20 Bucket List Adventure Trips (We’ve Done Them All)

We’ve spent more than a decade chasing adventure across 95+ countries, and these are the 20 trips we’d tell anyone to do. Every one of them is a trip we’ve taken ourselves — no filler, no “we’ve heard it’s great.”

We cut a few crowd-pleasers from our old list while writing this. Some were party trips we loved at 25 but wouldn’t plan around now. Others, like Burning Man, we’d simply never recommend today.

We’re also about to start traveling with a baby. So for each trip you’ll get our honest take on whether it still holds up — and whether it works with a little one, or needs to wait.

The list is grouped by how you’ll be moving: on foot, on snow and ice, on wheels, on the water, on rock, and across Africa, which earned a section of its own.

On Foot

Everest Three Passes Trek, Nepal

We trekked the Three Passes in 2024 and moved quick, finishing in 16 days. It’s one of the toughest treks we’ve done, and one of the most rewarding. It links Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La — all above 5,300 m — into a loop through the Khumbu that takes in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar and the Gokyo Lakes along the way.

It’s quieter than the standard Base Camp route once you leave the main trail, and every pass hands you a different face of the Himalaya.

Short on time or not sure about three high passes? Do the Gokyo Lakes trek instead. You still get turquoise glacial lakes and one of the best Everest views anywhere from Gokyo Ri, in far fewer days.

Still worth it? Yes, every day of it.
With a baby: Later. The altitude rules it out for little ones.
Pair it with a few days in Pokhara.

The Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail is a challenging hike, but with porters and Machu Picchu as the reward, it’s worth every step. We hiked it in 2017 with a local operator. You wind through cloud forest while some of the tallest mountains on Earth tower overhead, then walk through the Sun Gate to the ruins.

Still worth it? Yes — book permits months ahead.
With a baby: Later. It climbs over 4,000 m, and high altitude is our one hard no with a baby.
Read next: visiting Machu Picchu and things to do in Cusco.

Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan

Perched on a cliff at 3,120 m, Tiger’s Nest is the hike every visitor to Bhutan does — and it lives up to it. It’s 8.4 km round trip with 667 m of gain; we did it in just under three hours of hiking, and six hours with photos, tea and time inside the monastery.

Our tip: don’t start at dawn. The monastery doesn’t get full sun until about 11am, and by then the early crowds are heading down.

Still worth it? Absolutely.
With a baby: Later. At over 3,000 m in the Himalaya, it’s one to save for when they’re older.
Read next: hiking to Tiger’s Nest and Bhutan travel tips.

Hiking the Faroe Islands

The Faroes pack sea cliffs, waterfalls and grass-roofed villages into islands you can drive in a day. We went in mid-July and still hiked in down jackets and rain shells — plan for fog.

Our picks: the easy 7.2 km walk to Trælanípa above Sørvágsvatn, the Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy (get in the ferry line early — we missed two), and the lung-buster up Villingardalsfjall for the northern islands view.

Still worth it? Yes, and still far less crowded than Iceland.
With a baby: Yes, in a carrier — bring serious rain gear.
Read next: best things to do in the Faroe Islands.

Gorilla Trekking, Uganda

Nothing in Africa compares to an hour with mountain gorillas. We drove ourselves to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and found the Habinyanja family in under two hours of trekking — then a young female ran up and grabbed Cam’s arm.

Permits are US$700 in Uganda versus $1,500 in Rwanda, which makes Uganda the better-value choice.

Still worth it? One of the best wildlife experiences of our lives.
With a baby: No. The minimum age is 15.
Read next: gorilla trekking in Uganda and self-driving Uganda.

Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon

Tombstone is where to hike in the Yukon: jagged peaks, open tundra and caribou off the Dempster Highway. Go in the last two weeks of August or the first week of September, when the tundra turns red, gold and orange.

Grizzly Valley and Goldensides are the classic hikes and manageable for anyone with moderate fitness. We only had one night and it wasn’t enough — give it two or three.

Still worth it? Yes.
With a baby: Yes — any hike here works with a baby in a carrier.
Read next: our Yukon road trip.

Snow and Ice

Chasing Powder in Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido gets some of the lightest, deepest snow on the planet, blown in from Siberia all winter. We spent early February to mid-March riding Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano — and Rusutsu has some of our favorite terrain in Hokkaido.

Rent a car. Unless you’re only going to Niseko, it’s the only way to chase storms between resorts, backcountry trailheads and onsens. Just know the winter driving is serious — we found it challenging, and we drive in Western Canadian winters.

