Some trips change you. Others remind you why you started traveling in the first place. This list is full of both kinds. I’ve pulled together 100 bucket list experiences that span every corner of the world. These are the moments people talk about years later.
The ones that make you rethink what’s possible. You’ll find wildlife encounters in Africa, ancient ruins in the Middle East, and adventures across Patagonia. Some require serious planning. Others you can do on a weekend detour. I organized everything by region so you can dream big or start close to home.
Africa
Africa delivers experiences you simply cannot replicate anywhere else. This is the continent where you’ll lock eyes with a gorilla in the mist, watch a million wildebeest cross a river, and stand at the edge of one of the world’s largest waterfalls. The landscapes shift dramatically, from red desert dunes to lush rainforests to endless savannas.
- See the Big 5 on safari in Kenya
- Cage dive with great white sharks in South Africa
- Watch the Great Migration cross the Mara River in Tanzania
- Have breakfast with giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi
- Trek to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda
- Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
- Cruise the Nile from Luxor to Aswan in Egypt
- Explore the ancient pyramids of Giza
- Walk among the baobab trees at the Avenue of the Baobabs in Madagascar
- Witness Victoria Falls
- Meet the penguins at Boulders Beach in South Africa
- Snorkel with whale sharks off Mozambique
- Visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia
- Hike the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa
- Walk with elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
- Explore the blue streets of Chefchaouen in Morocco
Africa stays with you long after you leave. The sounds, the colors, the scale of it all. If you only visit one continent outside your own, make it this one.
Europe
Europe packs centuries of history into a space you can cross in a few hours by train. You’ll find Roman ruins next to modern art museums, quiet villages tucked behind world capitals, and coastlines that look like postcards. The variety here is unmatched. You can hike a Norwegian fjord one week and sip wine on the Amalfi Coast the next.
- See the Northern Lights in Norway
- Watch the sunrise from Santorini’s caldera in Greece
- Hike the Cinque Terre coastal trail in Italy
- Attend Oktoberfest in Munich
- Explore the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
- Experience Carnival in Venice
- Visit the Louvre after hours in Paris
- Road trip the Ring of Kerry in Ireland
- See the Midnight Sun in Finnish Lapland
- Hike to Trolltunga in Norway
- Explore the Scottish Highlands by train
- Attend La Tomatina festival in Spain
- Cruise the Norwegian Fjords
- Hot air balloon over Cappadocia at sunrise in Turkey
- Sail the Amalfi Coast by boat
- Wander through the ancient ruins of Pompeii
- Walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain
- See the tulip fields bloom in the Netherlands
- Visit the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
Europe rewards slow travel. Rushing through only scratches the surface. Give yourself time to wander, get lost, and stumble into places that aren’t in any guidebook.
Middle East
The Middle East holds some of humanity’s oldest stories. This region gave us ancient trade routes, sacred cities, and architectural wonders that still leave visitors speechless. Modern additions like Dubai’s skyline contrast sharply with ruins that have stood for millennia. The hospitality here runs deep, and the landscapes range from rust-red deserts to turquoise seas.
- Float in the Dead Sea in Jordan
- Explore the ancient city of Petra in Jordan
- Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
- See the ancient ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon
- Explore the old city of Jerusalem
- Camp in the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan
- Visit the Burj Khalifa observation deck in Dubai
- Walk through the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran
The Middle East surprises people who visit for the first time. It’s more welcoming, more beautiful, and more layered than most expect. Add it to your list sooner rather than later.
Asia
Asia spans extremes. You’ll find the world’s highest peaks, oldest temples, busiest cities, and quietest beaches. This continent moves fast in places like Tokyo and Hong Kong, then slows down completely in Bali or rural Vietnam. The food alone is worth the flight. The cultural depth keeps you coming back for more.
- Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat in Cambodia
- See Mount Fuji reflected in Lake Kawaguchiko
- Trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal
- See the cherry blossoms in Kyoto
- Cruise through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam
- Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise in India
- Travel the Silk Road through the Five Stans
- Swim with manta rays in the Maldives
- Walk along the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling
- Visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India
- See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an
- Explore the temples of Bali at dawn
- Ride a motorcycle through the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam
- See the Li River karst mountains in Guilin, China
- Walk along the edge of Mt. Bromo on Java
Asia changes how you see the world. The scale, the history, the sheer variety of experiences. One trip will never be enough.
North America
North America stretches from Arctic tundra to tropical jungles. You’ll find natural wonders that took millions of years to form, cities that never sleep, and cultures that blend traditions from around the globe. The road trip possibilities alone could fill a lifetime. This region makes it easy to mix adventure with comfort.
- Hike rim to rim at the Grand Canyon
- Drive through a giant sequoia in California
- Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in California
- Attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans
- Watch Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone
- Helicopter over the Grand Canyon at sunset
- See fall foliage in Vermont
- Attend a Broadway show in New York City
- Road trip Route 66
- See Niagara Falls from the Canadian side
- Visit Antelope Canyon in Arizona
- Watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve
- See bears catching salmon in Alaska
- Witness the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico
- Swim in a cenote in the Yucatán Peninsula
- Explore the ancient ruins of Chichén Itzá
- Experience Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico
- Hike Volcán Acatenango overnight in Guatemala
- Snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef
- Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
- Explore the Panama Canal locks
- Dive the Blue Hole in Belize
North America rewards every type of traveler. National parks, world-class cities, ancient ruins, and Caribbean reefs all fit within reach.
South America
South America feels wild in the best way. This continent holds rainforests that produce 20% of the world’s oxygen, salt flats that stretch to the horizon, and mountains that challenged explorers for centuries. The colors hit differently here. So does the music, the food, and the energy of the people.
- Hike to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail
- Marvel at the giant heads of Easter Island, Chile
- Walk across the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina
- See giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos Islands
- Trek through the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil
- Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio
- See the rainbow mountains of Vinicunca in Peru
- Drive the Death Road in Bolivia
- Walk across the Uyuni Salt Flats at sunrise
- Hike to the Lost City in Colombia
- Explore Cartagena’s old town in Colombia
- See Iguazu Falls from both Argentina and Brazil sides
- Stargaze in the Atacama Desert in Chile
South America pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Every country offers something completely different. Plan for one trip and you’ll immediately start dreaming about the next.
Oceania
Oceania sits at the edge of the world, and that remoteness is part of the magic. Australia alone spans beaches, deserts, rainforests, and coral reefs. New Zealand packs dramatic landscapes into two islands that feel almost impossible to believe. The indigenous cultures here connect to the land in ways that shape every visit.
- Dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
- Visit the Shire at Hobbiton, New Zealand
- See the glowworm caves in Waitomo
- Road trip the Great Ocean Road in Australia
- Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand
- See the Sydney Opera House in Australia
- See Uluru at sunset in Australia
Oceania requires a long flight for most travelers. But the distance makes it feel like an achievement. You’ll return with stories that sound almost too good to be true.
Over a hundred experiences. Seven continents worth of memories waiting to happen. You don’t need to check off every single one. Start with the places that make your heart beat faster. The point is to keep moving, keep exploring, keep saying yes to the trips that scare you a little. Cross things off as you go. Add your own discoveries along the way.
