with bookings confirmed through 2021, 2022, and 2023 highlighting a growing demand in this area (significatively above pre-Covid numbers). Our In-Destination sales are also changing. Typical flop-and-drop type excursions such as catamarans, parks, ziplines, shopping, and sightseeing are still proving extremely popular. However, we are seeing a growing demand from customers for something different, something new, something unique – often emphasising wellness or experiential activities.

There is also a renewed focus on responsible travel activities, felt industry wide. The events of recent months have highlighted just how fragile our world is, which has ignited awareness of our impact on the planet. Therefore, hotels that stand out for their sustainability are becoming increasingly popular.

Similarly, interest in activities that directly help give back to the local community and increase ecological knowledge is also rising. For example, we have recently successfully launched two educational programmes in Costa Rica . These are designed for high school students to increase their awareness of environmental issues and offer local village interaction.

“Personally, I think this is a thrilling time to be in travel. Having worked in the industry for the last 17 years, it always astounds me that so many people travel, sometimes thousands of miles, to another country, without really experiencing the destination. Instead, people tend to choose to spend time on the beach or within the confines of the hotel, except for the odd sightseeing tour or boat trip. Now I feel, more than ever, that this is changing. It is a change happening within the industry overall, and the events of recent years have driven that change.”

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The force of change in the travel experience

T he last couple of years have rewired what travelers care about and how they act. In fact, half of consumers say that the pandemic caused them to rethink their personal purpose and re-evaluate what’s important to them. 1

This reveals a massive white space for travel brands—an opportunity to differentiate themselves and follow new paths to accelerate and grow their business.

The place to start? Understanding the new traveler today.

Travelers’ demands

The pandemic forced travelers—en masse—to shift their expectations completely and more rapidly than we’ve seen at any other time in history and caused them to rethink their purpose.

Travelers are now channel-less, contact-less, time-less and audience-less.

We explore the shift in travelers’ demands and the critical accelerators that will help travel companies drive growth through the travel experience.

What does this mean for travel brands?

To help companies respond to these new travel preferences, we have identified critical accelerators to drive market differentiation and improve the travel experience :

1. Creativity to inspire.

Driving differentiation with scalable communications and innovative experiences will allow travel brands to meet rising motivations and ignite growth. Learn more .

2. 0-Channel distribution.

Travel brands need to adapt to new liquid demand in the distribution landscape to achieve better return on investment.

3. Tech-empowered.

The right technology foundation for recovery and growth requires incremental transformation with agility, innovation and resilience at the heart. Learn more .

4. Data as guidance.

The combination of cloud and data expertise makes it possible to experiment with new loyalty initiatives, booking flows, customer care and experience. Learn more .

5. Sustainability, the north star.

Travelers are attracted to companies with a track record of green operations, so travel brands need to build sustainability into their DNA. Learn more .

The takeaways

Travel companies have important choices ahead. It’s one thing to be aware of how the acceleration of new travelers’ demands is pressuring the industry. It’s another to see the opportunities in of all this change—and seize them. We can help you. Let’s begin with these takeaways:

Redesign your inspiration strategy
Adopt a liquid demand centric distribution strategy
Use data as a guidance layer to orchestrate the whole customer experience value chain
Design, build and communicate your sustainable platform

1 Life Reimagined: Mapping the motivations that matter for today’s consumers

Managing Director – Products Lead, Iberia

MANAGING DIRECTOR – SONG

CONSULTANT – SONG

ANALYST – SONG

The Guide: Travel industry magazine

Break the mold on travel loyalty programs

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Life-changing travel experience stories

There’s nothing like other travelers’ tales to get inspiration . When you are home longing to be on the road, or when you are on a journey wondering why you left the comfort of your house, submerge into these life-changing travel experience stories, beautiful tales of how a trip can alter the trajectory of your life .

I’m sure my regular readers are used to me talking about travel experiences . But for those who are discovering this little window to my soul called Experiencing the Globe , you can see that it all started with a bucket list of all the –surprise, surprise– travel experiences I want to have around the world.

The list is my goal in life, so I’m spending as much time as I can on the road. But when I’m home in between trips I seek inspiration in other travelers’ tales. I’ve read as many books about exciting journeys as I could put my hands on. And recently I got a hold of Lonely Planet’s Travel Goals: Inspiring Experiences to Transform Your Life .

It got me thinking of my own life-changing travel experiences . Like my transformation into a sustainable traveler after fully grasping what that meant for the planet and all the life in it. I have a trip to the Caribbean to thank for that. The first trip I took alone, when I was starting to test my boundaries, empowered me as a solo female traveler, and opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities! I’m so thankful I chose Italy , an amazing destination to explore on your own! I reaffirmed my faith in human kindness after spending a month in Iran , meeting the loveliest people I’ve ever encountered. And the most literal life-changing travel experience, moving to Croatia after meeting the love of my life in this beautiful country that now I call home.

The book also encouraged me to ask other travelers if they had a story in their own travels that changed their lives in one way or another. I was overwhelmed with the beautiful tales… some of the best life-changing stories that’ll inspire you to travel!

Life-changing travel experience stories that’ll inspire you to travel

Collecting memories, not counting countries.

I want to start this series of tales with my own. As I told you, many aspects of my life have changed over the years due to a travel experience, but the one I want to elaborate on is the one that defined what my life would be. Traveling hasn’t changed me, it has made me. It’s who I am. Several trips to the south of Chile showed me where I was going. This is the story of how I became the person I am today:

My parents took me camping to the Chilean Lake District every summer while growing up. This was in the dark age, before the internet. Back then we had to rely on maps and guidebooks. So through the endless hours of our road trips, I kept myself entertained glancing at a map, reading about the small towns we passed, and convincing my folks to take a detour to visit some place that caught my attention.

During one trip I told them that I have decided I wanted to go everywhere in the world. After a few laughs, my dad told me about the Travelers’ Century Club (TCC), a group for people who have visited 100 or more of the world’s countries and territories. My eyes sparkled with the thought of being a member, and I made it my goal.

Obviously, I started asking to go to another country instead of the same National Park we always visited. They laughed again –conscious of the monster they have created– and offered a compromise: they’d take me to our neighbor Argentina, my first trip abroad, but I had to see more of my own country before I embarked on my adventure of visiting another hundred. I happily accepted.

See, what I immediately realized is that –as much as I wanted to be part of the TCC– the main reasons to travel should revolve around what I’ll get out of a trip –whether that’s meeting locals, tasting the typical cuisine, exploring nature, or adventuring into an activity– it shouldn’t be just to count countries . I know the “why you should travel” is super personal, but ticking countries off a list only because you put your feet there feels meaningless to me.

Why do people travel? Well, there are as many reasons as people traveling, but even if it is to get a tan while you’re permanently sipping from a cocktail, that trip will always be part of your story, so you should make the most of it.

After visiting every region in Chile, I started to go abroad. Nowadays, getting closer to 100 countries and territories of the TCC list properly visited, what I knew instinctively, transformed into lessons I learnt during my travels … What inspires me the most to hit the road is experiences, because they feed my adventurous soul –the TCC list (and my own bucket list) became the means to guide my journey, not an end themselves.

Spreading the word about the truth of traveling

Claudia’s life story is remarkably similar to my own. Being avid travelers changed the way we perceive a destination, and the story that should be told about it. We both left behind an academic career and repurposed our research abilities towards travel writing. Now we both blog from a distinct point of view. This is the story of how in a visit to Cuba she found her true calling:

“Cuba changed my life because it was nothing like I had expected it to be –quite the opposite, in fact. You see, being the avid traveler that I am, before my trip to Cuba I spent months reading just about anything I could put my hands on. If it talked about Cuba, I had to read it. Everything made it sound like traveling to Cuba would be easy, and locals would be generous and welcoming.

My time in Cuba was less than fabulous. Don’t get me wrong, it is a gorgeous country and now, a few years later, with much more traveling experience and understanding, I am ready to go again. But back then, it was awful. My 23 days there were a constant challenge to avoid scams –a challenge that a few times saw me succeed but that other times saw me fail miserably. It was frustrating. I felt I could not trust anybody. Where were the lovely Cubans everyone talked about in their blogs?

Cuba taught me that people lie, even (or especially) online. Because nobody really wants to say they have had a bad experience, and nobody is really interested in reading about others’ bad experiences –but is that really the case?

I decided there and then to be different. I decided that I had to warn others, tell them the truth, let them know what they should expect and what they should do to avoid scams. That’s why I opened my blog. It was just a pastime at the beginning.

Fast-forward 2 years and I realized that I did want to make an effort to make it work out. After all, what did I have to lose? My contract as a research fellow at the university had expired and I had no real prospect if not a series of menial short-term teaching jobs I was less than interested in. So, I gave blogging my heart and soul. And it worked. I’m a much happier person now. I love what I am doing. I wake up in the morning to face a long list of to-do things and I read it with a smile on my face, which is priceless.

Cuba changed my life. And despite all the frustration I felt back when I was there, it changed it for the best.”

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Encountering wildlife to find yourself

Camilla was looking for something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Her heart lead her to India , and after that trip her life would never be the same. Animals can have different impacts in our life, but for this former vegan chef, one particular big cat meant more than anything. This is her story:

“January 2017. That’s the date I first arrived in India. By that time, I used to work as a freelance vegan chef in the hustling city of Paris. Having attended a 4-weeks course on yoga and Ayurveda, I had planned to spend the following month exploring this amazing country.

Little did I know that a special encounter would change my life forever.

Always an animal lover, over the years I had developed a passion for the most majestic of big cats: the tiger. The striped animal had somehow summoned me. To what reason and to convey what message I do not know, but to such a call one can hardly resist.

India is home to more than 60% of the world’s remaining wild tigers. The critically endangered species is highly protected, and the country has given to many of its national parks the status of Tiger Reserve.

It was time for me to see my first one in the wild.

With zero safari experience and many hours of research, I booked 4 drives in Ranthambhore, one of India’s most famous Tiger Reserves .

I will always remember the excitement before that first drive in the jungle, and I will never forget the distress of realizing that finding the elusive cat is no easy task.

But all of a sudden, there it was. Glorious in its fierce black striped orange coat, a killer look and an attitude to die for. My first wild tiger.

That fleeting moment was enough to make me want more. Today, I have moved to Central India, prime tiger landscape of the world, and I have seen 103 different individuals. But every time I see those eyes, I feel the same excitement that I felt as a total beginner that day in Ranthambhore.”

Finding love in an unexpected place

Traveling is full of surprises. A spontaneous detour can change your life forever. Don’t I know it! A quick, unplanned stop in Split after exploring Dubrovnik ended up seeing me move continents for love. A simple recommendation of a town in The Philippines had the same in store for Alya. This is the tale of the trip that lead her to her husband:

“Meeting my future husband was definitely one of the most life-changing travel experiences I’ve ever had. We met 6 years ago in the Philippines. I was traveling alone around Southeast Asia for a couple of months. After completing my dive course in Gili Air Island in Indonesia and didn’t know where to go next. I was looking for a good place to learn to surf. My dive instructor told me about a small town on Luzon Island in the Philippines. It sounded like the perfect place for me. I bought a plane ticket immediately and two days later arrived in San Fernando.

The hostel I stayed at had a big dormitory with many beds. I met many travelers including Campbell. In fact, we had neighboring beds in the dormitory. He traveled alone as well and we liked each other, so we started going together to the beach, surfing and going out at night. By chance we had very similar travel plans and decided to continue our trip together.

We both like doing the same things, like surfing, diving and hiking. We left San Fernando and traveled around the Philippines together for 2 months. From there we went to Singapore. Unfortunately, I had to go back home, my 4-month holiday was over. We arranged to meet up again two months later in Nepal since we both had trekking to Everest Base Camp on our bucket list. So we did, it was our first multi-day trek together.

We met up a couple of times on the road again in different countries. After 6 months of on and off I decided to quit my job and join Campbell on his around the world adventure. Three years later we got married and decided to start a travel blog . In the last 6 years we’ve done hundreds of hikes, spent a year hitchhiking through Latin America, drove thousands of kilometers across Africa and walked seven Camino de Santiago routes.

Now I can’t imagine how my life would look like if I hadn’t gone to that place in the Philippines and had never met my husband.”

Giving is better than having

A trip to South East Asia gave Corritta’s life a whole new meaning. Possessions are overrated, true happiness comes from giving. She and her family left a comfortable life in the United States behind to fill their souls while making the world a better place. This is the tale of their journey:

“My life changing experience prompted me to sell our house, car and possessions to take off on a journey to see the world. That may seem a little extreme but let me explain. My first international trip was to Bangkok in 2018. I thought this trip would be a great way to get away from the stress in my life. It turned out to be a life altering experience that made me realize I was existing, not living.

While in Bangkok we took a day trip to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand and it changed my life. We learned how cruel animal tourism is and how we, as tourists, are unwitting accomplices. We support illegal pouching and animal cruelty by taking part in animal tourism. This includes taking pictures with large cats or monkeys and riding elephants. When we do these things, we are not only hurting the animals, we are ensuring things will never get better. I must admit I was never an animal lover but being up close and personal with elephants changed something within me. It made me want to give back.

So, two years later, with my partner and our one-year old baby boy, decided to take off for a family gap year . We sold everything and left San Diego to live a life of service. We will use this time to give back to those less fortunate.

When I left Thailand my definition of happiness changed. It was no longer associated with material possessions, but by the quality of life I wanted to live. I realized what truly matters is the love of your family. The Thai people with their families were happier than most Americans. So I decided to take back one of the most invaluable things in the world, time. Never forget, all the money in the world can’t buy you more time.”

Small changes can make the world a better place

A trip to Australia developed plastic-issue awareness in Simona. Seeing how the tides brought tons of plastic to the shores made her change her approach to traveling. From carrying her own grocery bags and water bottle, little adjustments made her a much more responsible traveler. This is how her journey towards sustainability started:

“The first time ever I realized that plastic was a serious matter for our planet was during a road trip in Western Australia, almost 12 years ago.

We stopped at a supermarket along the Coral Bay coast to buy some groceries and the lady at the counter told us they didn’t sell any shopping bags to prevent plastic in the ocean and to help preserving the endangered turtles living in that area. After a first reaction of surprise, we gathered all our shopping in our arms and left, reflecting on what we had been told.

This was just one of the many experiences I’ve lived that made me more conscious about my impact and pushed me to adopt various habits to live and travel more sustainably. For example, after that trip, I am always carrying a cotton bag when I go shopping.

Our eco-honeymoon to Borneo was another life-changing experience that has strengthened my resolution to turn to a zero-waste lifestyle. I selected three ecotourism projects to visit. In Asia finding safe drinkable water is always a challenge, but we traveled with our water bottle, and we chose the right service providers engaged in sustainable travel so, with a little effort, we managed to avoid almost entirely the use of plastic during our trip.

However, we were seriously struck by our stay on Libaran Island, where a sustainable and turtle conservation project was launched 10 years ago. Despite the big efforts carried out by the project and the community in cleaning up the beaches and creatively re-use plastic, the shore is washed daily with tons of plastic coming from the tides. Walking on a carpet of plastic that almost prevented us from seeing the beach underneath was quite shocking.

Facing this global issue in person, raised in me a contrasting feeling of sadness and anger that soon turned into determination: to do as much as possible to reduce plastic in our life. Sometimes we may feel helpless in front of big problems, but we should be aware that small changes can actually make a difference!”

The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel
Sustainable Travel Photography
Eco-friendly hiking: sustainable tips and packing guide
Plant-based diet & Sustainability

Discovering happiness in simplicity

When her career and personal relations were failing, Soujanya decided to retreat to the mountains. The Himalayas were the perfect setting to get away from everything and regain perspective. In a small village she discovered that technology is overrated, and that what counts are real connections. This is how a trip to India changed her take on life:

“Back in mid-2019 I wasn’t in a good place in life. I was getting out of a serious relationship, I was burn out at my job, I had problems within my family, and the ever-increasing sense of loneliness had thrown me into a pit of depression. During that time, I turned to the only positive thing I had going on for myself, which was travel and blogging.

After some contemplation, I decided to quit my job to travel. I had saved up enough money that would last me 8-10 months so I didn’t give it much thought because I knew it was the only thing that would keep me from tipping over the edge.

The first thing I did after leaving my job was to head to the Himalayas in India. I spent a month in the Kinnaur and Spiti valleys in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The Kinnaur district was a breath of fresh air. The snow-clad mountain range in the distance, the lush green vegetation all around, the sparse population and the friendly people spoke to my soul.

There was one village called Chitkul , which lies on the Indo-Tibet border and has no cell connectivity, that helped heal me the most. A remote village with a population of less than a thousand people and only a handful of tourists, with nothing around it for many miles.

I spent my days sitting by the river, hiking to the nearby hills and walking through meadows. Just being there surrounded by the Himalayas, without any social media due to lack of connectivity, and making real connections with other travelers and the villagers had some sort of magical effect on me. Not only I have the best travel experience of my life, but the place also healed my mind. I came back happier than ever, with a renewed spirit, ready to enjoy everything that life had to offer.”

Uncovering a braver version of yourself

We all have that one thing we’d love to do but we’re too scared to try. A trip to Thailand taught Allison that life is what we made of it. Pushing her boundaries not only allowed her to have a ton of fun, but also gave her a new path, one in which she gets to do what she loves. This is her story, an encouragement for you to get out of you comfort zone too:

“Shortly after I graduated from college, I moved to a new state to start a full-time job. One day at work, I found myself wanting to go traveling. As I didn’t have any friends there, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to go on my first ever solo trip. So I quickly started doing research on where I’d like to go.

I had never traveled alone before, especially overseas, so I decided to sign up for a guided group that was going rock climbing in Thailand . This gave me a sense of security, being new to solo traveling. It felt like a great way to dip my toes into being alone and meeting strangers, but also doing something that sounded really fun and engaging for 2 weeks.

The entire Thailand trip forced me out of so many comfort zones that ended up being one of the big turning points of my life. The time I spent in Thailand navigating airports and taxis alone, meeting a group of complete strangers, and spending 2 weeks climbing with them in often remote parts of the country, ended up being one of the greatest experiences of my life. Up until this point I had always considered myself a ‘shy’ and ‘cautious’ kind of person, but this travel experience lit me up to become different. It showed me a brave, strong, and self-sufficient side of myself that went on to influence my life in dramatic ways when I returned home.

When I got back, I pretty much dedicated my life to spending as much time as possible outdoors whether that be climbing, hiking, or backpacking… essentially doing things that I once thought I wasn’t ‘capable of’ or was ‘too scared of’. Today, roughly 6 years later, I’m an outdoor empowerment coach and backpacking educator.

My trip to Thailand was the spark that I needed to make that change. It showed me what was possible. I don’t know if it was the people I met, the experiences I had, or the beauty of traveling in Thailand – likely a bit of all of it– but whatever it was, it changed the trajectory of my life, and I’ll forever hold Thailand (and all the people I met) in a special place in my heart.”

A leap of faith towards a new life

Getting to visit a new place after a business trip is nothing out of the ordinary. For most people. For Derek and Mike it was literally life-changing. After a quick trip to Copenhagen , they packed up and started a new chapter of their lives as expats in a different continent. This is the tale of their journey:

“In November 2016 we had a life-changing travel experience in Copenhagen, Denmark. My partner Mike was asked to make an unexpected business trip to the city to help with a project. His company had recently acquired another company in Denmark, and he was asked to help with the integration. He flew there from our hometown, Philadelphia, with only a few days’ notice, and on his first day in the office they asked if he would stay a few weeks longer. He agreed but asked for time off during the American Thanksgiving so that I could fly to Denmark and take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a cheap trip to Europe with no-cost lodging and some meals expensed.

We loved getting to check out a city that we didn’t have on our travel bucket list before this opportunity came about. We did a few tours, visited the Christmas markets and dined out. At one restaurant we got to try the Christmas traditional Danish meal . I enjoyed Copenhagen for 5 days and Mike remained there for work until the end of November.

On his last night in Denmark, he had dinner at his boss’ home. They shared a meal with a lot of wine and then Mike called me when he got back to his hotel. I could hear the excitement in his voice. He asked if I liked Copenhagen, which seemed odd because he knew I enjoyed myself when I was there. Then he asked if I liked it enough to move there, because on that final night, his boss asked if we would take an expat assignment in Denmark.

We didn’t hesitate to accept and our life abroad began almost right away. That trip to Copenhagen was certainly life-changing!”

Learning to fully appreciate what’s in front you

No matter how much you have traveled, there are places that will bring up the best of you. No matter how much there is still to see, some places will take your breath away and will forever stay in your heart. A trip to Antarctica transformed Wendy into a student. She acquired as much information as she could to fully absorb the beauty that she was about to witness. And now she is longing to go back. This is her story:

“Before my cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica , I was already quite well-traveled. I had visited about 75 countries and seen plenty of natural beauty before. But all of that paled in comparison to the White Continent. The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina had mesmerized me just days earlier, but now I was seeing dozens, even hundreds, of sparkling white glaciers practically everywhere I looked. These landscapes were so different from anything I’d ever seen that it felt like I’d traveled to another planet.

On the times when the weather was bad, and on the long days of crossing the Drake Passage between Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica, I soaked up every bit of knowledge that I could about this snow-and-ice-covered land. Our ship, the MV Ushuaia, was manned by a full staff of scientists and lecturers who were experts in a number of relevant topics, from geology to ornithology. When we were out on the high seas with nothing to do, these experts held lectures on the flora, fauna, history and geology of Antarctica, and I attended every single one.

When we stopped at the British base at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island, I grilled the staff there with questions about how I too could go live and work on the island. And while that dream never materialized, my memories of Antarctica are still sharp in my mind 11 years later, and I still dream of returning one day.