Still worth it? Yes — the snow is as good as the hype. Niseko is busy and pricey; the smaller resorts are where it shines.
With a baby: Yes. Ski-in hotels with onsens make it one of the easier ski trips with a little one.
Read next: our Hokkaido ski trip and Niseko ski resort guide.

The Vallée Blanche, Chamonix

The Vallée Blanche is the most dramatic run we’ve ever done. You ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car to 3,842 m, walk a narrow snow arête with a lot of air on both sides, then drop onto 20 km of glacier down the Mer de Glace to Chamonix.

We rode it in March 2026 on firm pack and breakable crust — not the powder you dream about. It didn’t matter. It’s still one of the most extraordinary places we’ve ever been on a snowboard.

Still worth it? A bucket-list descent regardless of conditions. Go with a guide and a flexible mindset.
With a baby: Not the descent. Chamonix itself is great for a family ski week.
Read next: the Norrøna freeride festival in Chamonix and best things to do in Chamonix.

An Expedition Cruise to Antarctica

Antarctica is the most memorable trip of our lives — so good we went twice, in 2022 and 2025, both on the classic 10-day trip to the Antarctic Peninsula. We’ve sailed with Albatros Expeditions on the Ocean Victory, kayaked between icebergs, did the polar plunge, and saw Adélie, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni penguins.

It’s also humbling. On one trip, weather and sea ice cancelled three of our landings, and at Port Lockroy we had to rush out as a storm rolled in fast. Budget roughly US$8,000–10,000 per person.

Still worth it? Yes — and book the kayaking.
With a baby: No. Most operators set a minimum age.
Read next: how to travel to Antarctica.

On Wheels

Iceland’s Ring Road

One road loops the whole country, and it’s an outdoor lover’s dream: waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs and glaciers the whole way round. We did it in a Happy Campers van in October, which covered our bed and our transport in one price.

The highlights still stick with us: Snæfellsnes, Hraunfossar, Jökulsárlón under a pink-and-blue sunset, and three hours of northern lights. Give it 10–14 days — we had 12 and could have spent months.

Still worth it? Yes. Go in the shoulder season to dodge the crowds.
With a baby: Yes — swap the campervan for a car and cabins.
Read next: our Iceland road trip itinerary and renting a campervan in Iceland.

The Silk Road: Uzbekistan and Beyond

Uzbekistan is where to go for the Silk Road’s culture and its wild architecture. We travelled it in 2025, and Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are packed with tiled madrasas, mosques and minarets that look almost unreal in person. Bukhara was our highlight.

Get around by train — Uzbekistan’s rail system is amazing and efficient, and links all three cities. Want mountains too? The neighbouring Silk Road countries — Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan above all — have phenomenal, still-quiet hiking.

Still worth it? Yes — Bukhara alone is worth the trip.
With a baby: Yes — the fast trains make Uzbekistan far easier than it sounds.

A New Zealand Road Trip

New Zealand was Tash’s first solo trip, and it might be the most photogenic country on the planet. A road trip is the way to see it. The South Island has the glaciers, fiords and bungee jumps; the North Island has active volcanoes, geysers and hot springs.

Still worth it? Yes.
With a baby: Yes. It’s one of the easiest adventure destinations for families.

On the Water

Surfing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the easiest place we know to learn to surf. The Nicoya Peninsula has mellow, consistent breaks, and towns like Nosara, Sámara and Santa Teresa — a hamlet squeezed between jungle and beach — are built around waves and yoga.

But for us Costa Rica is really about the jungle vibes and the wildlife. We’ve been twice, in 2021 and 2024, and found the Osa Peninsula and the southern Pacific coast the most interesting of all.

Still worth it? Yes, though Santa Teresa is far busier than it used to be.
With a baby: Yes — beach towns with warm water are ideal.
Read next: best things to do in Costa Rica.

Sailing the Croatian Coast

A week on a catamaran is the best way to see Croatia’s islands. In July 2025 we sailed Split to Dubrovnik with Yacht Getaways, stopping at Šolta, Stari Grad, Hvar and the Pakleni Islands, Korčula, Mljet National Park and Lopud.

Our first night set the tone: a local konoba’s boat scooped us up after mooring for dinner over the water. The finale was sailing along Dubrovnik’s walls and anchoring off Lokrum for one last swim.

