It’s a new year and it’s time to update your travel bucket list! If you need some super suggestions, then read on fellow frequent flyers. Without further ado, here are 50 ultimate travel bucket list trip ideas.

The 50 Ultimate Travel Bucket List Trip Ideas

1. Visit The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Topping this travel bucket list is the famous Great Barrier Reef. This reef is reported to be the world’s largest living organism. You can see it in a number of different ways. Your options include boat trips, cruises, scuba diving, snorkeling, submarine excursion, seaplane and helicopter flights, and even camping overnight on it.

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View the Grand Canyon via helicopter, USA

Travel to the US state of Arizona and see one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Yours truly saw it up close by hiking the mile-deep chasm rim to rim with his father. If you’re not athletic or can’t spare the time, see it from a helicopter and land in time for lunch.  

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Look for elephants in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand 

Journey deep into the heart of this park’s verdant jungle for a chance to see Asian elephants. Increase your chances by staying at Elephant Hills. It’s a luxury jungle eco-camp that cares for rescued elephants. Here you can help wash and feed elephants and then spend the night in a floating tent.

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Cruise the Fjords, New Zealand 

Travel to Fiordland where you’ll be especially impressed by the majestic mountain and oceanic scenery. Climb aboard a boat and you’ll even be able to see the awesome outer reaches of Milford Sound or Doubtful. They’re the two most popular places. Plus, you’ll get so close to the thundering waterfalls that you’ll get moist.

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Ride the Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

Some travel bloggers say that riding the Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s best railway trips. Hop on and enjoy the view as the train winds past lovely lakes and snow-capped mountains from Vancouver to Banff, Calgary, Jasper, or Lake Louise. Enjoy memorable views of dramatic canyons and gorgeous gorges.  

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See the sunrise over Angkor Wat, Cambodia

One of the reasons people travel to Cambodia is to see Angkor Wat. Angkor’s temples are impressive. Mind you, while there are numerous temples to explore, they’re all different. It is, however, Angkor Wat itself that is the best place to watch the rays of the rising sun slowly reveal its carvings, corridors, and spires.

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Spot the Big Five in Kruger National Park, South Africa 

This national park is the place to go on a safari. Here you will discover buffalo, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, leopards, lions, and huge herds of elephants. You will have to get up early though and remember your binoculars and camera before you hike into the bush.

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Sail the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

In English, the name Ha Long Bay means “Bay of Descending Dragons.” This is an official UNESCO World Heritage site. If you enjoy the water, go sailing around the tall, rugged ocean rocks and striking karst peaks in the emerald-green Gulf of Tonkin. Delve into the various grottoes too.  

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Check out the Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by Emperor Shah Jahan and 20,000+ workers in the 1600s. It is a monument of love to his deceased third wife Mumtaz. This magnificent mausoleum, complete with semi-precious stones and pristine white marble, is one of the well-known New Seven Wonders of the World.

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Set sail around the Galapagos Islands

Take a cruise around Ecuador’s extensive archipelago of 13 volcanic islands. One of Ecuador’s top tourist attractions, this largely untouched place is reportedly what inspired Charles Darwin’s famous Theory of Natural Selection. Look for exotic birds, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Don’t miss the penguins on Bartolome Island either.

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Hike to Machu Picchu, Peru

Hikers can follow in the famous footsteps of an ancient Incan civilization on the well-known Inca Trail. It’s a 26-mile path through the Andes Mountains to the lost city known as Machu Picchu. You’ll need about four days to finish. The hiking route is sometimes difficult on the way to these stunning stone structures.

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Walk the Great Wall of China, China

The Great Wall of China snakes across more than 6,000 kilometers from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan. The wall has an average height of between six and eight meters although some sections tower upwards of 16 meters. This great wall harkens back to the 7th century B.C. and comes complete with watchtowers.    

