29 of the ultimate bucket list destinations around the world

Writing bucket lists is a dangerous hobby.

You can spend hours reading about dream destinations without ever setting foot outside your home. We’ve all lusted over travel magazines and gazed at photo galleries from the safety of our own bedrooms.

It’s time to put that wanderlust into action. The new year is the perfect time to start crossing off some of these off your holiday shopping list - some of them might be closer than you think. Start planning time off work, setting aside money for souvenirs and brushing up on languages.

We’ve rounded up 29 of the best bucket list holidays, with some classic go-tos and some unexpected outliers.

They all have one thing in common: they're unforgettable experiences – from sunbathing on high in Santorini to watching icebergs crash in Iceland.

1. See Santorini

The white walls of Santorini have to be seen to be believed. And that’s not too much of a chore – when done from an infinity pool, overlooking the blues of the Aegean. Skip summer’s party season and head there in late spring. Same island, less company.

2. Swim in Iceland's Blue Lagoon

Iceland’s not just about the Northern lights - there's also time for unforgettable indulgence. Unwind in its geothermal spas; the bluest lagoons you'll ever see. Here’s photographic proof that it’s the 2017 destination of choice.

3. New Zealand's South Island

Yes, it’s far away. But a journey to New Zealand’s South Island is worth its weight in tourist snaps. There are almost too many things to do in New Zealand – sailing, trekking, horse-riding – so we’ll settle for gawping at the scenery.

4. Cruise down the Amazon

The Amazon isn’t for the casual tourist; it’s wildlife overload. Take a river cruise, become a nature expert and catch some pink dolphins.

5. Track the Incas in Peru

Peru’s the place to be but it’s not just for trendy tourists. The Inca trail to Machu Picchu is one of the best ways to gawp at human history.

6. Lavender season in Provence

Does anything sound more romantic than Provence’s lavender fields? Endless rows of purple that smells as good as they look. Go in late June to see the season in full force.

7. Roadtrip through California

Roadtrip through California and take in some iconic scenery. This has all the makings of a great movie; marvel at human engineering of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and nature's handiwork at Big Sur, on California's central coast. Finish up in L.A. for a Hollywood ending.

8. Travel to Cinque Terre

Italy’s rocky coastline is a UNESCO World heritage site where the pastel houses cling onto the cliff edge like goats. You can spend your time trekking from village to village or just sunbathe on the rocks. It’s worth planning your trip in advance; tourist season packs these villages to the - pleasingly tattered - rafters.

9. See the real Tokyo

Forget Lost in Translation and embrace the authentic side of Tokyo. There’s more to the city than neon lights and karaoke rooms. Visit the Jimbocho neighbourhood with its 180 second hand bookshops. Seek out culinary inspiration at the Isetan Department Store food hall where the candy looks like lip gloss. Or spend a cosy night in a sleep capsule at the Siesta hotel. Tie in a Christmas or New Year trip with a ski season - the ski resorts' snow monkeys are an eigth wonder of the world.

10. Marvel at Gaudi’s Barcelona

Spend hot days and long nights in the Spanish city which doubles as an architectural dream. There's coastline, a clifftop chapel and the best unfinished cathedral in the world. Gaudi’s designs are an unforgettable backdrop to a city which heaves with good food, great bars and a never-ending Picasso museum.

11. Modern art in Marfa

Hidden in Texas’ vast desert is this arts hub where the art galleries look like spaceships. Make like the Instagram pack and book in at the El Cosmico campsite, sleeping in a trailer under the Texan stars. At the Chinati Foudnation, you'll find Carl Andre, Claes Oldenberg and Dan Flavin. Don’t miss the Instagram opportunity at the fake Prada pop-up, just outside the town on the highway. Beyonce snapped a photo there in 2012 and two years later, Vogue labelled it a ‘pop culture landmark’.

12. Wildebeest migration in the Serengeti

If Planet Earth 2 has got you craving nature, watching the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti is a must. Over 1.5 million wildebeest head for dry refuge in the Maasai Mara in May and witnessing the phenomenon is the ultimate in travel luxury.

13. Climb Skellig Islands

The wonderfully atmospheric backdrop for the latest Star Wars. The monastery on Skellig Michael - the larger of the two Skellig islands – was a travel destination for Christians in the sixth century. You will feel worthy; there are 600 perilous steps to climb to the top of the monastic site. No matter your convictions, something will come across you at the top. Even if it’s just the desire for an Instagram of the puffins.

