Are we ever finished crafting our bucket lists? Over 15 years as a travel writer, I’ve been lucky enough to bask on castaway islands in the Indian Ocean, fly over Hawaiian volcanoes in a helicopter, and crouch, breathless, metres away from mountain gorillas in the wild. Yet even with scores of stamps in my passport, I’m a firm believer that a travel wish list is a living, breathing thing, ever-changing and adapting. In fact, I always keep five to ten dream destinations top of mind, so that when the chance for my next trip arises, I’m poised to tick off a long-held travel wish. My top tip is to look out for places where you can combine a few countries in one visit — hello southeast Asia and southern Europe — as well as identifying some standalone destinations where you can see a grand wonder of the world in person (think the Great Barrier Reef or Mexico’s Mayan temples). Whether you have your heart set on serene stupas, rare wildlife sightings or mind-bending natural landscapes, these are the destinations to dream about, research and (most importantly) get yourself to. For each, we’ve included examples of how to make a trip happen, from great-value group tours to boutique hotels that make the perfect base. Happy travels.
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1. Multi-stop Mexico
The church of Santo Domingo de Guzman in OaxacaGetty Images
Best for colour, art and great food
Mexico’s vibrant, historic cities, lush jungle and rightly celebrated cuisine means it stimulates all the senses. Visiting Mexico City or Oaxaca alone might be enough to sate your curiosity — but to get the best out of this diverse country, it’s worth leaving about two weeks for a multi-trip tour. You can do this independently, or leave the faff of planning in the hands of an expert tour operator, which can put together a fabulous, seamless multi-centre trip packing in art, food and nature. Your trip is likely to begin in colourful, culture-packed Mexico City, sailing the canals on colourful trajinera boats and visiting the artist Frida Kahlo’s house. Then, you might spend two nights in smaller Puebla, home to authentic food markets and gorgeous baroque architecture, and a few nights in mystical Oaxaca, with its indigenous culture and nearby hot springs. Don’t miss the coast, though — a visit to the surf towns of the Riviera Nayarit, on the Pacific west coast, is a must. Several stops too overwhelming? Do the relaxed version by staying on the beach along the Riviera Maya, with a day trip or two out to Chichen Itza and the cenotes (natural sinkholes that connect to subterranean rivers) to dial up the bucket-list factor.
Make it happen
Regional expert Journey Latin America has a 15-day Signature Mexico tour that explores Mexico City, Oaxaca and the Yucatan Peninsula.
journeylatinamerica.com
For the ultimate in glamorous lounging, try Hotel Esencia — a 51-room hideaway on the beach in the Riviera Maya, with boho looks, nesting turtles and nature all around.
2. Culture-shock Japan
Pink moss in Japan, with Mount Fuji in the distanceGetty Images
Best for diverse sightseeing
Japan is just one of the globe’s unique wonders: aspects of its culture from sushi to anime and manga, Japanese whisky to interior design and historical fiction such as the series Shogun, have gone viral. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, a record 42.7 million international visitors arrived during 2025 — a near 16 per cent increase on 2024. Much is made of its dense, high-rise cities, but the countryside is gentle and restorative: you can flit from soothing gardens crowned with bright temple torii (gates) to high-rise cocktail bars and raucous food markets, with essential experiences such as a ryokan (traditional inn) in the countryside and riding the Shinkansen (bullet train). Late spring is the most popular time to visit, due to the cherry blossom trees that burst into colour across the nation, and Mount Fuji remains a top stop — though up-and-coming areas such as Okinawa and Kyushu are nudging on to Gen Z’s list. Visit on an organised tour to help connect hotels, transfers, trains and even luggage transfers (it’s common and affordable in Japan to simply forward your suitcases on to your next stop, then travel baggage-free to meet them).
Make it happen
Inside Japan’s 14-night Best of Japan tour takes in Hakone’s hot springs, an authentic ryokan on Miyajima Island and four nights in exciting Tokyo, among other thrills.
The boutique Amanemu hotel is in Ise-Shima National Park, on the coast south of Kyoto. Natural hot springs and luxury ryokan styling make it a true bucket-list stop.
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3. Cruising Antarctica
Cruising in Neko Harbour on the Antarctic peninsulaAlamy
Best for the ultimate adventure
This truly once-in-a-lifetime journey is something to save for and splurge on, but you’ll remember it forever. Cathedrals of luminous ice, electric-blue waters, penguins, intrepid excursions in Zodiac boats — this is the stuff of an amateur adventurer’s dreams, coupled with a sense of pin-drop quiet and utter remoteness that will soothe your soul. Go around February and March for a chance of seeing humpback and minke whales, and perhaps even orcas; from December until March, see fluffy penguin chicks and then seal pups on South Georgia beaches. Be flexible with the itinerary you’ve been given — plans often change due to access through the ice or adverse weather — and prepare for envious friends on your return.