Such an expensive voyage would normally be the trip of a lifetime, not a return destination. But if you’re willing to try your luck, sharply discounted last-minute deals can be found at the port in Ushuaia a day or two before departure. In recent years, these huge discounts have become few and far between, as most ships fill up months in advance. But still I’m thinking of a return trip to Antarctica for some more adventure!”

Adelie Penguins in Antarctica - The Nomadic Vegan

No matter where you go, every single place in the world has the potential to change your life! Tell me in the comments if you’ve had any life-changing travel experiences!

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16 thoughts on “Life-changing travel experience stories”

Wow this is really amazing,I pray that I will be opportuned to travel around the world one day

Sometimes we think it’s a far away dream because it’s dangerous, or expensive, or because we can’t take time from work. I’m aware that for some people it’s actually quite impossible due to their passport or the political situation in their country. For others, their responsibilities are far too great to leave behind. But for most of us, it’s just a matter of priorities. Don’t wait until you have all the money you think you need, or all the time you’d like to spend on the road. Just go! Even if it’s a weekend trip to your neighboring city, or to the countryside close to your place. You got to start somewhere, and every trip has the potential to be life-changing! Let me know how it goes! 🙂

I was looking for inspiration, and inspiration I found. I can’t travel at the moment, but I’m already thinking of how to be more sustainable on my next trip. Thank you all for sharing!

That’s amazing to hear, Dani! Welcome to the sustainable traveler’s team! 🌱

I googled inspiring travel stories to see if my day could be picked up, and I’m so glad this popped up! Lovely stories, super inspiring! I can’t wait for the pandemic to be over to create some travel stories of my own ❤️

Awww! I’m so happy to read your comment, Monty! Hopefully the pandemic will be under control soon and you’ll get to have some travel stories too. Make sure you tell me about them!

Beautiful tales! I can’t wait to start traveling again. Travel already has changed my life, but I’d be happy living through any of the wonderful experiences described here!

When you get to travel again, keep an open mind and an open heart… amazing experiences will happen! ❤️

Very inspiring stories! Thank you for sharing them!

It was a blast to write this, and collect other wonderful tales!

Love all these stories! Love how travel has shaped everyone!

In one way or another, every trip makes us a bit different. It was great to get these wonderful travelers to share their stories -now I’m sure it’s not only me who is deeply changed by travel!

These are all such inspiring stories! Really goes to show you how much travel can impact your life. Thanks for sharing!

It’s crazy how much travel can change us, and how much we can learn from it, no matter where we go!

I loved reading this! All of the stories are such an inspiration! I can’t wait to get back on the road 😍

In times of armchair travel, nothing like beautiful stories to keep the wanderlust up, right? ❤️

Why travel is important to build life experiences

Updated: Dec 8, 2022

Life is all about experiences. And unlike material things, experiences stay with us no matter where we go. Finding ways to make the most of our life experiences is a challenge that we face every day. As human beings, we like to put a value on the things we pursue. We like to feel that what we are doing has a meaning. This purpose is important to our well-being, as it’s from those experiences in life that we learn and grow. Pursuing what we love brings us invaluable life lessons about ourselves and the world around us.

What is there more to love than traveling? Traveling is a unique experience as it's the best way to unplug from the pushes and pulls of daily life. It helps us to forget about our problems, frustrations, and fears at home. During our journey, we experience life in different ways. We explore new places, cultures, cuisines, traditions, and ways of living. We could never experience these things at home. This is why travel is such a unique and invaluable life experience. Besides, there are many benefits of traveling , such as improved health and learning new skills. And as we learn and benefit from traveling, we feel more purpose in our lives. This article focuses on why traveling is important in building our life experiences.

Life experiences while camping and traveling

Want to travel more? Our free travel eBook gives you the technology, apps, and tools you need to save money while traveling.

Traveling gives us a better understanding of the world

If you remain in your home town or country for your whole life, it is hard to fully comprehend the world. You will never get to experience other countries’ struggles, celebrations, and traditions.

You can argue that the media does show you these things. However, the media often portrays the negatives of a country, while the positive stories go unreported. Think about the war in Syria and how your current perceptions of the people and the country are. The media enables us to build walls and barriers to understanding. The only way to overcome this is to explore and see things for ourselves in the real world.

Every country can be vastly different from another. The dialects, food, music, religion, and traditions differ. Being exposed to these unique cultures allows us to become open-minded and understand that even though we appear to be different, we also have many similarities as humans. In spite of looking different, we share the same hopes and dreams. All cultures love their children, are proud of their culture, and work to improve living conditions for their families. These similarities are what bring us together. Traveling allows us to celebrate differences while encouraging ourselves to be more tolerant of each other.

Traveling challenges our beliefs and values in life

If your whole life is dedicated to staying at home in your familiar surroundings, your perspective on life will never be challenged. You will never be able to compare your experiences at home to those of others besides your narrow circle of friends and family.

By traveling, we get to experience how people around the world live their lives. We learn where their priorities lie and how they view family, work, education, the environment, etc. This may question and influence our own ideas and beliefs on how to live life. Traveling will open our mind to a host of new possibilities.

As such, traveling is a great learning experience. And it is up to you on how to apply that learning in your own life. Whether you a learning a new language, trying out new things, developing new passions, or simply becoming more confident as a person, the skills you gain while traveling will help you for the rest of your life.

Travel is an important life experience because it influences our own beliefs

Traveling allows us to establish new relationships

One of the most important benefits of traveling is the opportunity to build friendships and connections with people from all around the world. Sharing our travel experiences with others is what makes it an enriching life experience.

We usually don’t meet many new people at home. We already have our close group of friends and family, so there is no real need to get out and meet new people. This means that we are typically less open to new relationships.

Traveling makes meeting new people very easy. We are constantly surrounded by other people, whether we find ourselves in a hotel bar or on an excursion. We can easily connect over food, new places, music, and culture. We also often have similar interests and values, making the conversation flow easier.

Even if we met someone for just a few days, the connection and memories may last a lifetime. In our globalized world, these connections are more important than ever in life. They may open doors to new possibilities in our future life.

Travel is an important life experience as you connect with others

Traveling enhances personal growth

Traveling often involves stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing new things. These new experiences are different from our daily routine activities and help us grow on a personal level.

Each travel journey brings unique situations and challenges to overcome. For example, when you are traveling solo you may be challenged to become more responsible and independent. By dealing with these situations, you will discover your own strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, etc. This self-awareness is important to your personal growth and discovering who you really are.

To conclude, traveling is many experiences in one . The life experiences you gain from traveling cannot be compared to most things we experience while staying at home. So get out and explore!

Are you not sure what kind of travel experience to get yourself into? Read our article on how 10 different travel experiences can change your life forever!

Do you want to learn more about how traveling impacts you positively in other ways? Go to our benefits of traveling page .

Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Next Trip

Booking.com for places to stay

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GetYourGuide for local tours

Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

This post contains a few affiliate links. That means we may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read our full disclaimer here . Thanks for supporting our travel blog!

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

My 7 Most Unforgettable Travel Experiences

Heather Markel

Activities and Interests
Destinations
Food and Drink
History and Culture
Sightseeing

I’ve just started my fourth year of nomadic life. In the past three years, I’ve been to 25 countries (if not for the pandemic, it would have been at least 10 more!) and had some of the most wonderful experiences of my entire life. Here are a few of my favorite experiences in some of the countries I’ve had the privilege to visit:

1. Seeing My First Leopard In South Africa

I was deeply moved by the visceral connection I felt with the land and the people while in South Africa. However, I didn’t expect to become obsessed with seeing a leopard before I left. I went out on several safaris, including Chobe and Etosha national parks, where I missed out on seeing a leopard the first time and was robbed of seeing leopards the second time. Thus began my obsession.

It wasn’t until I got to Kruger National Park that I finally saw one. In fact, I saw five. The first was a mother and cub, but it was dark so impossible to take good photos. The next day, we stopped for one by the side of the road, stalking an impala. Its perfect, sinewy muscles quivered in anticipation, and I felt like I saw the most beautiful animal I had ever encountered. Lean, the perfect killing machine, and yet also stunningly beautiful. Eventually, she walked with a swift, confident gait, and disappeared into the tall, dry grass. I will never forget that leopard.

2. Drinking Yerba Mate And Malbec In Argentina

Last year was my first in Argentina, and it became one of my favorite places in the world. Drinking yerba mate was an experience of sharing culture, intellectual conversation, and making new friends. In Bariloche, I took a class and learned the proper way to prepare it, and that there are many different brands and flavors. I shared many cups with strangers and learned about their lives, and even developed lasting friendships. In my opinion, you cannot truly understand the culture of Argentina without trying at least one cup of this drink, which boosts many healing properties as well!

Before heading to Argentina, I was an avid fan of malbec wine. But there’s no comparison to drinking it in Mendoza. I went to the Uco Valley, famed for the best malbec wines in the world, and they were all excellent. The experience is divine — you can take a bus, a local train, or a bike, depending which vineyards (called bodegas) you plan to visit. I had a glass most days of the four months I spent in Argentina.

3. Nail Art, Massages, And Learning Motorcycle Culture In Vietnam

Vietnam was a combination of sights, sounds, and smells. Prices were so cheap I simply couldn’t comprehend how I could make it through an entire day spending so little.

One day, a friend treated me to a manicure and pedicure with nail art. I pulled up complex nail art photos on Instagram I liked, thinking they would make a modified version. Instead, my manicurist made a perfect, highly detailed copy of the designs I showed her. In fact, they looked better on my nails than they did on Instagram. The whole process took her two hours, and cost $20 USD. It remains the most incredible manicure and pedicure I’ve ever had.

When I look back at my time in Vietnam, I still can’t believe I managed to cross a street, ever. And yet, somehow, I found the rhythm of the motorbikes and survived. Looking at my photos, I’m amazed that entire families rode their motorbikes together. The motorbike seemed to be a mode of transportation as well as a way families spent time together. One of my favorite photos is of a woman kissing her son as she drives along.

Who doesn’t love a massage? How about a really excellent, hour-long massage for less than $10? I got a few massages a week, they were so good and affordable. My favorite massage parlor was in Hanoi.

4. Eating Honey And Red Kiwifruit, Seeking Greenstone, And Learning About Maori Culture In New Zealand

Now marooned in New Zealand for almost a year, I’ve had a lot of time to get familiar with the culture. I’ve had a few surprising lessons on the food front. Firstly, being raised in America, I thought kiwifruit only existed in green. As it turns out, it comes in gold and red as well. The red is the sweetest, and perhaps one of the best, fruits I’ve ever tasted. It is only available during March and April, so you have to time your visit to New Zealand just right! The other surprise for me was honey. When I’ve gotten it at home, it crystallizes long before I finish a jar. In New Zealand, I’ve learned to use honey almost every day. Whether that be in my tea, on toast, plain, or as a skin remedy, I’ve gone through many jars.

When I first arrived, I noticed all the stores sold jewelry made out of a green stone. I learned it’s called pounamu and is found on the South Island. While, at first, it seemed like a tourist souvenir, it now seems like a rite of passage. I had no idea the greenstone came in so many shapes, colors, hues, and varieties. I’ve already bought two pieces because they represent a deeper connection to the country for me, and my time here, which I will never forget.

I didn’t realize the movie Moana was based on this area of the world. Locals I’ve spoken with believe the fictional Polynesian island of Motunui is based on New Zealand, since the story is partly based on Maori legends. Looking at the landscapes, I can certainly believe a demigod pulled mountains out of the sea!

The indigenous people came here via the sea, as Moana’s community did in the film, and their history and culture are fascinating. This is the first country I’ve been to where tattoos signify family and tradition and are specific to the tribe each person descended from. In fact, the Maori tattoo artists have to study the designs of over 100 tribes to do their job properly.

5. Playing With Highland Cows And Getting Heathergems In Scotland

If you’ve read any of my other articles, you may know that I love cows! I have to admit that the Highland cow stole my heart. With a crop of hair over their eyes leaving one to wonder how they see past it, and babies that look like giant blobs of fur, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them.

Scotland is also known for my namesake growing on hills. I’ve seen the Heather plant, but what’s wonderful in Scotland is that a company found a technique to color the roots of the Heather plants and make beautiful jewelry. Heathergems is located in Pitlochry, Scotland, where you can visit the factory store, but their jewelry is available throughout the country. I still treasure the pieces I bought there.

6. Seeing The Moai On Easter Island

Easter Island struck me as one of those places most people see photos of but don’t actually go. It’s a tiny island, a four-hour flight from Santiago, Chile, and seems so remote and impossible to get to from the U.S. that I’m sure I wouldn’t have gone if I didn’t quit my job. On my way to Santiago, I found a round-trip flight on a Dreamliner for less than $300 USD. I snapped it up and had an incredible experience.

The island is expensive and touristy, but no matter, there are layers of intrigue to it. Most people stay only a few days, but I stayed almost a week, giving me more time to see the stone statues, called Moai, and learn about the island’s history and people. Seeing the Moai in person, you really understand how huge they are — and that they weigh a lot. Therein lies the intrigue. They were built long before we had the modern technology to move them (and it’s still not easy, proven by the tsunami that knocked many down in the 1960s). All the statues were built in the one quarry on the island and then moved to their current resting places. But at the time they were built, there were warring tribes inhabiting the island. So not only did the statues get moved, they got transported safely. The mystery will make you believe in aliens.

7. Learning Monks Aren’t That Different Than The Rest Of Us In Cambodia

While in Asia, especially in Cambodia, I developed a minor obsession with the monks. I loved the orange color of the robes most of them wear, and the energy they carry with them as they walk. Even the young boys with shaved heads seem somehow dignified and full of purpose. Their robes provide a beautiful contrast to the aging stone of the temples they live in.

For me, it was the contrast of holy and normal life blending together that really fascinated me. Seeing a monk shop for groceries like any non-holy person was humbling. For a moment, we had something in common. I had some silly idea that monks still led more sequestered lives, so seeing them smoke cigarettes and use smartphones was a real surprise! I enjoyed their presence everywhere I went.

There are so many beautiful experiences to be had in every country. I feel lucky and blessed to have had these, and know many more await me!

Inspired? Here are the destinations mentioned in this article:

South Africa
New Zealand
Easter Island

Heather is a full-time travel coach who is passionate about helping professionals seeking more freedom and flexibility to ditch their desk and discover their destiny through full-time travel. She provides her clients with the path to the mindset, money, and mastery to make a full-time travel lifestyle possible. Since quitting, she's become an international best-selling author and is about to do her first TEDx talk! Learn more about Heather's travel adventures on her website, Heather Begins.

Jessie on a Journey | Solo Female Travel Blog

19 Inspiring Travel Experience Stories About Life-Changing Trips

Love inspiring travel experience stories ?

Then you’re in the right place!

Grab a snack and your favorite beverage and get ready to settle in, as you’re about to read some truly inspiring travel stories about life-changing trips.

In this roundup, some of my favorite bloggers share their best travel stories.

You’ll hear about travelers embarking on sacred pilgrimages, growing after a first solo female travel trip, deeply connecting with locals on the road, and getting out of their comfort zones in ways that completely alter the course of their life.

And if you’re looking for a unique travel experience, you’ll likely find it in the short stories about travel below.

Table of Contents

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Plus, I’m constantly adding new resources, guides, and personality quizzes to help you travel beyond the guidebook!

On that note, let’s dive into the inspiring travel stories .

1. Travel Experience Stories In South America

My travel story takes place in South America, back when I used to travel solo for months at a time.

I was in my mid-20s, and even though I’d backpacked Europe, Southeast Asia, and China and had studied abroad in Australia, the mix of intense excitement and nerves I had leading up to my South America backpacking trip was different.

And despite family and friends warning me that South America wasn’t a place for a solo female traveler , it ended up being my best trip ever.

There are so many interesting short travel stories and unforgettable travel experiences woven into this trip, like:

Getting invited to have dinner with my Brazilian plane seatmate and her grandma
Having a group of complete strangers on Couchsurfing take me out for dinner and dancing on my birthday in Mendoza
Attending a small house party in Argentina and learning about the tradition of mate
Getting stuck on a broken-down bus and having an impromptu language exchange with an elderly woman in Peru
Having a love interest back home break up with me via text, and then experiencing the kindness of strangers as a woman in my hostel who I barely knew treated me to ice cream to cheer me up
Having a romance with a hostel mate in Ecuador and then traveling through the country together
Living in a giant treehouse with a group of strangers during a solo trip in Brazil and spending our days exploring hiking trails and swimming and our nights drinking and exchanging stories about traveling
Taking a 4×4 from Chile to Bolivia across the Siloli Desert to see otherwordly sites like rainbow lagoons and train graveyards in the middle of nowhere
Experiencing some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders, like Iguazu Falls, Torres del Paine, the Amazon River, Uyuni Salt Flats, and Perito Moreno Glacier

At times the trip was also challenging, from dealing with long bus rides and car sickness to flipping over my bicycle handlebars in Peru and getting my body (and ego) badly bruised.

But, I was okay.

In fact, I was more than okay, as the trip showed me how independent I could be and what I was truly capable of. It also showed me the beauty of immersing yourself in cultures different than your own and connecting with locals who want to share them with you.

Years later, when people ask what my best travel experience has been this is the trip that comes to mind.

-Jessie from Jessie on a Journey

2. Traveling With An Open Mind

Many people think of travel as an experience and rightly so. Sometimes, however, you cannot choose the places you travel to.

This happened to me in 2019.

My husband found himself posted in Brunei for work.

Three months pregnant meant that I had a choice:

Either stay with him in Brunei for three months before returning back to India or remain in India, alone.

I chose the former. Not because of my love for the country but because I wanted to be close to him.

Brunei had never held any appeal to me. Whatever research that I pulled off the Internet showed me nothing other than one beautiful mosque.

The flights in and out of the country were expensive so traveling frequently out was not an option either.

I was engulfed by a sense of being trapped in a remote place.

Needless to say, I reached Brunei in a pretty foul mood. I think one of the things that struck me the most even in the midst of that bad mood was the large swaths of greenery that surrounded us.

Mind you, we were not staying in the big city but as far away on the outskirts as you could imagine. I’m not a city girl by any stretch and the greenery eventually soothed my nerves.

It took a week, but I soon found myself interacting with people around me. Fellow expats and locals all went out of their way to make me feel comfortable.

The more comfortable I felt, the more we explored. We trekked (yes, while pregnant!), we joined the board game community, and we enjoyed the local cuisine.

Three months later when it was time to leave, I found myself reluctant to say goodbye to the warmth of the country I had called home for a short while.

I think that my time in Brunei taught me a valuable lesson:

Don’t judge a place by what others say or a lack of information.

Sure, you may not always like what you see, but there will always be something that you will like. You just need to look hard enough to find it!

-Penny from GlobeTrove

A slow travel experience across the Portuguese Camino de Santiago

3. From Half-Day Hiker To Walking Holiday Enthusiast

I’ve always enjoyed walking but never in a million years did I imagine I’d end up walking over 200 kilometers (~124 miles) in 10 days, become a fan of walking holidays, and end up developing self-guided hiking routes in Portugal with a local tour operator as part of my business.

The shift from being someone who was content with an easy three-hour walk to an experienced multi-day hiker began with a brief taste of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrim trail through Portugal to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain.

Back in 2013 I did a guided one-day hike along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Camino, north of Ponte de Lima. It’s also one of the most challenging sections so it was hard work, but the views from the top of Labruja Mountain made the climb worthwhile.

My guides were so enthusiastic about the thrill of arriving at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral after the challenges of day after day on the Camino that I began to think I might want to give it a go, despite not being religious.

Fast forward a few years and I set off from Barcelos with a friend of mine to follow the Portuguese Camino de Santiago.

Apart from suffering from chronic back pain, I thought I was quite fit but nothing had prepared me for how utterly exhausted I would feel at the end of each walking day.

This was truly a slow travel experience, as we were averaging about 20 kilometers (~12 miles) per day and by the time we reached our hotel, I would barely have enough energy to get cleaned up and find food before collapsing. I had envisioned plenty of sightseeing but that ended up being minimal.

Quickly, I realized the moral of this unique travel experience:

The Camino was all about making the most of the journey rather than the destination.

For me, that was quite a shift in thinking as I am usually all about getting to where I want to be as soon as possible so that I can start exploring. It was, perhaps, also my first step on the path towards mindfulness.

I will never forget the sense of achievement and progress at the end of each walking day, and the relief and pride I felt when we finally made it to Santiago de Compostela.

We met people who had walked the Camino several times and I can totally understand how it can become addictive.

-Julie from Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

A story about traveling the Banda Islands

4. A Story About Traveling & Its Ripple Effect

Tucked away in far eastern Indonesia is a tiny archipelago of islands called the Banda Islands.

Apart from world-class snorkeling and some crumbling colonial buildings, the Banda Islands are mostly forgotten and would be described as a backwater by all accounts.

However, the Banda Islands are possibly the main reason that I am who I am today.

Well, the Bandas are the original Spice Islands.

Nutmeg used to grow on this tiny group of islands alone and nowhere else. The Dutch colonized Indonesia and promptly became the owners of islands where money grew on trees.

The only problem was that Indonesia was so far away that they needed a halfway stop to and from Indonesia.

That’s where my travel experience story comes in.

The same Dutch East India Company that traded in spice set up a halfway station at the foot of Table Mountain to break up their long journey. As a result, my Dutch ancestors arrived in the southernmost point in Africa , and generations later we are still there.

When I visited the Banda Islands, it dawned on me how something happening on the other side of the world can ripple out and affect people on the other side of the planet.

And I’m not the only one!

The spice trade was so important to the Dutch that they even traded a tiny island in the Banda archipelago for a much bigger island…Manhattan.

Yes. That Manhattan.

Before visiting the Banda Islands I never really knew about this part of my history.

Along with the spice that the ships carried back to Amsterdam, it also carried slaves. These slaves, more often than not, ended up in Cape Town.

Just like my European ancestors, they too became a part of Africa and added another shade to our beautiful Rainbow Nation.

