The Ultimate Luxury Travel Bucket List

Looking to level up your luxury holiday game and tick off some of the world's most amazing travel experiences? Here at Elegant Resorts, we're travel experts with knowledge of the best experiences in all four corners of the globe. If you want to satisfy your wanderlust and really see the beauty the world has to offer, read on to discover our top 60 luxury travel bucket list experiences. From foodie delights to cultural experiences you'll never forget, we've broken the list into six sections perfect for each kind of traveller.

10 Heart-Racing Adventure Expeditions

All travel includes an element of adventure, but for those who like to seek out life's greatest thrills and toughest challenges, there are some experiences that stand head-and-shoulders above the others. From treks across some of the world's most challenging terrains to activities that will get your heart racing, discover the top 10 travel adventure experiences.

If you are looking to push yourself and follow in the footsteps of some of the world's greatest explorers, there is no greater challenge than climbing a mountain. A trip to Mount Everest Basecamp in Nepal is an obvious choice, alternatively, why not journey to Africa and try your hand at summiting Mount Kilimanjaro? If you'd rather stay closer to sea level, South America offers two experiences to pursue: : hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and trekking through the Amazon Rainforest.

A fan of extreme sports? You cannot beat skiing in the Alps (and you can do so in style by staying in a luxury ski chalet ). Another heart-racing experience is bungee jumping in Queenstown, spending time with an indigenous tribe or enjoying a night under the stars camping in the Australian Bush. Alternatively, for something even more laid back, enjoy the height of luxury on the Rocky Mountaineer train as you glide through the American Rockies.

If you really want to take the road less travelled why not become one of a small group of people and step foot on the seventh continent, Antarctica?

Our exclusive partnership with The Adventure Boutique means we can offer luxury adventure travel holidays that are totally unique and can give you experiences you're simply unable to get from the standard travel company.

The Ultimate Adventure Experiences Bucket List:

Visit Everest Basecamp in the Himalayas
Summit one of the world's largest mountains
Spend time with an indigenous tribe
Trek through the Amazon Jungle
Discover Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail
Go skiing or snowboarding in the Alps
Go bungee jumping in Auckland, New Zealand
Explore the Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer
Spend a night camping in the Australian Bush
Visit Antarctica, the seventh continent

10 Unforgettable Cultural Experiences

Being able to immerse yourself in another culture allows you to experience the world through a different lens and can give you life lessons and insights you'll hold dear forever. Whether it's immersing yourself in the day-to-day or getting involved with a local celebration, discover our top ten cultural experiences to take part in around the world.

If you are looking for an uplifting and welcoming experience that taps straight into a country's culture, immersing yourself in a public holiday or celebration is something well worth coordinating. Two unforgettable examples are Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, in Mexico or ringing in the new year in China.

Religious festivities can also be enlightening and inspiring experiences, even for those who don't follow a faith. Why not visit resplendent Dubai during the Holy Month of Ramadan, or make the pilgrimage to be in the crowd at one of the Pope's Audiences in Vatican City?

Some events are globally enjoyed but best experienced from the front row. Take the Monaco Grand Prix for example. Smell the rubber burning and watching the chequered flag wave rather than simply catching the action on TV - we assure you, it's heart-racing!

The arts are another massive part of what makes a country's culture and experiencing them in an authentic way whilst travelling can be enlightening. Wander the biggest art museum in the world at the Louvre in Paris (and see the famous Mona Lisa), listen to jazz music in the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana or embrace opera in Austria. Sometimes, culture doesn't have to be about big events and heritage, it can simply be about day-to-day life and how the locals spend their time. In Bangkok, take to the water and shop in the iconic floating markets for fresh fruit or even a memento to bring home. In Marrakech, shopping is a much more frenetic affair as you wind through Morocco's most iconic souks and barter for everything from lamps to clothing.