Make it happen
HX Expeditions has a 12-day, all-inclusive Highlights of Antarctica voyage, including flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, expedition gear and an onboard hot tub and sauna. Departures are between October and March.
In Ushuaia — the Argentinian gateway to the Antarctic, and departure point for 90 per cent of cruises — Arakur Ushuaia is a bucket-list hotel with an excellent restaurant and spa, mountainside location and expansive sea views.
4. South African road trip
Elephants in Kruger National Parkalamy
Best for a fantastic food scene and incredible wildlife
Sun-soaked South Africa remains one of the best-value bucket-list holidays out there, and it’s easy to visit independently or arrange a multi-centre tour that ticks off wine tastings, wildlife, beach days and city buzz. Start with a few days in Cape Town, leaving plenty of time to visit its beaches, Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden as well as some of the continent’s best restaurants and galleries (the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-see). Then move on to the gorgeous Cape Winelands, staying in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch to visit dozens of verdant wineries, and add on a drive along the adventure-packed Garden Route to top it off. A safari in Kruger National Park, further north, is the cherry on top of an indelible trip. Leave at least ten days for your visit — two weeks is better — as there’s a seemingly endless supply of places to visit here. For warm weather but fewer crowds, aim for the shoulder seasons of March to May (South African autumn) or September to November (spring).
Make it happen
Audley Travel’s The Grape Escape itinerary is an 11-day self-drive route taking in Cape Town and Franschhoek, staying at charming boutique hotels.
The Plettenberg Hotel is a relaxed and sophisticated stay along the Garden Route, facing the shining Plettenberg Bay. It’s a great jumping off point for hiking the Robberg Nature Reserve or seeing the gorgeous coastline at Knysna.
5. Maldives beach break
Kendhoo island in the MaldivesAlamy
Best for a romantic escape
This Indian Ocean archipelago has nearly 1,200 coral islands sprinkled across groups known as atolls, but fewer than 200 are inhabited — many by glamorous resorts. Though there’s a formula for the classic Maldives private island (overwater villa, romantic restaurant on a wooden deck, spa with yoga pavilion), some are more suited to honeymooners and older couples, others to families and groups of pals, others to travellers on a tighter budget. What most resorts have in common are an ends-of-the-earth feel, pristine white beaches and some of the best snorkelling on the planet. This is the place to spend much of the day barefoot, ogle kaleidoscopic house reefs and dine out under the stars, listening to the hush of gentle waves. The Maldives delivers on real castaway looks and luxurious facilities — when you’re choosing a resort, consider the range of restaurants (do you want an upmarket sushi or steak option as well as a Maldivian or international buffet?), any dedicated children’s or adults-only spaces, and read up on reviews of the snorkelling or diving. Some atolls are famous for whale shark sightings, while certain islands (not necessarily the priciest) have particularly vibrant house reefs.
Make it happen
Oceania Cruises’ 18-day Singapore to Doha cruise aboard the Oceania Vista stops at Malé in the Maldives, as well as docking in Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand.
Carrier can organise a beach holiday at the Maldives’ most coveted resorts, including Vakkaru Maldives, with private pools and butler service for most bungalows and an ayurveda-influenced spa.
carrier.co.uk
6. Southeast Asia loop
Lanterns in Hoi An Alamy
Best for a great-value holiday
Whether you’ve dreamt of sampling street food in a smoky Bangkok market or exploring Angkor Wat at sunrise, it can all be done in one trip. Pick your stops wisely and leave as much time as you can — a Vietnamese city such as Hanoi alone is worth multiple days, with its handicraft-rich villages just outside, while multiple planes, trains and cities could leave you wanting a few nights on the beach. The classic loop is Thailand, Vietnam, then Cambodia — but your personal tastes may lead you to lower-key Laos, or to spend more time in a country you’ve already seen a little of. Bucket-list experiences here include seeing elephants in their natural habitat in Thailand’s Golden Triangle, sailing the jade waters of Halong Bay in Vietnam and staying in a riverside camp in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains.
Make it happen
Wendy Wu has a 20-day group tour, Gems of Southeast Asia, which whisks you to Bangkok, Hanoi, Angkor and farming and craftspeoples’ villages, as well as the Mekong Delta.
The Anantara Angkor Resort is just 15 minutes’ drive from Angkor Wat’s temple complex, with 39 suites set around a pretty pool, a spa and a team that can organise private tours of the Unesco world heritage site.
