In this post, we’ve rounded up a collection of our favourite epic adventures around the world – 26 awesome travel goals for your adventure travel bucket list.
We certainly didn’t anticipate, as we cheerfully booked flights and a hire car for an interstate road trip in late 2019, that less than four months later that trip would be cancelled, we’d be in home lockdown, and our long-term travel plans would be cooling off indefinitely on the top shelf. No one saw 2020 coming.
Before long, Australia had hauled down the shutters on domestic and international travel. So we ordered in wine and toilet paper, bunkered down like everyone else, and set our minds to saving and planning for when the skies eventually cleared on that unprecedented time.
We also took the opportunity to sort out twenty years’ worth of travel photos – both printed and online. It was a mammoth task that turned our lounge room into a disaster zone for a while. But it gave us months of delighted discovery and happy memories of travels, road trips and epic adventures past.
Which in turn inspired this post. What better way to indulge our love of travel – while we couldn’t – than to revisit some of the best adventures we’ve had, and try to pick out our faves?
Well, that proved impossible.
Still, after endless debate, we managed to narrow the playing field to a first cut of our greatest adventures and experiences. That was our starting point.
Since then, we’ve ticked off more of our adventure travel bucket list goals, leading to a full refresh and update of this list, with some exciting new experiences and destinations added.
It now includes 26 of the most awesome, most incredible and most unforgettable experiences out there – some of the best adventures in the world.
Don’t even get us started on all the amazing travel moments that haven’t made the cut. Or how to prioritise the many, many bucket list adventures we’re still itching to have. This world is truly breathtaking, and we’re always plotting our next big trip. So this list will continue to grow.
In the meantime, here’s our round-up of 26 epic adventures around the world. In no particular order, as we’ve never been able to agree on one.
What’s in this post?
26 Epic Adventures Around The World
1. Cruise to Antarctica aboard an expedition ship
2. Hike the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu in Peru
3. Trek to visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda
4. Cruise the Nile aboard a traditional dahabiya boat in Egypt
5. Go hot air ballooning over the temples of Bagan in Myanmar
6. Experience wildlife up close on the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador
7. Explore the ancient city of Petra in Jordan
8. Hike the spectacular W Trek in Patagonia in Chile
9. Kayak through Norway’s narrowest fjord
10. Go cenote diving in Mexico
11. Marvel at the mysterious Moai of Easter Island
12. Explore a glittering ice cave in Iceland
13. Fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines in Peru
14. Hike over an active volcano on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand
15. Search for orangutans in the jungles of Borneo
16. Explore the canyons, deserts and ancient sites of Oman by 4WD
17. Journey deep into the Amazon Jungle in South America
18. Get lost in the world’s largest urban car-free zone in Fez, Morocco
19. Get off the beaten track on safari in Namibia
20. Wander the impressive ruins of Tikal in Guatemala
21. Track Komodo Dragons on a walking safari in Indonesia
22. Immerse in the jungle on the Millennium Cave Tour in Vanuatu
23. Go black water rafting in Waitomo, New Zealand
24. Spend a night under the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan
25. Peer over the edge of the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls in Zambia
26. Dive the pristine coral reefs of the Red Sea in Egypt
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26 Epic Adventures Around the World
1. Cruise to Antarctica aboard an expedition ship
Antarctica will probably always be in our top five all-time travel experiences, if not the pinnacle.
How to top a journey unlike any other on the planet, to a place as remote, pristine and precious as our frosty southern frontier?
The landscapes of the frozen continent, along with its many islands and bergy bits, are as surprising as they are exquisite. The daily encounters with wildlife – penguins, seals, seabirds, curious whales – are equally momentous.
The opportunity to learn about Antarctica from experts, while standing on its rocky shores or zodiac-cruising through slushy bays surrounded by noisy penguins and jostling seals, is an experience without compare.
It is, without doubt, one of the world’s best adventures.
While cruises to Antarctica are more accessible these days, tourism is strictly controlled to protect the fragile environment.
Cruise tours range in price, route, length, inclusions and experiences, but tend to book out well ahead. So if this is on your adventure travel bucket list, aim to book your trip as far in advance as you can (and catch those early-bird fares).
Head here for all of our posts and planners for Antarctica.
2. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of the world’s most iconic treks, and for good reason: the hike literally follows in the footsteps of the ancient Incas. It’s a multi-day trek through incredible Andean mountain scenery and evocative Incan ruins.
For us, the sheer number of historic Incan sites along the way, backed by towering mountain peaks, was unexpected and mind-blowing.
The Inca Trail was one of our first epic adventures together, and things didn’t go quite to plan. A landslide cut off the Sun Gate entry to Machu Picchu shortly before we set out, forcing us to shorten our hike by a night, head down to village of Aguas Calientes and bus back up to the ancient site on our final morning.
We arrived at the ruins to dense, dark clouds and rain so heavy we could barely see each other. It made the building of this remarkable mountaintop citadel by the mysterious Incas just that much more poignant.
The skies eventually cleared though, revealing the extraordinary stone eyrie in all its glory (see the banner image for this post).
Unsurprisingly, Machu Picchu is an incredibly popular destination – it was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. But years of tourism have taken their toll on this fragile site, leading to increasingly (and necessarily) tight regulations around visitation.
To protect the trail and the ruins, daily numbers on the Inca Trail (and at Machu Picchu) are capped, permits are required, and the trail can’t be hiked independently. So aim to book onto a tour as far in advance as you can.
There are many companies offering Inca Trail tours and it’s essential to do your research to ensure the company you go with is responsible, sustainable and looks after their guides, crews and porters: the unsung heroes of this trek.
One company that is committed to working with, employing and supporting the local community, gets great reviews, and was founded in the Peruvian Andes, is Flashpacker Connect. They offer a range of Inca Trail tour options, ranging from 2 and 4 day treks, to 7 and 9 day trekking and tour adventures.
