How The Mind Wanders... - My Worldwide Travel Bucket List

‘There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.’ – Jack Kerouac.

A new ultimate bucket list.

I first wrote a bucket list (then labelled an anti-bucket list) in August 2015 – nearly five years ago! It is high time that I refreshed this post as some of my bucket list items have changed. I’ve also been lucky enough to tick some of the items off since the post was first published.

During this time of uncertainty and global crisis, it’s nice to just spend some time immersed in my dream travel destinations and activities. Escapism as a bit of a coping mechanism, some might say! Since we’re all likely to be experiencing similar emotions right about now, it seems like a pretty good time to revamp this post and indulge in some travel dreaming!

Key to understanding the bucket list:
* – bucket list item is complete.
~ – bucket list item completion is underway.
^ – bucket list item is in the planning stages.

Warning: This list is not exhaustive!

Africa

See gorillas in the wild in Uganda.

Seeing some of the rarest animals in the world in their natural habitat? What a dream come true that would be! Uganda is home to over 50% of the global gorilla population, so it makes sense to focus my attention on this country to increase my chances of making this bucket list item happen. As well as spotting gorillas and exploring Uganda, there is also the possibility to visit Rwanda during the same trip. It’s another country I’d love to visit and learn more about.

A gorilla looking upwards as it sits amongst the dense green foliage of a jungle in Uganda. — Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash.

Go on safari in South Africa

Read any bucket list and sooner or later you come across a safari! I don’t think any bucket list is complete without this must-have item. I already have my sights set on the lodge I’d love to stay at on safari – it looks beautiful and the perfect place to bring this bucket list item to life! I’ve discussed going on safari as a 40th birthday trip with a friend, so there is a possibility this could happen in the next decade!

Bucket list. African safari. Two giraffes walking across the scrubby, bushy savanna with a pale blue sky in the background. — Photo by Tobin Rogers on Unsplash.

Canoe down the Orange River in Namibia.

When C told me about his epic New Year adventures canoeing down the Orange River on the border between Namibia and South Africa, I knew it had to go onto my list. What an amazing way to pass a few days! When I do this, I’ll tie it in with a longer trip to explore Namibia further, as I’ve heard that it’s an incredible country. The photos I see are also insanely beautiful!

Bucket list. A canoe to the bottom left of the photo in focus, sitting on water which goes out of focus. There is a tree line on the opposite bank of the river that is out of focus. — Photo by Michael Niessl on Unsplash.

Asia

Visit what remains of the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan.

The shrinking of the Aral Sea is one of the worst man-made ecological disasters of the 20th century. I grew interested in the disaster while studying at university, and have longed to visit ever since. I got so close to ticking this off my bucket list last year during my trip to Uzbekistan. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough time to drive out to the Aral Sea. This bucket list item ties in nicely with my aim to visit all seven ‘Stans. Next time I’m in the region, I definitely intend to make it to see what is left of the Aral Sea.

A blue sky with the rusting hulk of a big boat against it. The photo is taken from below. The boat has cormorants perched on the edge. — Photo by Ruxandra Gogea on Unsplash.

Go to Japan for cherry blossom season.

My favourite season in London is spring. I love seeing all the trees blossom as they come back to life after the winter. It is simply beautiful. Japan has always been high on my hit list of countries to visit. Going during cherry blossom season and witnessing one of the most incredible blossom seasons in the world would just be the icing on the cake!

Bucket list. Cherry blossom out of focus with Mount Fuji, covered in snow, in focus in the background. — Photo by Kumiko SHIMIZU on Unsplash.

Relax in The Maldives for a week.

People who know me will probably be surprised to see this item on my bucket list. I’m generally not a kick back and relax kind of gal when I travel, preferring to explore and remain active. However, a week spent in utter luxury on a remote atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean? Hard to pass up! Throw in some awesome snorkelling, plenty of time to catch up on all my reading and great food and I am there!

Palm trees waving above, a bright blue sky, with a turquoise sea and over-water huts in the Maldives. — Photo by Ekmeds Photos on Unsplash.

Visit all seven ‘Stans.~

With a trip to Uzbekistan under my belt, I am already on my way to ticking this item off my bucket list. Central Asia has long captivated my attention. The beautiful architecture and culture I experienced in Uzbekistan has only fuelled my desire to return to the region and continue my exploration. The remaining countries are: Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Each country has its own unique identity and some are harder to visit than others… But I am up for the challenge.

Bucket list. Kalyan Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Two men are silhouetted against the backdrop of a colourful facade as they climb steps to exit the mosque. — Two men exit Kalyan Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo taken during my trip there in October/November 2019.