Still worth it? Yes — history, swimming and island hopping in one trip.
With a baby: Better when they’re older; a boat is hard with a crawler.
Read next: sailing the Croatian coast and Hvar island guide.

Island-Hopping the Philippines

The Philippines are beautiful, cheap and home to some of the friendliest people anywhere. Siargao is our favourite: we spent a week there, watched Cloud 9 — one of the world’s best breaks — from the pier, and hired our own boat to Guyam Island for about ₱2,300.

Moalboal is the other must: swim with the sardine run a few metres off the beach, no dive certification needed.

Still worth it? Yes — Siargao is one of the most beautiful islands we’ve seen anywhere.
With a baby: Yes, definitely possible.
Read next: things to do in Siargao and things to do in Moalboal.

On Rock

Rock Climbing in Greece (Kalymnos)

Greece isn’t only beaches and island hopping — it’s one of Europe’s great climbing destinations. Kalymnos, in the Dodecanese, is the headline: steep limestone crags above the sea, thousands of bolted sport routes, and a climbing scene centred on Masouri.

We spent two weeks climbing there in 2025 and loved the rhythm: days cragging above the sea, a swim to cool off, then a long seaside Greek dinner. Our favourite crags were Summertime, Kasteli, Sea Breeze and The Beach. Spring and autumn are the season, cool enough to hold the rock and warm enough to swim after.

Still worth it? Yes.
With a baby: Yes, taking turns — plenty of crags are short walks from the road.

Via Ferrata in the Dolomites

Via ferrata — iron ladders, rungs and steel cables bolted into the rock — lets you climb big Dolomite walls without being a climber. Our three favourites:

Torre di Toblin: short, super steep and extremely exposed, half ladders and half cable up the north face beside the Tre Cime. It was our first moderate ferrata in the Dolomites, and we still can’t believe how good it was.
Ferrata Schuster: a completely unique route through the Sasso group that tops out on a mountain summit.
Ferrata Masarè: a proper ridge-line adventure, strung along the crest high above the valleys.

New to it? Start on a beginner route like the Averau or Innerkofler–De Luca and rent a proper via ferrata kit and helmet in town. Or there are plenty of professional guides that can show you the ropes.

Still worth it? Yes — the most fun way to get high in the Dolomites.
With a baby: Not the ferratas, but any Dolomite hike works with a baby in a carrier.
Read next: best things to do in the Dolomites.

Africa

We spent a big chunk of our twenties in Africa, bought a truck and drove it across the continent. These three trips are the ones we’d send anyone on first.

A Namibia Road Trip

Namibia is made for a self-drive, and in 2016 we did it in our own truck, bought in Cape Town: empty gravel roads, wild camping and some of the most otherworldly landscapes on Earth. We spent three weeks driving from Fish River Canyon to Lüderitz and the Kolmanskop ghost town, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, the Skeleton Coast, Etosha and the Caprivi Strip.

Catch the red dunes of Sossusvlei at sunrise. And in Etosha, almost every waterhole we stopped at had some Lion King magic going on.

Still worth it? Yes — still one of the great road trips anywhere.
With a baby: Yes, with a lodge-based route instead of camping.
Read next: our Namibia road trip itinerary and things to do in Namibia.

A Canoe Safari to Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

This is the most unique way we’ve ever done safari, and it feels like a proper adventure. We paddled the Zambezi from Chirundu to Mana Pools with Natureways over three nights, fully self-sufficient, sleeping on sandbanks in the middle of the river.

We spent night after night listening to hippos eat on the other side of our tents, with lions and hyenas calling in the distance. By day we slipped through reed channels as elephants crossed between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Still worth it? Yes — an extremely memorable way to safari, and the one we point repeat safari-goers to next.
With a baby: No — this one waits until they’re much older.
Read next: our Zambezi canoe safari and Mana Pools National Park guide.

Cape Town and the Winelands, South Africa

When people ask our favourite city, we always say Cape Town. Table Mountain rises straight out of town — and you have to climb it. Lion’s Head is the other icon, best at sunrise or sunset. World-class wine country is under an hour away.

In the Winelands, base yourself in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, cycle between estates and do the pairings — wine with biltong, wine with salt, wine with cupcakes. Delheim and L’Avenir are our favourite estates. Then spend three months in South Africa if you can; we did, and bought a car to do it.

Still worth it? Always. It’s still our favourite city.
With a baby: Yes — one of the easiest places on this list with a little one.
Read next: things to do in Cape Town, adventures in Cape Town and things to do in Stellenbosch.