The Ultimate Cultural Experiences Bucket List:

Celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico
Celebrate Chinese New Year
Watch the Pope speak at the Vatican
Watch the opera in Vienna
Visit the floating markets of Bangkok
Listen to music on the streets of New Orleans
Barter at a souk in Marrakech
Explore the Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix
Wander the biggest art museum in the world
Spend Ramadan in Dubai

10 Foodie Pleasures and Delights

Enjoying local delicacies can be one of the best (and most delicious) ways to celebrate and learn more about a new culture. Even before your trip, you can enjoy some of the most popular dishes from the place you intend to travel to get a taste of the adventure in store for you. However, this doesn't compare to the authenticity of trying something in its birthplace. From the fresh, local ingredients used to the rituals around certain dishes and experiences, discover the must-try foodie Bucket List items from around the world that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

When it comes to foods to try, the options are infinite, but we've narrowed down the most iconic experiences. Start your day in the big apple with a bagel for an authentic New York experience. Or, whilst in Mexico, make sure you try a taco or two to taste its delicious flavours when created by masters. In Asia, Peking duck in Beijing is a time-honoured dish with historic significance.

For some items, it's not just about the food but the experience behind it. Of course, every person who has a passion for food should visit a Michelin-star restaurant for a one-of-a-kind luxury food experience. Another way to really get to the heart of something is to see where it originates from, so from a visit to coffee plantations in the Americas to wine-tasting in a vineyard, see every part of the process. Want to get involved in the process? Why not take a pasta-making class in Italy and learn a life skill?

It's not just amazing dishes you can try, but drinks as well. There is nothing more relaxing than enjoying a rum cocktail in the Caribbean whilst unwinding on a white sand beach. Got your heart set on Europe? Enjoying a glass of Port in Porto and the Douro Valley is a must. Or, for something entirely different, when in Japan you should take part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

The Ultimate Foodie Experiences Bucket List:

Get a fresh bagel in New York
Drink Port in its birthplace of Porto
Try a punchy rum cocktail in the Caribbean
Eat an authentic taco in Mexico
Eat time-honoured Peking duck in Beijing
Listen to music on the streets of New Orleans
Eat at a Michelin-star restaurant
Take part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony
Visit a coffee plantation in the Americas
Take part in wine tasting at a vineyard
Make fresh pasta in Italy

10 Attractions Revealing Human History

With thousands of years of history to explore across the globe, travelling is one of the best ways to see some awe-inspiring locations which date back millions of years. From ancient ruins to ritualistic monuments and temples, the world really is your ancient oyster.

There are two cities in Europe that are must-visit destinations for history lovers, and the first is Rome. Stand in the arena of the Colosseum as ancient echoes of gladiator battles swirl around you. Or leave Italy altogether and visit Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, the smallest country in the world located in the Italian capital. If you've already conquered Rome, nearby Athens in Greece should be next on your list, and your first day here should be spent enjoying the once-noble Acropolis including the iconic Parthenon.

China also has plenty to offer when it comes to landmarks in human history. Of course, The Great Wall is the first place that comes to mind, but there is also the Terracotta Army in Xian, a chilling depiction of the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Set in stone, these souls have stood still in time since 210 BCE before being uncovered in 1974.

There are more architectural greats the world over which had an important role in human history. Angkor Wat in Cambodia is one of the greatest of them all, a Buddhist temple and the largest religious monument in the world. In Jordan, you can walk the Siq Gorge to uncover the Rose City of Petra, carved into the red cliffs thousands of years ago. Journey to Mexico to explore the Mayan ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula, including the striking pyramids and temples of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. For something with a bit more romance, why not tour the grandest declaration of love in Agra, the Taj Mahal?

Finally, if it's an ancient mystery you're looking for, discover the moai on Easter Island in Polynesia for a Pacific Island holiday with a twist. Carved from volcanic rock, nearly 300 heads have been found on the island, but archaeologists are still unsure as to their exact purpose. Ancient gods, tribe leaders, beloved family members - why don't you visit and discover what you think they might symbolise?

The Ultimate Historic Experiences Bucket List:

Stand in the arena of the Colosseum
Visit the ancient city of Petra, Jordan
See the Terracotta Army in China
Visit the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
Walk a section of the Great Wall of China
Explore the ancient Mayan Ruins in Mexico
See the ruins of Greece's once-noble Acropolis
See a grand declaration of love at the Taj Mahal, India
See the Easter Island statues
Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia

10 Sentimental Holiday Moments

If you're looking for a holiday filled with sentimental memories and romantic experiences, then here at Elegant Resorts we have a whole host of holidays filled with love and treasurable moments. From meandering down the Venice canals, making a wish at the Trevi Fountain to sharing a kiss under the Eiffel Tower, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to special locations.

