Preamble
What I am about to detail is not your typical travel bucket list that you will find on the internet. It is the top 7 experiences and locations I have compiled from my long-running Apple notes folder on my phone.
These are locations around the world and experiences while at these locations that I can not see myself leaving this earth without doing. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it!
- Road Trip around Iceland only eating at Grocery Stores
- Sleep in a Capsule Pod while Climbing Machu Picchu
- Climb Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Skydive over the Grand Canyon out of a Helicopter/ Hot Air Balloon
- Sleep at Wadi Rum and Hike through Petra at Night
- Drive through the Bolivian Salt Flats
- La Tomatina in Buñol Spain
The concept of a bucket list has always been an interesting notion to me. For most people, this includes saving up for a vacation once every year or so. To escape some of the realities that we face in life. However, working your whole life just to be able to afford to live seems like a backward thought process to me.
To quote the late great Freddy Mercury, “Being human is a condition that requires a little anesthesia.”
I found early on in my life that my anesthesia is traveling to experience different parts of the world. I love the rush of arriving in a new country and feeling completely lost.
For most people, this may be a stressful and overwhelming experience. However, traveling for me is one of the most blissful and calming feelings I could ever have.
Road Trip around Iceland only eating at Grocery Stores
When telling people about the trips I have been on, one of the most common things that people will ask about is the cost. I will either get comments about how expensive a location will be or that I am so lucky to afford to visit. In my opinion, that is the completely wrong way to view international travel.
While getting to some locations can be rather expensive, it is all in how you live and go about experiencing these locations that will truly make up the cost of the trip. One travel hack I found very early in my travels is going to grocery stores to pick up food rather than spending a ton of money eating out at restaurants for every meal.
Grocery stores can make even some of the most expensive places to visit much cheaper. I did it as a broke college kid while abroad in Singapore. My mother and I did it in Zermatt, Switzerland, and Mason and I did it most recently while on our trip to Norway!
This little hack may not seem like it would save you too much money. However, every penny adds up, and during a week to two-week trip, you can save a ton of money!
From the research that I have done on Iceland to date, I have not found that they are famously known for their Icelandic cuisine. While there may be a few local delicacies worth trying, I view shopping only at grocery stores as a way to make this country a somewhat affordable travel location. I also believe it would be fun to challenge while traveling.
I envision myself sitting on the black sands beach, looking over a waterfall, or swimming in the blue lagoon just eating a sandwich.
I also view shopping at grocery stores in foreign countries as a cultural experience. You can get a feel for what the locals eat and enjoy while taking advantage of the local prices they pay!
While traveling around Iceland and only eating sandwiches from the store may not be for everyone, I have repeatedly kept it at the top of my Travel Bucket List and can’t wait to cross it off!
Sleep in a Capsule Pod while Climbing Machu Picchu
Peru has fascinated me since I was a young kid. In particular, the idea of climbing Machu Picchu. I remember hearing stories from my Aunt of her experience climbing to the Lost City, and ever since it has been something that I must do in my lifetime!
As I’ve continued to research the country and the trek to see the icon of the Inca Empire, I have found that there are many things to do along the way. The one that stuck out most to me was sleeping on the side of the Peruvian Andes in what they call the Skylodge.
“The Skylodge is composed of three exclusive capsule Suites with a total capacity of 8 people. These vertically hanging transparent capsule suites are situated at the top of the mountain and offer 300-degree views of the Sacred Valley. Hand crafted out of aerospace aluminum and weather-resistant polycarbonate, each suite comes complete with four beds, a dining area, and a private bathroom.”
To get to the capsules, you must climb to the top of a 1,312-foot tall Via Ferrata or hike through a course of ziplines.
This experience is at the top of my bucket list not only because of the adventure it takes to get to but also because of the incredible views you get of the sacred valley throughout the whole experience!
If someone from Sky Adventure Suites Peru has somehow found this article, please feel free to reach out at any time because I would drop just about anything to check this once-in-a-lifetime experience off my bucket list!!
Climb Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Mount Nyiragongo, it is an active stratovolcano inside Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This volcano has an elevation of 3,470 m and is home to the world’s largest lava lake.
Ever since I first saw a photo of this unreal-looking volcano, I knew I had to visit it one day. I am unsure of how or when I will ever be able to travel to the Congo to see this, but I can only imagine what this unreal volcano looks like in person.
I could tell you a story about how I have been interested in fire, lava, and volcanoes since I was a young kid. However, I think the photos of Mount Nyiragongo will show why this location is number three on my bucket list!
