18 Travel Experiences To Add To Your Bucket List In 2020

From snowy train trips to desert hot air balloons.

1. Go dogsledding under the northern lights.

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Most people have the northern lights on their bucket list. It's one of those amazing natural wonders that's just incredible to see. It can be hard to predict when the lights are going to come out, so it's always a good idea to combine aurora-spotting with another fun activity. Riding on a sled pulled by snow dogs is such a cool and unique experience, you won't even notice how damn cold it is. And if you're lucky, as you glide through the snow, the sky above you will be completely lit up.

2. Cycle down Death Road.

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The name sounds scary, but you might understand why it's called that when you see it for yourself. One of Bolivia's biggest tourist attractions, Death Road is a treacherous and steep highway with plenty of hairpin twists and turns. Thrill-seekers love to careen down the hill on bikes, avoiding the steep 2,000 foot drops at every corner. Tours operate out of La Paz, and it's definitely become a little less dangerous over the years as more safety measures have been introduced.

3. Hike along the rim of a volcano.

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Hiking is fun, but here's a way to make it way more exciting. There are plenty of volcanoes across the world — some active, some dormant — with trails all the way up and around the rim. Check out Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines with a beautiful blue-green lake in an old crater, or the (still very active) Kilauea in Hawaii with its oozing lava and steam vents. Italy's Mount Stromboli is amazing at night with bright red sparks shooting from the craters, and the Telica Volcano in Nicaragua is full of lava you can look down at from the rim. Of course, always check with local authorities and make sure it's safe for tourists before climbing.

4. Walk the Camino de Santiago.

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For centuries, people have been flocking to Spain to undertake this iconic pilgrimage. The most popular path, Camino Francés, stretches from southern France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and will take you about five weeks to complete. The trail passes through towns and villages, past the Pyrenees mountains, and across plains and forests. Along the route you'll find refuges where you can stay and cook or buy food. There'll be plenty of other walkers from all different backgrounds, so chances are you'll finish with some new friends.

5. Catch a train across the south of Canada.

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Canada is a BIG country. A good way to see a lot of it in a small amount of time is to take the train route that travels all the way from Toronto to Vancouver. Over four days, you'll chug through fields and pine forests, alongside vast lakes, past small towns, and around snow-capped mountains. A glass-walled car allows you to take in every amazing view, and there's even a dining car with surprisingly good food. Economy fares are pretty reasonable, or you can luxe out with a sleeper cabin.

6. Track mountain gorillas in the wild.

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Combine a love of wildlife and hiking on this extraordinary gorilla trek in the forest of Uganda. Permits are pricey, but it helps conserve the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the area. Head out with a guide through the dense trees and you'll inevitably come across a family of gorillas. Here you can sit at a safe distance and watch them do their thing. Everyone who does it cites it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their life.

7. Hike out to The Wave.

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It's not easy to get a permit to see The Wave — only 20 are handed out each day. You can apply in advance online or in person every morning for the live drawing. It's worth persevering though, because this is one of the most beautiful places in the US. Located in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in the north of Arizona, this dramatic rock formation is a natural result of millions of years of erosion. The fragile rocky area is protected by its restricted access, and is absolutely stunning to see up close. During winter it's often covered by snow, though it's incredible year-round.

8. Take a hot air balloon ride over the Namib desert at sunrise.

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Hot air balloons are always perfect bucket list fodder, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one more magnificent than this. Fly over the oldest desert in the world just as the sun is peeking over the horizon, illuminating the red rocks and dunes below. You'll land in the middle of nowhere and get to see what it's like being in the most isolated part of the desert, before driving back to civilization.

9. Take a boat ride down the Ganges River.

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Seeing the holy city of Varanasi from the water is said to be a truly amazing experience. Set out just before sunrise to watch the city wake up, as pilgrims come down to the river to bathe. It's equally beautiful at sunset, when lamps and candles are floated out onto the water in the Ganga Aarti fire ritual. You can prebook a tour or just turn up and find a boater to row you down the river.

