If you’re craving once-in-a-lifetime experiences, whether it’s a trek through Mongolia or a round-trip Alaska cruise, these places belong on your travel bucket list.
1. Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic
Tristan da Cunha is known as the most remote, uninhabited archipelago on earth, and very few people get to visit it since it requires a week-long boat trip from South Africa.
There are no airports, hotels, or tourist infrastructure. The only settlement is Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, which has fewer than 300 residents and a lifestyle that has barely changed in decades.
It’s no wonder Tristan da Cunha is a haven for plants and wildlife, and there are even remnants of lava flows that have shaped the landscape over time.
It’s the community’s deep connection to nature that makes this a truly unique trip that’ll encourage you to pause and reflect.
2. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska
Hidden beneath the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, you’ll find the Mendenhall Ice Caves. The caves were formed by glacier meltwater, which created icy blue tunnels that look like natural stained glass.
Reaching the caves is an adventure all its own. You would need to kayak across Mendenhall Lake and hike across a glacier to even get close. But once you’re inside, it feels otherworldly.
What makes these caves extra special is that they change with the seasons and may even disappear completely one day if the glacier continues to recede.
3. Lofoten Islands, Tromsø
Lofoten Islands is a destination out of a dream. Think jagged mountain peaks, deep fjords, and brightly-colored fishing villages.
Even though the islands are remote, they’re easily accessible from Tromsø, and you’ll get to immerse yourself in wild Nordic nature and cozy Scandinavian culture.
What makes Lofoten truly exotic is how it blends extremes. In just one day, you could surf Arctic waves, hike a ridge, and enjoy fresh cod straight from a fishing boat.
There’s also a quiet beauty about the Lofoten Islands, with the golden-hour evenings being particularly memorable.
4. Mongolian Steppe, Mongolia
The Mongolian Steppe is one of the few places where nomadic life is still alive and well.
Home to herders who live in traditional yurts, the Mongolian Steppe is both stark and sublime, offering travelers an immersive way to get away from day-to-day life.
A trip to the Mongolian Steppe would include riding horses with Kazakh eagle hunters, experiencing traditional throat singing performances, and drinking salty milk tea with hosts.
The Steppe invites you to slow down and tune into a way of life that hasn’t changed in centuries.
5. Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland
Located on the western coast of Greenland, you’ll find the most active glacier sites in the Northern Hemisphere.
Large icebergs from the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier regularly drift into the fjord, creating an ever-changing landscape. And if you stick around until midnight, the light of the sun makes for some of the most spectacular photos.
Ililissat is also home to Inuit communities who have adapted to life on the edge of the Arctic for thousands of years, which is a cultural experience unlike any other.
Adventure Awaits Off the Beaten Path
If you’re looking to spark your sense of wonder, there is no shortage of places that feel like they’re from another world. For your next vacation, why not skip the crowds, embrace the unknown, and set your sights on something truly extraordinary?