If you’re keen to experience a less well-trodden path to Machu Picchu, check out the Salkantay and Lares treks. Both are on our adventure travel bucket list for when we eventually get back to Peru.
You can find more of our South America adventures here.
3. Trek to visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda
Along with visiting Antarctica, this may well be the bucket list experience that is never supplanted from our travel top five. To encounter mountain gorillas in the wild is simply one of the best adventure trips in the world.
The entire experience was an incredible rush, starting with an early morning welcome at the trekking HQ. This was followed by a hike through rolling farmland into the spectacular forested mountain slopes of Volcanoes National Park. From there, it was a challenging, 3 hour trek through thick jungle and along muddy trails.
Our group was quiet and intent throughout, surrounded by just the sounds of the forest and the whispered walkie talkie updates from the scouts up front.
Then the ultimate thrill: rounding a corner and coming face to face with a huge silverback gorilla, his family gathered close.
Just one precious hour is spent with these majestic forest dwellers, less if they choose to move on first. It’s for their health and wellbeing, but it makes this incredible experience all the more poignant. Gorilla trekking is an absolute bucket list highlight.
Our gorilla trek took place in Rwanda, but treks also take place in Uganda (and the Democratic Republic of Congo, though travel there is not currently recommended due to instability).
We trekked as part of a 16 Day Gorillas and Gameparks overland tour with Intrepid Travel, but you can arrange gorilla treks as standalone experiences, like these highly-rated tours below:
- 1-Day Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda – this top-rated, full-day tour out of Kigali in Rwanda starts with a ranger briefing followed by a trek into the mountainside jungle of Volcanoes National Park and an hour with a gorilla family. Transport and lunch are included, but the gorilla permit is extra.
- 1-Day Gorilla Trekking in Uganda – also departing Kigali but crossing the border into Uganda, this trek will take you into the forest of Mghahinga National Park (part of the same Virunga Mountain range), to find and spend an hour with gorillas. Includes transport, lunch and border clearance; the gorilla permit is additional.
These are one-day treks but there are multi-day treks as well. Just note that the gorilla permit is often extra so check the price of that too and confirm whether it is organised for you as part of the tour. Permits are significantly cheaper in Uganda than Rwanda, but the journey from Kigali to Mghahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda takes longer.
We’ve written more about our mountain gorillas encounter here.
4. Cruise the Nile aboard a traditional dahabiya boat in Egypt
In the cities and towns of Egypt, modern life charges on around the incredible monuments and ruins of its ancient past. Away from the bustling towns though, life by the River Nile still ebbs and flows much as it has for millennia.
Without doubt, one of the greatest ways to escape the crowds, slow the pace and take in the scenery, is from aboard a traditional dahabiya boat on the Nile.
It may not seem your typical modern-day, high-thrills adventure, but these low-riding, cushion-strewn wooden sailing boats were the height of adventure travel for 19th-century European travellers. Even today though, these long, slow-paced voyages up the Nile make for an unforgettable travel experience.
Unlike the huge river cruises that ply the Nile, dahabiyas can tie up almost anywhere. This provides opportunities to see some of the more off-beat ancient sites that scatter the Egyptian landscape.
Our own 6 day trip was a magical journey of extraordinary ruins and remnants of Ancient Egypt, peaceful wanders through Nile-side farming villages, tea with locals, breathtaking mountain-and-desert scenery, delicious food, and sunsets without compare. Cruising the Nile is another of the epic adventures we can’t wait to do again one day.
There are a wide range of dahabiya boats plying the Nile in both directions. Most offer relatively similar itineraries, so the choice really comes down to budget, time, itinerary, standard and reviews.
One example is this highly-rated 4 day Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise Adventure. It includes transfers, 3 nights on board, all meals, an expert guide and transfers, with stops at all the key sites between Aswan and Luxor, as well as some less-visited sites. The company also offers a 6 Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise, with 4 nights aboard and 1 night in a hotel in Luxor.
We travelled with the company Nour el Nil and our dahabiya cruise was next level. It was an absolutely gorgeous boat with wonderful staff and a fantastic itinerary between Esna and Aswan.
Read more about our own journey up the Nile here.
5. Go hot air ballooning over the temples of Bagan in Myanmar
More than 2,200 Buddhist temples and pagodas scatter the shrubby landscape of Bagan, once the capital of the ancient Pagan kingdom in Myanmar.
That can make for an ambitious agenda if you’re trying to max your sightseeing here. Plus it’s almost impossible to gain a sense of the size and scope of this once-bustling city from street level.
Apart from zipping about on an electric bike, or finding a sunset perch on one of the tallest stupas (check ahead for what’s open and has the official ok to climb as the ruins are fragile), the best way to gain perspective on this vast, thousand-year-old site is from above.
Which is why, like the moonscape of Cappadocia in Turkey, the skies over Bagan erupt each dawn with hot air balloons.
Ballooning over Bagan is such a serene experience, and the aerial temple views of the World Heritage-listed city so mesmerising that, even if the sunrise is obscured by cloud (as it was when we ballooned), this is an adventure not soon forgotten.
We had a magic, hour-long float with Balloons Over Bagan, which included hotel pick-up, coffee and tea while the balloon was being inflated, champers when we landed, and downloadable pics of our flight taken by our lovely pilot.
At last check, our home government was advising against travel to Myanmar due to current unrest and instability. It’s important to check your country’s travel advice before you travel anywhere, and keep tabs on latest advice if you’re already travelling.
More of our adventures in Asia can be found here.
6. Experience wildlife up close on the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador
1,400km west of Ecuador, a smattering of small, volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean lay claim to what may well be some of the best wildlife watching on Earth.
Cut off from the rest of the world and utterly remote, the Galapagos archipelago has evolved a wild diversity of creatures and plants which, in many cases, are found nowhere else.
The animals have also evolved without fear of humans, which makes for unparalleled wildlife encounters.
We wandered along beaches jammed with seals and marine iguanas; and watched albatross and blue-footed boobies perform courtship dances right in front of us.
