While many of us probably won’t be doing much travelling for the next little while due to the COVID-19 crisis taking over our lives, it never hurts to dream. This crisis will eventually pass, we will re-open our airports and our hearts to new adventures, and when that day comes, I want to be ready! I’ve previously shared my “Places I Want To Visit Before I’m 30” list over here, and with my 30th coming up this year, that list is about to expire. Had it not been for the Coronavirus, I would have managed to tick 7 out of the 10 things that I wanted to do on that list in 3 years, which is a win if you ask me. Out of my Bucket List places I have been to Prague, Bali, Amsterdam, London, New York and Santorini, and had it not been for the virus, I would have ticked off Maldives in May for our honeymoon(we have now moved it to October, so it’s still coming!). However a new decade needs new dreams, right? Here is my Travel Bucket List For The Places I want To Visit (and things I want to do there) in the next 5 years, share yours with me and lets dream together!
See the magnificent Machu Picchu in Peru
This has been on my list for a few years now, and when it comes to South America, this will probably be the first place that I visit. This place fascinates me, and I honestly cannot wait to see it in person one day. Tucked away in the rocky countryside of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate of sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years the abandoned citadel’s existence was a secret known only a few in the region, until it was re-discovered in 1911. Machu Picchu stretches over 11kms, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different levels. Now I am also realistic and I can tell you that I will not be hiking the Inca Trail to get to Machu Picchu. I will indeed be taking the train one day and enjoying this amazing sight 😉
Ride a camel through a Moroccan Dessert
Another place that is high up on my list to visit, is Morocco. I have been dreaming about Marrakesh, Casablanca and Fez for years, and I really hope that this is something that I can make come true in the next few years. Just the thought of Moroccan food makes me want to book a ticket there right away – slow-cooked Moroccan tagine, couscous with roasted veggies, Bissara soup and Moroccan eggplant fritters are all calling my name right now. Add the beautiful architecture, rich history and all of the great outfit backdrop opportunities, and you have my next dream travel destination!
Stay in a glass igloo in Rovaniemi, Finland
This is a far reach, and maybe something that I will do closer to my 40th birthday, but it’s such a dream! I have been to Finland before, but only to its capital Helsinki. Seeing the Northern Lights is such a bucket list experience, and when I do it, I want to do properly, by staying in a glass igloo that overlooks the night sky. Seeing the amazing Aurora Borealis is of course never a guarantee, but it is something that I will be chasing sometime in my life! This is of course very pricey, so I might as well go ahead and start my “Northern Lights” fund right now.
Visit Hoi An in Vietnam
I must be honest in saying that I am not super attracted to the Eastern part of the world, and Asia doesn’t often feature on my lists. I’ve been to Bali and I loved it, but I’ve never wanted to visit many other countries on that side of the world. Vietnam is the exception for me here, because something about this country really calls my name. I especially want to visit the ancient town of Hoi An to try some of Vietnam’s best restaurants, best shopping, and best historic sites. I’m also really interested in its history, and really want to visit the museums dedicated to the Vietnam War and learn more about it. Of course, there are also the gorgeous scenic beaches and the delicious food, so I hope that I get to visit this country sometime in the next 5 years!
Have one awesome party in Ibiza, Spain
My friend is having her bachelorette party there in September, so if the situation around the virus gets better soon, I will be booking that ticket to Spain. If the situation does not get better, then I will be having my own “delayed” bachelorette party in Ibiza next year ;). I feel like Ibiza is something to do while you are still young and it’s an experience of a lifetime. I hope I get to do it for just 1 night this year, because we all know that after the way 2020 started, we all need a big party!
Ride the tram in Lisbon, Portugal
I almost did this in 2017, when Steve and I had our tickets booked to visit Portugal that August. However life had other plans and we broke up for 8 months that June, so our tickets ended up being returned, and my dream of riding a tram in the colourful city of Lisbon was put off. I am putting it on my bucket list back on now, because even though it’s been 3 years, this is still something that I really want to do! I have visited a lot of European cities, but this one I have yet to enjoy, and I want to do it soon! I want to admire the city from its gorgeous Miradouros (also known as viewpoints), drink Porto wine, and stroll along Lisbon’s pink street while eating Pasteis De Nata.
Do the Route 66 in America
I finally got to visit America for the first time last year, when I went to New York. It was crazy, it was overwhelming and sadly I just did not have enough time for anything as I was there for work. However I did get an awesome 10 year USA visa from it, so it only makes sense for me to head back to the States! Los Angeles was always on my Bucket List, so I really hope to do the famous Route 66 one day and finish what I started with America. Route 66 spans over 8 states- California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, starting in Chicago and ending in Los Angeles. It has everything that I still want to see in the States, like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles and the Big Bend National Park in Texas. Steve and I really want to do this before we have a family, so hopefully this will be a 2021 journey!
Witness the Cherry Blossom season in Tokyo, Japan
Do I really have to explain this one? What a dream! The only reason I have yet to do it, is because it is simply too expensive! Plus the timing has never worked out for me, as the Cherry Blossom season happens in the first 2-3 weeks of March. It just looks absolutely amazing, plus Tokyo has lots of Cat Cafes, so I’m in!
Visit Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya
This is one of those Insta-worthy places I saw on Instagram, but to be fair I have been wanting to visit Kenya for years! I always say that I don’t feel like I have visited Africa enough for the fact that I live on this continent, and my plan in the next 10 years is definitely to see more of this beautiful place. I really want to go to Egypt, Tunisia, Botswana, Namibia and Kenya. I’ve been eyeing out Mombasa in Kenya for a while for a little getaway, and of course the Serengeti. But this Giraffe Manor is something that keeps creeping up and that I really want to do! Of course visiting it isn’t cheap, as 1 night in this super exclusive hotel (it only has 12 rooms) is R13 000, but I think it just might be worth it.
What’s on your Bucket List? Lets dream together!
*All images sourced from Google are not my own
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