7. Highlights of Hawaii
Sunset over the Big Island, HawaiiGetty Images
Best for big-scale nature
Hawaii may be the 50th state, but this cluster of tropical Polynesian islands feels a world away from mainland US. Reached via a five to six-hour flight from California into the North Pacific (depending on which island you fly to), it’s truly remote. Here, nature looms large: huge, active volcanoes fizzing with lava, skyscraper-high waterfalls, unspoilt coastal road trips and mellow surfer towns. A typical itinerary might take in the most cosmopolitan island, Oahu, with its retro-feel Waikiki beach, but also Maui — gentle and friendly, with cool beach towns such as Paia, whale-watching and black volcanic beaches — and Hawaii (which everyone here calls Big Island), for lava-watching in Volcanoes National Park and stargazing from the slopes of Mauna Kea, a sacred volcano.
Make it happen
Trafalgar’s Best of Hawaii tour stops at the three main islands over ten days, with tours to Pearl Harbour and Volcanoes National Park included.
trafalgar.com
The Fairmont Kea Lani is right on a soft, sandy beach in Maui, with family-friendly facilities, a spa and golf courses nearby.
8. Lapland in winter
Reindeer under the northern lights in LaplandGetty Images
Best for family escapes
A swathe of underpopulated wilderness spanning Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia’s Kola peninsula, Lapland is covered in a thick blanket of snow come winter. With entry points by air in both Finland and Sweden, it’s a freezing wonderland where you can see the aurora borealis (northern lights), camp in cosy lodges or igloos with clear roofs, go dog sledding or visit a kitschy Santa’s grotto. The sheer peace, space and uninterrupted nature is like a spa treatment for the cluttered modern mind; encounters with Europe’s only indigenous people, the Sami, remind us what it means to be a guardian of the land. Unless you’re comfortable driving in snowy landscapes, an organised tour makes sense, and Scandinavia experts can line up unique accommodation and authentic experiences. The most expensive time to go is in the run-up to Christmas, while prices drop just afterwards — so aim for early January to mid-February for the most affordable prices along with reliable snow.
Make it happen
Best Served Scandinavia has a seven-day Highlights of Swedish Lapland break, staying in the country’s iconic ICEHOTEL and Treehotel properties, with husky sledding and snowmobile safaris on offer.
best-served.co.uk
Javri Lodge, in Saariselka, is the romantic Lappish lodge of your dreams. Adults-only and with Finland’s second-largest national park on its doorstep, it’s a luxurious base for activities and adventure.
9. Gorillas in east Africa
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Parkalamy
Best for off-the-beaten-track safaris
You have to work for your encounter with the mountain gorillas — an uphill hike of around three to five hours through thick, dewy vegetation, with a decent level of fitness and good sense of humour required. But, oh, the rewards: as you crouch feet from a hulking, tufty-haired silverback, or tumbling baby gorillas, building nests or grazing on shoots, you’ll barely remember to breathe. Gorilla encounters are pricey and heavily regulated in Rwanda and Uganda, the two main nations that offer the experience. The money goes back into conservation, and ensures limited disturbance for these magical creatures: you’ll spend one hour close to a nomadic gorilla “family” per gorilla trek, but you’ll feel the closeness of their species with yours as they play, feed, squabble and hoist babies on to their backs. Uganda tends to host more affordable tours, while Rwanda has faster and easier access to gorilla country from Kigali.
Make it happen
Dive deep into Rwanda’s wildlife scene and natural beauty on Abercrombie & Kent’s eight-day Gorilla and Chimp Trekking tour, which includes luxury accommodation such as One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
Sambora Kinigi is a lower-key, more authentic stay than many beside Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, with seven boutique cottages, a chic communal dining room, local music and dance performances and one massage per guest included in your rate.
10. Interrailing around Europe
St Mark’s Church in Zagreb, CroatiaAlamy
Best for travellers on a budget
They may be on our doorstep, but it’s easy to forget the many wonders of Europe when compiling a bucket list. Yet if you haven’t seen the chapels and ruins of Rome, the canals and museums of Amsterdam or the boutique shops and Seine-side cafés of Paris, it’s worth considering a multi-centre trip by train. Typical itineraries start from London going first to Paris or Amsterdam, but countries such as Spain and Italy are surprisingly easy to traverse by rail. If you’re on a tight budget, think about combining a few better-value, affordable stops (Polish cities will be far more affordable than Switzerland’s, for example). Factor in a few culture capitals you’ve never been to — Madrid’s Prado museum is soothing after its late, late nightlife — plus under-radar third cities such as Croatia’s gorgeous capital, Zagreb, and your camera roll will be a riot of gorgeous plazas and seminal artworks.
Make it happen
Byway Travel, a luminary of rail travel, has an 11-day Capitals of Central Europe itinerary, which will have you waltzing through Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague and Vienna among other stops.
Barcelona is a top bucket-list stop on an interrailing adventure — stay near the station at Moxy Barcelona, with a rooftop pool and Miami-styled restaurant.