It was in the Banda Islands that I realized how much of my culture, food, stories and even words in my mother tongue, Afrikaans, actually originated in Indonesia.

Because of these tiny islands, I am a true mix of Europe, Africa, and Asia. While I always thought I knew how all things in life are somehow connected, I didn’t really grasp it until my visit to Indonesia.

This could have been a resort travel experience story, as I went to Indonesia to swim and snorkel and relax on the world’s best beaches. And while I did get to do that, I also learned a lot about who I am as a person, my people, and my country…on another continent.

My visit to the Bandas has sparked a fascination with Indonesia, which I have visited seven times since. I’m already planning another trip to this spectacular country!

-De Wet from Museum of Wander

5. Awakening My Spirit In A Costa Rican Cloud Forest

In February 2017, I was just coming out of a decade of mysterious chronic illness that had shrunk my world.

And one of the things that finally helped me to resurface during the previous year was an online Qi Gong course I stumbled upon:

Flowing Zen .

To the casual observer, Qi Gong looks a lot like its better-known cousin, Tai Chi — the ancient art of moving meditation — but it’s actually energy medicine for healing.

In fact, it’s commonly used in Chinese hospitals.

My daily practice that year made such a difference for me that I dangled a reward for myself:

If I stuck with it all year, then I’d head to Sifu Anthony’s annual retreat in a cloud forest in Costa Rica the following February.

And I did! It was my first trip out of the country for more than a decade.

Just like that, I booked a solo trip — something I hadn’t done since I was an exchange student to Europe 30 years earlier — to San Jose where I met up with a dozen strangers and Sifu Anthony, our Qi Gong master.

We boarded a tiny bus and rode up, up, up around carsick-inducing curvy mountain roads into a magical cloud forest jungle where we finally arrived at The Blue Mountain (“La Montana Azul”) for a weeklong Qi Gong retreat.

There were no Internet or distractions here — just delicious organic vegetarian meals made with love and shared with the community under a gorgeous open-air palapa.

There were also colorful tropical birds singing in the jungle, as well as the largest arachnid I’ve ever seen in my gorgeous (but also roofless) room for a little extra adventure.

I’d felt a little energy movement during my year of online practice, but during that week on The Blue Mountain, my body began to really buzz with Qi — life force energy — as I Lifted the Sky, stood in Wuji Stance, and practiced Shooting Arrows.

I felt electrified and joyful.

And that was when everything changed for me.

At home, I had a successful career as a freelance writer, but I decided during my week in the cloud forest that I wanted more from life.

I wanted to explore the beauty, diversity, nature, and culture in every corner of the world.

And I wanted to share this intoxicating joyful feeling of life-giving freedom and adventure with anyone who wanted to come along for the ride.

Shortly after that, at age 53, I launched my travel blog.

Dreams really do come true. They are just waiting for you to claim them.

-Chris from Explore Now or Never

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6. From Rome With Love

This wasn’t the way I wanted to see Rome.

Sure, I was happy to spend Christmas in Rome and stand in awe of the city’s many iconic attractions. But, life wasn’t meant to turn out like this.

I was supposed to go to Rome with my mom back in 2012; however, life had different plans, because a week before our trip, I got a double kidney infection. A condition that required a week of hospitalization.

Although I was annoyed I had missed my trip, it wasn’t the end of the world since I was fine and everything seemed okay…until my mom developed a cough.

A cough that later became a heartbreaking diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer.

My mom spent the final months of her life in chemo, desperately trying to fight a horrific disease so that she wouldn’t let her family down.

And she didn’t.

Instead, she showed us how to never give up on life, even if it was a losing battle.

So, when she eventually passed away, I booked a trip to Rome.

Sure, it wasn’t the trip I had hoped for. But, I knew that as her daughter, it was my job to live enough for the both of us.

And that’s exactly what I did.

Was I an anxious, sad, angry mess of a person?

Absolutely. I was still getting used to a world that my mother wasn’t a part of.

And honestly, you never get used to that world. You just deal with it because you don’t really have a choice.

But I also knew that I wanted my mom to live on through me and that I didn’t want to live a life where the haunting phrases “should of,” “could of,” and “would have” swirled through my head and ate away at my happiness.

So, I went. I packed a boatload of tissues, sobbed my heart out, and attended Christmas mass at the Vatican.

I also threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, walked through the Colosseum, chowed down on gelato, and spent two weeks doing all the things my mom and I had wanted to do.

And that’s when it hit me. I had never gone to Rome alone because my mom had always been there with me. Maybe she wasn’t physically there, but I thought of her and felt her presence every minute of every day.

Her presence also reminded me that life isn’t about the things we buy or the money that we have.

It’s about making memories with the people we love; people that never really leave us since they are constantly influencing our lives in countless ways.

And after my trip to Rome, I finally knew that my mom would always be there because she had forever changed my life in the best possible way.

-Kelly from Girl with the Passport

7. Studying In Finland

One of my major life-turning points happened during my exchange studies in Finland.

Until then, I was studying at a university in Prague, had a part-time job at a renowned management-consulting firm, and thought I was on the right path in life.

At the University of Economics where I studied it was notoriously difficult to get on an Erasmus exchange trip abroad since the demand was huge. Everyone wanted to go!

Regardless, I decided to sign up early for my last semester, just to see what the process was like to be better prepared for applying again in a year.

I did make it through all the three rounds and surprisingly got a spot at a University in Turku, Finland! I was ecstatic. The success brought its own challenges, but once you set your eyes on the goal, nothing can stop you.

And I had the time of my life in Finland.

I met the most amazing people, traveled a ton, partied a lot, and bonded with friends from all over the world.

Given I was one of the few people there who really needed to pass all her courses and additionally write her thesis, I managed to run on an impossible sleep schedule of four hours per night. But I made it!

My studies in Finland opened up my horizons, too.

The summer after, I wrapped up my life in Prague and went on to study in Germany and China . The whole time I traveled as much as possible, often going on solo adventures. It was only a matter of time when I’d start my own travel blog.

My Finland adventure led me to a life of freedom made up of remote work, travel blogging , and plenty of traveling. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. And it gave me one of my favorite true adventure stories that I can now share with others.

-Veronika from Travel Geekery

8. How Cuba Changed My Life

One of my favorite inspiring stories about travel takes place in Cuba.

I visited Cuba in February 2013 and it changed my life — and I like to think it did so for the better.

Interestingly, I expected a completely different country and was compelled to write about it when I got back home.

But let me tell you more.

I read copious amounts of blogs and travel diaries to prepare myself for the trip to Cuba so I thought I’d go in with a fairly good idea of what to expect. Each and every post I read spoke of marvelous landscapes, pristine beaches, crumbling but charming cities, and welcoming locals.

All of it was true, in my experience — except for the locals.

I didn’t find them so welcoming. At least, not genuinely so. They only seemed to welcome me as far as they could get something in exchange: money, clothes, pens, soap, you name it.

Each and every day in Cuba was a challenge to avoid the scams, to avoid being ripped off, to fight off each and every attempt of people trying to take advantage of me. I usually managed, but it was exhausting and it left a sour taste in my mouth.

Once I got back home I felt the urge to write about my experience — not for other sites or papers as I’d often do. This time I was afraid I’d be censored.

So I opened my own blog. With zero tech knowledge, zero understanding of online content creation and SEO, I started writing and telling people what they should really expect during a trip to Cuba.

I’d put up the occasional post, but continued with my usual job.

At the end of the year, my contract as a researcher in international human rights law at the local university ended, and I decided to stop pursuing that career for a while.

I packed my bags and left for a long-term trip to Central and South America . I started writing on the blog more consistently and learning, and eventually took my blog full-time , turning it into a career.

As of today, I have never looked back and have no regrets.

The one thing I’ll do, as soon as I can, is travel to Cuba to say thank you — because it changed my life in a way nothing else has ever done.

-Claudia from Strictly Sardinia

9. A Short Travel Story About Finding Inner Peace In Patagonia

Life in London is hard.

Life in London as a gay single brown refugee is harder.

Juggling between work, my passion for traveling, and the prejudices that I dealt with on a daily basis eventually took their toll on me and I reached a breaking point.

The fact that I couldn’t return home to see my family and being away for them for almost nine years was enough to hammer in the final nail in the coffin.

I almost had a nervous breakdown and in that moment of desperation, which I knew would define the rest of my life, I took a month off and headed to Patagonia.

It was probably the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. The 36 hours it took me to get to El Chalten from London were tiring but Patagonia blew me away.

On my first day there I did a 28-kilometer (17-mile) hike which included a steep mountain climb. It was incredible how moving through the forest helped me clear my mind. And as I stood in front of Laguna de Los Tres, the rain and clouds gave way to sunshine and a rainbow.

I felt at peace.

The countless hikes, great food, and the warmth of locals in Chile and Argentina helped me get back in my skin and find the peace I was missing in my heart.

Nature is indeed the best medicine when it comes to stress relief and I won’t be coy about hugging trees to speed up the process (it did).

Patagonia was life-changing for me.

The beauty of nature struck me at each point and every time I thought it wasn’t possible to beat the view, the next one did just that.

I came back a changed, resilient, and most importantly, a happy person.

-Ucman from BrownBoyTravels

10. Looking Inwards & Making Connections With Strangers

It was decades before I traveled solo for the first time in my life.

This trip — a six-day escape to Colorado — was the first trip that was not for business or family reasons but just to travel and discover.

As I prepared for it, I had a strange feeling of excitement and nerves at the same time. I had all sorts of thoughts and doubts:

Would it be fun?

Would I be bored?

Would I stay in bed all day or would I bounce with excitement to do the next thing?

I wasn’t sure. Little did I know that it was going to be a memorable journey of self-discovery.

As a good wife and mom, for me travel is always about the family; always thinking of who would enjoy what. It’s about family time and bonding. It’s about creating memories and travel stories together. It’s all so wonderful.

But on a solo trip who would I connect with? What would I say?

Well, I found that I got to do anything I wanted!

Usually when I travel with my family, if I feel like going on a drive that’s not on the itinerary or getting a snack no one else is interested in, we simply don’t do that.

So it was weird to just go do it. Really, that’s a thing?

As for making connections, it was so easy to meet locals while traveling and also to connect with other travelers. Honestly, I had conversations everywhere — on planes, while hiking, in restaurants, in the hotel lobby.

It was quite an eye-opening experience to meet a mom of 18 kids and hundreds of foster kids, a cookie baker, a professional photographer, a family of Fourteener hikers, and an internationally ranked marathon runner.

The inspiring stories I discovered were amazing and nothing like my wonderful safe life at home.

In terms of travel safety , I got to go rock climbing, solo hiking, driving up a Fourteener, eating alone.

And it was all fine. Actually, it felt surprisingly normal.

It was was just me, my SUV, and my backpack for a week. Most of all, it was a breath of fresh air that I didn’t know existed.

It’s wonderful to be back home and know that possibilities are endless and there is so much more out there to explore and be wowed by!

-Jyoti from Story At Every Corner

life-changing travel experience stories in Colombia

11. A Solo Hike To Find Connection

I have traveled solo many times, but I admit I was a bit uneasy booking my trip to Colombia . In part, due to the country’s dark past. But also because I desperately wanted to do the Cocora Valley hike, and if I’m honest, I was terrified.

This hike is located in the Coffee Triangle, an area recognized for its beauty as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features both rainforest and a stunning green valley speckled with cartoonishly-tall wax palms rising 200 feet or more.

It’s incredibly beautiful.

It’s also a long hike and quite challenging — it generally takes between six and eight hours and there is a steep area with over 3,000 feet of elevation within a quarter of a mile.

I wasn’t in hiking shape, so I was a little concerned. But, worst of all for me were the seven dodgy-looking suspension bridges.

I’m terrified of heights.

And, I’d be going alone.

I decided to go anyway and I met an incredible woman on the bus to Salento, the town near Cocora. She was also traveling solo and we agreed to hike together.

The town is a backpacker enclave and we met up with a small group of people all traveling solo. As the days passed, our group got larger and it was such a magical experience.

As much as I love city travel, this small town won my heart.

My new friend and I set off on the hike and met two other women who were nervous to do the hike. We all went together.

When we got to the first suspension bridge, I paused. I was embarrassed to admit my fear, but the bridge swayed widely and there was nowhere to hold onto.

When they realized how out of my comfort zone I was and how scared I felt, everything changed. Instead of me dealing with it alone, they were all there to encourage me.

One crossed the bridge to encourage me from the other side and they stayed off of it to limit the sway. Crazy enough, I not only crossed the seven suspension bridges, but I also crossed one an extra time when we went the wrong way on the trail.

I did it!

I was prepared to be blown away by Cocora Valley’s beauty, but what I wasn’t expecting was what a life-changing travel experience my time there would be.

-Sam from My Flying Leap

short stories on travel and sustainability

12. How A Pet Sitting Travel Experience Led To A Passionate Career

We wanted to go to the Caribbean but didn’t know much about the islands or how we were going to afford it.

By chance, a friend of ours in Australia mentioned “pet sitting” and that it is something you can do all over the world.

We quickly created an account on a pet sitting website and began searching for options. There were only a couple of sits available in that part of the world, but we tried our luck, sent a request, and to our surprise landed a three-month gig in a beautiful house in the US Virgin Islands — with an infinity pool overlooking the British Virgin Islands.

A month into our sit, we had explored the destination pretty well and so had a lot of time on our hands. We managed to secure another sit in Grenada, so our year was going to be taken up with Caribbean pet sits.

Inspired by a Canadian couple that had previously stayed at our Grenada housesit, we decided to start our own travel blog. We began by writing about The Virgin Islands, highlighting the beautiful beaches and funky bars.

But for every photo of a beautiful beach there were 10 photos of trash.

It was hard to ignore the plastic pollution issue, especially on such pristine and remote beaches. So, we began to share photos of the trash we saw and how much we could pick up on our daily dog walks.

The more we looked into plastic pollution, the more we realized the severity of the global plastic pandemic. From that point, we used our platform to create awareness and highlight ways to say no to plastic and travel plastic-free .

We changed our daily routines, our way of living, and even our diets to accommodate more organic foods and little to no plastic packaging.

It’s been over three years now and we continue to do what we can. This journey has led us to some amazing places, working with great conscious brands and even organizing a country-wide beach clean-up campaign in Grenada.

Our aim now is to keep on going.

We love connecting with like-minded people and love the shift over the last few years that brands have made towards creating more sustainable products and services.

It’s been an amazing few years that was sparked by a conversation about pet sitting. Who would have guessed?

-Aaron & Vivien from The Dharma Trails

13. Learning To Slow Down The Hard Way

On Christmas of 2017, I was born again.

We like to spend our Christmas holidays somewhere warm abroad, and that year we chose Uganda.

Nature, wildlife, and sunny days were a blessing when it was so cold and dark in Europe. Life was beautiful, and we had a rental car and a busy schedule ahead to explore the country.

This is where this short travel story turns into one of my more scary travel experiences :

At Murchinson Falls National Park, we had a car accident.

I lost control of the car, and it rolled over, destroying windows, chassis, and engine.

But we were alive! My right arm was severely injured, but we managed to walk to our lodge, not far inside the park.

In the lodge, I was happy to learn that there was a pretty decent American hospital in Masindi that was just a one-hour drive from the lodge. Moreover, one of the lodge’s guests was a nurse who cleaned the wound while we were waiting for the taxi from/to Masindi.

The hospital took care of us, and after a couple of injections and stitches, I was ready to head to our new hotel in Masindi; however, my wound required daily dressing and more injections, so we were asked to stay in town for a few days.

Masindi is the kind of place where you may want to stop to buy some food or water, but that’s it.

The town’s highlights were the market and our daily visit to the hospital, so we ended up looking for the small things, chatting with the medical staff, the hotel staff, the people in the market, and learning more about their customs.

We learned to slow down the hard way.

When we were allowed to leave, we took a road trip south through the country to see something else. We did not care about our travel bucket list anymore — we were alive, and we wanted to enjoy Uganda’s unique nature and its people.

In the end, our Uganda trip was not about the places that we saw, but the people that we met. It was travel for experience vs sightseeing.

I hope to revisit Uganda one day, with a stop at Masindi for some food, water, and maybe something else.

-Elisa from World in Paris

14. A Cycling Trip To Remember

During the summer of 2019, I cycled solo from London to Istanbul. This huge bicycle tour took me 89 days and through 11 countries.

As you might expect, it was a challenging yet incredible journey, which saw me pedal along some of Europe’s greatest rivers, pass through some of its best cities, and witness some of its most beautiful scenery.

It’s becoming more and more important for us to think about the impact that travel can have on our environment. This was the inspiration for my bicycle tour; I wanted to find more responsible ways to explore the world and avoid flights where possible.

I discovered that bicycle touring is one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel, as using nothing but a bicycle and your own pedal power you can carry everything you need while covering surprising distances each day.

The simplicity of life and the sheer amount of time I spent cycling alone gave me a lot of time to just think . This really helped me to come to terms with some personal problems rooted in my past and, as a result, I arrived solo in Istanbul with newly found confidence, independence, and liberation.

Cycling across the entire European continent may seem like an impossibly daunting task, but I assure you, it will make you feel like a new person, just like it did for me.

-Lauren from The Planet Edit

15. How The Caribbean Shaped Me Into A Fully Sustainable Traveler

One of my first international trips as an adult was traveling around the Caribbean .

I checked into my hotel in Jamaica and asked for a recommendation for a local place to eat. The receptionist told me that under no circumstances should I should go into the town because it was really dangerous, but that — to my luck — the hotel’s restaurant offered wonderful Caribbean food.

I pondered my options:

Did I really want to spend all my time on the beach without getting to know a single local?

I was a very inexperienced traveler and very young, but there was only one answer to my question:

Absolutely not. I was not going to be visiting a new place and staying hostage in a hotel chain. So out I went.

The poverty hit me in the face. After only seeing fancy resorts, the reality was hard to swallow.

A few locals approached me and were super curious as to what I was doing there alone, since most tourists didn’t go there.

I told them I was interested in meeting them and experiencing their culture. And just like that, I was embraced.

We met more people, had some food, and then we danced the night away. They had so little, yet they wanted to share it with me. They wanted to make me feel welcome.

And they undeniably did.

The next morning all I could think about was how all the money most tourists spend goes to big corporations. The locals have to be thankful if they get a job that pays minimum wage, while foreign businesses earn millions.

I have always been environmentally conscious, but this trip made it clear that sustainability goes well beyond nature and wildlife.

It’s also about communities.

From then on I always look for locally owned accommodation, eateries, guides, and souvenirs.

Sustainability, with everything it entails, became a motto for me and changed the very essence of the way I travel.

-Coni from Experiencing the Globe

16. Lessons From My Students In Peru

One of the most life-changing trips I’ve ever been on was a volunteering experience in the stunning city of Cuzco in Peru.

I spent a month there teaching English and Italian to a group of local adults. And even though my time there was short, the travel experience was so humbling that it changed my outlook on life.

My lessons took the form of active conversations, which essentially turned into a massive multilingual cultural exchange between me and my students. Hearing my students talk about their lives — and realizing just how different they were from mine — made me look at my own life with a fresh new perspective.

One person spoke about the three years he spent living in a jungle with his dad, where they fed off of animals they hunted in order to survive.

Another student told me about her ultimate dream of mastering English so that she could become a tour guide and have a more stable future.

For me, these stories were a reminder of just how small I am in this world and how much we can get consumed by the small bubbles we live in.

Most of all, my students showed a passion and appreciation for life that I’d never witnessed before.

This is true for the locals I met in Cuzco in general. The quality of life in Cuzco is very modest; hot water is scarce and you learn to live with little.

But the locals there do way more than just that — they spontaneously parade the streets with trumpets and drums just because they’re feeling happy, and their energy for the simple things in life is incredibly contagious.

It was impossible to not feel inspired in Cuzco because my students always had the biggest smiles on their faces, and the locals showed me again and again that simply being alive is a blessing.

I went to Peru to teach, but ended up learning more from my students and the locals there than they did from me.

Ever since I got back from that trip, I made it a goal to slow down and not take the simple things in life for granted.

Every time I get upset about something, I think about the Peruvians in Cuzco parading their streets in song and pure joy, and I tell myself to stop complaining.

-Jiayi from The Diary of a Nomad

inspiring traveling stories about overcoming obstacles

17. Braving Travel With Chronic Pain

Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city with a prominent cathedral positioned centrally within the city.

While the historical cathedral attracts numerous visitors, even more well-known is the route to Santiago de Compostela, Camino de Santiago –- the world-famous pilgrimage route that has a plethora of trailheads and ends in Santiago.

Home to locals, students, English teachers, and those on a spiritual pilgrimage, personal conquest, or a great outdoor hiking excursion, Santiago is a magical city.

My introduction to Santiago de Compostela doesn’t begin on the pilgrimage route, yet ends with a spiritual awakening analogous with those other unique pilgrimage stories.

It was my first solo trip abroad teaching English in Spain, a country that’s always been on my travel bucket list. A small town outside of Santiago was selected as the school I’d be teaching at for the year.

Unknowingly, this teach abroad program chose the perfect city for me to live in.

A year prior, I suffered a traumatic brain injury that left me unable to function normally and complete average tasks. Migraines, headaches, and dizziness became my body’s normal temperament, a hidden disability invisible to the naked eye.

Braving travel with chronic pain was the first lesson I learned during the trip.

The vast green outdoors and fresh dew from the morning rain enlivened me daily and reminded me about the importance of slowing down so I could enjoy traveling with my hidden disability.

I also learned to stop often for daily tea breaks and to embrace the long lunch hour, siestas , with good food, company, and a nap to rest.

Meeting locals , indulging in local food, and learning Spanish allowed me to connect deeply with the beautiful culture of Santiago. After all, my dream was to travel to Spain, and I more than accomplished that dream.

Difficult or not, I learned to own my dream and I was more than surprised with the results.

