When you see your dream trip on the Travel Channel, you can say, “I’ve been there.” On a recent poll on the World Travel List, I asked travel fans, “What’s your trip of a lifetime?” or “If you could go anywhere in the world, one place, where would it be”? While there are seemingly an endless amount of adventures that a travel aficionado can take, here are ten journeys of a lifetime. Whether based on luxury or adventure, or perhaps seeing a “wonder of the world” or even another world entirely. Travel is the spice of life. You cannot experience travel by reading guide books or watching a travel program.
Bora Bora, Tahiti
So much has been written and said about Bora Bora, yet mere words cannot describe the magic of this Polynesian paradise. A hotel stay over the water on stilts on Bora, Bora is unquestionably a trip of a lifetimes. Bora Bora is the most mythical of all Pacific islands. Honeymooners and romantics with a wanderlust for adventure seek out the Polynesian paradise with Mount Otemanu seemingly piercing out into the sky. But the real draw is the over the water bungalows above the crystal lagoon that offers that magical stay that few places in the world can match. From an aerial view the turquoise waters shimmer and sparkle over the blue lagoon. Perhaps if you’re ever going to splurge on a hotel experience of a lifetime consider a stay the luxurious Four Seasons. The Resort offers 107 spacious hideaways nestling around Bora Bora lagoon and its outer beaches. The 100 over-water bungalows perch on stilts above the turquoise lagoon. On the shore, seven beachfront villas nestle along a stretch of semi-private beach. All overlook the pristine waters and views of spectacular Mount Otemanu. Swim with turtles, snorkel, scuba dive, learn to kite surf.
Wildebeest Migration, Tanzania, Kenya
The yearly Wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti, and Kenya’s Masai Mara just might be called, “the greatest animal show on earth.” It is quite a spectacle to see thousands of Wildebeest and Zebras migrate to greener pastures as the seasons change. Lions, Cheetahs and other pray follow waiting for an opportunity to strike the strays and the weak. The precise timing of the Wildebeest Migration changes annually and it is a very unpredictable and spontaneous natural event. The calving season takes place in the Serengeti between the months of January and mid-March before the Wildebeest Migration begins heading towards the western Serengeti in June. The best time to see the migration is usually between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the famous Grumeti River.
There are a few excellent camps in this area where you can stay to witness this natural phenomenon. If you are in the Masai Mara you can expect the wildebeest to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August and September and remain in the Mara between October and November. Between December and January the wildebeest gradually begin their migration back towards the Serengeti. To really have an experience of a lifetime take a hot air balloon ride and watch the migratory patterns from high above in the sky. From an aerial view one can see for miles the migration taking place.
Cruise Antarctica
Not your average fun in the sun cruise when your sailing to Antarctica. Whale watching, visits to penguin rookeries and cruises through glittering iceberg fields. Observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags. Most Antarctic cruises begin from the southernmost Argentinian city of Ushuaia. You will explore remote icebergs and islands by inflatable zodiac, and on some tours take in an overnight kayaking experience, sleep in tents, and even climb to the summit of a snowy peak to take in breathtaking 360 degree views of sculpted icebergs. Then slide down a 1500 feet ride back down on a toboggan. You will see Orcas and Minke whales Become an explorer, travel through Drake’s Passage and Cape Horn. A truly breathtaking experience is seeing snow falling
Choose wisely when picking a cruise operator for this once in a lifetime experience. A reputable operator should know the terrain, and be able to show you unique experiences.
Also based on your budget the size of the ship and the number of passengers. The shore excursions make the journey. Polar Cruises is an expert in small-ship travel to Antarctica with experts and naturalists on board who will show you an unforgettable experience.
Explore A Lost Civilization in Machu Picchu, Peru
For many unforgettable journeys getting there is a large part of the adventure. Never has that been more than getting from Lima to Machu Picchu. The journey begins by flying from Lima to the colonial and charming city of Cuzco. There are two ways to reach Machu Picchu once in Cuzco. The first is by train on a rail journey of three hours and forty minutes to 4 hours on the Vistadome or the spacious Hiram Bingham luxury train. Train travel is the quickest and easiest way to visit Machu Picchu. During the trip, you can enjoy delicious snacks and hot and cold. Coaches recently renewed, which are equipped with panoramic windows that allow you to enjoy a spectacular view and take wonderful pictures. If your adventurous the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is known as the most famous trekking route in South America by the conjunction of different elements has to offer, climbing through mountains, jungle and even crossing water. This is long walk through nature and beautiful landscapes. Now if you’re really adventurous you can travel by mountain bike.
