Whether you’re newly getting into to this whole travelling thing or you’re a legit overseas pro, there’s an adventure for you. Because being ‘adventurous’ can mean anything to anyone – literally.
Maybe you switch up your take-out orders. Maybe you take scenic route to work. Or maybe you’re one of those Red Bull-sponsored adrenaline junkies (in which case, OMG).
Regardless, we think you should make it a goal to try new things (because #youdoyou).
And to help give you some ideas for travel-related things to try this year, we made a list. So, (in absolutely no particular order) here are some travel goals to make in your teens and 20’s.
Check out Western Europe’s must-do cities
London, Paris, Rome – ever heard of ’em? European cities have this effortlessly cool thing going on. And thanks to the Europe’s handy train system, visiting them is super easy. You can do a short but sweet Italy adventure, or maybe do a London to Berlin journey with stops in Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam along the way. Decisions, decisions.
Eat all of the foods in Thailand
Thailand is #blessed with Instagram-worthy beaches, islands, historic temples and gorgeous palaces. But another awesome thing it can totally brag about: fooood. Red curry, yellow curry, green curry – all of the curries. Plus, spicy soups, fried noodles and mouth-watering stir-fries. Find delicious eats all over Thailand. If the idea of helping elephants appeals to you, view volunteering programs in Thailand.
Take in the epicness of Machu Picchu
There’s a few ways to get to Machu Picchu: 1. Hike the permit-required classic Inca Trail 2. Hike the lesser-known but equally epic Quarry Trail. 3. Take the super scenic train ride. Either way, all roads lead to Machu Picchu, and all are awesome (and so is Machu Picchu obvs). View Peru tours today.
Temple hop in Cambodia
Angkor Wat is ah-maz-ing no doubt. But there’s also a lot of other incredible temples in Cambodia, including those also found in the Angkor complex of Siem Reap. Oh, and did we mention some of them are almost 1,000 years old?! YEP. View gap year trips in Cambodia.
Unwind in Bali
Bali is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world with beaches, cultures, temples, yoga, surfing, partying and so much more. If you are looking to explore a truly beautiful island head to Bali!
East coast Australia adventure
Australia is such an appealing destination, friendly people, sunny warm weather, outdoors lifestyle and tons of absolutely beautiful locations. The east coast of Australia is legendary, from Sydney, to Byron Bay, Brisvegas, to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday islands – the hard part is going home! Keen to do more than just sightseeing? View our guide to working in Australia.
Party the night away at Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival is possibly the biggest party in the world. It welcomes thousands of people to Brazil each year ready to shake their feathers and dance the night away. A celebration of the colourful culture of Brazil, the event is centred around the impressive sambadrome. There are various street parties taking place all over Rio until the early hours where you can dance the night away!
Spot animals on an African safari
Shout out to all the The Lion King lovers out there – this one’s for you, guys. East Africa is an epic place to spot giraffes, lions and hippos hanging out, including in the Serengeti National Park. Or maybe Southern Africa‘s more your jam – cruising through the Okavango Delta and safari-ing through Kruger National Park. Search epic Africa tours.
Visit ruins in Mexico
Waaay back in the day (as in over 500 years ago), Aztec, Maya, Zapotec and other ancient groups once ruled Mexico – building crazy cool cities, performing sacrifices (yikes!) and fighting each other. A lot of these ruins still exist today. And yes, they’re super cool.
See India’s seriously impressive sites
From the magical Taj Mahal to the humongous Amber Fort and the pretty pink beauty, the Hawa Mahal, it’s safe to say that India‘s architecture game is seriously on point. There are tons of backpacking trips and gap year programs in India where you can experience the highlights of the country.
Be artsy in Eastern Europe
Berlin and Prague are two of the top cities in the world for street art. Pretty sweet, right? Eastern Europe is a haven for art-lovers – from classic art in Vienna to quirky art in Budapest and everything in between. Seriously, it’s awesome.
Learn Spanish in Spain
Keen to learn a new language? Is there a better destination than Spain? There are top rated Spanish language schools throughout Spain in places like Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Seville, Barcelona and Malaga – just to name a few. Schools also arrange social events and sightseeing in your free time. Search Spanish courses Spain for dates and prices.
Learn about Maasai culture in Kenya
The Maasai people are a friendly bunch. Learn about their culture from a local elder in Loita Hills. And who knows, you may even get to jump alongside the warriors. But don’t feel too bad about your jumping abilities – these guys have had a lot of practice. There is even the option to work on community and conservation helping the Maasai people, view volunteer programs in Kenya.
Get off the beaten path in Malaysia
Off the beaten tourist track, Malaysia has a ton of awesome places that are worth a visit, such as in Penang, the Cameron Highlands and Melaka. And speaking of which, we’ve even got 17 photos of Malaysia that will give you some serious FOMO.
Explore jungles in Central America
From the steamy rainforests of Nicaragua to the misty cloud forests of Costa Rica, Central America’s nature scene is chock-full of cool critters, ruins and volcanoes (freakin’ volcanoes, guys!). Also, SLOTHS. Need we say more?
Take a tuk tuk (or several) in Sri Lanka
Don’t worry, you won’t be driving the tuk tuks. But there’ll be plenty of opportunities for some fun rides in them. What’s the best way to get around in Sri Lanka? Tuk tuks, duh! Tuk tuk around bustling Colombo, tuk tuk to temples in Kandy, tuk tuk to the beaches of Unawatuna – tuk tuk everywhere! Fun times, Sri Lanka. Fun times.
Chase waterfalls in South America
Forget the song, chase all the waterfalls in South America. Especially the biggest, baddest waterfall of them all: Iguazu Falls of Brazil and Argentina. It’s kind of a big deal. And much more impressive than the more famous Niagara Falls.
Teach English in Japan
Keen for a culture shock? Open to the idea of living and working abroad somewhere totally different? Get a TEFL certification and apply to teach English in Japan! Jobs can be found in cities like Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto. You’ll fall in love with Japan, the people, food and culture!
Learn to surf in Portugal
Always wanted to become a surfer? Portugal is a beautiful country and it is one of the best countries to learn. There are top rated surf schools located all along the coast, our top recommendation is the beautiful Algarve region.
Road trip USA
Looking for the most amazing road trip? Somewhere featured in tons of films and tv series? Head to the United States and travel the legendary Route 66′. You can hire a car and do it yourself or view USA tours which take you to see the best locations.
Take in the culture of Morocco
What’s it like travelling locally in Morocco? Something like exploring the souks of Marrakech, learning to make yummy mint tea from Berber locals, riding a camel in the Sahara and sampling street food. Ahhh, good times. View adventure tours of Morocco for amazing trips.
Island hopping in Greece
Greece is one of the most spectacular countries in the world and the islands really are bucket list destination. From the cliffs of Santorini to the parties and sunsets in Mykonos, this region is a destination just waiting to be explored.
There we have it, I’m sure we’ve missed some epic adventures off this list, but I think we have some of the best ones covered. As the quote goes ‘Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be.’