Who knew that a year after my injury I’d be traveling the world with chronic pain, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.

-Ciara from Wellness Travel Diaries

18. A Blessing In Disguise

2020 has been a wild year for all of us and foreign students in China are no exception. As soon as the malevolent virus began to make its rounds in China, our university sent us home for “two weeks.”

However, within a short time, countries began to shut their borders and these “two weeks” turned into months, a full year even.

Crushed by the burden of online lectures and virtual labs, my boyfriend and I packed our bags and caught one of the first flights to his home country of Pakistan.

I had always been an over-ambitious traveler. I believed numbers were everything — the number of countries I visited, the number of hours I spent on a plane, the number of international trips I took in a year. These numbers were what defined me.

My feet were constantly itching and I never liked to spend more than a few days in a place before heading to the next country. Revisiting a place felt superfluous to me.

That’s why I was hoping to spend a month or two in Pakistan and then continue to check new countries off the list — after all, my online classes finally granted me the freedom to “work on my numbers.”

But as is usually the case in 2020, things turned out quite different from what I had expected. Borders remained closed and worldwide infections stayed rampant. At this point, I have already spent nearly half a year in Pakistan.

During this peculiar time, however, an amazing thing happened:

My mindset about travel started to change and I began to look at my long stay in Pakistan as perhaps my most valuable travel experience ever.

I may not have visited dozens of countries like in previous years but my experiences were deeper than ever before.

From trekking to one of the world’s tallest mountains to sharing tea with heavily armed officers at nearly 5,000 meters altitude to exploring hidden beaches in the most secluded regions to spontaneously being invited to village homes, my adventures in Pakistan couldn’t have been more incredible. They opened my eyes to the sheer diversity of many countries and completely transformed my idea about traveling.

It took me nearly a full year of heavy restrictions on international travel and a few months in one of the world’s most fascinating countries to give up on my superficial ideals and become a more mature traveler.

This time will always have a special place in my heart.

-Arabela from The Spicy Travel Girl

short travel stories about life-changing trips

19. What The River Taught Me

My travel story takes place in the summer of 2017 — the final summer before I graduated university — as it continues to play a significant role in the person I’ve become.

When I say that, people ask me if it was the portion of the summer I spent solo backpacking in Europe . And to their surprise, it wasn’t. It was actually the latter portion of the summer where I stayed closer to home.

For July and August I worked as a canoe guide leading whitewater canoe trips on remote rivers in Canada. It was here that I got to canoe the powerful and iconic Missinaibi River, a river that continues to influence me all these years later.

The Missinaibi River flows from the powerful Lake Superior to the even more powerful salty waters of James Bay. Here, I led a group of eight teenagers through dozens of whitewater rapids over 500 kilometers (~311 miles).

With no cell service for 25 days, we were forced to disconnect from anything other than the river.

During this trip I learned two important lessons:

First, I learned to be confident in my own abilities as a leader and problem solver.

There were a few rapids where my campers’ boats flipped and I had to rescue the campers and the canoes. One rescue saw two boats flip on a mile-long rapid. It took six hours to make it down the rapid, and during this time I managed stuck canoes and crying campers.

And while this was one of the most difficult rescues I’ve done, I was amazed at how calm I was throughout it. I gave clear directions, prioritized effectively, and kept my campers safe throughout the entire experience. Following the rescue, I had a newfound sense of confidence in my abilities.

The second lesson I learned on the Missinaibi was the power of disconnecting from society and connecting with the people around you.

A wild river commands all of your attention. Each day, you and your group must take down camp, load canoes, paddle up to eight hours while navigating both rapids and portages, get to a new campsite, set up camp, cook dinner, and go to bed.

And without the distraction of technology, your attention has nowhere else to be. You focus on the river and your teammates.

As someone who had wrestled with anxiety and depression prior to this summer, I felt at total ease on the trip. Now I seek societal disconnection and human connection as much as I can.

Sometimes the most profound, life-altering trips are the least expected trips closer to home.

-Mikaela of Voyageur Tripper

Do you have any inspiring travel experience stories about life-changing trips to share?

Enjoyed these inspiring stories about travel? Pin them for later!

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These stories are so much fun to read! Thanks so much for putting a post like this together. It’s great to be able to check out other people’s blogs and read about other people’s experiences!

Always great to read about travel experiences of others. Some great stories to read over coffee. I’ve Pinned your post for future reference and to share with others. Will check out each story author’s blog as well. Great Job! 🙂

Amazing story for new traveler like me thanks for your contribution

Dream ◇ Create ◇ Travel

Popular categories, 29 of the world’s most unforgettable travel experiences.

By: Charlotte · Last updated 30. January 2024 · In: Travel

Are you looking for the best and most unforgettable travel experiences in the world? Then you’re in the right place. This list of travel experiences is curated by professional travelers with 10+ years of travel experience.

As a travel blogger of almost a decade, people always ask me; what’s your number one travel experience to date? And while that is, of course, incredibly hard to answer, I do have a few memories that stick out.

Sometimes it’s the simplest of joys that makes the most impact, you don’t always have to travel far or break the bank to have incredible experiences.

And what makes an experience unforgettable will always differ from person to person. We all see the world differently through the lens of our programming. That’s why I also asked 19 fellow female travel bloggers to write about their most unforgettable travel experiences .

From sleeping in a cave in Matera to kayaking among icebergs in Nunavut, these bucket list experiences are sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

🌟 Pro tip >> Be sure to check out Tripaneer , my favorite and the world’s leading marketplace to explore and book unforgettable travel experiences.

Article overview

1. Experience the Geisha in Japan

2. join a wellness retreat in ubud, 3. sunrise over haleakala volcano in maui, 4. hiking the stairway to heaven (legally), 5. kayaking among icebergs in nunavut, 6. hiking mount sinai in egypt, 7. hiking the congo nile trail in rwanda, 8. everest base camp trek, 9. fly over victoria, bc in a seaplane, 10. hiking half dome in yosemite national park, 11. explore altyn emel national park, 12. swim in the wadis of oman, 13. drive across salar de uyuni, 14. carnival in the caribbean, 15. spelunking in waitomo glowworm caves, 16. exploring antarctica, 17. climbing mount kilimanjaro, 18. hot air ballooning in cappadocia, 19. climbing the great wall of china, 20. lunch in a traditional balinese family compound, 21. snorkeling the great barrier reef, 22. witnessing the northern lights, 23. paddleboarding with wild dolphins, 24. see the taj mahal at sunrise, 25. sleep in a cave in matera, 26. see the sunrise over pinggan village, 27. visiting a cultural village in south africa, 28. go castle hunting in poland, 29. experience floracion de cieza, what makes a travel experience unforgettable, how can i make sure i have an unforgettable travel experience, where do you book tours and excursions, what are the most unforgettable travel experiences in the world for 2024, what are considered unique experiences, what is the most unique experience you’ve had, do unforgettable travel experiences have to be expensive, what are some ideas for new experiences, remember to pin this for later 😉.

By Honest Travel Stories

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experience ever - An incredible geisha experience in Japan

If you close your eyes and think of Japan, what do you see? Come on, try this experiment! Before I went there, I used to see Mount Fuji, cherry tree blossoms, and Sailor Moon (this was my childhood hero, don’t laugh!). But now, a few months after the trip, I can only see a geisha or maiko performing and dancing. It’s definitely one of the world’s most unforgettable travel experiences .

This is so traditionally Japanese that you won’t believe it’s still happening today, in the digital era. The Geisha still wear hand-painted kimono, they still have the specific updo hairstyle that makes them easy to recognize, and they still perform the same arts as they used to centuries ago.

If you ever get to experience the geisha culture in Japan you’ll feel like you have traveled through time. It is definitely unique, you cannot find anything similar anywhere else in the world. And it is memorable, even if you don’t speak the language. In the end, art goes beyond words, beyond nations and ethnicity, beyond basic understanding. Art must be felt, and you will feel it once you’re there.

The geisha experience that we chose was to go to a geisha theater in Kyoto in November for an annual representation, but there are many other options you can choose. But something is clear: you have to choose one. If you didn’t enjoy a geisha experience while in Japan, were you even there?

Two Balinese women bathing in the holy spring water at Tirta Gangga, join a healing tour one of the more unusual things to do in Ubud Bali

Many of my favorite travel experiences have happened in Indonesia, a country I fell in love with 14 years ago. Before Bali skyrocketed in popularity among Instagrammers and digital nomads . One of these experiences was a personalized wellness retreat in Ubud.

Ubud, Bali is known as one of the spiritual centers of the world, and for good reason. Nestled between lush rice fields and ancient temples, Ubud is a haven for those seeking peace, relaxation, and spiritual growth.

Booking this retreat is single-handedly the best decision and the best money I’ve ever spent on myself. I was a little unsure whether or not to spend money on a retreat in Ubud since I’ve been there so many times and I usually like to plan my own itineraries. But I’m so glad I did!

I spent my days doing yoga, exploring hidden gems, eating the most delicious food (even if you’re not vegan, I’m not), learning new skills and joining in on sacred Balinese rituals. Oksana tailors your retreat to your preferences and will give you experiences you didn’t even realize you were looking for.

It was exactly the reset I needed after a few hard years in life. I’m almost crying writing this, just because of how much I needed this healing experience. If you ever feel stuck or like you need to reset, head to Ubud.

🌟 Check price and availability here >> 4-Day Personalized Wellness Retreat in Ubud

By Bright Lights of America

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Sunrise over Haleakala Volcano on Maui in Hawaii

Haleakala volcano may be dormant, but that doesn’t make the 10,032-foot colossus any less imposing. Standing up amongst the clouds to watch the sun peak over the crest of a blanket of fluffy clouds takes pride of place on my ultimate travel bucket list.

We were awake in the car at 3:30 am for our drive to the summit to see the sunrise at Haleakala. You’ll want to bring a couple of warm jackets, and maybe even nab a blanket from your hotel, because the temperatures before sunrise are chilly to say the very least. But once the first slivers of sun begin to appear at the horizon, the gathered crowd hushes and everyone takes in the beauty of the experience.

The arid landscape of the volcano is juxtaposed with beautiful, downy white clouds, as fingers of red, orange, and yellow spread across the horizon. We were lucky enough to have two Maui natives sing the Mele Oli chant – the traditional greeting of the sun. It’s a travel experience that I’d repeat again in a heartbeat, despite spending a good 40 minutes hopping from one foot, to the other, to stay warm.

Remember that watching the sunrise over Haleakala requires reservations in advance for those who want to watch the sunrise.

By My Backpacker Life

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Hiking the Stairway to Heaven on Oahu, Hawaii (the legal way)

There are a lot of incredible places to visit around the world, but there’s one unforgettable travel experience I just can’t stop thinking about. It’s one you should put on your bucket list – hiking the Stairway to Heaven in Oahu, Hawaii !

The Stairway to Heaven hike, also known as Haiku Stairs, is not an easy hike – it could even be quite dangerous, so be sure you’re prepared and used to hiking. In addition to that, it’s illegal to hike up the actual stairs, you’ll risk getting a fine if you do so. Instead, take the magical legal way via the Moanalua Valley Trail.

In the beginning, the hike is mainly flat. However, it will soon get steeper – if it’s not a completely clear day, you’ll feel like you’re on your way up among the clouds! I’d recommend bringing crampons for the steeper part of the hike. Remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen as well. It’s Hawaii, it gets hot!

The view you’ll get from the summit is incredible. You honestly don’t need another reason to put this hike on your bucket list, but if you’re into hiking and adventure you’ll enjoy the challenge of the hike itself as well. As you come up the back way, you’ll also get several views of the valley and the beautiful ridge!

By Voyageur Tripper

29 of the most unforgettable travel experiences in the world - Kayaking among icebergs in Nunavut, Canada

The Arctic Archipelago is Canada’s best-kept secret. Far off the tourist radar, few travelers make their way north of the Arctic Circle into the vast and sprawling territory of Nunavut. Canada’s largest and least populated region, traveling to Nunavut is worthy of any bucket list. And for those who find themselves under the midnight sun, one of the most incredible experiences you could have is kayaking among icebergs.

I remember gliding through the salty seawater in an inflatable kayak. I was covered head to toe – dry suit, waterproof gloves, and hat – just in case I found myself capsized and in an unintended polar bear dip. Until I was paddling so close to icebergs, I’d never appreciated just how much of the ice was below water. Looking down, I could see the curves of ice run so deep they disappeared from view.

Nor had I appreciated their colossal size; being so close to Greenland, the icebergs had recently calved off ancient glaciers. They would eventually decrease in size as they meandered south to Newfoundland, but at this moment I had to crane my neck upright to see the top. Some were so enormous they had their own waterfalls. Melting ice near the top would run down and spill over the edge, falling into the ocean.

Later a guide chipped off some pieces of an iceberg and we drank our cocktails with glacial ice. As my group sipped our deliciously cold beverages, we all agreed. Kayaking in the Canadian Arctic was a truly memorable experience.

By Curls en Route

29 travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - On top of Mount Sinai in Egypt

One of the very first travel experiences I checked off my bucket list, and one that really deserves to be on yours as well, is the Mount Sinai hike in Egypt. Also known as “Jebel Moussa” in Arabic, the mountain, located in Saint Catherine in South Sinai, is the second-highest in the country after Mount Catherine.

Apart from the friendly Jebeliya tribe that lives there, the mesmerizing nature of the mountain, and its challenging elevation of 2,285 m, it also has high religious value. You see, this is the mountain where it’s believed that Moses spoke to God and received the 10 commandments. And Saint Catherine’s Monastery, built at the foot of the mountain, is supposedly where Moses had seen the burning bush.

Hiking Mount Sinai is one of the most spiritual and empowering adventures you can ever embark on. Once you reach the summit and marvel at the mountainous, vast desert as you watch the sunrise from within the clouds, you’ll reach an indescribable state of euphoria that you’ll remember forever. And if you decide to do this in winter, you might be lucky enough to witness snow. Yes, Saint Catherine is the only place in Egypt where it snows!

By Exploring Wild

Discover 20 of the world's most unforgettable travel experiences - Hiking the Congo Nile Trail in Rwanda

On the far western edge of Rwanda, snaking along the green shore of gorgeous blue Lake Kivu, lies a unique adventure for outdoorsy travelers: the Congo Nile Trail . Stretching roughly 120km from Gisenyi to Kibuye, this patchwork route of local trails and dirt roads can be walked in 4-5 days, with nights spent camping or sleeping in small guesthouses.

Along the way you’ll pass through villages and farmland, never far from a curious group of kids or an enthusiastic “helloooo” shouted from a grove of banana trees. The trail is safe and well enough developed for hiking independently (I hiked it solo) but still adventurous enough to be interesting.

You’ll piece together directions from the hand gestures of helpful locals and likely pass some miles with Rwandans excited to practice their English or French. At the end of a long hot day, you’ll probably manage to find a place where you can kick back with a cold(ish) Turbo King beer and a view of Lake Kivu.

The Congo Nile Trail isn’t easy; it can be hot and hilly, and the frequent attention from locals can sometimes feel draining. It’s important to travel mindfully and try to minimize impact – both environmental and cultural – on this fragile area. But for travelers with some experience in Africa who are looking for an adventure rich in both scenic beauty and cultural learning opportunities, I highly recommend it.

By Emma Adventures

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Trekking to Everest Base Camp

The Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is certainly one of the most unforgettable travel experiences I have had. Situated in the Himalayas in Nepal, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, and trekking to its base camp is one of the most beautiful journeys in the world.

Stay in teahouses in the mountains for 10-14 days and as you journey through beautiful scenery and experience local life in Nepal. Although a tough trek, it’s certainly doable with the right training and well worth the effort.

It’s a great feeling waking up in a lovely teahouse surrounded by mountains every day, to a home-cooked meal and only having to worry about how far you have to hike that day.

Along with reaching Everest Base Camp, which is the ultimate goal, you’ll get to take an amazing scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the starting point of the trek, as well as explore the crazy, bustling capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu.

The people in Nepal are extremely welcoming and friendly, which makes the experience even better. I’d truly recommend adding Everest Base Camp to your bucket list, I guarantee it’s an experience you will treasure forever!

By Christin has Fernweh

20 of the most unforgettable travel experiences in the world - A seaplane in Victoria, BC

Did you know that Victoria, British Columbia has the only official sea-airport in the world? I found out from the guide on a whale watching tour off Vancouver Island, Canada.

There are two “runways” on the water, smack in the middle of the harbor. You can buy tickets to domestic or US destinations, like Seattle just down the Pacific coast. And: you can book sightseeing trips.

I went on the Victoria Classic Panorama Tour and it was a unique experience for me. It was the first time I took off in a plane from the water and landed on the water. Admittedly, the landing is somewhat bumpier than on a runway. But the views of BC’s capital and the ocean were so worth it!

I only went for the 20-minute tour, but personally, I thought it was plenty of time to get a first impression of water aviation. And I took a ton of pictures and videos from the air. If it is just about the experience, that tour is perfect. The seaplane flies at a lower altitude than a normal plane, so you can see much more of what is happening on the ground.

Even though I went during high season, in June, there were only 5 people on the plane with me. And I was able to book a cheap ticket on the day, as I was flexible with timing.

🐋 My top pick >> Popular combined Seaplane Flight and Whale-Watching Cruise

By She Dreams of Alpine

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Hiking to the Top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

Standing at the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park at sunset is a truly epic place to be, and the moments I have spent up there make for one of my favorite travel memories. The awe-inspiring views of the grandeur and granite of Yosemite reach another level when bathed in the fiery glow of the setting sun.

Hiking Half Dome is no easy feat either, and the first time I did it, I felt empowered in the outdoors in a way that truly changed my life. Half Dome proved to me that I am strong, brave, and capable of so much more than I ever thought was possible.

The Half Dome hike requires a long, uphill trek just to get to the base of the dome, a total of about 14 miles round trip with 5,000 feet of elevation gain. Then you have to ascend the steep granite face while clinging tightly to the steel cables – which is definitely not for the faint of heart or scared of heights!

Making it to the summit of Half Dome is such a proud accomplishment that adds to the exceptional experience of standing on top. I have explored the outdoors and hiked all over the world, yet Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome continues to hold a special place in my heart.

By Backpack Adventures

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Altyn Emel National Park

Few people have Kazakhstan on their bucket list, yet in my mind, it is one of the most underrated places in the world . It is where I had my most unforgettable travel experience to date.

Most think Kazakhstan is nothing more than steppes, but this is far from the truth. A visit to Altyn Emel National Park is proof of Kazakhstan’s spectacular nature which is incredibly diverse.

Altyn Emel National Park has singing sand dunes, volcanic rocks, rainbow mountain ranges and vast steppes. The views are really out of this world with Martian and lunar-like landscapes everywhere you go. I kept taking pictures of all the different colors in the hills ranging from red to yellow to brown to grey and white.

Altyn Emel is also Kazakhstan’s prime Safari destination. It is one of the last places in this world to see wild horses and wild donkeys and even though it might be from far away you have a good chance of spotting them as well as the Persian gazelle or Bukhara deer.

Nature and wildlife are more than enough reasons to visit Altyn Emel, but there is history too. Traces of Scythian tribes that lived in the area around the first millennium BC are everywhere. From mysterious stone steles to ancient petroglyphs and burial mounds that fit perfectly in the remote sceneries of Altyn Emel.

By The Diary of a Nomad

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Swimming in the wadis of Oman

One of the most unforgettable travel experiences I’ve had was swimming in the beautiful wadis of Oman . Oman is filled with natural wonders; if you spend 10 days on this peninsula, you’ll see plenty of gorgeous waterfalls, mountains, valleys, deserts and my favorite of them all ⁠⁠— wadis.

The most famous wadi in the country is Wadi Shab, and it totally lives up to its hype. This attraction consists of 3 natural pools you can swim in, and one of them also leads you to a mystical cave with a waterfall inside it. I’ve always enjoyed swimming, but swimming inside a wadi with a breathtaking view of canyons all around you and fishes cozying up to your feet was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It also felt incredibly fun; like being inside a natural waterpark all day!

Wadi Shab is suitable for all travelers. The first of the three pools is very shallow and perfect for non-swimmers, beginners and children. You can simply relax in this pool if you don’t feel comfortable in deeper water. The second and third pools are quite deep, so I’d only recommend them for excellent swimmers. If you enjoy adventures and are great at swimming, you’d also love swimming inside the cave at the end of the third pool!

For this experience, I highly recommend bringing a waterproof dry bag and waterproof phone case so that you can keep your belongings with you as you swim. The dry bag can also act as a floatie if you ever feel tired from swimming! You can find more tips for visiting Wadi Shab in my Oman itinerary here .

By Travel by Carla Vianna

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia

Traveling to the vast Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia has got to be one of the most epic adventures I’ve crossed off my bucket list. The Salar de Uyuni, or the Uyuni Salt Flat, is the largest salt desert in the world, composed of 11,000 square kilometers of glistening white salt. It’s an otherworldly landscape that allows for surreal, perspective-shifting photos—but the journey there is just as exciting.

The most popular way to visit the Salar de Uyuni is by group tour. I chose to go on a tour starting in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. The tour involved a three-day road trip through Bolivia’s wildest landscapes in a 4×4 truck shared by seven strangers. On this tour, I visited volcanoes towering 5,000 meters above sea level. I ate lunch at local villages so small and quiet it was difficult to imagine that anyone lived there.

I took a dip in a thermal bath overlooking a vast desert scene, followed by a walk through a rocky landscape that mimics the one on Mars. I encountered every kind of weather possible, from sunshine to rain to snow flurries while crossing the mountains at dusk. For three days, we were completely off the grid—traveling to remote corners of the country where llamas and alpacas largely outnumbered humans.

This adventurous journey ended at the Salar de Uyuni, where I witnessed the sunrise over the endless sea of salt. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a travel memory I’ll never forget!

