“TO SEE THE WORLD, THINGS DANGEROUS TO COME, TO SEE BEHIND WALLS, DRAW CLOSER, TO FIND EACH OTHER, AND TO FEEL. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE.”
- THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
After years of restrictions, change and uncertainty, the world is opening up to travellers once again. 2023 is the year to make your dreams a reality, it’s time to create your ultimate bucket list of the destinations you’ve only dreamt of visiting and make it happen! Adventure is out there waiting for you and we’ve put the best places to travel for 2023 that are worth adding to your bucket list. We’d love to know which ones make it onto your list and your adventures for 2023!
Sintra, Portugal
An enchanted, fairy-tale like place, painted with pink-hued houses enveloped by dense mountain forests. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll discover palaces and castles surrounded by the scenic Sintra mountains. The mountains lured the wealthy nobles of Portugal to build summer houses to escape the heat. Make sure you visit the magical Castelo dos Mouros, a castle where you can explore the walls that follow the ridge of the mountains with breathtaking views. Pair your visit with a trip to the beach, as Portugal has the most stunning coastline, with sweeping sandy beaches like Praia da Adraga and beautiful coastal towns like Azenhas do Mar only a short 30 minute drive from Sintra.
2. Lake Bled, Slovenia
Slovenia's most famous lake, a shade of deep turquoise with an island showcasing a beautiful church that you can visit by boat. Lake Bled is a must visit and bucket list destination. A relaxing way to explore the lake is to hire a row boat and paddle your way around the waters and step off the boat for an adventure around the island. We would recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons in either spring or autumn to avoid large crowds. Autumn in Lake Bled is stunning, you’ll be treated to golden hues that contrast beautifully with the blues of the lake.
3. Addo elephant park, South Africa
The third largest national park in South Africa, Addo elephant park is home to over 600 elephants. The park also has buffalo, lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, zebras, kudu, warthogs and dung beetles. An exciting option is to self-drive around the park and spot the animals at your own pace, stopping to observe the animals congregating at watering holes for a drink. Addo elephant park is only a short 1-hour flight from Cape town to Port Elizabth or you could drive the beautiful Garden Route along the southern coast of South Africa. Cape town is a beautiful city with spectacular coastal scenery, mountains and beautiful beaches home to penguins.
4. Bali, Indonesia
If you are looking for a getaway surrounded by lush greenery and embellished with clear water beaches and dramatic limestone cliffs, then this is your place! Explore the north of the island where you’ll discover dense green jungles, monkeys, volcanoes and waterfalls, then make your way to the south with beautiful beaches for surfing and relaxing. The island will fill your senses with adventure, relaxation, rich culture, delicious food, idyllic natural beauty, beautiful beaches and friendly people.
5. Himalayas, Nepal
A country that we talk about time and time again where we would return to is Nepal. This place is home to the tallest mountains in the world, the majestic Himalayas. Hiking amongst these giants puts your life into perspective, it’s an unforgettable experience. A paradiscal country with a diverse culture and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. The national dish of Nepal is Dal Bhat, a local delicacy of lentils served with rice and curried vegetables that will fuel you for your adventures. You will be overcome with peace and serenity whilst hiking through this beautiful country and there is a huge choice of hikes to choose from, Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and Langtang to name a few.
6. Taj Mahal, India
As a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal has to be one of the most beautiful buildings we have ever visited. This spectacular site is a once-in-a-lifetime experience guaranteed to make your jaw drop. Unfortunately, the Taj Mahal is in serious danger from pollution and river levels. The marble is being discoloured from the air pollution and the timber foundation is rotting from the River Yamuna drying up. Due to the challenges facing the building, it was reported that the Taj Mahal could potentially collapse. Currently, the Taj Mahal still stands, however it is not guaranteed to be standing forever.
7. Glaciers, Iceland
Glaciers are receding at alarming rates due to climate change and scientists have estimated that by 2200, Iceland may no longer have any ice left at all. These natural blue-hued, huge bodies of ice are phenomenal structures, the largest glacier in Iceland is Vatnajökull covering 8% of the country! Other noteworthy glaciers include Falljökul; a beautiful glacier with deep crevasses that you can get a great view of without the crowds of tourists that you’ll find at other popular locations.
8. Volcanoes, Indonesia
Indonesia has some of the most active volcanoes in the world, you’ll be spoilt for choice too as one of the most densely populated areas for volcanoes. This country sits on the ‘Ring of Fire’ a tectonically active zone where the volcanoes in Indonesia are formed Eurasian and Indo-Australian plate. Worthy of a mention includes; Mount Bromo is set within a large sandy valley surrounded by steep cliffs, Mount Merapi is one of the most active volcanoes and Mount Agung is the highest point on Bali and a great view is from the Mother temple (Besakih Great Temple).
9. Whale Watching in Hermanus, South Africa
Drive along the Garden Route of South Africa, where you’ll discover one of the most beautiful coastlines with a diverse array of wildlife, flowers and plants including whales in Hermanus, known as the Whale Capital. The best time to visit Hermanus is from early June to early December, where the Southern Right Whales come to breed and look after their young close to the cliffs. You can spot whales by watching from the land as they come so close! The scenery is spectacular from mountain ranges to sandy beaches and indigenous forests to lakes, this stretch of coastline is stunning.
10. ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL
The region of Alentejo in Portugal is well known for its farming scene, picture vineyards and olive groves amongst the golden sun. The rolling hills are scattered with beautiful, quaint traditional villages offering an authentic experience of the rural Portuguese life. Regularly compared to Tuscany and Provence, Alentejo is a charming region with a rich culture and delicious food. The coastline offers unspoilt, virgin beaches with great surf, compared to the nearby more developed Algarve as the coast is protected from development.
11. Orangutans, Sumatra
As a critically endangered species, the sumatran orangutan is one of the only three species of orangutans. Gunung Leuser National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the two places where you can see orangutans in the wild. The rainforest is home to one of the most biodiverse species of animals and plant species in the world with the corpse flower, elephants, rhinoceros, macaques, hornbills, sun bears and tigers. Bukit Lawang is a small village where you can base yourself for treks into the rainforest and see this specatcular species for yourself in the wild.
12. Whale Sharks, Philippines
These creatures are some of the most beautiful, their backs depict a starry night sky and are the largest shark you’ll find in the ocean. As the largest fish in the ocean they can grow up to 12 metres in length and are gentle giants and living up to 150 years old. Whale Sharks migrate slowly around the world’s oceans and one of the best places to see them is in the Philippines. It is important to consider ethical practices when looking for whale sharks where they do not feed or touch them. We saw whale sharks in Oslob which was an incredible experience, however we were unaware of the unsustainable practice of feeding them which was disappointing to see. The following sites offer a more sustainable approach to seeing them in the wild; Donsol, Luzon, and Sogod Bay and Southern Leyte.
13. Bardenas Reales, Spain
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Bardenas Reales is a badlands located in northern Spain where you feel like you’ve stepped into a wild west movie set. You can drive yourself at your own pace to stop and admire the unique rock formations, abandoned houses and lunar landscape. Only 70km from the Pyrenees, the badlands in Navarra will transport you to a landscape that feels like something out of this world.