Machu Picchu is located half way between the Andes and the Amazon rain forest, and is known as the main citadel of Inca civilization and was a lost civilization for many centuries until rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in the early 20th century. The ruins of Machu Picchu today are a Unesco World Heritage site since 1983, as part of a whole cultural and ecological known as the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. A must see as far as wonders of world go. Accommodations range from Guest Houses to the
five star Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. It is located approximately eight thousand two hundred feet above sea level and can boast about its location as it’s the only hotel located inside the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu.
Bring your walking shoes and climb to the summit of the highest peak, Huayna Picchu for a two hour climb with spectacular views of the citadel and the valley below.
Santorini, Greece
The Mediterranean is dotted throughout with many beautiful islands. In fact, Greece alone has over 3,000 islands. But out of all the islands in the world, perhaps that most beautiful is Santorini, Greece. It’s not an island, it is indeed a volcano. Santorini is consistently voted in the top 10 islands in the world by world renowned travel experts, myself included. One of the most mystical and romantic places in the world. It owns its curved “croissant” shape to the tremendous volcanic eruption that took place 3.500 years ago and literally sank the largest part of the island into the deep waters of the Aegean Sea, creating a seven mile crater, the famous Caldera. It is well known around the world for its stunning sunsets and the most breathtaking views of the endless blue of the Aegean Sea.
The architecture of Santorini is also unique with white cave houses literally perched on the highest point of the steep black cliffs, offering amazing views and stabilized temperatures of 18-20 Celsius at all seasons.
Many stories and myths are weaved around Santorini.
The most famous of these stories is that the tidal wave that was caused from the volcanic explosion back on 1.550BC completely destroyed the legendary lost city of Atlantis which was supposed to be located somewhere between Santorini and Crete.
Visit the black san beach of Perissa. Stay high on the hill in the village of Oia. Note that staying in the hillside cliffs of Oia and Fira can be very expensive in the peak summer months. Consider Santorini in May, September, October.
www.santorini-villa-thebirds.com
The Kingdom of Bhutan
The Himalyan Kingdom of Bhutan in one word may be described as “mysterious.” Also known as the ‘Land of Thunder Dragon” Bhutan many times is referred to the last Shangri-la on the planet. Surrounded by India and China for centuries Bhutan was cut off from the rest of the world. Once opened to travelers, only a lucky few are let in each year. If you’re looking for an unspoiled country combining vast mountainous views, nature, adventure travel and culture, then this Buddhist paradise is you’re place. Bhutan is a country where one must take a tour.
Join our marvelous tour packages in the Himalayas of the mystical land of Bhutan that combines nature, culture and adventure in a nutshell. Discover the cultural and natural wonders of this last remaining Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom of the Himalaya. Behold your surprise when you walk through the ancient streets full with pagoda architecture of the temples would definitely prove to be a truly Asian experience. Experience the wondrous Bhutanese countryside via hiking, trekking and mountain biking. A journey that takes you up to the dizzying heights, through rich coniferous forests, glacial lakes and across beautiful passes that offer amazing views of snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just a snorkeler, the world’s largest reef with its crystalline, azure and turquoise waters will leave you breathless. Am I part of some elaborate surreal painting or is this for real. From the sky these tiny ameba like specs are full of vibrant life dotting the sea to seemingly no end. All of the islands in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region are protected National Parks, home to thousands of endangered species of birds, coral, fish and other marine and wildlife. There is something for everybody in the Great Barrier Reef. From five star resorts on Green Island to camping trips on Fitzroy Island. Internationally acclaimed, luxurious, Great Barrier Reef islands Bedarra Island, Double Island, Haggerstone Island and Lizard Island are all accessible by boat and/or light plane from Cairns.
The area is filled wanderlust. There is so much to explore and do on the islands of Cairns & Great Barrier Reef. Here’s just a small taste of the activities you can experience when you visit: Snorkeling and marine biologist guided snorkel tours, Guided glass bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, Sea kayaking & guided sea kayak tours, scuba diving, helmet diving, jet skiing, Horse riding, swimming, lazing on the beach, Interpretive national park walking and hiking trails, spa treatments, private gourmet picnics & beach front dining, Beach volleyball, Scenic helicopter flight, Parasailing, Golf, Jet skiing, windsurfing and catamaran sailing.