We witnessed a turtle lay her eggs and slowly make her way back to the sea. We drifted through shark and ray mangrove nurseries on a zodiac. We even swam with curious, zippy Galapagos penguins, and sailed with an escort of dolphins numbering in the hundreds.
A trip to the Galapagos is an unforgettable adventure holiday, and there are various ways to experience the islands. You can:
- join expert naturalist guides for an epic island hopping tour, like this 8 Day Island Hopping, Wildlife, Hiking & Snorkelling adventure tour on Isabela and Santa Cruz; or
- board a yacht or small cruise for a multi-day liveaboard adventure, like these exciting 5 and 7 Day Galapagos Island Cruise itineraries – explore the southern or northern routes over 5 days, or the western route over 7 days, visiting islands with naturalist guides, as well as kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling your way around the archipelago; or
- base yourself on one of the inhabited islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana) and sign up to any of a wide range of island tours and activities once there – you’ll find everything from guided walks and snorkelling trips to kayaking, volcano hiking, even rapelling.
We’ve previously based ourselves on Santa Cruz for some local exploring, and we’ve also island hopped on both a catamaran cruise and a beautiful wooden sailing ship with a charming, oldy-worldy feel about it.
As we weaved between lounging marine iguanas on rocky shores, with no other boats or people around, we felt much as Charles Darwin must have when he first stepped onto these shores in 1835.
Head here for our Galapagos Islands round-up.
7. Explore the ancient city of Petra in Jordan
There are a ton of ancient places around the world that almost made it onto this list, but short of turning the post into a list of epic adventures into the past, we had to narrow the field. We both agreed though – Petra had to stay.
Perhaps it’s the Indiana Jones-esque arrival at Petra, through the winding narrow crack of the Siq canyon. Maybe it’s the mysterious nature of the ancient Nabataean civilisation that hacked out thousands of tombs and temples from the living rock. Or the dramatic mountain-and-valley desert terrain in which the ancient city once thrived.
Whatever it is, exploring the extraordinary city of Petra continues to rank as one of our favourite adventures around the world.
We spent a couple of days wandering to remote corners of this vast World Heritage site; once a wealthy trading centre at its bustling peak around 2,000 years ago.
For many, it’s almost enough to simply take in the striking sight of the Treasury: the enduring symbol of Petra and the very first carved monument you see when you emerge from the Siq.
There’s so much to this vast place though, and many other highlights to seek out, like the High Place of Worship, the Great Temple and colonnaded street, royal tombs, the mountain-top ruins of a crusader fortress, a huge pink-hued ancient theatre, a church with beautiful mosaics, as well as cisterns, water channels and more.
For us though, the pinnacle of a visit to Petra is the Monastery. This monumental, 3rd-century royal tomb is much bigger than the Treasury. Located at the far end of the site, up around 800-odd stairs, in a dramatic mountain setting, far fewer people make it this far into the ancient city.
So we highly recommend hot-footing it here first thing, buying a cup of chai from the little café, sitting back and just taking it in – we promise, the moment is worth every step.
We visited Petra independently (staying locally and exploring with a map and guidebook), but we do wish we’d had a guide for at least one of the days we were there. For a site as huge and intriguing as Petra, a guide would provide next level insights and ensure you get the most out of your time.
This top-rated Private Guided Tour of Petra includes pick-up from your Petra hotel and 3 hours with a guide at the site (entry fees are extra). If you’re coming from Amman, check out this Full Day Private Tour, which includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Amman, lunch and the option to add-on entry fees and a guide.
If you want to combine your visit to Petra with other highlights in Jordan, like the Dead Sea and spectacular Wadi Rum (which is also on our list of epic adventures around the world – see #24), this very popular 2 Day Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea tour out of Amman gets stellar reviews.
We’re determined to return to Petra one day. Only next time, we’ll spend a week.
Read more about our experience at Petra here.
8. Hike the spectacular W Trek in Patagonia in Chile
There’s hiking, and then there’s hiking in Patagonia. We’ve trekked a number of trails in both Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia during our overland travels in South America, but it’s the W Trek in Chile that has truly captured our hearts.
Torres Del Paine National Park, through which the trail weaves a W-shaped path, is beyond breathtaking. There simply aren’t enough superlatives to describe the dramatic peaks, the sweeping, multi-hued forests and valleys, the hanging glaciers and mirror-like lakes.
At one end, the vast frozen river of Grey Glacier spills bergs into Grey Lake. At the other, the three wedge peaks of Las Torres dominate the skyline and glow with golden light at sunrise.
Challenging in parts, serene in others, and spectacular throughout, this hike sits squarely at the top of our list of hiking adventures around the world. Next time, we plan to extend the journey around the back of the mountains on the longer, by all accounts even more amazing, O Circuit.
These days, the secret of the W Trek is well and truly out, and it takes some serious forward planning to secure a spot on the trail during the limited summer hiking season. You must have an entry ticket in advance, as well as booked accommodation for each night you’re on the trail in the park – both are capped. It also pays to book bus and ferry transport well ahead.
We can tell you from experience that sorting and aligning all this stuff yourself can be a challenge. There are companies like Flashpacker Connect can sort out all the logistics for you though (including transport, entry fees, camping and lodges, meals and equipment), whether you want to go self-guided or join a tour. Check out their Torres del Paine trekking options here.
We love this hike so much, we’ve put together a comprehensive Self-Guided Itinerary for Hiking the W Trek in Patagonia, which we fully update for each trekking season.
9. Kayak through Norway’s narrowest fjord
Norway is in itself one of the world’s great adventure destinations, and we could easily fill a post of outstanding experiences here alone.
The country serves up spectacular road tripping, fjord cruising, incredible hiking – like this unforgettable 10km return hike to the hanging kjeragbolten, and this spectacular 8km there-and-back hike to Pulpit Rock, as well as glacier climbing, wildlife trekking, polar bear viewing, the occasional aurora, and more.