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Hit the road on the Pacific Coast Highway, USA

Sometimes called California State Route 1, this route from Leggett to Dana Point is an exceptional drive and a great intro to American road trips. While you can complete the drive in 9+ hours, take time to appreciate the villages, the Pacific Ocean, craggy cliffs, and the wine-growing regions too. 

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Enjoy Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada

You will find Lake Louise nestled within Banff National Park in Alberta. This gorgeous, glacial-fed tranquil, sapphire blue lake is surrounded by massive mountain peaks and 4,200 acres of the best skiing and snowboarding areas in the world. This picturesque place is also home to wolves, elk, bears, and more.

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 See the cherry blossoms in bloom, Japan

Visit Tokyo any time between the end of March and the middle of April and you will see the nation’s cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Marvel at how they practically carpet the city in shades of white and pink. Veteran visitors suggest stopping at Kitanomaru and Ueno Parks. Don’t forget your camera!

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Watch whales, New Zealand

Have you ever seen a sperm whale, its tail rising out of the water, shooting its spray into the air? If you’d like to, head to Kaikoura, New Zealand. It’s a hot spot for sighting these 70-ton creatures. They’re not shy either. Keep your peepers peeled for pilot whales, humpbacks, southern right whales, and even dolphins.

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Travel the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The Mekong Delta is a vast network of rivers and canals. It’s dotted with various fishing boats and lined with quaint, traditional villages. It offers visitors a taste of Vietnamese rural life. Take in the floating markets, green rice paddies, temples, and pagodas. Be sure to actually visit a village or two as well!

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Bite the Big Apple, USA

New York City, nicknamed “the Big Apple”, is one of the most visited cities in the world. Located in the US state of New York has something for everyone. Highlights here include Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Food and Drink, and Staten Island.

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Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain, Brazil

No, you won’t be climbing this mountain in Rio de Janeiro. You’ll be riding a cable car 396 meters above the sea, enjoying panoramic views of the backstreets and beaches below you. Watch for Guanabara Bay and Copacabana Beach. Keep a lookout for the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer as well.

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Go cruising on the Great Ocean Road

Rent a car once you land in Australia and head out on this most epic 150+-mile road trip. Along the way, you’ll see sandy coves and rugged cliffs, and the world-famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles. Just allow yourself time to make some inland detours to check out the wildlife-rich parks and rainforests too.  

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Explore Yosemite National Park, USA

Four million tourists visit Yosemite each year. This vast, verdant wilderness spans an area of over 1,200 square miles. It features ancient giant sequoias, deep valleys, majestic meadows, and other iconic natural sites like Half Dome, El Capitan, and 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls. Other highlights include Mariposa Grove, Inspiration Point, and Snow Creek Falls.

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Go kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park

This national park in New Zealand features walking paths, a craggy coastline, sparkling turquoise water, birds, and marine life. Some say it’s one of the country’s most beautiful parks. Explore it by boat or kayak, hike through the rainforest, relax on the beach, and look for seals in the sparkling bays.

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Dive into things, Philippines

The Philippines not only has an underwater visibility of over 20 meters but a multitude of marine life. Thus, the 7,107 islands here are one of the world’s best places to go scuba diving. Even newbie scuba divers can see sea snakes, turtles, whale sharks, and even several sunken WWII vessels.

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See the Northern Lights, Canada

Journey to the wild, remote region known as the Yukon. Here you’ll find bears, moose, and wolves as well. This is also where you can see the Aurora Borealis, a.k.a. Northern Lights. Visit between the months of September and April to witness the greens, blues, and reds dancing ‘cross the sky.

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Enjoy the colorful sunset, Australia

Head to the Red Centre. It’s there you’ll find Uluru, or Ayers Rock, a massive monolith made of sandstone thrusting out of the earth. This is the perfect place to see the sunset and watch as the colors change on the boulder’s surface. Have a “Sound of Silence Dinner” while you watch!

