Ill never forget standing on a cliff in Santorini, with one hand holding the gyro and the other trying to take a photo with my phone where every way I looked or turned it still encapsulated how smallI felt. It didn’t work. No photo ever really does. That trip had a way of altering something deep inside me. That was the impetus for why I began maintaining a tally of destinations that moved me, or that recommended to me by people I trust.
This is not a list of the credits in someone else’s Instagram feed backed n some gentle scrolling for an hour. All these spots are based off of real trips, and actual errors. A few are from real-life conversations with friends who came back saying, “You have to go. Several of these I have been to myself. Some come from trusted voices in travel. With the help of Google Maps, a few TripAdvisor reviews, and some good old-fashioned googling.
Grab a coffee. This is a long one. So if you’re putting together a bucket list for the coming years, it could save you an awful lot of guesswork.
WHY I BEGAN CREATING THIS LIST
My sister called me from a place in Saudi Arabia where she spent few years and told me where should I go for honeymoon. That blanked my mind for a few seconds. At that time, Travelling was a large part of my life already However I figured out I had never got order on paper.
We started off with a list in a notes app. A spreadsheet followed after that. And so eventually, this article slowly took form, because I was getting a question that ordered enough times it would have been foolish not to write it down properly.
Each place on this list deserves its spot for more than just “it’s pretty”. As long as you point a camera in the right direction, pretty is everywhere. More importantly than that is whether a place fills you with something to feel at all. May it teach you a lesson, or provide something to share with the grandkids someday.
I also wanted this list to operate in the realm of realistic budgets and plausible schedules. Not all of us have six weeks away from the office or an unlimited travel budget. As a result, you will have places that could range from being splurge-worthy on the scale for your average vacation budget. Try to use some of these here ridiculous trip on this list for whatever stage into life you are.
How I Picked These 25 Places
What I added to this list after using three filters.
To begin with, it provides something you genuinely could not find anywhere else. For one, is it actually somewhere an average traveler could conceivably visit (and not a person with his own private jet and limitless escape days)? Third, was it memorable to someone I trust to fairly assess it?
A select few were excised based on their beauty and arduous effort in reaching them. Some got dropped because the luck of the weather or crowds made it work. Except for the ones that do season after season.
25 Places That Are Absolutely Worth The Journey
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is over-hyped — to be honest, it deserves most of the hype. Those white buildings on blue domes are so beautiful, The best part though, was sitting at the edge in Oia about sunset time distance away from all the crowds and seeing everything turn gold.
At first the narrow, winding streets resemble a maze. Add an hour more to simply walk without a purpose.
Booking tip: avoid peak July and August if possible. September offers you roughly the same weather, accompanied with 50% less tourist crowds.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto appears to be on a different century. The acros that leads you to the thousands of orange gates heartbroken by the sun at Fushimi Inari shrine was more profound than I thought it will be. I always found, too, that the quiet repetition of walking under gate after gate places your mind in some strange but calm place.
Bring comfortable shoes. You will walk more than you believe. Arashiyama’s famed bamboo grove is another reason to rise early, as it also becomes congested quickly after tour groups start arriving in mid-morning.
Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise looks fake in pictures Then you get there and it is actually a color. This turquoise is actually glacial rock flour painted onto the water, in summer it will change colours depending on the angle of the sun.
The shuttle system here is okay, but you have a lot more freedom with renting via something like Turo or a regular agency.
Machu Picchu, Peru
This one takes planning. Due to limited capacities, permits are sold out well in advance (for the Inca Trail route months ahead!) A friend who hiked it said the climb up leaves one exhausted, which makes sunrise views of the ruins hit that much harder.
If trekking isn’t for you, there is the train with PeruRail which can get you there from Cusco with considerably less effort.
Petra, Jordan
Entering through the narrow gorge of the Siq and watching as suddenly, almost at a corner, unveiled before you lies the Treasury is something that no photograph prepares you for. You are advised to go early in the morning actually to avoid heat and crowd both.
