Life is a vast ocean of experiences that might just slip by before you even realise what happened. If you’re one of the ambitious ones who planned on taking an early retirement for a trip around the world, or you just get enough time to spend with yourself, here are 30 experiences the world has to offer that you need to experience in this lifetime.
Here it goes…
Probably one of the most beautiful sights mother nature has to offer, the northern lights or Aurora Borealis are predominantly found in higher altitudes in the Arctic and Antarctic region, in a spectacular display of dancing lights in the sky.
Every year in August in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain, thousands of people gather together in the biggest food fight the world has to offer. Originally celebrated as the ‘death of the tomato’, the two hour long festival litters the streets with tens of tons of ripe tomatoes and people revisiting their childhood.
Home to millions of tiny bio-luminescent phytoplankton, the coast at the Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives glows alive like a reflection of the star littered sky above it. Mesmerising!
The Great Wildebeest migration of the Serengeti is one of the most massive and colossal migration moves one would get to see on the planet. To be able to witness this spectacle would be an experience that would stick with you for a lifetime.
No safety harness, just all heart; the swing at the edge of the world in Ecuador calls out only to the ones brave enough to swing over a drop of a few hundred feet and nothing to break the fall. Phew!
Located inside the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska are a set of beautiful ice caves standing there as prize for the ones who are willing to kayak and then trek and climb over the 12-mile long glacier. Totally worth it.
Only for the ones with a will of stone, the one-foot wide planks on the side of China’s Mt. Hua walls overlooking a deadly drop of a couple hundred feet are the only way to get to the peak. Some maniacs have in fact done it without safety gear; not recommended.
The world’s largest beer and travel fest has been calling out to all you folk, and so far you’ve been ignoring it. The annual 16-day festival held in Munich is one of the largest festivals in the world. Simply crazy!
A festival of hot air balloons that litters the sky with passengers over Cappadocia in Turkey is one of the most amazing experiences the sky can offer to you, overlooking the amazing landscape of the Turkish ravines. Don’t miss out on this one.
Yes, you can. If you’re adventurous enough, and a strong enough swimmer, you could have the opportunity to swim beside the largest animals on the planet in the most serene of all settings.
Not just to witness the absolutely odd lifestyle and psychopathic demands of a truly hilarious dictator, North Korea in fact has some amazing landscape and sights to check out. Also, the country is an awesomely different world to itself.
The Inca Trail hike up to Machu Picchu’s peak is not one for the faint at heart. Featuring sketchy climbs and extremely scary drops from dizzying heights, this trek will really test your nerve. Like always, safety first.
The Chitwan National Park in Nepal draws in hundreds of tourists every year for elephant rides and the prized experience of spotting some of the very few rhinos left. Apart from which, if you’re lucky enough, you might also spot some gharials and tigers.
A coral dreamland under the water surface, the Great Barrier Reef will unleash your inner marine explorer to a world of never-before-seen aquatic life. And, some of these cute little things might just be able enough to kill you. Just saying.
Mmmh, yummy! All right, maybe that’s not the first thought that passed your mind when we mentioned fried water beetles, but why not? Go ahead, test your nerve and ability to hold things down without hurling all over the floor. Who knows? They’re probably delicious. And, since it’s Thailand, there’s a lot more that you can do as a tourist.
Definitely one of the least visited mountain ranges in the world, the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan call out to the brave-hearted to dare walking across the barren landscape to be rewarded with one of the most satisfying experiences one could have in life. Cheating death and making it to the top!
One of the wonders of the world, the statue of Christ The Redeemer overlooks a breathtaking view of the town of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Thousands flock to the statue every year to soak in the beautiful site, and you should be one of them.
An architectural master work and experimental musical instrument, the Sea Organ in Croatia uses the waves hitting the bank to create notes in a symphony of music. Beautiful!
Another natural wonder, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, America, requires no introduction. Spread over 400 kilometres, the canyon is one of the largest of its kind – a work of nearly 2 billion years of architecture by what we know as the Colorado river and its tributaries.
Dog mushing or dog sledding is an epic experience for most of us who’ve only seen it. But to ride one of these sleds across the snow-capped landscape of Canada is an experience worth committing to memory.
Every year, the Hoi An Village in Vietnam lights up with thousands of lanterns across its streets for thousands of market goers ready to purchase these lanterns. One of the most beautiful things you will witness in a lifetime.
Where my party goers at? Well, this one is tailor made for you guys, because cub hopping in Liverpool, England, is nothing like any party spot you’ve been to. With virtually all kinds of pubs and clubs, and people, this spot is absolute madness.
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on the planet, and lays itself out like a huge mirror to the sky after a bout of heavy rain. Ride across the salt plain and figure out your own idea of complete freedom.
Easy pickings, because regular camping just doesn’t cut it, nor does the average Shimla snowfall. Head over to Canada and spend a couple of nights in an igloo, maybe that’s exactly what you need.
Rwanda’s Gorilla Safari is exhilarating to say the least. Imagine being within just a few feet of one of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Just reminder of course that these guys can snap you in half like a twig. This should be fun!
This one’s probably one of the more famous dreams every one of us has had – to spend a night gambling like a maniac in casinos across the Las Vegas strip, and test out all your luck. And, you know what? You deserve it.
These supra-athletes of Mexico, the Tarahumara are an ancient native tribe popularly known as the ‘running men’ with an amazing history and origin of culture. The men, the women and even the kids could go out for marathon runs for hours at an end. And, they’re kind of chiller to hang out with also.
The temples at Angkor in Cambodia are one of the most important historical sites of Khmer architecture, housing the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat. This world heritage site is for those looking for he calm and serene air of an ancient and mystical land.
Featuring some of the most diverse and vast examples of wildlife, the Galapagos Islands are one of the most famous tourist attractions for those who want to soak in a taste of nature at its best.
The floating football ground at Marina Bay in Singapore is one of the biggest tourist attractions in an around, and if you’re a football fanatic then this should perhaps feature at the top of your bucket list.
Won’t you step outside now?
Design Credit: Pavitra Paruthi