By Juleen Meets World

20 of the world's most unforgettable travel experiences - Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago

Attending a Caribbean carnival in Trinidad and Tobago , was something I had been dreaming about for years. In Trinidad, the carnival takes place annually on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, intended as a sort of last hoorah before “giving up the ways of the flesh” for Lent.

However, the festivities begin weeks and months before. Like deciding which costume I wanted to wear in the parade on Carnival Tuesday and which fetes and events to attend.

Starting just after Christmas, the Trinidad event calendar is filled with fetes, with the number increasing the closer you get to the carnival. Events also include culturally significant demonstrations such as the Re-enactment of the Canboulay Riots. There are also various competitions including the Junior and Senior Carnival King and Queen competitions and Panorama, the steelpan competition.

I went to Trinidad for about 10 days and spent most of my time hopping from fete to fete. When Carnival Monday and Tuesday finally rolled around, I was but still so pumped to participate in the parades through the streets of Port of Spain to the beautiful sounds of soca music.

Months of anticipation and planning ended in a week that just flew by, lodged in my memory the most unforgettable travel experience to date.

By Periodic Adventures

Discover 20 of the most unforgettable travel experiences in the world - Spelunking and rafting in Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand

In Waitomo, New Zealand, you’ll find a glowworm species that is exclusively found in New Zealand! These glowworms live deep in an underground cave system that is only accessible through a guided tour on the North Island. My most memorable travel experience was spelunking in these caves first on foot, then in a small inflatable raft!

When you first see the glowworms, they don’t look like more than the average worm, but as you descend into the caves away from sunlight, your eyes start to adjust and you begin to see a faint turquoise glow all around you. Soon enough your eyes are perfectly adjusted to the dark and you can see millions of speckles of turquoise-like stars around you.

The most amazing part of this tour was that the cave we entered had water flowing through it so after a short trek, we boarded an inflatable raft that was on the underground river. My boyfriend and I sat in the front row. The raft was guided by a rope attached to the cave ceiling so no paddling was needed. We floated along.

No cameras. No phones. No external lights at all. Just the sound of water flowing and the sparkle of turquoise all around us. It was beautiful and breathtaking. I highly recommend touring the Waitomo Glowworm Caves if you find yourself on the North Island of New Zealand!

By Directionally Challenged Traveler

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Exploring and camping in Antarctica

Due to its remoteness, visiting Antarctica is often thought of as a near-impossible dream by many travelers. However, it is worth the long flights, the adventure of crossing the Drake Passage, and even every hard-earned penny. Upon arrival at the ice continent, Antarctica welcomes you with open arms and a vastness of beauty rarely seen on Earth.

Only 40,000 people visit Antarctica every year (compared to the 5 million people who visit Rome), making it one of the most special and unforgettable travel experiences in the world.

Walking on land surrounded by penguins and elephant seals was a surreal experience. Since Antarctica isn’t a country or claimed by any specific country, there are strict restrictions to protect nature. That doesn’t mean you can’t fully experience it though.

We were able to get up close to humpback whales while they were feeding in a zodiac boat. Kayaking with a leopard seal, doing two polar plunges with penguins, and even camping on land overnight were awesome experiences to really appreciate our Earth.

Spending two weeks on an expedition ship was more than just looking at nature. Onboard, the staff had daily programming that covered the various species we’d see (hopefully), photography tips, and the history of the first explorers of Antarctica. Their knowledge, friendliness, and experience helped to round out the trip to make it the best trip of my life.

I’ve visited seven continents and over 35 countries, and none of them have impacted me like Antarctica.

By Sue Where? Why? What?

Discover 20 of the world's most unforgettable travel experiences - Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Reaching the highest peak in Africa had been on my Life List for a while & turning 50 was my motivation for tackling it sooner rather than later. The morning after celebrating my birthday, I set off on my big adventure.

The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro lies at 5895m above sea level & is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Where Kilimanjaro is unique among the other highest continental peaks (Seven Summits), is that it’s possible to climb without any specialist equipment or expertise.

I had chosen to take the 8-day Lemosho route. For me, the priority was to give myself the best chance of reaching the summit. The altitude is the biggest unknown factor. You can train as much as you like but, in the end, you don’t know until you are there how it will affect you.

Throughout the climb, I struggled with the altitude & was full of trepidation about how I would cope when it finally came to Summit Night. As we began our final journey at midnight, I was wearing so many layers to protect myself from the cold that I could barely bend my legs!

After 6 hours of walking very slowly uphill, battling the cold & my mental demons, I finally reached the peak. Standing on the roof of Africa as I witnessed the sunrise is a moment I will never forget. It was worth every step, every doubt and every struggle along the way.

Mount Kilimanjaro will test you both mentally & physically, but you will come out with a new understanding of what you are capable of. I can honestly say that it is one of my best travel experiences to date.

By Tayara Muse

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey

Only a handful of things can give you an adrenaline rush so strong, that you remember it forever. In some ways my most memorable travel experience was cliché; in other ways, it was a sacred, liberating moment. I gifted myself a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia , Turkey for my birthday a couple of years ago – yes, a very social media-influenced adventure.

There’s so much power to doing something unique, completely solo and in a foreign place. The day started off rather early, the tour pick-up was at 4:30 am (yikes) and the ascent into the morning sky was right at 6:00 am. I joined a group of strangers below the balloon and watched it light up. As the warm air filled it, we started boarding.

What a feeling it was to float in the air, overlooking a historical region, and be surrounded by hundreds of colorful balloons – 3000 feet above the ground. The view took the breath right out of me! So, yes, it’s cliché, yes it’s been overdone, but listen up, nothing has compared to soaring in the sky and feeling invincible for a straight hour!

By A World in Reach

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - The Great Wall of China

One of the most unforgettable travel experiences I’ve ticked off my bucket list was climbing the Great Wall of China. I spent 10 days exploring Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing before visiting the Great Wall on the last day.

I visited the Mutianyu section of the wall. This area is one of the most scenic and best-preserved, yet there are fewer tourists here than at the Badaling section. You can either hike from the base to the Wall for approximately an hour or take a cable car. I highly recommend the cable car – the journey up is scenic and you’ll need all your energy for hiking the actual Wall!

The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is about 1.5 hours from Beijing. You can get to the wall from Beijing by taking public transportation, but I recommend taking one of the many tours offered from Beijing. Several Beijing hotels and hostels offer very affordable tours, you can also book online in advance.

Make sure to wear sturdy shoes, cool and comfortable clothing, and bring water for your hike. It can get really hot and the steps on the wall are very steep and uneven. At the end of your hike, treat yourself to an ice cream from the vendor at the cable car stop and then take the toboggan down for more fun!

Seeing the Great Wall in person was one of the best experiences during my travels and is worth a spot on everyone’s bucket list.

Travel bloggers reveal their favorite experiences in the world - Bike tour and lunch in a traditional Balinese family compound

There’s no secret that I’m obsessed with Indonesia, and I have been for over a decade. So while this might not be the most spectacular experience ever, it is certainly one of my most unforgettable travel experiences .

A few years ago, I decided to book a bike tour in Ubud to hopefully see a side of Bali we wouldn’t be able to on our own. After a lot of research, we ended up with Jegeg Bali Cycling. A family-run business that focuses on small groups and truly puts their guests’ experience above everything.

After an incredible day on the backroads of Ubud , we were brought to Putu’s family compound for lunch. His mother and aunts had put together the most amazing feast with all my favorite Indonesian dishes. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, and being able to come inside their family home, where four generations live, felt so incredibly special.

We sat around the table for a while, just enjoying the food and listening to Putu talk about everyday life in Bali. And as if that wasn’t enough, we also got a shirt made in the neighboring village as a parting gift. Because they earned money from us, they wanted to give back to their community and also back to us. How awesome is that!?

Aerial shot of the Great Barrier Reef and the turquoise ocean around Fitzroy Island.

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is another one of my most unforgettable travel experiences. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, stretching over 2,300 kilometers along the coast of Australia. Fitzroy Island is the getaway to the reef.

It’s home to an incredible array of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. Snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the reef is a truly magical experience that will leave you in awe of the beauty and diversity of the underwater world.

As you snorkel through the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. You might spot a school of vibrant fish darting through the coral, a graceful sea turtle gliding past, or even a majestic manta ray soaring through the water.

The peaceful silence of the underwater world is broken only by the sound of your own breathing, adding to the sense of tranquility and wonder. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime, and is a must-do for any nature lover or adventure seeker.

Best places to see and things to do in Norway - Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) over Svalbard

Witnessing the Northern Lights in Norway is an incredible travel experience that is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even though I am Norwegian, I have only seen the Northern Lights once as I live in the south.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a stunning display of colorful lights in the night sky.

Norway is one of the best places in the world to witness this awe-inspiring spectacle, as the country is located in the “Aurora Zone” and experiences frequent Northern Lights activity.

As you stand under the starry night sky in Norway, watching the Northern Lights dance and swirl above you, you’ll feel a sense of wonder and awe that is hard to describe. The colors of the lights can range from green to pink to purple, and the movement of the lights can be slow and graceful or fast and frenzied.

The experience is truly mesmerizing and will leave you feeling humbled by the beauty and power of nature. It is definitely one of the top things to do in Norway .

Girl paddle boarding on clear turquoise water with a glass bottom boat in the background on a day trip to Nusa Lembongan.

Seeing wild dolphins while paddleboarding on Nusa Lembongan is one of those pinch-me travel experiences. Actually, it was one of the last items on my original bucket list.

Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the coast of Bali, Indonesia, and is known for its crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life.

While paddleboarding just off Jungut Batu Beach, I suddenly spotted a pod of wild dolphins swimming and playing in the waves right in front of me. The sight of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat was truly awe-inspiring and left you feeling humbled by the beauty and power of nature.

I remember sitting down on the board and just thinking how lucky I was to be right there right then. I wish I had a photo to look back on, but I’m also glad that I just focused on being in the moment.

Taj Mahal photography tips - How to beat the crowds

Visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise is a travel experience that is sure to take your breath away. The Taj Mahal is a stunning white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India, and is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Seeing this iconic monument bathed in the soft light of the rising sun is a truly unforgettable experience. As someone who loves history and architecture, finally getting to visit the Taj Mahal was a dream come true.

As you approach the Taj Mahal at sunrise, you’ll be struck by the sheer beauty and grandeur of the building. The white marble shimmers in the early morning light and the intricate details of the carvings and inlays become even more pronounced.

Be sure to get there while it’s still dark out, to be able to get some photos without people in them. A pro tip is to also visit Mehtab Bagh , a garden complex on the opposite bank, which in my mind is the best place to view the Taj Mahal.

The stone town of Sassi Di Matera set against a purple sky at sunset - The best hotel view in Matera

Staying in a cave in Matera is a unique and unforgettable travel experience that will transport you back in time. Matera is a city in southern Italy that is famous for its ancient cave dwellings. These caves were carved into the rock by hand and were once used as homes, churches, and even prisons.

Today, many of these caves have been converted into stylish and comfortable accommodations, offering visitors a chance to experience the history and culture of Matera in a truly unique way.

I ran away to Matera last year after two horrible years with a death, break up and the sale of my dream home. I spent several nights in a cave with only one window framing the church towering above the city.

One night I stood there thinking about my next step in life when the church bells started ringing right before sunset. The whole valley became silent except for this music, and all the lights turned on one by one. I started crying and felt like I was supposed to be right there at that moment.

That night I planned out my entire next year as I felt a new energy flow through my body. It is one of the most profound experiences in my life so far and I can not recommend Matera enough.

Pinggan Village - Discover one of Bali's best sunrise viewpoints

Seeing the sunrise over Pinggan Village had been on my Bali Bucket List for years. And I’m so grateful that I got to experience it with my mother.

Located in the central highlands of Bali, Pinggan Village is known for its stunning views of the surrounding rice paddies and valleys. As the sun rises over the horizon, the landscape is bathed in a soft, golden light and white mist that creates a truly magical atmosphere.

To witness the sunrise over Pinggan Village, you’ll need to wake up early and make your way to one of the many viewpoints in the area. As you wait for the sun to rise, you’ll be surrounded by the sounds of nature and the peacefulness of the early morning.

As the first rays of sunlight begin to peek over the horizon, the colors of the landscape begin to change, creating a stunning display of light and shadow.

Travel bloggers reveal their most unforgettable travel experiences - Visiting a Zulu village in South Africa

Traveling has been a way of life as I love wandering in new destinations and meeting new cultures and people! If you are looking for your next travel destination consider Africa!

What can you do on a vacation in Africa? One of the most memorable travel experiences I had while on the road was to visit a cultural village in South Africa. A day well spent in an African ancient tribe village in Gauteng located one hour’s drive north of Johanessburg.

Have you heard of the Zulu tribe? On my first trip to Africa, I visited a village of five traditional dwellings inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes. The Zulu is the largest ethnic group in South Africa inhabiting KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. The whole experience is fun and informative!

You will be welcomed by the head of the village and watch a short documentary film presenting the history of the village and the tribes. Then you head out on a guided tour of the beautiful community coming across the village’s warriors. Mingle with the welcoming people, learn their traditional dance and sit down for a delicious feast. Definitely an unforgettable experience!

12 of the most beautiful castle in Poland you should add to your bucket list - Książ Castle

You might not think of Poland as one of the main castle destinations in the world. But let me tell you, it should be! Going castle hunting in Poland is an unforgettable travel experience that will transport you back in time to a world of knights, kings, and queens.

Poland is home to over 500 castles, each with its own unique history and architectural style. Exploring these castles is like stepping into a fairy tale, and is a must-do for any traveler interested in history, culture, and architecture.

As you travel through Poland , you’ll have the chance to visit some of the most impressive castles in Europe. From the towering Wawel Castle in Krakow to the romantic Malbork Castle on the banks of the Vistula River, each castle offers a glimpse into a different era of Polish history.

I went castle hunting in Poland several times during my time living in Krakow, and my absolute favorite experience was visiting the beautiful pink Książ Castle on the first sunny and warm day of spring. I stood on the viewpoint by myself and pictured what it would be like to be alive when the castle was rebuilt in the 16th century.

View of a field of stunning peach tree blossoms in Cieza, Murcia, Spain during Floracion de Cieza

You might have heard about Sakura in Japan and the cherry blossoming in London or DC, but did you know that Spain has its very own floral happening?

Experiencing Floracion de Cieza , the blossoming of almond and fruit trees, is an unforgettable travel experience . It was something I had been looking forward to for years.

The phenomenon occurs every year in Cieza in the region of Murcia , usually in late February or early March. During this time, the hillsides and valleys of the region are covered in a blanket of pink and white blossoms, creating a stunning display of color and fragrance.

My parents and I went for a drive through the countryside, stopping at various viewpoints to admire the stunning views of the almond trees in bloom. You can also participate in guided tours, which will take you through the orchards and explain the history and cultural significance of the almond blossoms in the region.

FAQs: World’s best travel experiences

An unforgettable travel experience is one that leaves a lasting impression on you and creates memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. It could be a beautiful natural scenery, a unique cultural experience, an adventure that pushes you out of your comfort zone, or simply a moment of pure joy and happiness.

It will of course be different for everyone, but in my eyes, an unforgettable travel experience is the top two or three experiences that come to mind when asked.

Here’s my step-by-step guide to making any travel experience as good as possible:

Plan ahead: Research your destination and create a travel itinerary that includes activities and experiences that align with your interests. This will help you make the most of your time and ensure that you don’t miss out on any must-see attractions.
Be open to new experiences: Travel is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Be open to new experiences, whether it’s trying new food, participating in a local festival, or exploring a hidden gem.
Embrace the local culture: Immerse yourself in the local culture by learning about the customs, traditions, and history of the destination. This will help you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the place you’re visiting.
Engage with locals: Interact with locals to get a sense of their daily lives and perspectives. This can be as simple as striking up a conversation with a shopkeeper or taking a guided tour with a local guide.
Stay flexible: Travel plans can change unexpectedly, so it’s important to stay flexible and adapt to new situations. This will help you avoid stress and frustration and make the most of your travel experience.
Take care of yourself: Travel can be exhausting, so it’s important to take care of yourself by staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and taking breaks when needed. This will help you stay energized and enjoy your travel experience to the fullest.
Be present: Finally, be present in the moment and take time to appreciate the beauty and wonder of your surroundings. Put away your phone and camera, and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the place you’re visiting. This will help you create lasting memories and make your travel experience truly unforgettable.

I book all my tours through Viator and GetYourGuide , depending on who offers the best value for that destination. But most often I end up booking through Viator.

I’m getting more and more into guided tours, especially for the first few days of a trip. That way you can ask a local guide all your questions and get tips on hidden gems and local favorites you might otherwise have missed.

For multi-day trips and retreats, I always check Tripaneer , the world’s leading marketplace to explore and book unforgettable travel experiences. They offer any type of holiday you can imagine including mindful yoga retreats, adventurous safaris, epic surf camps, and more.

Tripaneer also has separate sites for booking surf camps , yoga retreats , and many more.

Bukit Merese - The best place to watch the sunset in southern Lombok, Indonesia

There are countless unforgettable travel experiences in this beautiful world, it all depends on the person who experiences them.

But here’s a list of what I consider to be the most incredible travel experiences in the world:

Visiting the remote Svalbard archipelago in Norway to see polar bears and Northern Lights
Exploring the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru
Going on a safari in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
Walking on the Great Wall of China
Swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines
Taking a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia in Turkey
Seeing gorillas in the Virunga Mountains on the border of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo
Cruising through the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador
Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Exploring the ancient ruins of Petra in Jordan

Travel bloggers reveal their favorite unforgettable travel experiences in the world - The Great Wall of China

Unique experiences are travel activities or experiences that are not commonly found in typical tourist itineraries. They are often off-the-beaten-path and provide travelers with a chance to engage with the local culture and environment in a more authentic way.

Some examples of unique experiences include:

Staying in a treehouse or igloo
Participating in a traditional ceremony or festival
Volunteering with a local community or conservation project
Taking a cooking class with a local chef
Exploring a hidden gem or lesser-known attraction
Going on a wildlife safari or nature hike
Visiting a remote village or island
Learning a new skill or craft from a local artisan
Trying a unique mode of transportation, such as a hot air balloon or camel ride
Going on a cultural tour or immersive experience, such as a homestay or language exchange program.

I’m asked this question a lot, and while I would love to have this crazy story about when I rode across the steppes of Mongolia on horseback, it is yet another experience from Bali. I took this silversmith class in Ubud and absolutely loved it.

It might not be the most unique experience in the world, but it’s the one that constantly pops into my head. My mom and I made silver rings that we still use today. You can read more about the experience in my guide to the most unusual things to do in Bali .

Unique & unusual things to do in Bali - Silversmith class in Ubud

No, unforgettable travel experiences do not have to be expensive. While some experiences may require a larger budget, there are many affordable travel experiences that can be just as unforgettable.

For example, hiking to a beautiful viewpoint, exploring a local market, or trying a new cuisine can all create unforgettable memories without breaking the bank.

Here are my top ideas for new experiences yo can have without traveling far or spending much money:

Take a cooking class: -you don’t have to travel far to attend a cooking class. Many local cooking schools and community centers offer affordable cooking classes where you can learn how to make new dishes and cuisines.
Visit a local museum or art gallery: Most museums and art galleries offer free admission or discounted rates on certain days of the week. This is a great way to learn about local history and culture, so be sure to take advantage of it. I lived in Krakow for 5 years and never went to the museums, something I regret today.
Go on a nature hike: Most of us live near at least some kind of green space, whether it’s a city park, mountain, coastal hike or national park. Try to find a new natural area you have yet to explore, pack some snacks and head out. It’s a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the natural beauty of your area.
Attend a free concert or festival: Many cities and towns host free concerts and festivals throughout the year. Check your local events calendar to see what’s happening in your area.
Take a bike ride: Rent a bike or use a bike-sharing service to explore your city or town. This is a fun and affordable way to get some exercise and see new sights.
Volunteer with a local organization: Many nonprofits and community organizations rely on volunteers to help with their work. This is a great way to give back to your community and meet new people.
Visit a farmer’s market: Some communities have weekly farmer’s markets where you can buy fresh produce, baked goods, and other local products. I just went to one the other day and got lots of different vegetables and pastries. Definitely one of my favorite ways to support local businesses and discover new foods.
Take a dance class: Many dance studios offer affordable classes in a variety of styles, from salsa to ballroom to hip-hop. This is a fun way to learn new moves and meet new people.
Go on a scavenger hunt: Create your own scavenger hunt or participate in one organized by a local group or business. This is a fun way to explore your city or town and discover new sights and hidden gems.
Attend a local sporting event: Most places have minor league or amateur sports teams that offer affordable tickets. This is a fun way to support local athletes and enjoy a day out with friends or family.

Looking for more travel inspiration?

16 incredible islands you probably haven’t heard of but need to visit!
12 Cities That Aren’t on Your Bucket List (But Should Be)
The ultimate Spain bucket list : 101+ awesome things to do & places to see
The ultimate Norway bucket list : top 200 awesome things to do!
The ultimate Denmark bucket list : 101+ awesome things to do

Female travel bloggers reveal their all time favorite travel experiences. Looking for unforgettable experiences for your bucket list? From kayaking in Nunavut and swimming in the wadis of Oman to healing at a spiritual retreat in Ubud, you don't want to miss these!

About Charlotte

Charlotte is the passionate traveler and online business coach behind Sunshine Seeker. She started working as a content creator on Instagram in 2014, before social media was even a thing, and as a travel blogger in 2015. Over the past 14 years she has explored 45+ countries and lived in Oslo, Kraków, Bali and Lombok. Every month she helps more than 50,000 people plan their adventures and learn how to create more freedom by working online.

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25. May 2020 at 18:07

This is an awesome list! Thanks for including me!

25. May 2020 at 22:12

Right!? I can’t wait to get back out on the road now 😀 Thanks for contributing!