Skydive over the Grand Canyon out of a Helicopter/ Hot Air Balloon
I would be lying if I didn’t mention that this is the most recent addition to my bucket list. While skydiving has always been on my bucket list, those who know me know that I have always been on record of saying that it would have to be somewhere I would mind dying, with someone I wouldn’t mind dying with.
In comes Mason.
Ever since we started hanging out, she has had this crazy idea of being able to jump out over the Grand Canyon and experience the magic of the red rocks while freefalling back toward the ground.
After mentioning this trip/experience many times, it has finally started to pique my interest, and I am getting closer and closer to booking a trip to Arizona to share this experience.
To take it one step further, I have been watching videos of people skydiving out of helicopters or from the top of a hot air balloon.
I truthfully have not done an ounce of research on whether this is possible to do over the Grand Canyon. But to be able to accomplish all of this in one trip/fall would be an amazing thing to put a checkmark next to!
Sleep at Wadi Rum and Hike through Petra at Night
Since watching movies such as The Martian and Indian Jones, I have always been fascinated with these two locations. I remember watching these movies and thinking these locations had to be a Hollywood set or a green screen CGI-generated background.
Upon researching both movies, I was shocked to find that both locations were real!
Since this discovery, camping out in Wadi Rum and stargazing at night has been on my bucket list. I can only imagine that this feeling would be the closest thing to being on the planet Mars.
For those unfamiliar with Wadi Rum, it is known as the Valley of the Moon. It spans over 180,000 acres and consists of sand dunes, red rock mountains, natural arches, landslides, and towering cliffs. This area has inscriptions and archaeological remains dating back to 12,000 years ago.
Petra is one of the more well known tourist locations to visit while in Jordan. Being a tourist attraction, it yields large numbers of visitors each day.
To try and avoid the crowds, I dream of being able to visit right at sunset to experience the magic of the archaeological site. I think this would be extraordinary and is something that I must see!
Drive through the Bolivian Salt Flats
The Bolivian Salt Flats, also known as Salar de Uyuni, are located in the southwest region of Bolivia. They are the largest salt flats in the world and offer a very different experience depending on which time of year you visit.
May to December is the dry season, leaving the flats filled with crystallized salt patterns. The salt flats span over 4,050 square miles and were created due to several prehistoric lakes evaporating.
During the wet season, January to April, the rain creates a mirror effect on the flats, which looks like an optical illusion. They claim that during these month’s, Bolivia has the largest natural mirror in the world.
In my opinion, visiting the Bolivian salt flats during the wet season would be one of the coolest trips in the world. You drive a vehicle onto the salt flats through the vast mirror effect. It looks like a dream or even a different world. The salt flats are also home to many pink flamingos and cactus-filled islands throughout the area!
I first learned of these salt flats from one of my favorite travel Youtubers, and always dream of visiting when planning my next trip. From research I have done, the salt flats do not seem like the easiest destination to get to, requiring multiple days of travel. However, as soon as I have enough PTO and the timing lines up with the rainy season, I will be booking a trip to visit!
La Tomatina in Buñol Spain
I would put La Tomatina into the same travel category as Oktoberfest and Running of the Bulls. I refer to it as boozy adventure travel. This type of travel includes going to another country and participating in a local event that may not make the most sense to the naked eye.
But after a few drinks and interactions with locals, it becomes something that you would instantly regret not doing in your lifetime!
SO what is La Tomatina? La Tomatina is a festival held in Buñol, Spain the last Wednesday of August each year. This festival is essentially just a large food fight.
The festival begins early in the morning with an event called Palo Jabón. This event is centered around a tall pole, greased to make it slippery, with a piece of ham on top. The goal is to get to the top and drop the ham from the top. Thus signifying the start of La Tomatina; and the tomato battle.
On your way into the festival there are vans handing out pouches of sangria. People line the streets waiting for the dump trucks to drive by and start dumping the tomatoes. Once they dump the tomatoes, the festival is in full force, and people will go around throwing, smashing, and dodging tomatoes for the next hour or so.
This event does not hold any true historical significance worth noting. However, I think this adds to the fun of La Tomatina! La Tomatina is truly held just to have a good time. And for that reason, it is an event that I feel I must do in my lifetime.
Conclusion
There are way more than 7 bucket list trips and activities that I hope to check off my list. However, these are the ones at the top of my list. Feel free to let us know what trips or travel activities are at the top of your list, and check out our articles discussing some of the previous trips we have recently been on!
Till next time – Josh 🙂
Check out our blogs detailing some of the bucket list trips we’ve already been on!
Experiencing the magic of the Northern Lights
Overnight Aurora Camp and Dog Sledding – Tromsø Wilderness Center
Our Stay at a Morocco Desert Luxury Camp: Review