11. Northern lights in otherworldly Iceland
The northern lights over IcelandAlamy
Best for outdoorsy types
Game of Thrones turbo-charged tourism to this island of lava fields and steaming geothermal lagoons. An organised tour is the best way to see a lot in a short time frame: most start in the capital, Reykjavik, before doing a loop around Thingvellir National Park, the south coast’s dramatic waterfalls and black-rock beaches, and perhaps a stop at the Blue Lagoon. Other, longer tours will take you off the beaten track, perhaps to the Westfjords or seal-watching in the Vatnsnes peninsula. Some choose to visit in summer for the season’s long daylight hours and drier hiking trails, but seekers of the aurora borealis brave colder March or September in hopes of seeing eerie streaks of neon green and purple painting the night sky.
Make it happen
Insight Vacations has a seven-day Scenic Iceland and the Northern Lights tour, taking in Reykjavik, the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss and the isolated community of Husafell.
Torfhus Retreat is an atmospheric hideaway in Iceland’s Golden Circle, where cottages are topped by mossy roofs, ponies roam outside and there’s very low light pollution to aid northern lights sightings.
12. India’s Golden Triangle
Chandpol Bazaar in JaipurGetty Images
Best for history and architecture
The coral curves of Humayun’s Tomb and the zigzag complexity of the Chand Baori stepwell will expand your mind on a balmy tour of northern India’s cities and palaces. Flying into Delhi, at the top of the “triangle”, most visitors then journey to Agra for the Taj Mahal and impressive Agra Fort, travelling next to the “Pink City” of Jaipur for its Amber Fort and City Palace among other considerable charms. But there’s scope for tailoring this basic tour, from operators who will put you up in style at India’s staggeringly pretty palace hotels to experts who can arrange detours to secret stops such as textiles collectives near Jodhpur or birdwatching at Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.
Make it happen
Explore! has an excellent-value eight-day group tour of the Golden Triangle, with stops in Agra, Jaipur and the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri along the way.
Get the royal treatment at the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, with views of the Taj Mahal, Mughal-inspired architecture and white-glove service.
13. Plunge into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Queensland’s Whitehaven beachGetty Images
Best for sun-seekers and water babies
Australia is a long-haul, widely spread destination that requires multiple weeks, forensic planning and a fair bit of budget thrown at it. But it’ll fill your mental screensaver with vivid views such as the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system that stretches over 1,429 miles from north to south. Accessed from Cairns, it’s usually a second stop after flying into Sydney. You could connect to Cairns International direct from Singapore or Perth, but Sydney shouldn’t be missed — you could spend two or three days exploring its harbour, beaches and cool café scene before flying the three hours onwards to Cairns. Most visitors base themselves in Cairns or resorts in the Whitsunday Islands to take boat trips into the area, spying turtles, sharks, manta rays and clownfish in its depths — but if you have your Padi qualifications, consider visiting on a live-aboard boat for daily plunges into the limpid waters. Read up on the reef before you go: it has suffered from some well-publicised coral bleaching and pollution in recent years, so it’s worth finding a responsible operator to take you there.
Make it happen
Intrepid Travel has several tours that visit the Reef, but the 13-day North Queensland Adventure is a true deep dive, with a full day visiting the Whitsunday Islands alongside a stop in Daintree Rainforest and an indigenous Australian-guided tour of Mungalla Wetlands.
Qualia on Hamilton Island is an adults-only retreat with sea-view pavilions, private pools and flights, boat tours and snorkelling excursions into the Great Barrier Reef.
14. Natural wonder in the Galapagos Islands
Galapagos sea lionsAlamy
Best for thrilling wildlife
This relatively unspoilt archipelago in Ecuador is a beacon of biodiversity — giant tortoises, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies all call this home, with about 1,500 endemic species that are found nowhere else. Sir David Attenborough calls them “one of the most extraordinary places on Earth”. Accessed from Quito in Ecuador (reached via a connecting flight from UK cities) the islands are toured by several cruise operators: smaller boats tend to be less luxurious but able to travel to more sought-after areas, while larger vessels have more modern facilities but cannot anchor everywhere (there are also a handful of hotels, should you want to be based on an island). You’ll see different species depending on which cruise route you take too — the inner and outer loops being the main two — so let your operator know which animals are on your watchlist. The outer loop affords sightings of the waved albatross, for example, while red-footed boobies are best seen on the inner loop (you’ll likely see sea lions, iguanas and turtles throughout). A cruise can cost anywhere from £3,000 to £8,000pp, with five-day itineraries the most affordable.
Make it happen
Celebrity Cruises’ seven-night Inner Loop itinerary has twice-daily shore excursions within the National Park, with opportunities to see sea lions, turtles, flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins.
For a special occasion, the 14-room Pikaia Lodge on Santa Cruz island sits on the cone of an extinct volcano, with an opulent spa, infinity pool and day tours on the hotel’s private yacht.
We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration
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