30. May 2020 at 09:55

Some great ideas in here. So many wonderful things I’ve never even heard of but would love to do now!

30. May 2020 at 19:18

Same here! Thanks for stopping by 😀

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50 Amazing Travel Experiences Around The World

23 Mar 2023

Travel makes us wealthier. We see new places, meet new people, indulge in new activities. The experiences make us a different person. Travelling isn’t merely about stepping foot on a landmark, but also inhaling the essence of the very place. The culture and the beauty should grow in you.

So, if you are wondering how to go ahead with that, treat this list of most amazing travel experiences as your bible, and you wouldn’t have to maintain a travel bucket list!

Just sit back and scroll through!

1. Hike the Andes to reach Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru

The Inca archaeological ruin of Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The trail is 4-day long taking you through some of country’s most beautiful landscapes.

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2. Ride hot-air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey

The hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia is among major tourist attractions of Turkey. The ride takes you above a volcanic landscape and pleases you with golden sunset.

3. Release the lanterns in Yi Peng Festival, Thailand

Yi Peng Festival or the Lantern Festival is an important time of the year. Locals return to their home to celebrate this day with their families. They decorate houses and streets, and release sky lanterns, which is symbolic of letting go all the misfortunes.

4. Enjoy a hot spring bath in Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The geothermal spa, Blue Lagoon, is located in a lava field. With steam released from its blue waters, it looks nothing less than a dream paradise.

5. Behold the Northern Lights from Glass Igloo in Finland

Northern Lights obviously is found in many people’s bucket list, but watching Aurora Borealis right from the comfort of your bed, in a luxurious glass igloo is an experience to cherish!

Suggested Read: Glass Igloo In Finland: A Dream Stay That Must Be In Your Bucketlist

6. Spend nights with the penguins in Antarctica’s Emperor Camp

Image Source

Who doesn’t want to visit Antarctica?! The cherry of the top is added when you’re spending nights in the camps amidst several friendly emperor penguins.

7. Go glamping and wildlife viewing in Masai Mara, Kenya

Kenya Safari Savanna Wild Africa Masai Mara

Kenya is considered the pilgrim for wildlife lovers. Right from game viewing to luxurious glamping experiences, you have everything sorted if you are a wild child!

8. Clink scintillating wine glasses amidst the vineyards of Tuscany, Italy

When we say wine, Tuscanian fields flashes right in front of our eyes. Italian wine already has made the world go gaga, but sipping the native wines amidst the vineyards, during a beautiful sunset will spell out Nirvana for you.

9. Scale the highest peak in the world – Mount Everest, Nepal

You must have hiked all your life, but have you thought of reaching the peak of world’s tallest peak? Well if you haven’t, consider it the milestone! But make sure you have sufficient experience and are guided by an expert on your expedition.

Suggested Read: Everest Base Camp Trek: A Guide To A Journey Of A Lifetime

10. Celebrate La Tomatina in Spain

After ZNMD, our travel goals have found a true meaning. People smash tomatoes around like crazy and then head to the bars for an after party. This festival takes place on the last wednesday of August in Valencian town of Buñol.

11. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia

We have seen the Opera House from different angles, but this one is what you will earn. Climbing at the Sydney Harbour bridge is a sport, something that gives you a 360 degree view of the city.

12. Explore the marine wonderland in The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Wonderful and beautiful underwater world with corals and tropical fish at the Great Barrier Reef of Australia

If you ask where the most beautiful seabed is, the answer has to be the Great Barrier Reef. Spread across an area of 2,300 km, this marine wonderland consists of over a thousand reefs and hundred islands.

13. Walk the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is in fact one of world’s most talked-about tourist attraction. And to walk through the Wall isn’t suggested because of its hype. There are different regions, most of which aren’t even known to tourists, which you can explore and where you can indulge in various amazing adventure.

Suggested Read: Crazy Adventures You Need To Try At The Great Wall of China

14. Behold the Taj Mahal on a full-moon night in India

The Taj Mahal needs no introduction, as we have often seen people posting photographs with the Taj in cliche poses. But to go off the beaten track, you have to behold this masterpiece during a full moon, when the Taj Mahal seems to slightly change its hues complementing the moonlight.

15. Cliff dive off the tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls in Venezuela

Don’t say you’re a daredevil if you cannot do this one. Free falling off the tallest waterfall in the world requires more than just inspiration.

16. Dare to dive with the sharks in South Africa

Shark Cage Diving is among the craziest adventure activities. You wear the scuba suit, get inside a cage, and come face to face with the ferocious and furious sharks. These sharks may as well attack you, but you’re in the cage, but it still needs sheer courage to be an inch close to the sharp teeth of this creature.

17. Feel at the top of the world from the top floor of Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world

The view from At The Top - Sky on the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa in Dubai isn’t merely for show sake. The Observation Deck of this building will give you a breathtaking view from a height of 555 meters. This may also be a nightmare for the people with a fear of heights.

Suggested Read: Burj Khalifa: The Tallest Building In The World

18. Surf in the Surfing Capital of Canada, Tofino

Tofino is one of the best places in the world for surfing regardless of how experienced you are. This destination welcomes surfers all year round.

19. Tour the glowing caves of Waitomo, New Zealand

The Waitomo Caves in New Zealand looks like a fairyland with thousands of glow-worms illuminating the dark corners. A boat ride through Waitomo will captivate you.

Suggested Read: Walk Into The Dreamy World Of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, It’s Magical!

20. Try your luck in Las Vegas, USA

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but if you have your luck by your side what you win in Vegas will go home with you too!

Suggested Read: Honeymoon In Vegas: Must Experiences For Unforgettable Memories!

21. Ride the camels and mules in Petra, Jordan

The rugged lands of Petra is explored in many ways, but riding the mules and camels will have you travel back in time as well.

Suggested Read: Petra Caves In Jordan: A Rose-Red City Half As Old As Time

22. Chug finest beers in the world in Oktoberfest, Germany

This is unmissable for all the beer-lovers! The Oktoberfest is world’s largest Volksfest that’s not just about beer, but also parades, music and sumptuous food.

23. Smoke freshly-rolled cigars in Havana, Cuba

There is no vibe as the Cuban vibe. Let alone half, all of your heart will be in Havana oh nana! The Cuban cigars is of the utmost quality in the world. The hand-rolled cigars of Cuba go through as much as 222 different processes in order to be ready to be smoked.

24. Take a bike trip from Delhi to Leh, India

The surreal land of Ladakh can be pleasing and beautiful, but there’s also a rugged side to it that challenges even the toughest bikers. A bike ride from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh is picturesque, challenging and allows you to live life and travel in your own terms.

Suggested Read: Leh Ladakh Bike Trip: Everything You Need To Know From The Scratch

25. Walk on the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Often mistaken to be an optical illusion, the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni is world’s largest salt flat that’s spread across an area of 10,582 square kilometers.

26. Glance at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Egyptian pyramids have the power to move you with its secrets and history. There is so much to learn about the history, each of the aspect is intriguing in every sense.

27. Take a long drive through the Garden Route, South Africa

What’s a long drive, if you aren’t meandering through shoreline, drifting past or stopping by national parks en route, or landmarks, and gardens?!

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28. Rejuvenate and pamper yourself with authentic Ayurveda spa treatments in Kerala, India

The age old legacy, Ayurveda finds its route in India, and Kerala is considered to be among the best places to an Ayurvedic treatment or therapy.

29. Enjoy the Full Moon Parties in Thailand

Your definition of nightlife will change drastically when you will attend the hypnotic full and half moon parties of Thailand. Hosted by the beach, these parties are nothing less than extravaganza filled with music, booze and dance.

Suggested Read: Full Moon Party In Thailand Is Going To Be Beach Madness At Its Loudest

30. Bathe, feed and spend good time with the adorable elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The adorable creatures called elephants are friendly undoubtedly. But if you have been thinking of spending more time with these creatures in a safe environment, then Chiang Mai is the best place. You get to feed, bathe, play around with elephants in the orphanage.

31. Escape to Maldives with the one you love

A snap of the multiple overwater properties at the Sun Island Resort on the Nalaguraidhoo Island of Maldives

One of the top honeymoon destinations in the world, Maldives will bewitch you with its turquoise and calm ocean waters. The luxury follows you as you spend the best of time in your majestic overwater villas.

Suggested Read: 28 Best Islands In Maldives For Honeymoon For An Instant Cupid-Strike

32. Dine in the Parisian landmark, Eiffel Tower in France

Paris, mainly the Eiffel Tower, is the synonym of love. Having a romantic feast in a lovely restaurant looking over this beautifully lit landmark is your very own fairytale moment.

Suggested Read: 10 Most Romantic Restaurants In Paris You Must Visit At Least Once

33. Strike a pose in front of the Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Standing tall and strong, the Petronas is the tallest twin towers in the world. And when in Malaysia you have to click a picture with this landmark. And if you seek something more, head over to its Observation Deck for a soulful view of the Kuala Lumpur City.

34. Dare to walk at a height of 260 meters above ground, on the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in China

Walk 260 meters above the ground crossing a glass bridge in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon of China. Don’t look down or you’ll be crept with fear all over your body.

35. Feast on breakfast with the view in the white paradise of Santorini, Greece

Santorini’s stunning white village is an instagram-worthy landscape. But a nice Greek breakfast savored amidst this very vista is sheer travel goals.

36. Cruise the canal city of Venice onboard a gondola in Italy

Panoramic view of traditional Gondola on Canal Grande with San Giorgio Maggiore church in the background

One thing that Italy is most famous for is the Gondola of Venice. Sailing you past legendary landmarks and quite canals, the rower will sing folk songs to you to add that Italian touch.

37. Spend a night on-board a houseboat anchored on Dal Lake in Kashmir, India

Dal Lake is something that India is proud of. Sky soaring Himalayan peak coupled with tranquility make it a lovely escape. You may want to live for a longer period, so why not spend the night away in the traditionally built luxurious houseboats?!

Suggested Read: Magical Colors Of Srinagar’s Dal Lake That Change Every Season: In Pics

38. Enjoy the views of London from London Eye in England

The London Eye on the embankments of Thames consists of luxurious glass capsules that let you behold 360 degree view of the great English city.

39. Challenge yourself by base jumping off the Sky Tower of Auckland, New Zealand

Ever wanted to be a bird flying above a concrete jungle? Well, base jump off the iconic Sky Tower in New Zealand will make your dreams come true!

40. Swim in the iconic infinity pool of Singapore with jaw-dropping views of the city

The illusional infinity pool of Singapore will give you the shots that spark envy!

41. Amble through the Vatican Museums in Italy

Ornated interior of Vatican Museum in Italy

Renaissance art aficionados! This is it! The Vatican City is bejeweled with museums which not only house masterpieces, but are masterpieces themselves.

42. Live up the night for more than 24 hours, with the startling phenomenon called Polar Night in Alaska, USA

‘Wishing this night never fades’ – Well, experience your dream coming true in Alaska. Here, in a particular time of the year, the Sun doesn’t come above the horizon, resulting in 24 hours of night light.

43. Go dune bashing in the deserts of Dubai, UAE

Dubai’s dune bashing doesn’t merely mean off roading. You have a cultural extravaganza awaiting you. A night desert safari will get you acquainted with local culture through its food, belly dance performaces and more.

44. Watch the dreamy pink lake, Lake Hillier in Australia

You must have seen lakes around the world, but if you haven’t seen the pink lake what are you even doing with your life?!

45. Live the reel life while taking the Game of Thrones Tour in Dubrovnik, Croatia

This is for all the GOT fans who always wanted to live the reel life. Most of the scenes are shot in Dubrovnik and you can actually go for a Game of Thrones tour here.

46. Get on cloud nine while skydiving in Wollongong, Australia

Divers in the sky- skydiving is surely one of the most fun things to do in Australia

Skydiving is great! But skydiving in Wollongong is the best!

47. Celebrate the festival of colors, Holi in Vrindavan, India

The Festival of Colors, Holi is celebrated in all of India, and even around the world. But Vrindavan’s holi is considered the most colorful, craziest and picture-perfect.

48. Let the child in you come alive yet again in Disney World, Hong Kong

Meet your favorite Disney characters, shop for Disney goodies, and ride the movie-themed rides. If that’s not enough, live the night away in Disney resort in Disney World.

Suggested Read: Disneyland In Hong Kong: A Tailor-Made Guide To Endless Fun For Everyone!

49. Forget about the night sky in Iqaluit, Canada

Remember we talked about Polar Nights, well this one is the exact opposite. The sun here just won’t set!

50. Live life at the edge by staying for a night in the Skylodge, hanging 1200 feet above ground on a cliff in Peru

Ditch the traditional stays, and spend a beautiful night in Skylodge in Peru, a capsule hung on a 1,200 feet tall cliff.

Further Read: Skylodging In Peru: Camping While Hanging Off A 1,200 Feet Cliff

Which of these amazing travel experiences struck the chord for you?! plan a Trip with TravelTriangle without wasting a moment and make the best memories of your life.

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10 of the Best Virtual Reality Travel Experiences

With the time and expense required to travel being prohibitive to many, there are alternative ways of indulging your wanderlust – including via the burgeoning world of Virtual Reality.

(Photo: Cubicle Ninjas)

There are a huge number of VR companies all vying to create ever more unique experiences for consumers – and one of the biggest growth categories has been travel. And what better time to get a taste of exploration and adventure from the comfort of your living room, equipped only with a VR headset, than now, when travel is a luxury that many just can’t stretch to? We’ve picked out 10 of the best virtual reality travel experiences currently on the market.

So which VR headset should you go for? Our favourite is the Meta Quest 3, which launched onto the market in mid-2023 and is the successor to the Meta Quest 2. For immersive games and travel experiences, we believe the Meta Quest 3 is destined to become the leading VR headset over the coming years. It’s pretty affordable, too, and unlike other headsets, doesn’t require cords or a computer. You can purchase the Meta Quest 3 at Amazon.com.

Guided Meditation VR

Developed by Cubicle Ninjas, Guided Meditation VR is designed to bring peace, joy, and calm back into your daily life by teaching you ancient meditation practices in a cutting-edge way. It features over 40 lush environments to escape the everyday, 30-plus hours of guided meditations on anxiety, depression, maternity, resilience, sleep and zen, and hundreds of hours of calming musical audio tracks to help enhance your meditation experience. Users can also customise their sessions to their own specific preferences and needs, including the option to switch into Motion mode and gently float through beautiful vistas like you would on a lazy river, leaving the worries of your life behind before returning calmer and stronger.

PRICE £10.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

Be anywhere in the world with anyone, instantly, in this captivating game developed by Wooorld Inc. Visit hundreds of cities, architectural landmarks, natural wonders, and vacation spots in incredible 3D detail, and get tips about the best places to visit, the hidden gems, where to get the best food and all the tourist traps to avoid. You can also create your own 3D avatars with face and body tracking and test your worldly knowledge by guessing where you are after being teleported to 5 random locations, with only the landscape, flora, architecture, and road signs for clues. The game can played as collaboratively as you wish, with options to explore the world with friends and meet new people, or hop into a Solo World without any distractions.

PRICE Free HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Wooorld Inc.)

Blueplanet VR Explore

(Photo: Blueplanet VR Explore)

Highlighting sacred and fragile locations of natural beauty and cultural heritage, Blueplanet VR Explore is a collection of remarkable places across the world. With freedom to move around and explore, the virtual reality experiences are captured in volumetric 3D with great detail and accuracy. The scenes look and feel like these places do in real life, and enable you to freely move around to enjoy and explore these remarkable, fragile, and priceless environments. Concern for the environment often comes from direct experience, and being as close as we can get to experiencing a sense of actually being there, Blueplanet can help encourage people to appreciate and protect these treasures.

PRICE £18.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

BRINK Traveler

Travel to some of the world’s most amazing natural wonders in fully immersive 3D and feel like you’re really there in this awe-inspiring game by Brink XR. Step into a scene akin to a postcard as you visit a total of 28 (with more on their way) of the most breathtaking places on Earth. In-game highlights include room-scale walkable areas in each destination, a virtual guide and assistant to learn about where you’re visiting, and the chance to shoot photos to share with friends. You can either play the game solo or with friends and family in multiplayer mode.

PRICE £11.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: BRINK XR)

National Geographic Explore VR

Created in partnership with National Geographic, a world-leading society in the fields of geography, cartography and exploration, this magical VR experience invites you to discover two of the most iconic locations on Planet Earth. Don your explorer hat and head to Antarctica for an exhilarating expedition. Navigate around icebergs in a kayak, climb a vast ice shelf and survive a snowstorm as you hunt for a lost emperor penguin colony. Visit the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru and get immersed in amazing digital reconstructions of the legendary site. Witness mummy worships, raise a cup of sacred chicha and encounter cute and furry alpacas as you match Hiram Bingham’s photographs from when he rediscovered the citadel. Be sure to take a camera as your best snaps may even make it into the prestigious National Geographic magazine.

PRICE £7.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Force Field Entertainment B.V)

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Fans of the hugely popular TV blockbuster The Walking Dead can now join the world of zombies in this new VR adventure. Travel through the ruins of New Orleans as you fight, scavenge, and survive, each day unravelling another mystery lurking within the city’s historic quarters. Encounter desperate factions and lone survivors who could be friend or foe. Whether you help others or take what you want by force, every choice you make has consequences. What kind of survivor will you be for the people of NOLA? Scavenge for anything that you can; weapons, food, tools, and clues. Be wary of the living and the dead, with spatial audio drawing attention to any loud noise. Craft makeshift gear out of scrapped material; blades, guns, medicine, and more. Test your morals and make difficult choices for yourself and others. It’s all here, bringing the small screen to life in a big way.

PRICE £29.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Skydance Interactive)

Narrated by award-winning actress Anna Friel, this trail-blazing VR series opens the door to some of the planet’s wildest environments while redefining the limits of 3D-180 cameras. Meet the humans protecting our most precious wildlife, explore the great savannahs of Kenya, discover the ancient jungles of Borneo and dive into the rich coral reefs of Raja Ampat. Encounter elephants, orangutans, manta rays and some incredible humans, all in stunning cinematic footage filmed from the air and deep into the ocean. The series was produced in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),

(Photo: PHORIA)

The world is your oyster with this interactive, immersive VR experience that’s designed to be played by the whole family. There’s global travel and adventure in which your friends and family can join city tours, hot air balloon rides, back-country road trips, and plenty more. Or you can simply kick back and relax, practice meditation and get back to nature – all in the company of a guide or going solo, if you prefer. Other features include photo sharing, soundtracks, a range of fun games and media customisation.

(Photo: AARP Innovation Labs)

Rome Reborn: The Pantheon

Created by Flyover Zone, an American company specialising in virtual travel applications that present the world’s most important cultural heritage sites and monuments, Rome Reborn is one of five applications that present different areas of ancient Rome. This particular one transports users over the entire ancient city, focussing on the Pantheon, perhaps the best-preserved building from antiquity. In the company of two virtual guides, you’ll get to explore the exterior forecourt and interior sanctuary of the reconstructed complex as you listen and learn about the Pantheon’s design and decoration, as well as the nature of the religious cult once housed within it.

PRICE £3.99 HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Rift

(Photo: Flyover Zone Productions)

Monte Fitzroy is Argentina’s most famous mountain landmark and is even used as the logo for outdoor retailer, Patagonia. It is a place that immediately evokes a sense of adventure. At the foot of the mountain is a beautiful and remote glacial lake known as Laguna Sucia. Most people who visit Monte Fitzroy view it from a location that is much easier to access. Laguna Sucia requires a much tougher hard-to-access trail that culminates in one of the most beautiful and remote glacial lakes in existence. You are rewarded with a sense of almost meditative stillness as you approach this untouched natural amphitheatre. This VR experience utilises Pterovision, a 3D technology that integrates computational photography, 360 Video, and gaming and allows you to take off like a bird, fly around the lake, visit the waterfalls along the edge, and fly over glacial formations beneath the mountain peaks. Numerous narrations will tell you about the challenges we faced when filming in this location, as well as educate you about the geology, culture, and history.

PRICE $2.99 HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Rift

(Photo: Specterras Productions)

Gala360 – Travel & Relax

Taking you on awe-inspiring virtual adventures across the globe, Gala360 is the result of the magic touch of an array of exceptionally talented photographers who have captured their globe-trotting trips in all their glory before being rendered into VR form. In professional 6K resolution, more than 300 tours around the world are featured, with some also including narration which allows you to listen to the stories behind the trips. Most of the tours are free, but you can pay a small fee to unlock more.

PRICE Free HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Go (soon available on Quest 2)

(Photo: Gala 360)

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The 29 best glamping resorts in the u.s..

Get off the grid in glamour and comfort.

The Best Glamping Resorts in the U.S.

Glamping tent with two chairs on the porch at Mendocino Grove.

Courtesy of Mendocino Grove

Glamping resorts offer both adventure and luxury.

If you're enticed by the idea of camping but don't want to deal with the inevitable grunt work that comes with it, glamping (or glamorous camping) is the perfect compromise. Read on to discover the most unique glamping resorts in California, Florida, Tennessee and other destinations across the U.S.

The Resort at Paws Up: Greenough, Montana

Exterior shot of snowy cabin at The Resort at Paws Up.

Courtesy of The Resort at Paws Up

There's glamping, and then there's glamping at The Resort at Paws Up . One of the pioneers of modern-day glamping, The Resort at Paws Up offers six exclusive glamping camps (with prices to match), each one offering a different experience. Solo travelers and couples will love the two-story Tree Haus at the resort's adults-only retreat, called the green o. North Bank Camp – with three-bedroom, two-bathroom tents – is ideal for large families. You can book an individual tent or, if traveling with extended family and/or friends, even an entire camp. Guests can even bring along a furry friend, as this resort is dog-friendly.