If you're looking to enjoy a European getaway then there is a plethora of fantastic locations to choose from, the first of those being Venice. Situated in north-eastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region, Venice is renowned for its romantic vibes and picturesque scenery. Why not enjoy a romantic gondola ride down the floating city and see the sights as the traditional Italians have for hundreds of years? Or, in the country's capital, Rome, and throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to make a wish. If romance is what you're after, then there are fewer moments more magical than sharing a kiss under the Eiffel Tower in Paris or watching the Northern Lights glisten above the skies in Northern Europe.

If you often feel at one with nature, then there are a few special locations that are the perfect choice for an upcoming and sentimental holiday, the first being the Maldives where you can see the glow of the Sea of Stars, a phenomenon that occurs during late summer in the reefs of the Maldives, caused by bioluminescent phytoplankton. Venture to the tropical island of Sri Lanka and watch as baby turtles hatch on the sandy beaches right before your eyes, or see the stunning pink cherry blossom in Japan, a stunning sight perfect for those who love a spot of photography.

What better thing to wish for than a holiday on your own private island? A wish that we can easily make come true! There is nothing more romantic than watching a sunset in a sun-kissed location, so why not book a couples' trip to Santorini where you'll be able to watch the sunrise and sunset with your loved ones around you.

The Ultimate Sentimental Experiences Bucket List:

Chase the Northern Lights
Take a romantic gondola ride in Venice
Watch the sunset over Santorini
See the glow of the Sea of Stars in the Maldives
Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain, Rome
Watch baby turtles hatch in Sri Lanka
See the cherry blossom in Japan
Browse a Christmas Market in Europe
Share a kiss under the Eiffel Tower
Holiday on your own private island

10 Remarkable Wildlife Encounters

Is discovering the local wildlife your favourite part of exploring the world? There are so many amazing animals on this planet and being able to see some of the rarest, most spectacular, and most beautiful is an amazing way to connect with mother nature.

If it's seeking rare and elusive animals that captures your interest, there are some that should be at the top of your list. In Chengdu, you can visit the Chengdu Research Base to see clumsy and loveable giant pandas as well as the work that goes into breeding programmes and preserving their habitat. Nearby in India, head into the dense jungle and see beautiful tigers in their natural habitat. Or, why not take an African safari holiday and search out the big five - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. It's not just in warmer climates that there are amazing creatures to be found. Canada offers the perfect base for two of our bucket list suggestions: whale watching and bear watching. Thanks to its stunning natural landscapes, Canada's wildlife is rugged and relatively undisturbed, and when visiting you can journey away from towns and cities to seek it out. Or journey south of the border to try your hand at being a cowboy and explore some of America's frontier by staying and working on an American ranch - yee-haw!

It isn't just whales that are worth searching for in our seas. A luxury holiday in the Indian Ocean might offer the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind, but it's also one of the best snorkelling and scuba diving spots in the world, with reefs teeming with colourful fish and turtles. Or, if you want something with a bit more thrill, visit South Africa and cage dive with sharks including great whites!

Finally, for those who adore the natural world and want to follow in the footsteps of the greats, the ultimate experience has to be a trip to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. The location of Charles Darwin's most famous discovery, here you can see a volcanic landscape occupied primarily by fauna, from giant tortoises to sea lions and penguins to iguanas.

The Ultimate Wildlife Experiences Bucket List:

See apes in their natural habitat
Spot the Big Five on an African Safari
See pandas in China
See a wild tiger in one of India's National Parks
Snorkel in the Indian Ocean
Stay on a working ranch in America
Go whale watching in the Arctic Ocean
Go bear watching in Canada
Visit the Galapagos Islands
Swim with sharks in South Africa

60 unforgettable experiences that'll help you see the world in all of its beauty. From ancient wonders that can highlight the history of man on Earth to some of the best wildlife experiences and from heart-racing adventures to sentimental experiences, whatever type of traveller you are, there is something to dream about.

If you are looking for advice on ticking off any of the items above or have your own bucket list dreams that you want to tick off, feel free to contact our Luxury Travel Specialists who are on hand and ready to help. Or, for more articles like this, check out our luxury travel magazine, Elegant Traveller.

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