Try horse trekking in Mongolia.*

During our epic Trans-Siberian adventure in 2016, I finally made this dream come true and spent over a week roaming free across the Mongolian steppe. It was a slower pace of life – at once wonderful, exhilarating, challenging and adventurous. I completely disconnected from the outside world and went off the beaten track to explore this rapidly evolving country. The memories I carry from my time there will last forever and I’m thrilled I got to visit.

A horse grazing on the sparse brown grass on the Mongolian steppe. The horse is at the bottom right of the image, wearing a saddle, with the steppe rising up behind it. — A horse grazes the Mongolian steppe. Photo taken during my trip to Mongolia in April 2016.

Trek in the Himalayas in Nepal.*

No trip to Nepal is complete without a trek through the Himalayas. When we decided to travel there in 2018, we allocated five days to complete the Poon Hill Circuit. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’ve never felt so challenged and yet so exhilarated and present as I did during those five days. Getting up close to the mountains and the slower pace of life was fantastic and I would love to return one day and do a longer trek!

Bucket list. The Annapurna mountains in Nepal. Multi-coloured prayer flags strung up in the foreground, with the outlined snow capped mountain peaks rising from the mist in the background. — Prayer flags touched by first light on Poon Hill in Nepal. Photo taken during my trip there in April 2018.

Europe

Eat my way around Italy.

My favourite cuisine is Italian. Pizza, pasta, risotto… The cheese, the bread, the salads… I would simply love to take a fortnight or three weeks, wander around Italy and eat everything I see as I go. Perhaps start in Naples to sample the world-famous pizza before moving onto Rome where I could devour platefuls of Cacio e Pepe. Afterwards, a stop in Florence for gelato and then to finish, risotto in the Lombardy region… My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

A plate of pasta as seen from above. Set on a white plate, tagliatelle with Parmesan cheese grated over it, some green sage leaves and set on a dark wooden table. — Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash.

Spot the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway.

I have already visited Norway, but long to return. I’d travel further north, get inside the Arctic Circle and explore the land of snow and ice. Mainly, I want to see the breathtaking dance of the Northern Lights and marvel at the sheer wonder of it. Growing up, we read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman and Lyra’s journey to the frozen North has long been inspiration for me to go there one day. To stand under the Northern Lights as they shimmer across the sky would be nothing short of magical.

The Northern Lights shining green in a star-covered sky over a pine forest. — Photo by Lucas Marcomini on Unsplash.

Spend time exploring the Greek Islands.

Greece has been on my radar for years, but for some reason I’ve never really indulged the thought of actually going to visit. This is me putting Greece firmly on my bucket list and making it a priority! I’d love to spend a long weekend exploring Athens before taking a leisurely few weeks to visit a few of the islands, maybe hire a boat… A lazy trip on the sparkling Mediterranean sea. It sounds like perfection.

Bucket list. Santorini in Greece. A photo taken at dusk, with white buildings rising up a slope, crowded on top of one another. — Photo by Heidi Kaden on Unsplash.

Road trip around Ireland.

The country of my ancestors and a place I’ve visited a few times before. I love Ireland. Dublin was one of the coolest little cities I’ve ever visited and County Cork, where my family are from, is close to my heart. I love the Beara Peninsula – the rugged coastline, the wild Atlantic dominating life there, the low-slung clouds on the mountains. I want to extend the drives I’ve done around the Wild Atlantic Way before and road trip right around Ireland’s coastline, taking in the Giant’s Causeway to the north and Cliffs of Moher.

Giant's Causeway in Ireland. A picture of some of the hexagonal rock formations in the foreground, with the sea and waves crashing over them in the background. — Photo by Alex Azabache on Unsplash.

Discover more of the Bavaria & Tyrol regions.~

I fell instantly in love with Innsbruck when I visited last year. I’ve been in love with Bavaria and its regional capital Munich for a few years. What’s not to love? There are mountains and there is heaps of delicious food. The cities are small and beautiful. Innsbruck quickly slid into the number one spot of my favourite European cities and the region has become one that I am longing to explore further.

Bucket list - the river Inns flows in the foreground, with a row of colourful houses lining the opposite river bank and snow capped mountains rising up behind. — Innsbruck shining in the sunlight. Photo taken during my trip to Austria in June 2019.

Visit Bergen, the city my name auto corrects to!*

Mum and I travelled to Bergen for my 29th birthday in January 2018. It was a wonderful long weekend and I fell in love with the quiet, relaxed little city on the edge of the fjord. My favourite part of the trip was the boat trip we did on the morning of my birthday, where I saw my first sea ice and the first rays of sunshine hit the snow covered slopes that plunged down the water’s edge. For anyone considering a trip to Norway, Bergen is the perfect destination in this beautiful country!

