As you can imagine, I tend to plan my holidays some way in advance to make sure that I can book the exact accommodation that I’m looking for. As I write this (in July 2024), I have a range of exciting trips all sorted until September 2025, although I may be able to slip in a crafty short city break here and there! But I thought I’d share my current Bucket List – the 10 places that I’m hoping to travel to in the next few years – perhaps they’ll spark a few ideas for future holidays for you. Here they are, in no particular order.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia, a historical region in Central Anatolia, is renowned for its unique topography: the iconic fairy chimneys, rock-carved churches, and hidden underground cities. It’s a surreal landscape of honeycombed hills, conical rock formations and troglodyte villages, and it’s one of the most unusual places on Earth. And I’d certainly want to take a hot air balloon ride over the area – it offers a breathtaking aerial view of the distinctive cone-shaped formations crafted by millions of years of wind and water erosion from volcanic rock. It’s a flight away from Istanbul, so the plan would be to return to this fascinating city for a few days’ visit before flying on to Cappadocia.
Uzbekistan
In the heart of Central Asia, this former Soviet nation has an ancient culture which has thrived for years, being a primary hub on the ancient Silk Road. Caravans laden with silk, tea, perfume and porcelain crossed Asia to the markets of Europe and Africa. Uzbekistan’s central spot on this ancient Silk Road has given it a legacy of awe-inspiring architecture on top of a melting-pot culture. Genghis Khan and his Mongol hordes passed through in the 12th-century, followed by Tamerlane, a century or so later. As well as its rich history and culture, this country has much to offer if you appreciate art and architecture too. Striking ceramic tiles can be found scattered around the cities, with many of the ornate mosaics decorating the incredible monuments. Some of the buildings look simply amazing – and this is the main attraction for me. This is definitely a country where you’d want expert guiding to appreciate it best.
Borneo, Malaysia
Asia's largest island is an extraordinary place for a holiday. It's home to the world’s oldest rainforest, with the richest biodiversity in Asia and countless incredible species, making it a fascinating place to visit. Everyone knows the island for its iconic orangutan, but there are innumerable exotic creatures to discover: Proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants, sun bears and Sunda leopards, hornbills and the world’s largest flower, to name just a few. And beyond the wildlife, you’ll also find vibrant culture, staggering landscapes, and beautiful beaches. I have to admit, it’s the orangutans that are the main draw for me, but I’d definitely be looking for an itinerary that combined nature and wildlife with opportunities to get under the skin of the island’s culture.
Kakadu National Park, Australia
Kakadu is one of the largest national parks in Australia, covering a staggering 20,000 sq km and a wide range of landscapes. Rugged stony plateaux, red escarpments split by waterfalls, long twisting rivers and wetlands festooned with flowers and birds. Add in a wealth of Aboriginal rock art sites and fauna and it’s easy to see why this is one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage areas. And it’s this combination of history and nature that fascinates me. More than half the park is Aboriginal land, and its Traditional Owners manage the park in partnership with Parks Australia. I’m currently working on an itinerary for autumn 2026 that would combine an in-depth exploration of Western Australia with a visit to Kakadu – without needing to spend a month doing it.
Churchill, Canada
Seeing polar bears in the wild is high up on my Bucket List. And the best time and place to do this is in Churchill in October. This month sees the annual migration of polar bears – where the bears head for the coast in large numbers and wait for the bay to freeze over, so that they can get back to hunting for seals. And their presence on the edges of Hudson Bay is almost guaranteed every year, so the chances of seeing these magnificent animals are high. They gather in their hundreds along the 160-km (100-mile) coastline between the Nelson and Churchill Rivers. They cluster on headlands and capes, the largest concentration of polar bears in the world. It’s easy to see up to 30 of them pacing the shore in a day. Trips to this part of the world are quite expensive – and it’s cost that has stopped me booking a trip so far – but one day I’m sure I’ll bite the bullet.
Monument Valley, USA
Monument Valley is undoubtedly one of the must-see places in the USA. Located in the region of the Colorado Plateau, the valley offers stunning views of the red rock formations, especially at sunrise and sunset. However, the allure of Monument Valley lies not just in its spectacular geological formations but also in the profound sense of awe and wonder it evokes—a place where nature’s grandeur meets cultural heritage, leaving an indelible mark on all who witness its splendour. I’d combine Monument Valley with visits to other spectacular National Parks in Utah and Arizona – as well as the Grand Canyon of course.
Bilbao, Spain
I’ve wanted to visit Bilbao for quite a while now, but I’ve always been put off by the limited direct flight options available. This port city once had a run-down, seen-better-days feel about it. but in the late 90s, there was an artistic and architectural renaissance — with Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim and Santiago Calatrava’s arcing, helix-like footbridge. The city also has a fascinating14th century old town. It’s a warren of tight-knit dwellings, independent shops, bakeries and standing-room-only pintxos bars — the Basque answer to tapas. The combination of the Guggenheim, a historic old quarter and delicious food make Bilbao the perfect place for a few days’ city break.
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Brazil’s oldest city, the capital of the state of Bahia, is certainly one of the most beautiful and interesting in the country, as Portugal, Africa and Brazil all collide in a cultural melting pot. The legacy of the Portuguese can be seen in the cobbled streets of the historical Pelourinho district that are lined with pastel-hued colonial buildings. But it’s the influence of African culture that really makes a visit to Salvador unique. The culture, food and religion of the black slaves of the past still dominate the vibrant atmosphere of the present. In fact, there’s no other place in the western hemisphere where the culture of those brought as enslaved people from Africa has been preserved as it has been in Salvador – from music and religion to food, dance and martial-arts traditions. I’m thinking I’d combine a few days here with a wider exploration of North East Brazil.
Rwanda or Uganda
Why two different countries I hear you ask? Well, it’s all about the gorillas for me, and both Rwanda and Uganda offer the chance to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. There are only 700 of these primates remaining on Earth. Hunted and pushed out of their dwindling habitat, the montane forest is now heavily protected. Most of the 700 gorillas live a wild existence, far from human reach, but a handful of groups have been habituated and can be tracked and observed by small numbers of visitors under the watchful eyes of park scouts. I’m currently leaning towards Rwanda, for a few reasons. Firstly, because it’s a smaller country, travelling to the area where the gorillas are is a shorter journey. Secondly, Rwanda has more than twice the number of habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda and so permits are generally more easily available. And finally (and potentially most importantly), you need a reasonable level of fitness to track gorillas, and your chances of having a shorter walk (only a 2-hour trek versus 5 or 6 hours) are higher than in Uganda. Whichever country I eventually choose, I’m sure some serious fitness training will be in order!
Easter Island, Chile
About 2,000 miles off the coast of South America sits the Chile-governed Easter Island. Just 14 miles long and 7 miles wide, archaeologists and historians have debated the island's history, but it is believed that Polynesians landed on the island around A.D. 800 and depleted its resources until it was practically barren. What they left behind, however, remains one of the most captivating riddles of engineering: nearly 1,000 monolithic statues. The massive effigies, on average 13 feet tall and weighing 14 tons, are thought to represent ancestral chiefs raised to the level of gods. My last plan to see these mystical statues on a visit to Argentina and Chile was thwarted post-Covid when flights to the island were drastically cut. But Easter Island’s been on my Bucket List for years, and I haven’t given up hope.
So, what's on your Bucket List? Where are the places that you've long been yearning to see? Let me help turn your dream holiday into reality. Get in touch so that we can have a chat and get the ball rollling.
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