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Take a road trip on the Garden Route, South Africa

The Garden Route is a famous 125-mile portion of the country’s N2 Highway. It runs from Storms River to Mossel Bay. Most visitors start the road trip in Cape Town. Keep an eye out for rugged cliffs, national parks, mountains, lagoons, and the sparkling ocean. 

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Monkey with orangutans, Malaysia

This is the place to see orangutans in their natural habitat. Visit the island of Borneo and you’ve got a great chance to see one. Stop in Sabah at the renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for injured and orphaned orangutans or see them swinging from the many trees along the rushing Kinabatangan River.

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Get cooking, Thailand

Think of how much money you could save if you could cook your own fresh Thai food. Why not let the residents of Chiang Mai teach you how to make your own pad Thai? The learned locals offer classes appropriate for every level of learner. Some say it’s “cookery class central.” Good luck!  

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Spot “Da Bears”, Canada

If you want to see bears, head for the forests of British Columbia. Both black bears and grizzly bears live here. Polar bears live in the Arctic North and you may even spot a rare spirit bear in Klemtu on Swindle island. Its coat is famously fluffy and wonderfully white!

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Make like a Hobbit at the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand

Tongariro National Park is quite popular with Lord of the Rings fans searching for Mordor. It’s also famous for a 12-mile trail called the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Here you’ll hike through an area highlighted by lava flows, hot springs, glaciated landscapes, and deep dark forests too.

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Shop ‘til you drop at the floating markets, Thailand

Shopaholics won’t want to miss the nigh-legendary floating markets of Bangkok a.k.a. Krung Thep. Get a gander at the longboats, crammed full of freshly fried noodles or exotic fruit, floating calmly on the river, as vendors cry out for you to buy their wares.    

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Kick it in Key West, USA

Florida’s Key West has a definite Caribbean flavor. You have tall palm trees swaying in the balmy breeze, fragrant flowers brightly blooming, and the colorful streets come complete with bars and cafes bustling both day and night. See the historic architecture, hit the beach, or just chill and check out the sunset.

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Ride up Table Mountain, South Africa

Ride the rotating cable car to the top of the famous flat-topped Table Mountain. This majestic mountain is 1,085 meters tall and towers over Cape Town and the ocean too. Feeling athletic? You can hike to the top. In fact, you can even abseil down if you wish!

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Face off with Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, China

Journey to Shaanxi to see the 8,000 clay soldiers. This army, its 130 chariots, and 520 horses were created roughly 2,200 years ago to guard the official entrance of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb when he died in 210 BC. His bodyguards have become a top tourist attraction.

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Clamber up Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia

Get over your acrophobia by walking up the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s 1,332 steps. There are catwalks, ladders, and ramps here which, in some cases, are quite close to both the edge and the vehicles passing below you, so it’s definitely an unforgettable little hike. The views, of course, are spectacular!

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Get wet at Niagara Falls, Canada

Watch as powerful Niagara Falls plummets 50 meters down from Lake Ontario in America’s own Lake Erie. You can marvel at the falls from various viewpoints, or put on your rainwear and hop aboard a cruise that ventures behind the crashing cascade on what’s commonly called “a Journey Behind the Falls” trip.

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Explore Chichen Itza, Mexico

This ancient archaeological site is nestled within the Yucatan Forest. Hailing back to 500 A.D., it was once one of the continent’s largest, thriving Mayan cities. It spans an area of roughly six square miles and includes such striking structures as the Great Ball Court, El Castillo, and the famous Temple of Kukulcan.

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Witness the colorful fall foliage, USA

Fall foliage aficionados appreciate autumn in New England, (a.k.a. the states of Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut.) Stroll beneath trees dressed in rustic russets and gorgeous golds. Veteran visitors suggest visiting Maine’s Acadia National Park, the city of Boston, Massachusetts, or the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

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Snorkel or scuba dive at Ningaloo Reef, Australia

If you can’t get enough of reefs or are visiting Western Australia, visit Ningaloo Reef. Go snorkeling or scuba diving amongst the octopuses, rays, sharks, and turtles. Visit between the months of March and July and you can swim with the huge whale sharks!