Santorini’s neighbor, Amalfi Coast, Italy
The ride along this coastline is half scenery, half anxiety. Twists roads and coastal views, lemon groves grow everywhere. Positano is the postcard town but Ravello has beautiful views without the tourist crush in a quieter setting.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
People (rather obviously) go for the overwater bungalows, since they are breathtaking—and unsurprisingly expensive—but even a budget stay on the main island gives you that same colorful lagoon. The water clarity here is unlike anywhere else I’ve never been in that I’ve swum.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Seeing the wildebeest migration in person makes any nature documentary pale into insignificance. Make sure to book well in advance through a reputable safari operator, as the good camps are already fully booked for one year ahead.
Iceland’s Golden Circle
Easy driving loop packed with geysers, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. Even the waterfall Gullfoss would be worth to take a flight for. The best way to explore this place is by hiring a car – public transport outside of Reykjavik practically does not exist.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Underwater like this one show you corals that reveal shades of purple, red and orange I ni not know exists on this planet while snorkeling or diving here. Operators recognise that climate change is a real and pressing issue, so encourage you to go sooner rather than later while those parts of the reef are still alive.
Cappadocia, Turkey
One of these is hot air balloons floating over the magical fairy chimney rock formations ashore at dawn. Always book with a licensed operator, and make sure they have a flexible weather policy as flights are often cancelled.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Sixteen waterfalls-linked terraced lakes, all an unnatural blue green. Wooden footpaths allow visitors to stroll directly over top of the water. Hit up a weekday if possible as weekends get filled in fast.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA
Midday light beams crisscrossing the slot canyon walls offer a one in a million photo op only found in the American Southwest. Admission is only allowed on guided tours, and slots fill weeks in advance at peak season.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Massive limestone karsts jutting out from emerald water by the thousands. The boat cruise itself is an overnight experience and viewing sunset and sunrise on deck was more memorable than any individual castle stop anyway.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni cheap is the biggest salt flat on planet Earth and it turns into a massive mirror during rainy season when you can see the sky so well that you forget where it you, ground. Bring sunglasses. The glare is intense.
Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Larger than Niagra, louder than you think possible, and all across the sky dust clouds miles away. The locals refer to it as — the smoke that thunders, and after standing next to it, you’ll understand very quickly why.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
These sandstone pillars reportedly inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. Courageous ones can walk the glass along cliffs, a little yikes for those who have acrophobia.
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Sweeping red dunes juxtaposed with stark white salt pan create an otherworldly scene of some of the most dramatic desert scenery in the world. If you ascend Dune 45 in the morning on a clear day, it is all shadows silhouetted across the sand.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Rugged mountains tumbling into fjords and fishing hamlets hidden in each cove. If you hope to see the northern lights, visit in winter and in summer for a taste of the midnight sun.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The largest religious structure in the world is worth more than a few hastily planned hours on one of your mornings. Allow a minimum of 2 full days to explore the temples and temple complexes (not just the main building that gets photographed).
Yosemite National Park, USA
The views of Half Dome and El Capitan grazing the skyline were nice, but the sprightly waterfalls in spring would be my surprise. During the spring, melting snow transforms Yosemite Falls into a full on raging beast that you might want to time your visit around.
Chefchaouen, Morocco
You wander through the narrow alleyways of the whole old town that is covered in many shades of blue, which makes it a dreamy way to wander. If you have a real camera, take it … phone cameras seem to struggle with this contrast here.
Faroe Islands
These islands are circled somewhere between Iceland and Norway — a clutch of dramatic, grass-roofed isles surrounded by windswept cliffs that make very few bucket lists but should be at the top of everyone’s.
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
This area wildlife has little fear of humans because predators never existed here like they did in other parts. It is a weird wonderful macabre surrealness when a giant tortoise walks by your feet.