Provence and The French Riviera
The Cote d’Azure, or French Riviera has long been a playground for the rich and famous, and even a few not so famous folk like myself. Geographically, situated in a perfect setting guaranteeing near perfect weather the majority of the year, sheltered from the elements by the inland Alps. Experience hot Mediterranean days, the smell of jasmine in the evening as warm breezes pass you by. The sunsets of burnt orange fill the sky. So many photographic moments. An old barn in a lavender field in Provence, the promenade in Nice, the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo. Is it any wonder travelers flock to this region in any season. The French Riviera beaches are very popular, and full to the brim with sun worshipers and bathers in the summer. You can even get married in a French Medieval castle right on the sea.
The French Riviera is filled with a plethora of things to do. Art lovers will be astounded by the variety of arts, glass work in Biot, pottery in Vallauris. Sports including sailing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, challenging skiing will thrill beginners and experts alike, mountain climbing, exploring caves. The Riviera is 365 day playground. If all the worlds a stage then you will one no bigger. The International Cannes Film Festival, the Carnival of Nice, sneak into Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix. Smaller local festivals abound. The Fete des Mais, the Medieval Festival in Haut-de-cagnes, the Chestnut Festival in Isola, Hivernales Dance Festival, Avignon. There really is something special to do every day of the year.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The Temple of Angkor Wat is one of the most sacred places on the planet. Over the past ten years ruins located in the then tiny town of Siem Reap, in the Cambodian jungle, is now well on the tourist map. But that does not mean that you should not make an excursion to Cambodia. Yes, Angkor Wat has grown tenfold in popularity over the last decade. The little town of Siem Reap is now densely populated filled with hotels, bars, and restaurants. But the main attraction are the ruins of Angkor. Spread over a vast area, the Angkor Wat is an ancient temple in the city. The architecture of the temple reflects traditional ornate and classical design. The temple has five beautiful towers with a lotus shaped dome,which are all carved artistically with models of apsaras . Also known as the temple mountain, this temple is dedicated to a Hindu God, Vishnu. If you are interested in history, this place merits a visit, for its deep historical relevance in ancient dynasties. One can easily spend three to four days exploring the numerous hidden areas of this temple city.
There are numerous accommodations now in Siem Reap. From budget travel guest houses, boutique hotels, and the grand dame, the five star, Le Grand d’Angkor is the Raffles property. Since the early 1930s, a visit to the ancient temples of Angkor has been synonymous with a stay at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. Located in the heart of Siem Reap, a mere 8 kilometres away from the majestic Angkor Wat, this leading Siem Reap luxury hotel offers convenient access to some of the most intriguing ruins of the temple complex.
www.diethelmtravel.com/cambodia
Outer Space, The Final Frontier
Thanks to the ingenuity and drive of our friend and space travel pioneer, Richard Branson, space travel is now possible. Flights depart from the Virgin Galactic space center in New Mexico in the United States for your gateway to space. Perhaps this is the ultimate splurge on travel of a lifetime. At a mere cost of around 10 times more expensive than Singapore or Emirate suite rooms, it’s actually quite a bargain. The super spacecraft cost for your flight in the final frontier is $200,000 per person. You had better be serious as a $20,000 deposit is required. There is said to be around 500 ticket holders in line to make the gaunt with Virgin Galactic. Six lucky passengers and two pilots per trip. Its planned trajectory will circumnavigate the Earth’s atmosphere at 70,000 feet. The sub orbital journey will also have a short period of weightlessness. The spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo, will be carried to about 16 kilometers or 52000 ft by a carrier aircraft, White Knight II. At that point, when the carrier aircraft reaches its maximum height, the SpaceShipTwo vehicle will separate and continue to over 100 km (the Kármán line, a common definition of where “space” begins). The time from liftoff of the White Knight booster carrying SpaceShipTwo until the touchdown of SpaceShipTwo after the sub-orbital flight will be about 3.5 hours. The sub-orbital flight itself will only be a small fraction of that time. The weightlessness will last approximately 6 minutes. Passengers will be able to release themselves from their seats during these 6 minutes and float around the cabin. Got an $200,000 to spare? You too can have your Star Trek moment.
About Nick: At any early age Nick Kontis took a back pack and went around the world. Upon his return he founded the first travel agency specializing is discount around the world airfares. Having sent over 10,000 travelers around the world, Mr. Kontis also continues to travel the world.
You need to be a member of Tripatini to add comments!
Join Tripatini