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Go island-hopping, Thailand

Some travel writers say Thailand’s Phi Phi islands are one of the Andaman Seas’ “shimmering jewels.” They feature powder-white beaches by tall limestone cliffs and intensely clear blue water. Sail between the individual islands via boat, go snorkeling in the quiet coves and swim amongst the many multi-colored fish as well.  

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Cross the Outback on the Ghan Train, Australia

Experience one of the country’s well-known long-distance train trips. This train carries passengers 1,851 miles between Darwin and Adelaide, crossing the Outback in approximately 54 hours. From your cabin, you will see the scarlet sands pass by and even partake of an intimate three-course dinner in the attractive restaurant carriage.

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Cruise Havana in a classic car, Cuba

Relax in the backseat of a classic convertible as you immerse yourself in the crumbling backstreets, colorful architecture, and intoxicating salsa beats of Havana. Feel the balmy breeze in your hair as you get a good look at the local culture. Stop and eat where the locals eat too.

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Tour the verdant vineyards of Stellenbosch, South Africa

While in South Africa, be sure to stop in the distinctive town of Stellenbosch. It’s highlighted by striking Cape Dutch Architecture, interesting museums, and several galleries. Most importantly, remember the wine. Be sure to stop at the mountain vineyard. Spend your afternoon sampling various wines and cheeses while taking in the view.

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Drive the Icefields Parkway, Canada

Also known as Highway 93, the 140-mile Icefields Parkway offers travelers one of the most beautiful drives in the world. On this trip, you will pass through the Rocky Mountains, Banff and Jasper National Parks, and Lake Louise as you take in memorable views of creeping glaciers, verdant pine forests, and white snow-capped mountains.

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Scare yourself silly, New Zealand

Queenstown is sometimes referred to as the country’s adrenaline capital. It’s where bungee jumping was born and the home of the highest swing in the world. You can participate in a number of different adrenaline-fueled adventures as well. Choices include heli-skiing, horseback riding, jet boating, parasailing, river boarding, skydiving, zip lining, and more.

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Check out the Golden Pavilion, Japan

The Golden Pavilion, a.k.a. Kinkakuji, was built in 1397 and is located in Kyoto. Visit near noon and see how this UNESCO World Heritage site glitters in the sunlight. Be sure to take notice of the peaceful reflecting pool and manicured gardens as well. Visit in spring and see the cherry blossoms!  

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Let your inner cowboy run wild, USA

America’s Lone Star state, Texas, the true home of real cowboy culture, is where you will find numerous ranches where you can saddle up and just “ride off into the sunset.” For example, there’s the popular 1,500-acre Wildcatter Ranch and Resort, where activities include archery, shooting, trail riding, and wagon rides.

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Spot tigers, India

Rugged Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, is best known for its significantly large tiger population. Be sure to take your camera too. After all, when you go on safari here, you might very well see Bengal tigers, jaguars, jungle cats, leopards, antelope, crocodiles, and a variety of birds too.  

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Taste the wine, South Australia

Visit two of the country’s most renowned wine regions, the Barossa and Clare Valleys. Sample award-winning Shirazes and Semillons, relax amidst the vines, take in the memorable views and even enjoy a wonderful meal in a boutique winery, expertly matched to a perfectly chilled glass of your new favorite.  

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50. Float down the Mississippi River, USA

New Orleans, in Louisiana, is one of America’s most culturally and historically rich cities. It is rife with Creole flair, Caribbean color, and an assortment of European influences. Board a genuine paddlewheel steamboat and see everything from a carefree cruise down the mighty Mississippi River. Book passage at night, beneath a blanket of stars, complete with an exceptional Creole dinner, and the sounds of jazz music in the air.

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