10. Spot an orca in the wild.

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Sure, spotting dolphins sounds like fun, but why not take it up a step? In Canada, you can cruise through icy ocean waters and hang out with wild orcas. Orca Spirit Adventures offers whale watching boat trips from Victoria, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. You'll probably spot plenty of other wildlife like otters and sea birds, too. Before you go, be sure to look for and book ethical tours.

11. Travel on the most scenic train in the world.

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The title of the "slowest express train ride in the world" might not sound too exciting. But the Glacier Express is anything but boring. Winding through the Swiss Alps, this rail service connects St. Moritz with Zermatt and gives passengers seriously breathtaking alpine views. The eight-hour journey crosses bridges and zooms through mountain tunnels and is an epic trip year-round.

12. Camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes.

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Ergs — often called a "sand seas" — are giant areas of towering sand dunes in the middle of the Sahara. Morocco's Erg Chebbi, one of the easiest to visit, is over 13 miles long, with sweeping orange dunes as far as the eye can see. Take either a four-wheeler or a camel out to a desert camp, and sleep under the stars. Most nights you'll be able to see the Milky Way painted across the sky above you, illuminating the dunes.

13. Camp with a local Bedouin family in Oman.

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One of the best ways to experience the endless desert landscape in the Middle East is to camp there. Seeing a starry desert sky, with absolutely no light pollution, while being surrounded by shadowy sand dunes is really a bucket list moment. Instead of roughing it too much, you can stay in a camp run by a local Bedouin family. Most also offer dune-surfing rides in four-wheelers, camel safaris, and campfires by night.

14. Do a cycling tour around Ireland.

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While Ireland is a pretty small country, there are plenty of incredible untouched areas to be explored. The best way to see it is by hopping on a bike and doing a multiday cycling tour. There are plenty of different routes to take, weaving across the country and taking in dramatic coastlines and rolling hills so green they'll hurt your eyes. Stay in small villages along the way or bring out a tent and do some wild camping.

15. Witness the great wildebeest migration.

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You've seen it in The Lion King, and now it's time to see it in real life. Every year about two million wildebeests, zebras, and other animals migrate from Tanzania to Kenya, following the water. They face predators along the way and have to navigate harsh terrain. It's amazing to watch. It's technically a year-round event as they move in a circle based on seasons and weather. There's a tracker so you can plan a trip around seeing it.

16. Do a giant road trip around Australia.

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Australia is HUGE. And there's a whole lot of wide, open spaces. It's a tough country to see in just one visit, which is why some people dream of dedicating months to exploring the country. The best way to do it is by car: Rent a van and circumnavigate the island, stopping off at beaches, national parks, and towns along the way. This way you can explore at your own pace, spending more time in places you love.

17. Fly through the forest like Superman.

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Zip lining is fun, but have you ever flown face-first across a valley like a bird? On this 1.57 mile-long zip line in Puerto Rico, you're strapped in from your back rather than sitting in a harness. Flying horizontally, you'll reach speeds of over 90 miles per hour. Try to keep your eyes open, because the mountain scenery all around you is pretty damn spectacular.

18. Join a giant tomato fight.

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Each year in Spain, the town of Buñol plays host to a very strange festival. During La Tomatina thousands of people take to the streets to throw tomatoes at each other, all in the name of entertainment. There's also a greased pole with a Spanish ham at the top — whoever can reach it, gets to keep it. The festival has been going for nearly 80 years, but is now so popular that you must buy tickets well in advance.

CORRECTION

Jan. 06, 2020, at 17:11 PM

In #4, the amount of time necessary to walk the Camino de Santiago has been updated to reflect the most popular route. In #5, the train route has been updated to specify southern Canada.

What travel experience is on your 2020 bucket list? Tell us in the comments!

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