Bucket List Adventures

Let's go on an adventure.

1. Search for Nessie at Loch Ness in Scotland

Loch Ness Monster

Ever since the first major sighting in 1933, the creature that supposedly lurks beneath the waters of Loch Ness has captured the world's imagination. Whether or not you catch a glimpse of Nessie, a trip to the stunning Highlands region of Scotland is worth a place on your bucket list just for the views.


2. Watch the Sunrise at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

High in the Andes Mountains of Peru sits the once great city of the Incan empire. Although it was built around 1450, it wasn't known to the outside world until 1911 - adding to the UNESCO World Heritage Site's mysterious past.


3. Drive Iceland's Ring Road

Ring Road

For a road trip to remember, head to Iceland. Drive along this famous road and revel in the glaciers, waterfalls, and sleepy fishing villages you pass. The Ring Road will take you all the way around Iceland, but don't be surprised if you are ready for round two as soon as you cross the finish line.


4. Take the Bergenline Train from Oslo-Bergen, Norway (The Most Beautiful Train Ride in the World)

Flan Train

Taking passengers from the capital city of Oslo to the scenic city of Bergen, the Bergenline train is eight hours of pure rail magic. Gaze out your window as you pass through breathtaking fjords and snow covered mountain towns, this bucket list item will be over way too soon.


5. Go Island Hopping in Greece

Greek Islands

There may be nothing more cliche than island hopping in Greece, but this popular sun worshipper pastime is more than beach parties with a booze cruise. Dive into local cuisine and explore some of Greece's less inhabited islands for an adventure as perfect as a postcard.


6. Look Down From the World's Tallest Waterfall- Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls

Forget your fear of heights and look down from the world's tallest waterfall, located deep in the Canaima National Park of Venezuela. This UNESCO World Heritage Site isn't Niagara Falls, you can enjoy this spectacular natural wonder without the crowds and tour buses blocking your view. If you enjoyed the film "Up", you are probably already convinced.


7. Chill out with the Moai on Easter Island

Moai on Easter Island

Probably the most famous heads on the planet, the mysterious Moai statues on Easter Island are truly a sight to behold. Thought to be carved between 1250 and 1500 BC, scholars still can't determine how exactly the Rapa Nui people transported such heavy stones across the island. One thing is for certain, making your own theory in their shadows is a great way to spend the day.


8. Observe Polar Bears in the Wild in Churchill, Manitoba

Polar Bear Family

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba, Churchill is seemingly just a tiny town miles from anywhere. (The train journey from 'nearby' Winnipeg takes 40 hours.) Each year, however, the native polar bear population passes through to settle near the shore - putting this Canadian town on the map. If you want an all but guaranteed sighting of a polar bear in its natural habitat, a trip to the "Polar Bear Capital of the World" is an unforgettable treat.


9. Dive with Great White Sharks in South Africa

Great White Sharks

Definitely not a bucket list item for everyone, but there is something to be said about getting face to face with one of the world's most simultaneously terrifying and beautiful creatures. Put on your wetsuit, climb into the cage if you dare, and prepare to meet the Great White.


10. Get Face to Face with Gorillas in Rwanda

Rwanda gorillas

Trekking through Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park on a quest to see gorillas in their natural habitat is not just another day tour. Hiking through the mountain terrain can be arduous, but the chance to see a mountain gorilla group in the wild is a bucket list triumph.


11. Cycle Through the Rice Fields of Vietnam

Vietnam Rice Fields

The rice fields of Vietnam astound visitors with their geometric perfection, blanketed in a sheet of green. Cycling through the region isn't about a love of fitness (or rice), it allows visitors to delve into local culture, see typical people in their everyday lives, and escape the tourist trail for a refreshingly authentic adventure.


12. Sleep in a Mongolian Yurt

Yurt in Mongolia

Sleeping in a yurt on the remote grasslands of Mongolia is an adventure of a lifetime. Half of Mongolians are still nomadic people, and a Mongolian yurt experience gives you a window into the lifestyle and traditions of this fascinating culture. While glamping is an option, the best way to check this off your bucket list is by joining a local herder family and experiencing the real Mongolian life.


13. Chat with Monks at the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Potala Palace

Located in the autonomous region of Tibet, Potala Palace was once the chief residence of the Dalai Lama before he was exiled to India in 1959. Today the palace stands over Lhasa and is open to the public. Explore the chapels and museums, immerse yourself in Buddhist culture, and chat with a monk or two on the 'rooftop of the world'.


14. Go Bungee Jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown Bungee

Bungee as we know it started in 1979 at the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. But it was a New Zealander ten years later that turned this adventure sport into an activity that could be enjoyed by all. Today, thrill seekers around the world flock to Queenstown, known both as the "Home of Bungee Jumping" as well as the "Adventure Capital of the World". A jump from the historic Kawarau Bridge will propel this bucket list adventure to new heights.


15. Hit the Australian Outback

Australia outback

Vast. Wild. Unexpectedly breathtaking. The Australian Outback is much more than tumbleweeds and kangaroos. This remote region covers most of Australia, a fact in itself that is hard to wrap your head around. From the world heritage site of Uluru Kata to the landscapes rich with indigenous spirituality, you won't return home the same person.


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Written by Jessica Zijlstra, editor of the Holiday Extras Blog and author of the travel blog The Fly Away American. Catch up with her on Twitter.