14. Kick back in Bora Bora

The white sand beaches of Bora Bora are almost too pretty; its coral gardens are an unforgettable. This is honeymoon material (albeit luxury honeymoon material).

15. Dive the Great Barrier Reef

This bucket list cliché stays on wish lists for a reason. Scuba dive through coral islands (there are 83 species of the stuff), watch out for shark fins and trek through the Daintree National Park (which can stake a claim to being the oldest tropical rainforest in the world).

16. The Taj Mahal

The 17th century jewel in India’s crown has been attracting tourists and royalty alike for centuries. It was commissioned by the emperor as a tomb for his favourite wife, and that sense of lavish romance spills into the 21st century. Pose for a photo on that bench – made famous by Diana and recreated by William and Kate – and then explore Agra by bike. Sundown on the Yamuna will be an unforgettable end to the day.

17. Sail around the Caribbean

Experience beaches upon beaches of Caribbean tranquillity. The best way to explore these far flung islands is by boat. Pick an island (or two), drop anchor, and dive in.

18. Stroll along the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a good walk, made extraordinary by human engineering. Trek the wall which - although you can't see it from space - still feels otherworldly.

19. Sail the Galapagos islands

Darwin visited in the 19th century and the islands still offer visitors magic and inspiration (though discovering an epochal scientific theory is not guaranteed). Biodiversity is big; snorkel with white-tipped sharks and sea lions.

20. Take in the ruins at Tulum

Mexico's Mayan walled city has something for everyone. Specatular ruins, hotels approved by the fashion crowd and bars that stay open late into the night. Sink margeritas and enjoy the world class seafood which is as fresh as it gets. It's got tough competition from other entries on this list, but Tulum might also have the best beaches in the world. White sand, clear waters - it's best to see for yourself.

21. Explore temples at Wadi Rum

Channel your inner Indiana Jones and head to Jordan. It's the second Star Wars-approved bucket list destination on this list and it earns it: awe-inspiring scenery conspires with lunar landscapes for maximum impact.

22. Go off-grid in the Sahara

Rent a four wheel drive or go for extra horse power on a camel. Sweeping dunes await, as do iconic Hollywood locations. Recreate the English Patient in the Cave of the Swimmers. But stick to where's safe; many of the more remote parts of the desert are off-limits.

23. Explore the secret gardens of Marrakech

The Morrocan capital is having a moment. Yves Saint Laurent is opening a museum for the label’s founder in 2017 and Jasper Conran unveiled his first hotel venture this year. Experience the hustle and bustle of the city's markets - and seek out calm on one of its rooftops.

24. Winter in Lapland is straight from a Christmas card

Finland is trendy and Lapland adds tradition to that mix. Visit the huskies, the reindeer and Santa. But also take a trip to the Arktikum, the glass-roofed museum that houses the history and culture of Finland – underneath those famous green lights.

25. Visit orang-utans in Borneo

The Borneo rainforest is full of sights that could provide a lifetime of memories. But something special lies in the orang-utan sanctuaries. Sepilok rehabilitation centre (a favourite of David Attenborough’s) lets you see the orphaned orangutans. You can take a river cruise and see the best of Borneo – proboscis monkeys, monitar lizards – and if you’re lucky, an orang-utan in the wild.

26. Embrace adventure at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is closest thing you’ll get to space without stepping outside this stratosphere. This is an adventurer’s sweet spot; kayak in the gorges, follow horse trails in the mountains. Or if you’re feeling above it all, hire a helicopter and view one of America’s oldest national parks from the skies.

27. See Singapore’s sky gardens

The gardens by the bay reach to the sky like technicolour cathedrals. The nature park was built to fill Singapore with flora and fauna. There’s nothing quite like it in the world. When you’ve got your foliage fix, take a trip to the street food van with a Michelin star. Lunch at Hong Kong Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle is cheaper than a Big Mac, and you’re more likely to send a postcard home about it.

28. Walk New York’s High Line

New York can get stuck in cliché – a snow globe of Times Square, the Empire State and the MOMA . Thank god for the High Line: this is a genuinely exciting addition to the Big Apple. Take a leisurely walk down and soak in New York’s finest; public art exhibitions and endless avenues of high rises. Maybe you’ll get snapped by the Sartorialist. Go now and see the relocated Whitney art museum, now proudly placed at the start of the High Line.

29. Drive a classic car through the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a dreamy network of honey-coloured stone cottages, boutique spa hotels, luxury delicatessens and pubs so good one of them was just awarded a Michelin star. Top the whole experience off by renting a Jaguar E-type for the weekend.

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