As we discovered though, one of the most memorable ways to truly immerse in Norway’s awe-inspiring landscapes, is by kayak.
And one of the best places to kayak in Norway is the Naeroyfjord – an arm of the World Heritage-listed Sognefjord and one of the longest, deepest, narrowest fjords on the planet.
In this place, surrounded by steep, mist-draped mountains rising straight up from the water and thundering, mile-high waterfalls, we felt all the vast power and beauty of nature. We felt awed. And small.
We joined Nordic Ventures for a 2 day kayaking and camping trip through Naeroyfjord and Aurlandsfjord.
An awesome, shorter alternative is this 3 hour Guided Kayaking Excursion of Aurlandsfjord, which joins up with Naeroyfjord as another branch of the World Heritage area. The tour departs from Flåm. Both tours run over the warmer months, between May and October.
Head here for our full write-up of this awesome adventure.
10. Go cenote diving in Mexico
As epic adventures go, there’s nothing quite like donning neoprene and scuba gear and submerging into the dark unknown of an underground cave in the jungle.
The lush green rainforest of Mexico’s Yucatan region is home to the fascinating natural phenomena of cenotes. Thousands of them. These natural sinkholes pockmark the peninsula like Swiss cheese, a legacy of the world-altering asteroid that hit the Earth here 65 million years ago.
Many cenotes have collapsed to form networks of underground flooded caverns. The thrill of scuba diving through their still, serene and silent depths – sometimes illuminated by only the light of a torch and sometimes by shimmery blue curtains of sunlight – is like no other earthly experience.
If you’re keen to jump straight in, check out this highly-rated 2 dive experience at beautiful Dos Ojos Cenote – it offers transfers as well.
If you’re a more experienced diver with advanced certification, this 2-dive option takes in Dos Ojos Cenote, and also visits the very deep Pit Cenote, billed as one of the world’s top dive sites. We can’t wait to go back and do this one.
We’ve written more about the surreal world of cenote diving here.
11. Marvel at the mysterious Moai of Easter Island
Another of our fave castaway adventures is Easter Island, a tiny speck in the southern Pacific with a huge legacy: quite literally.
The giant stone heads of Easter Island, called moai, were carved out of the island’s volcanic rock and raised on stone platforms by the island’s Indigenous Rapa Nui people some 500 years ago.
Thought to represent ancestors, there are literally hundreds of moai all over the island. Some of the shrines and heads are restored, but many lie in ruin where they fell during the 15th to 18th-century Rapa Nui clan wars.
Beyond the many ancient sites to explore, and intriguing relics of Rapa Nui culture to see, there are beautiful beaches to chill on, crystal clear waters to snorkel and dive, cycling, hiking and more. As far-flung bucket list adventures go, Easter Island is a stand out.
We spent a week on Easter Island exploring all over and we firmly feel it deserves at least 3 days. There are now also strict rules around visiting historic and cultural places on the island and a certified guide is mandatory for most sites. So it’s important to know what to expect.
You can visit the island as part of an organised tour, like this 5-day Easter Island Explorer tour, which showcases the island’s best natural and historical highlights and includes guide, island transport, 4 nights’ accommodation, some meals, and national park fees.
Or you can visit independently and make your own plans, arranging daily or multi-day guided experiences either online in advance or when you get there. This top-rated 2 Day Tour of Rapa Nui + Sunrise in Tongariki and this 3 Day Rapa Nui Dreams Experience Pack cover off the island’s key sites and ensure you have an unforgettable guided immersion in the history and culture of this unique destination.
Our full Easter Island itinerary write-up is currently being updated – check back soon.
12. Explore a glittering ice cave in Iceland
The sweeping, fantastical landscapes of Iceland are made for adventure. Ice-capped volcanic ranges rise sheer from flat, frosty fields tended by shaggy, stumpy-legged Icelandic horses. Black sand beaches are lapped by freezing seas. Waterfalls tumble everywhere, while hot springs steam under a night sky that shimmers from time to time with the ghostly northern lights.
Hundreds of glaciers also inch their frozen fingers from the mountains to the sea. It’s in the frosty edges of these icy rivers that one of Iceland’s coolest adventure trips can be found: ice caves.
These magical, glittering ice grottos, formed by running meltwater, can only be visited in the colder months, roughly between November and March. They shift and reform with each winter season, so no ice cave experience is ever the same.
On our tour, we donned crampons and helmets to hike across a glacier before abseiling down to the entrance of a spectacular ice cave. One that had been accessible on foot just the season before.
Inside the cave, a thousand shades of ethereal blue twinkled in an icy arc over our heads, smoothed to translucence by a stream of fast-running meltwater.
Ice caves are temporary, ever-changing and breathtakingly beautiful – a unique and unforgettable Icelandic adventure.
We joined Iceguide/Troll for our glacier and ice cave tour and we highly recommend them – they offer a range of ice cave and glacier hiking trips, like these below, with small groups and awesome, expert guides. Check out:
- this well-reviewed Crystal Blue Ice Cave Super Jeep Tour, which departs from the beautiful iceberg lagoon of Jökulsárlón; it includes a ride in a Super Jeep to the ice caves, helmet and crampons, and a certified glacier guide.
- this very popular Ice Cave Tour and Glacier Hike leaves from Skaftafell, the closest meeting point to the ice; you get free parking, transport to the site, a glacier hike and ice cave visit with expert guides, plus hot drinks and chocolate.
- this top-rated Katla Ice Cave and South Coast Day Tour from Reykjavik; it includes pick up and drop off at the capital, highlights along the south coast like the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the speccy Katla Ice Cave, and a hike to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
We’ve written in more detail about our ice cave experience here.
13. Fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines in Peru
I read about the Nazca Lines of Peru in a book of unexplained mysteries when I was a kid, and was instantly hooked. So years later, as John and I travelled around Peru, the hot and dusty town of Nazca was squarely in my sights.