First light touches the snow covered slopes in the background, which come down to the fjord which is covered in a thin layer of sea ice. — First light on the fjord. Photo taken during my trip to Bergen in January 2018.

North America

Do a classic US road trip.^

It’s been a long held dream of mine to road trip across the USA. My plan would be to start in San Francisco, visit Yosemite and then travel north through northern California, Oregon and Washington State to Seattle. If I had time, I’d love to head inland to visit Yellowstone and other parts of the country, but for a shorter road trip, the above would be ideal. My sisters and I have plans in the works to finally make this dream come true in autumn 2021. I am keeping everything crossed that this trip can come into fruition and this bucket list item can be realised!

The sun sets behind Monument National Park in the USA, with the road snaking through a desert landscape and the hulking rock outcrops silhouetted against the sky. — Photo by Justin Roy on Unsplash.

Stay on a cattle ranch in Montana, USA.

This has been on my travel list for years. To be honest, I’d be happy visiting a cattle ranch anywhere, but Montana looks like a truly beautiful state. Just look where you could end up staying! I love horseback riding and a week herding cattle, riding every day and going Western seems like the adventure of a lifetime. I’d also love to go to a rodeo, so combining that into a stay on a cattle ranch would be insane.

Bucket list. A black and white image of a cowboy riding a horse, rounding up horses with two dogs. Lots of dust is being thrown up. — Photo by Mahir Uysal on Unsplash.

Polar Regions

Pay a visit to Greenland.

Greenland came onto my radar properly about two years ago. It’s a remote, difficult to reach destination, which will make it all the more amazing when I eventually get there! What could be better than seeing glaciers carve into the ocean, whale watching and iceberg spotting?! Plus, I’ve seen loads of picture of really cute sled dogs! I’d love to kayak in this pristine, icy landscape as well, getting up close and personal with nature.

Colourful houses with snow covered roofs on a snowy slope in the background, with ice covered water in the foreground. — Photo by Visit Greenland on Unsplash.

Get to Antarctica, some day!

Isn’t this on everyone’s bucket list? Antarctica is the ultimate travel destination – difficult to reach, life changing, breathtakingly incredible. Its remote location and the expense required to travel there means that this icy continent still eludes many travellers, although I’ve seen many more bloggers and influencers visit in recent years, like Adventurous Kate. This has only inspired me further and made me even more determined to visit one day.

Antarctica. A blue iceberg in the background, with grey skies behind, and a whale's tail as it dives below the surface. — Photo by James Eades on Unsplash.

South America

Visit the Bolivian Salt Flats.

Until recently, travel in South America didn’t really fire me up. It wasn’t somewhere I held high on my list of travel priorities – not like Central Asia or North America. However, this changed recently while watching Race Across The World and I’ve been inspired to add the Bolivian Salt Flats to my bucket list. Salar de Uyuni are the world’s largest salt flats and they offer some amazing photography opportunities. When I do one day head to South America, this location will definitely be my starting point to the trip planning!

Bucket list. Pink and blue skies overhead, reflecting a little on the salt pan below which has taken on a pink hue. — Photo by Sifan Liu on Unsplash.

Worldwide

Take epic train trips in countries around the world!~

I have so many dream bucket list train trips that I decided to write an entirely separate post outlining them all! I’ve been lucky enough to already do some amazing train journeys across the world, including the New Zealand TranzAlpine Express and ‘Europe’s Best Railway Journey’ from Oslo to Bergen and back. During 2016, I even tucked the ultimate long-distance train journey – the Trans-Siberian – under my travel belt! My love for train travel influences my destinations and I look forward to exploring more of the world in the future via rail.

A black and white photo of train tracks leading away into the distance, with overhead power lines and a fence running to the right. — Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash.

Complete at least one of these long distance hikes.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed many long-distances and shorter day hikes. I’ve hiked part of the Welsh coast path and tramped the length of the Abel Tasman Track over four days. During my time in New Zealand, I completed the ‘world’s best one day hike’ the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. I’ve spent many hours and days walking across Wales, Kent, London and other parts of the UK. Completing one of the world’s best multi-day hikes is something I can’t wait to achieve!

bucket list long distance hikes - the Canadian Rockies. A sweeping landscape photo of mountains covered in snow with a turquoise blue lake and a pine forest more to the forefront. — Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash.

Other bucket lists on HTMW.

Before I travelled to New Zealand, I wrote a bucket list outlining all the activities and experiences I wanted to have while in the country. Read my New Zealand bucket list here.

As mentioned above, I also have a bucket list which shares all the train travel adventures I’d like to have in the future! You can read more about the rail trips I hope to one day take here.

My Worldwide Travel Bucket List

A new ultimate bucket list.