Wanderlusters, what makes your heart rate speed up? Watching sunrise at Giza at the Great Pyramids? Or watching sunset over Tanah Lot at Bali? For all travel lovers, shutter-bugs and adventure seekers out there, here’s the ultimate list of incredible travel experiences that will blow your mind, change your world view and let you dig down deep into foreign culture.
1. Go on Safari in Tanzania
Boasting one of the biggest and baddest national parks in Serengeti and 16 national parks in total, Tanzania is the perfect place to watch the annual wildebeest migration. Watching baby elephants playing with their moms and pops in the muddy Rufiji/Tarangire River is one of the epic lifetime experiences to keep in your memories bright for decades. Fees start from $60 per visit and you can check the full list here.
2. Heli-skiing in Girdwood, Alaska.
Now if you have enough skills and bald courage, heli-skiing is one of the life changing experiences! Named as best for “Off-the-beaten-path powder hounds with an aversion to glamour” by Nat Geo, Girdwood has loads of incredible hills and off-pistes where you can be the first one to shake off the powder. Day trips with 16,000-18,000 vertical feet of skiing guaranteed start from $1,275 per person.
3. Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich
The days when the Germans lose all their stiffness and the whole city Munich goes on one crazy beer party! Oktoberfest will start on September, the 19th this year and last till the 4th of October. Check out more details at the official website. Last year a liter of beer was priced around 10€ (~$11.77) on average.
4. Throw tomatoes at La Tomatina in Spain
Spain’s brightest feast is held on the last Wednesday of August when the whole town of Bunol goes covered in gooey red tomato paste. Early in the morning many trucks full of ripe tomatoes arrive to the city center. As the first brave soul climbs up into the back of the truck and throws a tomato – the Biggest Food Fight in the World officially begins! Yet La Tomatina is not all about practicing your accuracy by throwing tomatoes at random folks. It is actually a week-long festival also featuring music bands, parades, dancing, and loads fireworks. Right on the night before the great tomato fight, everyone is invited to compete in a paella cooking contest. Participation fee: 10€ (~$11.77).
5. Find your mojo at a yoga retreat in Pune, India
Meditate with a view of gorgeous Lake Mulshi, while nourishing your body with special foods and your soul with healing practices. Yoga holidays will bring the much needed balance back into your life and allow you to discover something new about yourself. Besides, you can’t miss some of the most amazing temples in whole India – Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganpati and iconic ISKCON NVCC Temple!
6. Take a pastry cooking class in France
Among the things French know best is how to create perfectly delicious, work-of-art-styled pastries, desserts and sweets! Step closer to the culinary magic and learn to bake macaroons or crunchy lemon tarts during your next visit to France. Best memories come in taste, right? Prices start from 95€ for a two-hour class (~$112).
7. Meet the Moai at the Easter Island
One the mysteries the humanity failed to solve is who, how and why created a series of huge statues made of solid rock and how they were transported and erected at various places around the island? Spectacular Easter Island is 3,800km west of mainland Chile with flights from Santiago taking around five hours and cost 650€ (~$765) return.
8. Marvel the Northern Lights in Sweden
Get absolutely bewitched by this incredible phenomenon Mother Nature saved for northern dwellers! Green, indigo blue, yellow, purple – these are just a few colors to light up in the skies! Abisko National Park and Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley are among the best places to watch the wizardry happen!
9. Try new wine at Beaujolais days in France
Yes, there’s a whole festival in France dedicated to the new wine, released each year on the third Tuesday of November, just a few weeks after the grapes were harvested. It’s actually not even one, but 120 festivals held all around Beaujolais wine region with the most famous one – Les Sarmentelles – held in the city of Beaujeu with numerous wine and food tastings, competitions, live music and dancing for five days straight. This year the celebration falls on November, the 19th.
10. Try on a mask at Venice carnival
Venice is a grand and elaborate city to visit at any time of the year, yet during the carnival it bursts with even more colors when the local crowd dresses up exquisite costumes and masks. Held from Jan, the 31st till Feb, 17th, there are numerous performances and parties you cannot miss! Check out the carnival program to find out the best dates to visit!