The World Heritage-listed Nazca Lines are geoglyphs: huge shapes and drawings created in the desert by Peru’s ancient Indigenous Nazca people between 500 and 2,000 years ago.
In addition to straight lines forming what look like runways and arrows, there are dozens of enormous drawings of plants and animals, including a spiral-tailed monkey, a spider and a hummingbird. There’s a humanoid figure too. Incredibly, most are composed of one single, unbroken line.
Decades on, researchers are still trying to unravel the meaning and purpose of the enigmatic forms. Though more recent theories tend towards the geoglyphs being related to rituals around water and crop fertility, rather than aliens or astronomy.
While the lines can apparently be seen from surrounding hills, the best way to view them is from the air, which is what we did.
The thrill of seeing these extraordinary drawings from on high (maybe as the Nazca people intended them to be seen?) combined with the rush of a swooping, swerving Cessna flight above the desert, make this an unforgettable experience.
Flights over the Nazca Lines take place in light aircraft out of the small airports at Nazca and Pisco. You can arrange a flight once you’re in Nazca, Pisco or Paracas.
This is a very popular experience though, so if you want to find out more or book in advance online, check out this well-rated 35-Minute Flight Over the Nazca Lines, which also includes pick-up from Nazca town.
Alternatively, this Nazca Lines Flight departs from the airport at Pisco and includes pick-up from the towns of Pisco or Paracas (just a couple of hours south of Lima), saving a long return journey to Nazca.
14. Hike over an active volcano on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand
It’s said to be one of the world’s best day hikes: a 19.4km point-to-point trek through the mind-blowing active volcanic landscape of Mount Tongariro on New Zealand’s North Island.
Or Mordor in Middle Earth to LOTR fans: the epic Tongariro Alpine Crossing is dominated throughout by the formidable, cone-shaped Mount Ngauruhoe, better known as Mount Doom.
An early start is par for course for this hike. Most people cover the distance in around 7 to 9 hours (it took us 8.5). Flexibility is also key – poor weather and high winds can make the trail unpassable and the situation can change without warning. Signage at key points reminds you to pause, take stock of the conditions and how you’re feeling, and decide whether to carry on or turn back.
While the opening kilometres are deceptively gentle, the scale of Tongariro’s volcanic landscape quickly asserts itself. You’ll pass walls of hardened lava flow; cross a stark, sulfur-yellow crater valley; climb and descend wind-battered rises of loose, balance-busting volcanic scree.
There’s a desolate and volatile feel about this terrain – a constant reminder that this isn’t just a very scenic walk, it’s an active volcanic zone.
By mid-morning, we were well into the hike, steadily making our way up to the Red Crater, the highest point on the trail at 1,886m. The reward at the top is surreal scenery: a deep, rusty-red, black and yellow crater backed by Mount Doom. We could see our next destination too: the turquoise Emerald Lakes, vivid against ash-black slopes and wide, open sky.
From there, the route eases into a long, knee-testing descent – first across exposed alpine ridges, then zigzagging down the mountainside into forest and some very welcome shade.
By the time we reached the car park in the late afternoon, legs like jelly and real fatigue setting in, we were in no doubt as to why this day hike is considered NZ’s best: it’s physically demanding but deeply satisfying. It’s also spectacular, humbling, and utterly unforgettable – another epic experience in one of the greatest adventure destinations in the world.
Book your spot on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing through the NZ Department of Conservation website. We were based in beautiful, lakeside Taupo on NZ’s North Island when we did the hike. We opted to drive our hire car to a private secure carpark at the end of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and take a shuttle from there to the starting point of the trek. You can book the secure carpark and one-way shuttle here.
If you don’t have a car, there are also return shuttle options from various towns in the area, like this round-trip shuttle that picks up and drops off from National Park (the town).
15. Search for orangutans in the jungles of Borneo
Once wide-ranging across south-east Asia, today you can only find orangutans in the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra.
As their rainforest homes continue to be logged, so too do their numbers continue to dwindle, making the opportunity to witness them living wild and free a true privilege. And efforts to save them more important than ever.
Rehabilitation centres around both islands are working hard to rescue, release and protect the world’s remaining orangutans. We learned a great deal about the perils facing them and efforts to save them at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabiliation Centre in Malaysian Borneo.
We combined this with a trip to the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, another rescue and rehab centre, in this case for the world’s smallest bears.
Both places can be visited independently, staying either close by or in the town of Sandakan. Or you can join a guided experience like this Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Half-Day Tour, which includes transport from Sandakan, entry fees to both centres, and an English-speaking guide.
We followed this up with a stay at an eco-lodge a couple of hours from civilisation by boat along the Kinabatangan River.
From the lodge, we set out on regular boat trips and forest walks to search out the jungle’s shy inhabitants. It was there that we experienced the excitement and pure joy of seeing wild orangutans high in the trees – the pinnacle of our time here.
We stayed at the beautiful Sukau Rainforest Lodge, an award-winning retreat and a well-worth-it splurge for us. But there are a range of lodges in the area offering accommodation with wildlife watching cruises and guided walks to suit different budgets.
You can book directly with lodges like Sukau, or look for all-inclusive trips out of Sandakan like this highly-rated 3 Day/2 Night Kinabatangan River safari tour. It includes transport to the jungle lodge, 2 nights in a private room with air con and your own bathroom, most meals, four wildlife watching river cruises and a jungle walk, national park fees and English-speaking guides.
This encounter also features in a post on our favourite wildlife experiences around the world.
16. Explore the canyons, deserts and ancient sites of Oman by 4WD
Strategically sited at the gateway to the Persian Gulf and a trading centre for millennia, Oman looks and feels every bit as ancient as it is.
Except for the modern capital, Muscat, that is. Leave the city behind though, and you instantly feel like you’ve stepped back in time – to a land of dusty desert outposts where Bedouins thrive, and tiny oasis villages where farming and irrigation has changed little in a thousand years.