Table Mountain Cape Town, South Africa
You gain here sweeping view all overhead the city and coastline in a cable car ride up. Conditions in the park can change rapidly, and low-lying “tablecloth” cloud cover frequently blankets the summit with little warning or time to react, so be sure to check for weather conditions before heading up.
Photography Tips Worth Knowing
The small habit improvements that made a bigger difference in my travel photos than any expensive camera upgrade ever did
Golden hour, aka the first and last hours of sunlight, provide softer shadows and warmer tones nearly anywhere on this list. The blue waters of Cappadocia, Sossusvlei, and Santorini all have hugely different appearances at noon versus sunrise.
Apps like Photo Pills will tell you exactly when the sun or moon will strike a particular angle at a specific spot in space, which may sound a bit obssessive until you’re at Antelope Canyon waiting for that famous light beam with so many other photographers…
A polarizerCaban is a straightforward tool to pull glare off water and add high contrast to sky (great matches in locations like Cimetière de la Madeleine lagoon, Plitvice Lakes or Great Barrier Reef). A low-cost accessory that really does so much more than its price suggests.
Also, remember to take some time off camera. Some of my most vivid memories of those trips are not attached to a single photo but guess what, that’s ok!
What I did wrong With These Trip Plans
When I first visited Santorini, I booked it during peak season and ended up more dodging tour groups than taking in the view. Lesson learned the hard way.
As for Machu Picchu, I made the mistake of underestimating altitude sickness… Cusco is over 11,000 feet up and I was dizzy an hour after arriving. Extra two days to acclimatize would have spared my rough first day on the hike.
I’d previously learned that every amazing place must have good cell service to navigate. Challenge Accepted, Iceland’s Highway Challenge. Getting offline maps through Google Maps or Maps. me before you land: so little step here, without the big nerves headache ahead.
Another mistake involved packing. I only packed one pair of shoes for Cappadocia (thinking sneakers can do it all). But uneven volcanic terrain obliterated that plan in less than a day. A more rugged hiking shoe would have made the entire trip much easier.
Earlier this year, I researched a local festival calendar before planning a trip to Angkor Wat — only to discover that half the hotels near the temple complex were booked when I went online. I also on-occasion check a little search for local holidays or festivities before nailing down any dates which has now fallen permanently on my dated pre-trip tick list.
And Start With These Simple Tips Before You Book Anything
And so, when it comes to finding cheap flights, first check the seasonal weather patterns for your destination months boom beforehand. A beautiful place in monsoon is a short, wet let down visit at best.
Before you buy, consider using flight comparison sites such as Skyscanner or Google Flights to see how prices are trending first. Prices to destinations like Bali or Santorini usually fall many weeks before peak travel dates.
Building up an app like PackPoint which generates a packing list relying on the climate and length of your trip at your destination removes so much guesswork.
Booking accommodation with services such as Airbnb or Booking. com allows you to compare reviews from real travellers instead of just glossy marketing photos.
Book any permits required at a destination (Machu Picchu, certain safari parks) months ahead too. Much sought after slots book up quickly, especially in summer and holiday periods.
This is a teel up and you will then use it so not necessary till you really need. Uncovered, a canceled flight or an illness abroad can ruin what was supposed to be an affordable trip.
Real-Life Examples From People I Know
One of my coworkers just went to Bora Bora for her anniversary and said the price of an overwater bungalow almost gave her a heart attack. Instead, she booked a beachfront room then paid to spend one night in the overwater bungalow only for fun and photos.
One of your mates does an overland trip around South East Asia and in the course of three weeks knocks off both Ha Long Bay and Angkor Wat. He said it was much better to pace himself than to fit in extra stops; by week two, fatigue was ruining some of the enjoyment.
Last spring, my uncle — a hiker who has literally spent decades checking places off his list — finally crossed Yosemite off after delaying the trip for more than ten years. The only thing he’d wished he had done was go on the hike sooner, because some of the physical demands will become greater as he gets older.