Glamping guests enjoy a dedicated camping butler and, because this is an all-inclusive resort , three gourmet meals with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages daily. Select activities such as mountain biking and snow tubing are covered in nightly rates. For additional fees you can also take advantage of the many unique guided activities and excursions you don't find at most resorts, from snowmobiling to hot air balloon rides. On-site transportation and shuttle service to and from Missoula Montana Airport, about 35 miles away, are also included in your stay.

While the lodging and amenities make Paws Up one of the best glamping resorts in the U.S., it's the staff members who have earned this resort rave reviews from previous guests. The Resort at Paws Up offers glamping mid-May through mid-October, while the green o is available for stays year-round.

Address: 40060 Paws Up Road, Greenough, MT 59823

Terramor Outdoor Resort: Bar Harbor, Maine

Interior of tent at Terramor Outdoor Resort. Two chairs in front of a bed.

Courtesy of Terramor Outdoor Resort

As KOA's first foray into glamping, Terramor Outdoor Resort offers luxury tent accommodations near Acadia National Park in Maine. All tents feature electricity, Wi-Fi, portable heaters and coolers plus other convenient amenities, though the types vary in capacity from two up to five guests and whether they have a bathroom. This family-friendly resort features an abundance of amenities that travelers love, including a pool and hot tub, lawn games, live entertainment, evening campfires, stargazing lectures, and an on-site restaurant and bar where guests can enjoy craft cocktails and regionally sourced beers. Pets are also welcome at Terramor, especially in the on-site dog park.

Terramor is a designated stop for the Island Explorer, a free shuttle service that transports visitors to Acadia National Park, downtown Bar Harbor and other areas of interest on Mount Desert Island. The Island Explorer operates seasonally, from mid-June to mid-October.

Address: 1453 Maine state Route 102, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Backland: Williams, Arizona

Interior of cabin room at Backland. Bed facing a large window on a sunny day.

Courtesy of Backland

Opened in 2022, Backland is a remote resort with four glamping options: Backland Suite, Grand Suite, Sky Suite and Grand Sky Suite. The latter two feature a view of the stars from a 16-foot skylight over the bed, but all four are fitted with panoramic windows for breathtaking views of the Arizona wilderness. These luxury tents accommodate up to either four or six guests, plus no more than two pets. Each features king-sized beds, a full en suite bathroom with a shower, luxury linens, electricity, automatic climate control, an outdoor patio, a coffee maker, a minifridge, housekeeping services and some toiletries.

Backland purposefully doesn't offer Wi-Fi in the tents – only at reception – as guests are encouraged to unplug during their stay. Instead of doomscrolling on social media, you can enjoy bird-watching, stargazing and roasting s'mores over a campfire. There's also a tented spa, a restaurant and a pond with a beach. Glampers at this resort say they appreciate the cozy accommodations and peaceful atmosphere.

Backland is located less than 15 miles from downtown Williams, Arizona, close to some of the best places to visit in Arizona , including Flagstaff (about 40 miles away), Grand Canyon National Park (less than 60 miles) and Sedona , which is a roughly 60-mile drive from the resort.

Address: 6929 E. Rosilda Springs Road, Williams, AZ 86046

Klarhet: Lutsen, Minnesota

Exterior shot of dome windowed tent at Klarhet.

Courtesy of Klarhet

Klarhet, which means "clarity" in Swedish, aims to bring just that to its glamping guests. The intimate property is located on the shores of Lake Superior and surrounded by a regenerative food forest, where an assortment of edible plants and animals attempts to mimic natural ecosystems – and where guests are invited to take a tour.

Klarhet offers just four domes – Raidho, Dagaz, Laguz and Berkanan – which all bring the outdoors inside with stellar views of the night sky and lush greenery. Each dome is equipped with king- and queen-sized beds; sustainably sourced cotton bedding; a large fan; a toilet; a custom rainfall shower; Public Goods bath amenities; Turkish bath linens, bathrobes and slippers; and a yoga mat. Amenities at Klarhet include a communal fire pit, board games and snowshoes to use in the local state parks, where you can also hike. Recent guests praise everything about Klarhet, from the accommodations to the staff.

Address: 233 Ski Hill Road, Lutsen, MN 55612

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo: River Ranch, Florida

Exterior shot of cabins at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo.

Courtesy of Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo

The Sunshine State is synonymous with theme parks and beaches , so you might be surprised to learn you can also go glamping in Florida.

At Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo near Kissimmee, you can spend the night in a variety of luxury glamping accommodations, each with a private bathroom and kitchenette: Choose one of the climate-controlled luxury tents or the Luxe Conestoga Wagon, which has space for up to six guests. Regular glamping tents with separate bathroom facilities are also available. Guests of all the glamping accommodations enjoy perks such as coffee and pastry deliveries each morning and access to a personal concierge; if you opt for one of the three luxury glamping options, another special amenity is a golf cart for roaming the property.

Not only is Westgate River Ranch considered a glamping resort, but it's also the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of this property's activities and amenities: airboat and swamp buggy rides, horseback riding, an archery range, a petting farm, a weekly rodeo, an on-site steakhouse and more. Resort activities, including VIP tickets to the rodeo, are covered in rates for glamping guests staying in one of the two luxe accommodations, making the experience nearly all-inclusive. Previous visitors agree this relaxed resort is a fun alternative to the nearby theme parks in Orlando .

Address: 3200 River Ranch Blvd., River Ranch, FL 33867

Bodhi Farms: Bozeman, Montana

Exterior shot of tent in grassy field at Bodhi Farms.

Courtesy of Bodhi Farms

Nestled beside the Gallatin Mountains, Bodhi Farms allows travelers to sustainably and authentically experience the beauty of Montana through immersive activities and amenities. The warmer months boast creekside yoga and spa services, farming projects such as gardening and caring for livestock, a wood-fired sauna, nightly campfires, and fly fishing both on- and off-site. Farm-to-table dining at the field kitchen restaurant – situated on an open-air patio during the summer – includes the opportunity to try the Cowboy Brunch. Complimentary breakfast is available to guests of the hotel's nine glamping tents, another highlight of this eco-resort .

Available for stays from May to October, each cone-shaped tent features either one king bed or two twin beds, plus plush pet beds for up two dogs. The accommodations are also equipped with a private porch, two lounge chairs, a hammock, plenty of natural light, and heaters and fans upon request. Luxurious bathrooms are shared yet still feel private, and Bodhi Farms provides eco-friendly toiletries and complimentary bathrobes.

Just south of Bozeman, Montana, Bodhi Farms' location makes a convenient base to visit some of the state's top attractions , including Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone National Park , one of the top-rated national parks in the U.S.

Address: 13624 S. Cottonwood Road, Bozeman, MT 59718

Camp Long Creek: Ridgedale, Missouri

Exterior shot of a bright tent at Camp Long Creek in the evening.

Courtesy of Camp Long Creek

Named for its location on Table Rock Lake at Big Cedar Lodge (created by the founder of Bass Pro Shops), Camp Long Creek offers glamping near Branson, Missouri . Its glamping units bring wood floors and chandeliers into a canvas tent, with each offering an outdoor bathtub, a fire pit, a table and chairs, a small fridge and coffee maker, and sleeping accommodations for two. These tents are scattered around the property, so views range from the lake to the forest. All units are dog-friendly and feature a private bathroom.

When you're not white-knuckling the roller coasters at Silver Dollar City (considered one of the best amusement parks in the U.S. ) or uncovering history at the Titanic Museum Attraction, take time to enjoy the resort's activities such as golfing, hiking, or boating and fishing on the lake. Other amenities include pools and hot tubs, a fitness center, and a canteen with grab-and-go bites and beverages. Previous guests rave about the setting and conveniences of glamping at this resort.

Address: 1358 Long Creek Road, Ridgedale, MO 65739

Alila Ventana Big Sur: Big Sur, California

Courtesy of Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort

There are few destinations in California that offer luxury in a place where you would otherwise have to rough it. In Big Sur , a region that is only accessible via one road and doesn't always offer electricity, travelers will find a limited selection of five-star accommodations – among them Alila Ventana Big Sur .

The resort offers safari-style tents in a 20-acre redwood canyon, all equipped with plush beds, electric lamps, instant hot and cold potable water with sinks, and power outlets with USB ports. Glampers can also make use of amenities for enjoying the outdoors, such as Adirondack chairs, wood-burning fire pits and picnic tables. Restrooms and showers are available at a shared, well-maintained bathhouse.

Glamping guests can purchase the Spa Alila Day Pass, which includes one 50-minute massage or facial, one poolside entree and one nonalcoholic beverage, plus full access to the meadow pool, infinity hot tub and sauna. You also have the option to enjoy fine dining at The Sur House on-site. Some parts of the Alila Ventana Big Sur grounds are reserved for resort guests only, so glampers will not have access to certain facilities.

Address: 48123 California state Route 1, Big Sur, CA 93920

Treebones Resort: Big Sur, California

Exterior shot of Treebones Resort overlooking the ocean.

Courtesy of Kodiak Greenwood

If you want to glamp in Big Sur, you might also consider Treebones Resort, which offers yurts with king beds and modern furnishings, as well as accommodations you're not likely to find elsewhere. The Autonomous Camp Collection's twin units, which can best be described as a full apartment fit into a tent, take glamping to the next level; this solar-powered, upscale option is complete with a bedroom, en suite bathroom, lounge area and outdoor deck. For a more rustic but no less unique stay, the Human Nest campsite is exactly what it sounds like – meaning you'll need to bring your own bedding and tent for protection from the elements when you sleep on the futon pad inside this wood art.

Something else Treebones Resort has that you don't find at most glamping resorts? Sushi. The Wild Coast Sushi Bar features an omakase dining experience in which patrons sit face to face with the chef, who uses their reactions to craft the 14-course tasting menu. Previous guests say it's an absolute must when staying here. You can also dine at The Lodge Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner.

Other on-site amenities include a massage studio and yoga. The rugged coastline views at Treebones Resort rival many in the area, and glampers may also choose to explore the beauty of Big Sur through guided excursions.

Address: 71895 California state Route 1, Big Sur, CA 93920

Under Canvas: Multiple Locations

Bailey Made | Courtesy of Under Canvas

First-time glampers should consider Under Canvas, which offers a dozen glamping locations nationwide – including its newest outpost in Paradise Valley, Montana, near Yellowstone National Park.

Guests in the safari-style tents enjoy king-sized beds, wood-burning stoves, West Elm patio furnishings, and en suite bathrooms with organic bath products and hot running water. On-site cafe-style dining (including locally sourced ingredients) is available in addition to complimentary camp programming that spans yoga, guided hikes, live acoustic music, fireside chats and s'mores.

Other amenities vary by location. At Under Canvas West Yellowstone, there's a coffee bar and an event space just for kids, while at the Grand Canyon site, guests can sip cocktails at an outdoor bar. Under Canvas operates seasonally, with dates varying for each site.

ULUM Moab: Moab, Utah

Courtesy of Bailey Made

An elevated experience by Under Canvas, ULUM Moab – which opened in 2023 – caters to travelers in search of the ultimate luxury-meets-camping experience. As such, all Suite Tents feature a plush king bed with Parachute linens; a living area with a queen bed and chairs; an en suite bathroom with a rain shower, Aesop toiletries and Turkish cotton bathrobes; and a private deck. All accommodations are pet-friendly.

ULUM Moab also offers on-site dining, three dipping pools, a yoga deck, sound bath meditation and more – making it the perfect home base for explorations in the nearby city of Moab as well as Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Reviews of the new resort are all positive, with many mentioning the location and staff among their favorite highlights.

Address: 147 Looking Glass Road, Moab, Utah 84503

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort: Townsend, Tennessee

Exterior shot of cabin at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort. Women on porch.

Courtesy of Little Arrow Outdoor Resort

Aside from Under Canvas' Great Smoky Mountains location, there are several individually owned resorts and rentals with glamping in Tennessee . Among the best options is Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, which in addition to its modernized cabins and tiny homes offers glamping tents.

These glamping accommodations come in three forms: the Luxury Glamping Lodge, Luxury Glamping Tents and Primitive Glamping Tents. All are equipped with plush bedding, heating and air conditioning, and a fire pit with a grill grate. The luxury options come with private bathrooms and kitchenettes, while the "primitive" experience means you'll have to venture over to the bathhouses.

An exhaustive list of resort amenities includes a lounge with coffee, games and books; a zero-entry swimming pool, splash pad and hot tub; outdoor spa services; a dog park (yes, the resort is pet-friendly); a playground; a community garden; sports courts; and food truck service. Don't forget to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park , just minutes from the resort. Recent guests say Little Arrow Outdoor Resort is especially fun for families and groups.

Address: 118 Stables Drive, Townsend, TN 37882

Asheville Glamping: Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina is the best place to travel alone

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Asheville Glamping stands out for the variety of accommodation options it offers across three sites near Asheville, North Carolina . In addition to traditional glamping tents, travelers can rent a treehouse or choose from a variety of domes, including options with indoor slides and space for up to eight guests – perfect for families.

Amenities vary by accommodation category. If you select the Safari Tent (which sleeps up to five guests with an additional cot), you'll enjoy a queen-sized bed and a futon; an outdoor propane grill, fire pit and picnic table; air conditioning; and a shared bathhouse with toilets and showers. Pets are welcome at Asheville Glamping, and you'll find plenty of local outdoor adventures to enjoy with your furry family members.

Read: The Top Hikes in Asheville, North Carolina

El Cosmico: Marfa, Texas

Nick Simonite | Courtesy of El Cosmico

If you're looking for a dog-friendly glampground with whimsy, consider the stylish El Cosmico in the small desert city of Marfa, Texas. One of the best glamping resorts in Texas , El Cosmico offers a variety of unique accommodations including solar-powered Jupe Tents, designed by a team from SpaceX and Tesla. In the future, it will offer the world's first 3D-printed hotel accommodations.

Travelers also have the option to stay in a vintage trailer, yurt or the Cosmic Kasita, a limited-edition bunkhouse. With the exception of some of the trailers and the Cosmic Kasita, most accommodations don't have private indoor bathrooms, so you'll use a communal bathhouse. El Cosmico also offers a communal outdoor kitchen and dining area, bike rentals, a provisions store, a hammock grove, an outdoor stage, and wood-fired Dutch hot tubs.

Address: 802 S. Highland Ave., Marfa, TX 79843

Collective Retreats: Multiple Locations

Courtesy of Collective Retreats

Did you know you can go glamping in New York City ? Collective Retreats, which has a location on Governors Island, also operates two other glamping resorts – in Texas Hill Country and near Vail, Colorado – with several others in the works.

Accommodations in every location are pretty cushy, with luxurious linens, panoramic views, electricity and upscale toiletries. Some tent types, such as the Outlook Shelter exclusive to the Governors Island resort in New York, feature an en suite bathroom, while others require you to use a shared bathhouse.

Collective Retreats offers an array of activities across its locations, whether you want to get a massage in New York, go wine tasting in Texas Hill Country or ride a horse in Colorado. You can also enjoy the on-site dining experiences, with globally inspired cuisine.

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Dunton River Camp: Dolores, Colorado

Courtesy of Dunton River Camp

Situated on 500 acres in the Colorado Rockies, this former cattle ranch is surrounded by verdant meadows and forests radiating a sense of adventure. Dunton River Camp is not only stunning but also intimate: It has just eight safari tents on-site. Each tent, sitting on a 640-square-foot wooden platform, comes equipped with luxe amenities including a king-sized bed, a gas stove, complimentary Wi-Fi access, two mountain bikes, a private bathroom with a 6-foot soaker tub and shower, and a towel warmer.

Guests can choose between glamping sites with views of the Dolores River or the mountains. Nightly rates, based on two guests, include all meals and beverages (including nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks at the resort's lounge, Barbara's Bar), making this an all-inclusive resort.

Keep in mind that Dunton River Camp is only open in summer, from June to October. You can find Dunton River Camp in southwestern Colorado , about 190 miles south of Grand Junction.

Address: 50014 Road 38, Dolores, CO 81323

Capitol Reef Resort: Torrey, Utah

Courtesy of Capitol Reef Resort

Capitol Reef Resort is among several places in the U.S. where glamping takes the form of a Conestoga wagon. The resort's Conestoga wagons can sleep up to six guests thanks to two twin bunk beds accompanying the king bed. They feature lighting, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and beautiful rustic furnishings. Additionally, guests have access to detached private bathrooms located a short distance away.

The resort also gives lodgers the option to stay in conical glamping tents, which sleep two adults and come with much of the same amenities as the wagons – plus flat-screen TVs. Both glamping options are available seasonally, typically from late May through September.

Capitol Reef Resort also offers on-site dining and an outdoor pool and hot tub with views of Utah's red rock cliffs. Previous guests say it's a convenient place to stay if you plan to explore Capitol Reef National Park, one of the lesser-known treasures in Utah .

Address: 2600 Utah state Route 24, Torrey, UT 84775

Sinya on Lone Man Creek: Wimberley, Texas

Courtesy of Sinya on Lone Man Creek

Experience the beauty – and the award-winning wineries – of Texas Hill Country at Sinya on Lone Man Creek, a property inspired by a trip to Tanzania and named after a baby elephant in Kenya. This glamping retreat is situated atop a ridge, making you feel as if you're in a treehouse overlooking the beautiful surrounding greenery and Lone Man Creek. The creek's name aptly sets the scene for this exclusive experience, since the property consists of only one tent – but it can accommodate two guests, so there's no need to be truly "lone" if you don't wish to be.

This singular tent is decked out in beautiful country-style furnishings and outfitted with a king-sized bed (not to mention goose-down pillows), a Nespresso coffee maker, a sofa, a kitchenette and a bathroom, which features a claw-foot tub, bathrobes and Turkish towels. Venture outside and you'll find the resort has five furnished outdoor spaces for lounging, including a deck with a hot tub and shower. Recent guests, many of whom visited with a romantic partner, appreciate the seclusion of this glamping resort.

Address: 428 Deer Lake Estates, Wimberley, TX 78676

Read: The Top Romantic Getaways in Texas

The Ranch at Rock Creek: Philipsburg, Montana

Courtesy of The Ranch at Rock Creek

This five-star dude ranch in western Montana, frequently lauded for providing one-of-a-kind travel experiences, also specializes in glamping. Like the rest of its property and offerings, The Ranch at Rock Creek takes its glamping to the next level.

Glamping accommodations start at nearly 800 square feet and are part-tent, part-cabin. With 10 such dwellings in four different styles – some of which are open year-round – options for amenities vary. Inside these "canvas cabins," you'll typically find spacious bedrooms, additional living areas, gas stoves, attached bathrooms, and outdoor spaces such as porches or decks. Guests can also sleep in a Conestoga wagon with a king bed and twin bunks.

What's more, glamping accommodations qualify for the resort's all-inclusive rate, which covers farm-to-table meals, drinks, transportation on the ranch and airport transfers, as well as resort activities like horseback riding and archery. Peak season at this property spans late May to early September, but the property is open year-round. The Ranch at Rock Creek exceeds expectations, according to previous guests.

Address: 79 Carriage House Lane, Philipsburg, MT 59858

Borealis Basecamp: Fairbanks, Alaska

Courtesy of Borealis Basecamp

If you've ever dreamed of sleeping beneath the northern lights in Alaska , it's time to plan a stay at Borealis Basecamp. Located less than 30 miles north of Fairbanks , Borealis Basecamp unfurls across 100 acres and offers igloos and cubes in lieu of tents, further elevating the one-of-a-kind experience.

These igloos feature cozy beds, Wi-Fi access, private bathrooms with showers and hairdryers, free toiletries, and skylights so guests can fall asleep admiring the aurora borealis when visible. The cube accommodations feature most of the same amenities, but instead of skylights, guests enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows and "treehouse" beds with viewing windows just for kids, plus an en suite bathroom. Not surprisingly, recent guests say staying at Borealis Basecamp was one of the most unique experiences they've ever had.

Address: 2640 Himalaya Road, Fairbanks, AK 99712

Little Raccoon Key: Jekyll Island, Georgia

Courtesy of Little Raccoon Key

Little Raccoon Key – a small, uninhabited island accessible by a short boat ride from Georgia 's Jekyll Island – stands out from most other glamping destinations in the U.S. for one reason: There's just one campsite available. Not only will you have the entire reef island to yourself, but you'll be pampered by staff from start to finish. In addition to your private-island accommodations and the short boat tour there that often passes dolphins, you can request chef-prepared meals, pre-arrival grocery delivery and a lesson on oyster reefs around the island at no extra cost.

Your campsite features most necessities, such as a luxury canvas tent, a memory foam mattress, a gas grill, a stove, a kettle, other cooking supplies, and an outdoor shower and toilet. You can also take advantage of the Adirondack chairs, board games and books. While Little Raccoon Key provides a cooler for ice, it's recommended to bring your own so you can store several days' worth of food, since there's no refrigerator. You also won't find running water or air conditioning at this solar-powered island camp, but you'll be provided with a battery-powered fan. Note that Little Raccoon Key requires a two-night minimum stay.

Address: 1 Harbor Road, Suite No. 1, Jekyll Island, GA 31527

Firelight Camps: Ithaca, New York

Sean Stalteri | Courtesy of Firelight Camps

Experience the natural beauty of upstate New York with a stay at Firelight Camps. This glamping site enjoys a scenic location in a wooded area that's not only minutes away from local state parks including Buttermilk Falls but also less than 4 miles south of Ithaca's popular Collegetown neighborhood, making this particular destination easier to reach than most.

Canvas drapes the natural wood beams of the tents, which come with either one king bed or two queens. Tents also feature hardwood floors, a private tented balcony complete with rocking chairs, lanterns with USB ports, and a writers desk and chair. Upgraded tents come with electricity, though it's important to note that none have private bathrooms; instead, there's a shared bathhouse with eco-friendly products.