Our 4WD adventure around Oman’s north served up narrow gorges with hidden pools (called wadis), orange-sand desert camps where we chilled under a million stars, and ancient towns still dominated by crumbling mudbrick fortresses.
We also found spectacular mountains offering an escape to cooler climes, the kilometre-deep Grand Canyon of Arabia (Wadi Ghul and Wadi Al Nakhur) and its thrilling, clifftop rim hike; as well as beautiful caves, some of the oldest surviving beehive tombs in the world, and a nail-biting mountain pass drive guaranteed to set your teeth on edge.
There’s so much to do in this amazing country. To help plan your own adventure there, check out our Oman self-drive itinerary post.
17. Journey into the Amazon Jungle in South America
A half-day journey by plane, boat, jungle trek and canoe is an adventure in itself, but it was just the beginning of our Amazon experience.
You can make your way into the world’s largest rainforest from a number of countries in South America, among them Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Brazil.
Our first experience of this extraordinary landscape, home to one in ten of the world’s species, was at Sacha Lodge, a stunning and remote sanctuary in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Over a couple of days, we trekked and canoed our way along trails and creeks each morning, afternoon and night, searching out shy forest creatures in the company of expert naturalist and Indigenous guides.
From tiny poison dart frogs and giant stick insects to delightful, bug-eyed night monkeys, and the peerless ‘stinkbird’, every wildlife encounter was mesmerising.
The rest of the time, we could be found high up in the treetops on the lodge’s suspended bridge, spotting toucans and sloths, or on our cabin deck watching squirrel monkeys rumble. Epic!
Sacha Lodge was an extra special experience for us and while at the upper-end of the cost-scale, we reckon it’s worth every penny.
For an alternative, less remote multi-day tour into the Ecuadorian Amazon, take a look at this 3 Day Amazon Jungle Tour at the Tamandua Eco Lodge – it includes round-trip transportation from Quito, 2 nights and all meals at the lodge, guided hikes, and chocolate and handicraft workshops.
We’ve written in more detail about our unforgettable Amazon adventure here.
18. Get lost in the world’s largest urban car-free zone in Fez, Morocco
It may be an unexpected entry on our list of epic adventures around the world, but getting lost in the vast labyrinth of Old Fez is an urban escapade you won’t soon forget.
Fez el-Bali is an ancient walled medina in northern Morocco. Founded around 1,200 years ago, this vast, World Heritage-listed warren of alleyways, souqs, riads and medieval buildings makes up the world’s largest urban car-free zone. It’s said there are something like 9,400 passageways here!
Despite militant planning, our best navigational efforts, hand-drawn maps, even a coloured star system strategically placed throughout to assist bewildered tourists like us, we got lost in the medina. Every. Single. Time.
Fortunately, the pace, noise, bustle and beautiful medieval architecture – including ancient schools still decorated in beautiful zellij tilework and wood carvings – provides plenty of distraction from the mildly panicked voice in your head telling you that you’ll never find your way out.
If it all gets too much though, find a tea stall, take a break, watch life in the medina roll on….then find a local kid willing to lead you out for a small fee.
Or do the sensible thing and go with a guide to begin with. Experiences like this top-rated, 3.5-4 hour Medina Tour will line you up with an English-speaking guide to ensure you not only successfully re-emerge from the many-laned maze, but that you actually find key medina sights like the Bou Inania Madrassa. All while learning about the magical arts, crafts and traditions of this ancient place.
You can read more about our travels in Morocco here.
19. Get off the beaten track on safari in Namibia
Bouncing around in a safari jeep, scanning the landscape for movement, is one of travel’s great thrills. And Africa delivers some truly epic wildlife safari encounters. But where you choose to safari matters now more than ever.
We previously featured Kenya’s Masai Mara on this list of epic adventures around the world. It was one of our first African safari destinations and we were treated to some amazing Big Five sightings in the company of our eagle-eyed Maasai guide (we also encountered the full cast of the continent’s awesome-and-very unfairly-named Ugly Five of the animal kingdom – more on them in this post).
However, we’re conscious that parts of the Mara (and the Serengeti and Tanzania) are currently grappling with some serious overtourism challenges. Peak period wildlife viewing often involves jockeying for position with dozens of other jeeps, leaving animals surrounded and stressed, and impacting their natural behaviours as well as their habitats. Not cool.
We’ve since travelled overland through Namibia, however, and it has completely reshaped our idea of safari travel. The difference is immediate: space, relative solitude, and a feeling of being a part of the landscape rather than racing through it to beat other jeeps to a sighting.
In Etosha National Park, you’ll find elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebra, rhinos and more out on the dusty plains and gathering at the waterholes.
You can head out on guided safari, but better yet, you can self-drive safari and explore at your own pace. You can also camp at one of the grounds within the park or stay in one of the lodges that border it. Most have their own waterholes where you can sit with a drink at sunset and watch as the wildlife moves in.
Beyond Etosha, we reckon Namibia delivers one of the most diverse and magical travel experiences in Africa. Along the Skeleton Coast and at Sandwich Harbour, towering dunes tumble straight into the Atlantic.
At Cape Cross, you can stroll boardwalks through the middle of the world’s largest seal colony – a loud, chaotic, sensory overload. Or kayak with curious, ride-hitching seals at Walvis Bay.
Inland, granite spires rise from the desert at Spitzkoppe, where you can sleep under the stars in near-total silence. Or watch the sun rise from sky-high sand dunes at Sossuvlei and wander the eery, black stump-scattered salt pan of Deadvlei. The landscapes here feel ancient, elemental, and refreshingly uncrowded.
As wildlife and overlanding experiences go, Namibia is definitely up there as one of the world’s coolest adventure trips. It’s spectacular, richly varied, and – crucially – still offers the space to experience wildlife with respect and awe. Let’s just keep it between us, ok?
For more of our wild adventures on the African continent, head here.