A very good friend from college actually saved for 2 years to be able to visit Iceland, Norway, and the Faroes all together. Later, she explained that separating the countries out onto separate future trips would’ve allow her to actually relax rather than be transferring at airports the entire time. Ever since I went on my first such trip, that advice has been with me.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Digital nomads can be amazingly talented researchers, but too often inspectors find that travel is only ever researched through a basic search engine query, which means they miss out on seasonal closures or local events clogging hotel availability. Just a bit of research can produce significant results.
Stuffing your itinerary with too many destinations in too short a time range leaves you tired instead of thrilled. Less places, better done is almost always better than more places less well done.
If you do not observe local customs or dress codes, particularly at places like Angkor Wat in Cambodia and parts of Morocco, discomfort — even being turned away at the door — can follow. Good News: A quick search around local customs before arrival made for a few less uncomfortable moments.
Another hidden budget killer are currency exchange fees. Contrary to this myth, there are products that help you save real amounts of money on your trip through different countries: by using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (like the ones offered through Chase or Capital One; I personally rely on either of these two for my travels).
I know one individual who spoiled their entire trip because they forgot to check the visa requirements until it was too late. And some countries need applications weeks before, not days.
Budgeting for These Trips
Money questions always arise when I share this list so let’s address them head on.
Bora Bora, the Serengeti and Bhutan-adjacent explorations through Southeast Asia are generally on the more-expensive end. Flights by themselves can take a major bite out of a budget, and accommodation in remote or hot areas is rarely cheap.
In contrast, Cappadocia, Chefchaouen and most of Vietnam are not as expensive once you arrive. Food, public transportation and even some tours can be close to the 1/3 of what you pay in Western Europe or North America.
A travel budget stretching tip for scoring cheap flights is to plan your travel at shoulder season, about four to eight weeks before or after peak tourist months. Prices plummet, crowds ebb and the weather is typically still mild enough to partake in all that any particular place has to provide.
It sounded ridiculously simple, but months ahead of the holidays I opened a savings account designated for those unanticipated expenses (and even automated small weekly transfers through my banking app) and that made more difference than I ever thought possible. Knowing that number was climbing kept you motivated in the dark days when work started to drag on and travel seemed like a distant memory. But even a paltry twenty bucks a week quickly starts to make life difficult in terms of your flight budget come booking season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pick which spot to visit first?
Pick the destination that suits your budget, vacation days and personal comfort with travel early on. Iceland or Croatia are probably easier for a first-time international traveler than multi-flight, visa applications.
Is it better to visit these places alone or in groups?
Either method works depending on your personality and where you are headed. Solo travel in areas like Kyoto was quiet and contemplative, while the Serengeti greatly benefited from a professional group guide that pointed out some very small wildlife I probably would have missed on my own.
When should I book these trips?
If you want to go somewhere like Machu Picchu or on certain African safaris where a permit is needed, they are often sold out three to twelve months out. Destinations that are more flexible, like the Amalfi Coast or Croatia, can usually be booked as little as only a few months out without too much fuss.
What countries do I need travel vaccinations for?
Vaccination is required or recommended for travel to some destinations in Africa and Southeast Asia. Most vaccinations require a few weeks of lead time, so checking in with your local travel clinic (or the CDC’s travel health page) about two months before you leave is advisable.
Final Thoughts
All these 25 venues do not require you to be an all-out traveller or spend lavishly. Some, of course, need to be planned well in advance and some can just take a flight and your only byty atylky.
Having chased a sunset in a handful of these places, what I learned is that the memory rarely comes as a result of that postcard-perfect image. From the random chat with a stranger, from the wrong turn that brought you to someplace better or when we finally sit still and just watch where we are.
All of the trips on this list taught me something new that I didn’t expect to learn before traveling there; if Santorini taught me anything at all, it was patience with crowds. Sometimes the unpleasantness increases the reward—and that was a lesson Machu Picchu taught me. Kyoto taught me that quiet was as memorable as spectacle.
Pick one from this list. Stop planning to look at flights someday this week. That version of you will be thanking the one who booked it today.