Guests can also expect to enjoy artisanal spirits at the on-site bar as well as delicious (and complimentary) breakfast each morning, thanks to co-founder Emma Frisch, who was a top finalist on season 10 of "Food Network Star" and has her own cookbook. Previous guests praise the resort staff's hospitality.

Address: 1150 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

Read: The Top Romantic Getaways in New York State

Sandy Pines Campground: Kennebunkport, Maine

Douglas Merriam | Courtesy of Sandy Pines Campground

Kennebunkport is known for its beaches and quaint downtown area, which often leaves the nearby green spaces overlooked by visitors. But Sandy Pines Campground offers travelers the chance to experience these underrated landscapes in Kennebunkport without sacrificing proximity to the water. Guests can choose from a variety of unique accommodation options, including Airstreams, Conestoga wagons, cottages, huts and traditional glamping tents.

The tents for couples are decorated to the nines – some with chandeliers – and outfitted with a king-sized bed, a seating area, a private deck, a mini-fridge, lighting, air conditioning and a small heater, and bath amenities. The family tent options have similar features but come with either a daybed in the main tent or a separate smaller tent with twin beds.

Guests can take advantage of glampground amenities such as bathhouses, a saltwater pool, the General Store and Snack Bar, laundry facilities, bike and water sports equipment rentals, and lots of activities for kids. Speaking of younger guests, previous visitors say Sandy Pines Campground is especially ideal for families.

Address: 277 Mills Road, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

Mendocino Grove: Mendocino, California

Find a serene glamping experience in one of California's most breathtaking small towns . Mendocino Grove sits within a forest bluff adjacent to the town, affording spectacular views of the camp's towering trees and the coast.

Most glamping tents sleep two guests, but some sleep up to four or six. You'll also find some options that are dog-friendly. Beds vary in size and come with down comforters and wool blankets; the adult beds also feature heated mattress pads. All tents come equipped with fire pits, picnic tables and limited electricity for powering lamps (which have USB ports) as well as other approved devices including CPAP machines. Private decks with leather butterfly chairs complete the glamping accommodations.

Other on-site amenities include two shared bathhouses with organic products (plus a dog wash), hammocks, a bocce ball court and yoga. Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa at The Meadow Commons, which also offers Wi-Fi and lends out books and games.

Address: 9601 California state Route 1, Mendocino, CA 95460

Huttopia: Multiple Locations

Courtesy of Huttopia

What started as a small campsite in the French Alps in 1999 has since expanded to more than 60 locations across three continents, including five U.S. sites in California, upstate New York, southern Maine and New Hampshire's White Mountains. Huttopia's goal is to provide travelers with comforts that go above traditional camping but aren't so comfortable that you'll stay in your tent rather than explore the beautiful surroundings of its properties.

All tents and cabins offer plush beds and electricity, while some have private bathrooms, kitchenettes or kitchens, and decks. Shared bathhouses are available to guests who don't have private toilets and showers. The company's newest U.S. location, Huttopia Wine Country, opened in 2023 in partnership with Northern California's Six Sigma Ranch and Winery. Overlooking the region's rolling vineyard hills, it features a swimming pool as well as French camping cuisine – from espresso to crepes to brick-oven pizza – at its on-site Café-Bistro.

AutoCamp: Multiple Locations

Exterior shot of van and grounds at AutoCamp.

Matt Kisiday | Courtesy of AutoCamp

If your idea of glamping is spending the night in an RV – but you don't have the budget or patience to buy one – it's time to explore AutoCamp. This glamping resort company specializes in Airstream accommodations, with six locations (and counting) ranging from national parks to beaches. Airstream amenities vary slightly by location, but you can expect plush beds (including dog beds upon request), spa-inspired bathrooms, heating and air conditioning, basic cookware, and fire pits with grills.

Families love the BaseCamp Mini Suites – an Airstream with an adjacent tent for kids – available seasonally at select resorts; another unique lodging option at some sites is the BaseCamp Suite, which is part-Airstream, part-tent. All locations offer traditional standalone glamping tents as well as accessible accommodation options.

Like the accommodations, some of the on-site programming varies by resort. For instance, AutoCamp Yosemite and AutoCamp Zion (the newest property) have pools, while the Cape Cod location has a playground. But all of AutoCamp's outposts are dog-friendly and offer complimentary cruiser bikes (first come, first served), Wi-Fi and coffee; they also promise on-site stores for provisions, including wine and beer, and an experience you won't soon forget.

Lakedale: San Juan Island, Washington

Shot of tent at Lakedale in the evening.

Courtesy of Lakedale

Off the coast of Washington state, Lakedale offers year-round glamping on San Juan Island, a picturesque place that can only be accessed by ferry or floatplane. Here, year-round glamping accommodations consist of yurts. Each comes with a king bed, full-sized sleeper sofa, an en suite bathroom, a wet bar, a fridge, a flat-screen TV, a skylight, seating indoors and outside, and private decks with hot tubs.

In the summer months, travelers also have the option to glamp in a canvas cabin or cottage, ideal for families with space for up to six guests. Complimentary on-site activities at Lakedale include lawn games, bike rentals and water sports on the resort's three spring-water lakes.

Address: 4313 Roche Harbor Road, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA 98250

Read: The Best Weekend Getaways From Seattle

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls: Logan, Ohio

Interior shot of a kitchen with red appliances inside cabin at The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls.

Courtesy of The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls

Surrounded by the lush forests of Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio, the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls is one of the most romantic getaways in Ohio . Choose from fully equipped cabins and cottages (some of which are pet-friendly) as well as yurts and geodomes. Each insulated yurt has a king bed or two twin beds, a full bathroom, a kitchenette that includes a gas log stove and microwave, a wood deck, and rocking chairs. The geodomes, outfitted with one king bed, have similar amenities to the yurts, plus a dining table and sofa.

All guests have access to a full-service spa and a restaurant, lauded by guests for its food (which includes complimentary breakfast); both are located in 1840s-style log cabins. Of course, you'll also find outdoor activities galore, from hiking to stargazing at nearby John Glenn Astronomy Park, named for the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.

Address: 21190 Ohio state Route 374, Logan, OH 43138

The Vintages Trailer Resort: Dayton, Oregon

Interior shot of a bright trailer at The Vintages Trailer Resort.

Courtesy of The Vintages Trailer Resort

The Vintages Trailer Resort offers 36 trailers in a variety of styles, nine of which welcome dogs and all of which make the perfect home base for those exploring Oregon's Willamette Valley, otherwise known as Oregon wine country. Trailer styles and designs vary, but all offer comfortable beds, bathrooms – or at the very least toilets – air conditioning and heating, and kitchenettes or outdoor grills. Separate shower facilities are also available. Pro tip: Book the 1956 Spartan Royal Mansion trailer in the warmer months to stargaze from an open-air soaker tub.

The on-site amenities at The Vintages Trailer Resort are almost as good as the trailers themselves – think: a seasonal swimming pool, fire pits, a general store and complimentary cruiser bikes for enjoying Dayton, the gateway to several local vineyards. Even better is the staff, whom previous guests praise in their glowing reviews of the resort.

Address: 16205 SE Kreder Road, Dayton, OR 97114

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Private hot tub in Ladybird Suite at Lake Austin Spa Resort.

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Here is the schedule for the 2024 NCAA spring championships in DI, DII, DIII and National Collegiate sports. Sports are listed in the order they occur.

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Disneyland's Pixar Fest is here: A high-energy show for kids, relaxing for parents

ANAHEIM, Calif. − M ad onna has got nothing on Edna Mode .

"The Incredible s " character slides side-to-side onstage, hitting Vogue-y poses that could rival the queen of pop herself. Watching with rapt attention are several small children, all of whom appear no more than 10-years-old. They jump up and down with her, hitting their own poses and sliding left to right.

At several points, non-character cast members give energetic dance instructions to the kids over music, telling them to flex, rock back and forth, clap, run, freeze, and more. The kid-friendly moves look like they could have come straight from an 80s workout video, but instead of Jane Fonda, the instructors are Edna Mode, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone and other beloved characters from "Toy Story" and "Inside Out."

It's all part of "Pixar Pals Playtime Party" (try saying that three times fast) − a new show coming to Fantasyland Theatre at Southern California's Disneyland for Pixar Fest, which starts Friday and lasts through Aug. 4. USA TODAY caught a media preview of the show on Thursday, as well as a glimpse at the wide array of creative food offerings. Here's what to expect.

What's the Pixar Palace Playtime Party like?

Really tiring if you're a kid, but really relaxing if you're a parent. (Isn't that how theme parks ought to be?)

For about an hour, cast members get participants up on their feet and encourage them to dance, taking them through moves that include walking in an impromptu fashion show and forming a conga line. It's an energetic hour, but there's plenty of bleacher seating in the back for parents and kids who just want to sit, watch and catch their breath.

It's also a great opportunity to see some beloved Pixar characters up close. Woody, Jessie and Bo Peep from "Toy Story" join the non-costumed cast members onstage, as do Happiness and Sadness from "Inside Out." The characters also come down from the stage to dance with the kids on the floor, creating a more lively − and likely more memorable − experience of interacting with a character than waiting several minutes for a quick photo.

The show itself is pretty adorable and serves as more of an activity than a viewing. The kids at the preview event were constantly moving. At one point, a little girl dressed as Jessie jumped with glee at seeing the cowgirl herself onstage. Sadness from "Inside Out" also elicited plenty of laughs as Joy did her best to get her to move to the cheerful music.

For kids who aren't interested in dancing, there's also a "Luca"-themed area where they can color and chill out.

More: Disneyland revamps Mickey's Toontown to improve accessibility, relaxation: An inside look

What's the food like?

Decadent. Chances are, whatever you're in the mood for, they have for Pixar Fest − so long as that mood doesn't include anything healthy. (But aren't Disneyland days automatic cheat days anyway?)

On display for media were cookies and cupcakes galore, "Finding Nemo" cake pops, churros covered in gummy candy and chocolate sauce and mini-chocolate cakes decorated like tires from "Cars." And those sweets don't even scratch the surface.

For more savory options, there are also chicken and potato waffles in bite-sized pieces, pesto pasta, a pizza topped with burger patties, and even a "Ratatouille Pizzetta," a mini-pizza topped with eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomato sauce, and a wedge of French camembert cheese.

More: Here's an inside look at Disneyland's new Runaway Railway ride and Disney100 celebration

What else is at Pixar Fest?

So much. There's decor where you can pose for photos at the fronts of both Disneyland and California Adventure. There's "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!," which is a California Adventure parade with the most Pixar characters of any parade in a Disney park. There's Club Pixar , which is an interactive DJ dance party that also features games like cornhole and tic-tac-toe. And there's "Together Forever − A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular," an evening projection show that includes beloved Pixar characters old and new, as well as new emotions from the upcoming "Inside Out 2" film.

Sixteen individuals, a majority dressed in black, pose on either side of a large DU statue

Students get a ‘Jumpstart’ on their careers in Dallas

Uc blue ash students experience transformative travel on their path to lindner.

Students from Carl H. Lindner College of Business’ Jumpstart program — a pipeline between UC Blue Ash and the business college that provides students with additional support toward transitioning into a bachelor’s degree program — experienced a whirlwind visit to Dallas during spring break 2024.

The group of 12 students balanced a packed schedule of professional development and networking with cultural and tourist experiences. Sponsored by Deloitte, students connected with Lindner alumni and employer partners throughout the four-day trip.

Arun Murthy, BBA '95, (center) offered students advice on actions they can take now that will create positive impact for their futures.

Day one: Diving right in

Day one brought a visit to the Charles Schwab corporate campus where students met with Lindner alumnus Arun Murthy , BBA ’95.

After a tour of the campus, students engaged in a Q&A session with Murthy to gain his insights on what they should be doing right now to prepare them for the next phase of their educational and career journeys.

Murthy encouraged the young professionals to “keep your eyes open” and pay attention to what piques their interest. But Murthy’s greatest advice to students was to get involved and be open to meeting and getting to know new people.

After finishing their day with a visit to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum for reflection and remembrance, and an evening in the Discovery District of Dallas for dinner and exploration, students looked to a second day packed with adventure.

Day two: A non-stop adventure

I think one of the reasons that I probably succeeded in this type of environment was my ability to connect and the relationships that I made with the people I interviewed with. It wasn't just transactional. It's very relational in nature.

Kasey Beiting Campus recruiting specialist, Deloitte

Day two’s itinerary featured visits to the American Airlines corporate campus, Deloitte University and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, to learn about sales and sports marketing.

First on the list: American Airlines.

Led by Scott Mallory, a campus recruiter for the company, students toured the expansive headquarters asking questions along the way about everything from employee benefits to navigating career changes.

“One of the most significant lessons I learned was the unpredictability of your professional career,” said Manuel Chacon Molina, who is interested in studying international business upon transferring to Lindner. “Observing individuals like Scott Mallory at American Airlines, who began in human resources and progressed across various departments, has reinforced the notion that while academic foundations are crucial, practical experience is fundamental for professional growth.”

Jumpstart students enjoyed their tour of the American Airlines' corporate headquarters.

For Abybatou Diop, a first-year Jumpstart student interested in supply chains and international business, the experience was transformative.

“The American Airlines company tour profoundly changed my perspective on the business world, igniting a passion within me," Diop said. "This experience was life-altering, pushing me to think beyond my previous limits. I am forever grateful for the inspiration it has given.”

Still in awe from their first tour of the day, students had even more in store as they headed to Deloitte University, the training grounds for all Deloitte employees.

Students were welcomed by a committee of Deloitte representatives, including several from Cincinnati who made the trip to Dallas to connect with the Jumpstart students.

Jeff Suttle, director, client relations, led students on a facility tour and provided an overview of the purpose of Deloitte University and how it helps the organization to continuously grow and invest in its employees.

Students enjoyed lunch alongside company representatives Jim Sowar, managing partner, Kasey Beiting, campus recruiting specialist, and Zach Wall, audit senior manager. Afterward, Sowar, Beiting and Wall engaged with students in a more formalized Q&A session, providing advice for how to prepare for their future careers, identifying their ideal career path and challenges they may face along their journey.

“In the first couple of years, I wasn't sure what my path to take, but it was really diving in and owning the fact that, if I'm going to be successful, I'm going to have to work hard, I'm going have to put my head down at times that I might not want to,” Wall told students. “But ultimately, that's the way to meeting that goal on that path.”

Deloitte representatives Kasey Beiting (left), campus recruiting specialist, Zach Wall (center), audit senior manager, and Jim Sower (right), managing partner, engaged in a Q&A session with students at Deloitte University.

As an active leader in the campus recruitment process for Deloitte, Beiting was able to offer the students an insider’s point of view on how to approach the interview process.

“I think one of the reasons that I probably succeeded in this type of environment was my ability to connect and the relationships that I made with the people I interviewed with,” said Beiting. “It wasn't just transactional. It's very relational in nature.”

With nearly 40 years of experience in the tax industry, and more than 20 years with Deloitte, Sowar hammered home this point for students.

“Is this candidate going to be able to not only maintain relationships but grow relationships and create new relationships that will lead to new business?” Sowar said of what Deloitte is looking for in its employees. “And that gets into what kind of personal skills do you have? Can you carry out a conversation? Are you asking interesting questions? How do you interact with people in a group setting and so forth? We do notice those things, and I think they really stand up.”

The themes of leadership and relationships expressed by Wall, Beiting and Sowar resonated heavily with students as they thought about their own career trajectories.

“Deloitte's emphasis on nurturing leadership qualities and continuous improvement resonated deeply with me,” said Chacon Molina. “The immersive experience at Deloitte University, allied to a rigorous training program, helps individuals not just with job-specific skills but also with the mindset and capabilities to lead effectively.”

Students took in city views at the Reunion Tower Observation Deck.

Students’ attention then turned to a more light-hearted adventure: a tour of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. But, before the fun began, the group stopped to connect with Bohn Crain, account executive with the AT&T Stadium sales team.

Crain’s energy and passion for his career path radiated over the students as they took in his message and holy grail advice: network, network, network.

Crain discussed his mission to meet one new person per day and encouraged students to take on the same challenge, as you never know where that connection may lead. Students were able to put this advice into immediate use as they connected with members of the Lindner Career Services team over dinner at Kitchen & Kocktails, a Black-owned business in the heart of Dallas.

Day three: Making connections

The final day of the trip allowed students to continue bonding with one another as they explored all Dallas has to offer, including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Reunion Tower Observation Deck. Through these experiences, students were able to form new bonds and identify new ways that they may support each other into the future, both personally and professionally.

“I thought Dallas was a great experience for the students. They were able to see what their futures could look like, the places that their degree could take them,” said Abbey Wulf, academic adviser to the Jumpstart program. “It was rewarding to see them engaging with different companies and asking them questions. I think they also bonded with one another over this experience and their time together. I personally hope that the bonds created during this trip remain. That they now have people they can lean on at UC Blue Ash and in Lindner once they transition and after graduation.”

Lasting impact and looking forward

The idea behind the Jumpstart program is to plant seeds and watch them grow. By encouraging our students to constantly show up and just do it, no matter how hard it is — a course, a test, a project — we help to push them further so they can thrive.

Arielle Betts Program coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence

Top of mind for both students and employers throughout the company visits: diversity, a topic near and dear to many Jumpstart participants’ experiences.

“The most important thing that I learned from our experience in Dallas was how much businesses are in search of diversity and how important it is for them to have as much diversity as possible. Diversity can help them reach their highest peak of success,” said marketing major Cris Mejia-Sanchez.

According to Arielle Betts , the program coordinator behind Jumpstart from Lindner’s Office of Inclusive Excellence , this experience represents another cornerstone of the foundation of the program and what she hopes to achieve with it.

“The idea behind the Jumpstart program is to plant seeds and watch them grow," Betts said. "By encouraging our students to constantly show up and just do it, no matter how hard it is — a course, a test, a project — we help to push them further so they can thrive.”

Featured image at top: Jumpstart students pose with company representatives from Deloitte at the Deloitte University campus. Photos/Haley Fite.

Building a pipeline from UC Blue Ash to Lindner

The University of Cincinnati Jumpstart program helps students enrolled in the UC Blue Ash Pre-Business Administration program transition into the Bachelor in Business Administration program at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business . This program builds students’confidence as they transition to UC’s Clifton Campus through a variety of resources, including academic support, staff guidance, informative and impactful workshops, and opportunities to connect with other students and build community.

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Lindner honors 2022-23 student award winners

April 4, 2023

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business held its Student Awards reception in Lindner Hall on April 3 to recognize its standout future business problem solvers for the 2022-23 academic year.

Lindner recognizes 2022-23 faculty and staff award winners

April 13, 2023

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business touted its award-winning faculty and staff from the 2022-23 academic year in a reception April 12 at Lindner Hall.

Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

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April 22, 2024

Amtrak completes upgrades at durham station.

Customers will experience more accessible path to travel

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is excited to announce renovations at the Durham Station are now complete. The $1.5 million project to improve the station is part of the ongoing and companywide commitment at Amtrak to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers.

The Amtrak Carolinian and Piedmont provide daily service to the station at 601 W. Main Street. The services are sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and operated by Amtrak and paid for through state funding and passenger fares. The trains operate between Raleigh and Charlotte, with the Carolinian continuing service to New York.

“Providing an accessible travel experience is a priority and we’re actively advancing construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across our national network,” Amtrak Vice President of Accessibility Dr. David Handera said. “We are pleased we delivered these improvements to the Durham station and for our customers and community.”

The renovation project included the installation of new doors and an automatic system for customers to enter and exit the station, and upgrades to the men’s and women’s restrooms. A new fire alarm system and signs were installed. A cane detection rail, a horizontal bar, was installed at the bottom of the ticket counter. The bar is detectable by a person who uses a cane, and it will alert them the counter is within their path.

Customers will access new accessible pathways extending from the parking lot to the station and platform, and accessible parking spaces. The station features new signs along the platform, parking lot and customer drop off area.

“The Federal Railroad Administration is excited about the upgrades completed at Durham Station, and we are proud of our work with Amtrak to ensure more Americans have access to the passenger rail service they need and deserve, which very much includes Americans with disabilities, our aging population, and others who rely on and benefit from accessible and convenient passenger rail,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal government is investing well over a billion dollars in rail projects and planning activities across North Carolina, and we will continue to invest even more across the country.”

Amtrak has invested more than $850 million since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 120 stations across the national network to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers with disabilities. The improvements include repairs and upgrades to platforms, ramps and sidewalks, and renovations to entranceways and restrooms, with 20 stations brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act last year. Another 35 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year at a forecasted investment of $165 million.

Our program is advancing 140 station designs and 43 station construction projects as part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029.

“Accessibility to everyone is an important part of the total passenger experience,” Jason Orthner, NCDOT Rail Division director said. “Working with Amtrak and local partners to ensure safe, accessible and convenient travel guarantee future growth and success of passenger rail in North Carolina and beyond.”

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)

“The upgrades at Durham Station will make North Carolinians experience traveling on Amtrak easier, safer, and more accessible,” Senator Thom Tillis said. “Amtrak’s investment in Durham is another example of their commitment to improving customer experience and rail service across our state.”

Leonardo Williams, Durham Mayor

“The Durham Station provides many of our residents an alternative mode of transportation across the state and beyond. I am excited about these renovations, as these upgrades will increase accessibility and enhance rail travel for those in need here in Durham,” Mayor Leonardo Williams said.

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Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees
Airlines will be required to give refunds in cash for things like canceled or seriously changed or delayed flights, the administration said.
Amtrak Completes Upgrades at Durham Station
Customers will experience more accessible path to travel. WASHINGTON - Amtrak is excited to announce renovations at the Durham Station are now complete. The $1.5 million project to improve the station is part of the ongoing and companywide commitment at Amtrak to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for customers.
This barefoot jungle walk in Tulum is like something out of a dream
Wandering through Sfer Ik is an experience that is part museum, part art gallery and definitely a topsy turvy encounter.