20. Wander the impressive ruins of Tikal in Guatemala
Around 90 minutes from the city of Flores in northern Guatemala, the square peaks of huge stone temples rise above jungle stretching as far as the eye can see.
These are the monumental pyramids of Tikal. Most were built between around 200 and 900AD, when this was a powerful capital of the ancient Mayan civilisation.
A thousand years on, wandering through this ghostly ruined city still packs an impressive punch. Especially when the local howler monkeys start up their unearthly din, giving the place an eerie, primeval feel.
The Mayans abandoned the city around 900AD and the jungle quickly moved back in. What’s been uncovered since the site was found in the 19th-century is awe-inspiring, but even this is said to account for less than a quarter of the once-expansive city.
So much more yet to find. All we can do is wander and wonder (and plan a return to visit more of the region’s extraordinary Mayan sites, like El Mirador).
We explored Tikal independently from Flores but with hindsight, we wish we’d had a guide for this extraordinary place, even if only for part of it.
There are plenty of operators running shuttles and/or guided experiences out of Flores. This full-day Tikal Guided Tour, which has hundreds of great reviews, includes pick-up and drop-off from Flores, transport to the site and a bilingual guide to take you through Tikal and explain the buildings and history of the ancient city.
If you’re keen to experience more of Guatamela’s magic on an active and immersive multi-day trip, take a look at this 5 Days in Guatemala private guided tour with Flashpacker Connect. You’ll visit the World Heritage colonial city of Antigua, as well as beautiful Lake Atitlan and Panajachel, hike the active Pacaya volcano and, of course, visit Tikal. All with a private guide, transport, most meals, accommodation, local flights and entry fees included.
For more of our adventures in Central America, head here.
21. Track Komodo Dragons on a walking safari in Indonesia
At #21 on our list of epic adventures around the world is an encounter with real dragons: the Komodo Dragons of Indonesia.
These scaly beasts may not breathe fire, but they have the next best thing: a killer bite. Komodos are the world’s largest lizards, and while they may look stumpy-legged and ungainly, they can run up to 20km/h, release a toxin when they bite, and have been known to attack humans. Good thing they can’t fly.
Fortunately, they’re confined to just four islands in the Indonesian archipelago, including Komodo, Rinca and Gili Motang, which are all part of Komodo National Park. The larger Indonesian island of Flores also has a small, remote population.
Safely visiting Komodo dragons requires boat travel and experienced guides. They carry long, fork-necked poles, just in case one of the beasties gets feisty.
We travelled to Rinca for a guided walking tour of the island. It was an adrenaline-charged experience as we spied on wild Komodos, constantly looking over our shoulders and ever-mindful that these primeval creatures are renowned ambush predators. Top marks for wildlife watching with a thrill.
Our walking safari was one stop on a brilliant Komodo National Park diving liveaboard, which we’ve written about in detail as part of our Flores itinerary post.
It’s also possible to visit the Komodo islands from Labuan Bajo (the capital of Flores Island) for the day on a trip like this top-rated, Day Tour of Komodo Island with Snorkelling. You’ll get to hike to the top of Padar Island for views, and snorkel at several beautiful beaches and islands, as well as looking out for manta rays while you snorkel at Manta Point. The highlight of course is a dragon walking tour on Komodo Island itself.
22. Immerse in the jungle on the Millennium Cave Tour in Vanuatu
We signed up for the Millennium Cave Tour while exploring the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. And this offbeat experience easily remains one of the most unexpectedly awesome jungle adventures we’ve ever done.
Despite being Vanuatu’s biggest island, Santo gets a much smaller share of the tourism market compared to Efate – a surprise really as it has some seriously spectacular beaches; gorgeous, crystal clear water holes for swimming; great snorkelling and scuba diving – including one of the world’s best and biggest wreck dives (the SS President Coolidge) – and, of course, the Millennium Cave Tour.
We really didn’t know what to expect when we set out with our guides on this community-owned and operated experience.
Cue 5 hours of absolutely epic physical, sweaty, muddy, wet fun as we trekked through the jungle, scrambled over boulders, climbed wooden ladders and hauled ourselves along ropes, waded through Vanuatu’s largest cave, and floated along a river through a narrow gorge.
The adventure begins with a briefing inside a traditional meeting house (called a nakamal), in the village of Funaspef. It’s around 45 minutes from Luganville, Santo’s biggest town. There you’ll be given a lifejacket and a torch.
We won’t lie – this is a physically demanding tour and it requires a level of stamina. But it’s some of the most fun we’ve had in a while. Our guides were fantastic and really watched out for everyone. Head to the official website for information about booking.
Also check out our post on planning a trip to Vanuatu, where you’ll find a video of awesome things to do on Santo, including the Millennium Cave Tour.
23. Go black water rafting in Waitomo, New Zealand
There’s caving and there’s rafting, and then there’s black water rafting. It is, by far, one of the coolest adventure trips you can have in New Zealand.
Black water rafting is a seriously fun subterranean caving tour that has you crawling, wading, jumping into water, swimming and, best of all, floating on inner tubes along underground rivers through tunnels illuminated by thousands of glowworms – an experience unique to New Zealand.
This has been on our bucket list for years and we finally had the chance to don thick wetsuits, gumboots and helmets for this magical, 3-hour Okohua Glowworm Cave Tour adventure with The Waitomo Experience.
Our tour started with gear matching, followed by a safety briefing. Then we walked through a gorgeous landscape of rolling hills and down into a forested grove where, one by one, we climbed down a culvert ladder and into the cave beneath.
From there, we experienced an unforgettable couple of hours navigating the beautiful limestone world of Okohua with our excellent guides, hauling ourselves through tight squeezes (there are alternative options if you don’t like tight spaces), and scrambling over rocks surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites.
We waded through cave-shaping spring waters, jumped off ledges with our inner tubes, and floated in serene silence beneath a twinkling universe of glowworms. We even paused for a subterranean snack break with a warm drink and the world’s best chocolate (Whittakers, if you’re wondering).
