Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences Every Serious Traveller Should Consider

Some trips are just holidays. Others change you.

Turns out, the experiences you brag about at dinner parties years later aren’t dolphin-sightings on a beach resort, or finding the best shopping street in Europe. Those are memories you make. The story you’re still telling 20 years later is the time you stood in a place your 9-to-5 life would never have brought you. And it’s no wonder; 22% of travellers say they’re seeking once-in-a-lifetime experiences on their next vacation.

Here’s the thing:

True adventurers don’t follow Instagram locations. They wait for opportunities that only occur when the Earth, timing, and some perseverance align.

Let’s jump in!

What you’ll discover:

• Why bucket list travel is booming right now

• Exploring an ice cave in Iceland

• Other once-in-a-lifetime experiences worth chasing

• How to plan the trip of a lifetime

Why Bucket List Travel Is Booming Right Now

Bucket list travel used to be a “one day” thing. Not anymore.

The average American has taken three “vacations of a lifetime” already. And 37% think these vacations are easier to accomplish than they were a decade ago. That’ a monumental change.

Why the change? A few reasons:

• Remote work has freed up more travel time

• Loyalty points make big trips cheaper

• Social media has expanded what people think is possible

• Younger travellers value experiences over stuff

The result is that there are more people trying to go on trips they once thought were only fantasies.

Makes sense when you think about it. Travel makes memories that last a lifetime. Buying a new couch does not. Most people who prioritize travel reminisce about those weeks for the better part of that entire year — oftentimes that entire decade. Now on to the fun part…

Exploring An Ice Cave In Iceland

If any single experience captures the “once-in-a-lifetime” idea perfectly, it’s stepping inside a glacier.

Ice caves in Iceland are found beneath flowing fields of glacier ice. They move and collapse each winter only to be replaced with new ones, so the specific cave you see will never be there in that form again. Ever. Tour operators such as glaciertrips.is offer guided visits to these caves of blue ice beneath Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.

Wondering what to wear for an ice cave tour?

This is the number one question from every rookie. And it’s a good one – conditions down there are icy cold.

Here’s what to wear ice cave exploring:

• Warm thermal base layers (top and bottom)

• A waterproof outer jacket and waterproof pants

• Wool socks and sturdy waterproof hiking boots

• Warm gloves, a beanie, and a scarf

• Sunglasses (the ice reflects a huge amount of light)

Your guide will supply the crampons, helmet and any additional safety equipment. But as for clothes? That’s your responsibility. Leave no without a waterproof layer — ice caves drip, drip, drip all day long… even in winter.

The season is from October until April. Around 200,000 people took part in glacier hikes and ice cave tours last year in Vatnajökull National Park.

Not bad for something you can only see for half the year.

Other Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences Worth Chasing

Ice caves? Nope, there’s more. Here are a few other things that top travellers place among their absolute favorites.

See The Northern Lights In The Arctic Circle

Seeing the aurora borealis is no joke on people’s bucket lists for nothing. On nights when everything aligns perfectly, curtains of green, purple and pink light paint the sky for hours.

The best spots?

• Northern Iceland

• Tromsø, Norway

• Yellowknife, Canada

• Finnish Lapland

You need clear skies, cold temps, and sun activity. It’s never a sure thing you’ll see it any night you want to see it, and that’s what makes it magical when you do.

Go On An African Safari

Watching a lion documentary is worlds away from listening to one roar outside your tent in the dark 100 metres away.

Kenya Tanzania Botswana and South Africa all boast safari operators that are among the best in the world. Seeing the Great Migration in the Serengeti (July-October) is quite possibly the single most amazing wildlife spectacle on earth. Millions of wildebeest and zebra crossing crocodile-infested rivers… etc.

Trek To Everest Base Camp

You don’t have to be an expert climber. However you do need to be in shape.

The hike takes approximately 12-14 days and spans about 130km return. You’ll pass through Sherpa villages, traverse swinging suspension bridges, and stand below the tallest mountain in the world. It’s grueling. It’s amazing.

Swim In The Great Barrier Reef

The reef is severely threatened by climate change and coral bleaching. So if you want to see it relatively untouched, you shouldn’t wait too long.

Snorkelling or diving on the reef you are face-to-face with turtles, reef sharks and coral formations that resemble alien landscapes. It really makes you see life in perspective very quickly.

How To Plan A Trip Of A Lifetime

These trips aren’t cheap. They aren’t easy. And they take real planning.

Here’s what actually works:

Begin saving now. The easiest way to accrue savings without feeling it is a travel account with an automatic monthly deposit. $200/month adds up to $2400 in one year — that’s a decent Iceland trip by itself.

Then decide what matters most:

• Timing (season, weather, wildlife migrations)

• Group size (private, small group, or solo?)

• Level of luxury vs. adventure

• Length of trip

Book important items early. Flights and accommodations for certain experiences (such as Iceland ice cave season or safari during the Great Migration) will sell out seasonally, even months before you leave. Iceland winter ice cave tours typically book up about 30-60 days out, but if you want the best guides they will sell out much sooner than that.

And lastly… pack appropriately. Being under equipped for a glacier or overpacking for a safari is sure to ruin your experience. Do your homework, make lists, then check them twice.

Final Thoughts

Once in a lifetime trips are not just for rich people or retirees. They can be planned by anyone who is willing to save and make a commitment. The reality is that more people are pursuing them than ever before. The reason? They are worth every penny and every day of planning.

A quick recap:

• Ice caves in Iceland move every year. You will never see the same ice cave twice.

• Northern lights. Safari. Everest Base Camp. Great Barrier Reef. Premium bucket list material.

• Plan early, save consistently, and pack for the conditions

• Ice cave tour packing list means you wear thermals, waterproofs and boots

Life is full of adventures you will remember long after your tan has washed off. Now it’s time to choose one and go have some fun.