Afterwards, we relaxed in a cedar tub overlooking the stunning hills of Waitomo. We loved every second of this experience, and we’ll definitely be back for more.
We went black water rafting during a 2 week road trip through New Zealand’s lower North Island, starting in the Wellington (check out our top things to do in that awesome city). More write ups coming soon; in the meantime, here’s a list of adventures to seek out on NZ’s South Island.
24. Spend a night under the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan
There’s a solid chance we won’t be visiting Mars in our lifetime. But having been to Wadi Rum, we reckon it’s the next best thing.
This vast, rust red and burnt orange desert in southern Jordan is a World Heritage landscape of sculpted sandstone cliffs, towering rock bridges, and wide open space.
It’s so visually striking that it’s been used as a stand-in for Mars in films like The Martian and Dune. But Wadi Rum has been a place of deep human connection for far longer: ancient petroglyphs etch canyon rock faces and Bedouin culture thrives here, just as it has for thousands of years.
We explored Wadi Rum as part of an overland journey through Jordan. We travelled out by jeep on desert tracks, marvelled at the dramatic rock formations, inched into narrow canyons to see ancient rock carvings, and watched the setting sun blast the valley with molten gold light. Much of it to the off-key vocals of our Bedouin guide’s hilariously endearing Celine Dion karaoke.
The real magic, though, comes after dark. Spending the night at a Bedouin camp, drinking tea, dining on delicious local cuisine, and listening to traditional music, then absorbing the silence beneath a sky dense with stars…it turns the desert from something you visit into something you feel a part of.
Wadi Rum is also just 90 minutes from the ancient city of Petra, one of the world’s great archaeological sites and #7 on our epic adventures list.
25. Peer over the edge of the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls, Zambia
We were in two minds about whether this should be an entry on our list of epic adventures around the world – mainly because it’s one of the most terrifying things we’ve ever done (according to one of us, at least).
There’s no denying though that the Devil’s Pool is an experience like no other. Situated on the literal edge of Victoria Falls, which is known locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the Smoke That Thunders’), this experience thrusts you right into the heart of nature at her loudest, wildest and most thrilling.
With a wall of water plunging over 100 metres and spanning nearly 1.7km, just standing opposite the falls in the drenching spray is unforgettable.
So easing into the Devil’s Pool – a small, naturally formed lagoon at the falls’ edge – takes chasing waterfalls to a whole other level. Dubbed ‘the world’s ultimate infinity pool’, we can say hand-on-heart the Devil’s Pool is certainly the most dramatic.
The experience begins on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, with a boat ride on the Zambezi river, followed by a careful walk across slippery rocks, then a heart-in-mouth swim across the rushing current to the rocks around the pool (there’s a rope to grab on to if needed).
From there, you slide into the Devil’s Pool and wade towards the edge of the falls, where the current pushes you firmly against a natural rock lip. Water surges past and over the ledge, dropping hundreds of feet into the Batoka Gorge below. Tiny fish are on hand to further up the ante by nibbling on your toes uninvited. If you’re extra brave (I most definitely wasn’t), a guide will hold your legs while you lean out over the abyss.
While it all feels utterly insane (sorry mum), safety is taken extremely seriously, with strict procedures, experienced (and very sure-footed) guides, and daily assessments of water levels and conditions. Still, this is real nature, not a theme park – there’s a reason you have to sign a waiver beforehand.
Up for it? We joined a tour like this one, which includes a boat trip on the Zambezi and tour of Livingstone Island, experienced guides, entry to Devil’s Pool, and breakfast afterwards. Transfers are extra and you’ll need to have your passport to cross the border if staying on the Zimbabwe side of the falls.
If this is one infinity pool you’d rather stay out of, there are other thrilling ways to experience the falls, including from above, like this top-rated Victoria Falls Helicopter Tour with return hotel transfers in Victoria Falls town. You’ll get a birds-eye view of the magnificent falls and surrounding wildlife-packed bushland.
You can also bungee, zipline, gorge swing, kayak and white water raft around the falls, further cementing this place as one of the world’s great adventure tourism destinations.
26. Dive the pristine coral reefs of the Red Sea in Egypt
Diving is one hobby we try and do wherever we can on our travels, and together, we’ve dived the seas off more than a dozen countries.
We’ve encountered wonderful marine life, and explored beautiful reefs and underwater art galleries. We’ve investigated the ruins of an ancient sunken city, huge shipwrecks, even a submerged moai off Easter Island!
But our favourite place to dive is still the Red Sea in Egypt. The warm waters are crystal clear and teeming with colourful life.
The Red Sea serves up pristine coral reefs, fantastic canyon diving and outstanding shipwrecks, including the world-famous SS Thistlegorm. It’s also home to the 100-metre deep Blue Hole, which draws scuba and free divers from around the world.
Above the surface, the scenery is surreal: sparkling blue sea backed by the parched, mustard-hued mountains and desert of the ancient, historic Sinai Peninsula.
If you can tear yourself away from the water, epic adventures in the desert await: quad biking, jeep safaris, and another of our all-time favourite hikes – the trek to the 2,285m summit of biblical Mount Sinai.
Useful Travel Resources
Stays: When we travel, we use Booking.com for its wide choice of stays and Genius perks.
Airport Transfer: Take the hassle out of arriving in or leaving a new place and arrange your airport pick-up and drop-off in advance with Welcome Pickups.
Car Rentals: Our go-to is DiscoverCars for a wide choice of hire cars with great rates and free cancellation.
eSIMs: To stay connected when travelling, we use Airalo eSIMs.
Tours: Find local tours and experiences all over the world with GetYourGuide.
What epic adventures around the world would you add to this list?
Let us know in the comments below and happy travel planning!
Loved the list its uniqe and most of it is in my dream list
Really glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing amazing places to adventure lovers. Would love to travel such a places one day in near future
Hi Santosh, thanks so much for your message. So many more amazing places on our bucket list still! All the best with your adventures! Danielle & John