Travel till I die! My Travel Bucket List (updated 2020)

Which places do you still want to see in the world?! Want to know mine…? Warning: this may become a long blog! haha Yes, I have traveled to 60+ countries, but there is still so much beauty to explore in this world! Here’s My Travel Bucket List. One thing is for sure: travel till I die!!

Georgia

As in Georgia the country in southeast Europe. This country is not very well known and I guess that is one of the factors that attracts me. After seeing Georgia on Reizen Waes I was convinced even more: it is on my bucket list! It looks so beautiful with the mountains, old monasteries, there are lots of wineries, it’s cheap, people are friendly… what else do you want? We had our trip already boooked for April 2020 but unfortunately Corona messed up our plans, so hopefully we can go coming Sep/Oct or in 2021. I already made an extensive map of Georgia in My Google Maps.

Iceland

I still have plans to go to Iceland this summer (2020), we will see if that plan can continue or not… The reasons are obvious I think. Beautiful nature! Looking forward to seeing all those beautiful waterfalls, volcanoes, puffins, whales, and who knows, my second chance to see the Northern Light?! Fingers crossed we can tick Iceland off our bucket list this summer.

Ukraine

Ukraine is a huge country so I do not have the illusion of being able to see the entire country in a week or so. But you got to start somewhere, right? We had a trip scheduled for May 2020 to Kiev and Chernobyl. After the big fire in the woods Kiev temporarily turned into the city with the worst air quality, so honestly we were not too sad this trip had to be postponed due to Corona. I guess we will be rescheduling for spring 2021 and hopefully I can squeeze Lviv in our planning too. In My Google Maps I already made a map of Kiev and surroundings.

Nicaragua

Another bucketlist destination that we recently started to plan a trip to, but Corona throws a spanner in the works: Nicaragua. Nicaragua is by far not as well-known and touristy as it’s neighbour Costa Rica. Until a few years ago I had never even heard of Managua, Nicaragua’s capital! But there is lots to see and Nicaragua is still very affordable, except renting a decent 4×4 car I discovered LOL At least I already made a Nicaragua map in My Google Maps. Hopefully we can go in 2021, as honestly I can’t see us going this year, but who knows?

Mexico

My cousin keeps telling me Mexico is the prettiest country she has ever seen, and she has seen a lot! And I can imagine the food played a role too 😉 Beaches, cenotes, jungle temples, volcanos… When can we go?? I bet Mexico will make a fantastic road trip, especially Yucatan. We were actually thinking of visiting Yucatan in spring 2020, but hey, surprise surprise, Corona messed up our plans again. Maybe in 2021 or 2022? At least I already made a Yucatan map in My Google Maps.

Nepal

At the foot of the Himalayan mountain ranges, locked between India and Tibet, this beautiful country is a paradise for hiking and photography. Not eager to reach the top of the Himalaya (I know my limitations and would like to stay alive) but Kathmandu, Pokhara, Annapura, Chitwan, Bhaktapur… so much to see! Yet above all: the people and culture! I would love to experience that up close. Possibly some volunteer work?

Jordan

Everyone who has been or has seen pictures of this beautiful country and its highlights understands what I am talking about, why I want to go to Jordan so badly. Unfortunately it’s getting quite touristy and crowded but I cannot resist going anyway. I just can’t get Petra, Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea out of my head… I was making plans to go with a friend in the fall of 2020, but not sure any more whether we can go due to Corona… Let’s wait and see.

Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands

While traveling through Argentina, I co-incidentaly was in Ushuaia on the same day as one of my best friends, who happens works on a National Geographic ship there. It was great to see her again, and the ship with which she regularly sailed between Ushuaia and Antarctica! At that time I was unable to join her because I got a contract extention with my employer. If only I had joined her then, because after that she got pregnant and it seemed for a long time that my chance to see Antarctica together with my friend was forever gone… Fortunately, my friend recently started sailing again, so I’m getting my hopes up to finally join her and see Antarctica for real!! Waaahhhhh!!!

Why I want to go to Antarctica? Come on, isn’t that too obvious?! I think that between Ushuaia and Antarctica one can find some of the most beautiful, pure piece of nature that Planet Earth has to offer. Coming from a country where snow rarely falls, snow and ice are still magical to me. The unique flora and fauna, with different kinds of penguins, seals, whales, sea elephants, sea lions, albatrosses; it would be fantastic to see them in their natural habitat. That would definitely be a dream come true!

Botswana

When visiting Namibia and South Africa a couple of years ago, I knew for sure: this will not be my last time in Africa. I think that everyone who has ever been to the African continent understands what I am talking about. Africa has a certain smell, a certain feeling, a certain excitement. There are so many unbelievable, amazing things to see there. The animals, the people, the nature. We actually looked to Botswana back then as well, but it was more expensive and did not fit our schedule so great either. But I definitely still would like to go there, Botswana must be insane!

Contrary the drought in Namibia, Botswana is more wet, with hippos and rhinos, expansive marshy plains. An adventure with a 4×4 and a tent on top, how cool would that be? A flight over the Okavango Delta and Valley that is shown in so many nature and wildlife documentaries… And then if possible I’d like to add the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the widest waterfalls of Africa! Scottish explorer David Livingstone said already in 1855: “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. Yup, I want to go to Botswana! See a panther in it’s natural habitat.

Uganda

Another African country that really I would love to visit is Uganda, possibly in combination with Rwanda, Congo and/or Tanzania. My boyfriend feels somehow not attracted to Africa, or at least not willing to spend a lot of money on it, so I’m looking into group trips now. Hopefully early 2021. The main reason for wanting to see Uganda is the gorilla. Whole gorilla families live there, mainly in the area that borders with Congo and Rwanda. And you can do a gorilla trekking to see them for real, wow! It is quite expensive to get access to those parks, but I don’t care, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The village pastor talked about living in Uganda, which made me intrigued about the country as a kid. And obviously, looking at Frans Lanting’s work helps too!

Colombia

Visiting Argentina and Brazil definitely felt like I wanted to see more of the Latin American continent. Cartagena, Medelin, Santa Marta, Minca, Rosario Islands, Valle de Cocora, Tayrona Park, nature, food, culture, colorful houses, friendly people… Reading the travel blog of Be Sabine, which is a Dutch lady living in Colombia, it really makes me want to step into the plane immediately! Maybe in 2021 or 2022? Bucket list material for sure.

What else?

Of course there are more destinations on my travel bucket list…

Asia

• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China (Beijing, Pingyao, Chengdu, Chongqing, countryside)
• India
• Indonesia (beyond Bali)
• Laos
• Myanmar a.k.a. Birma
• Nepal (see above)
• South Korea (beyond Seoul)
• Taiwan
• Tibet

Central & South America

• Belize
• Brazil (beyond Rio and Iguazu)
• Colombia (see above)
• Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
• Guatemala
• Jamaica
• Mexico (see above)
• Nicaragua (see above)
• Peru
• Surinam

North America

• Canada: Jasper – Banff – Quebec
• USA: New Orleans – Grand Canyon – Las Vegas – LA – Texas – Utah – northwestern states incl . Boston – Alaska – Hawaii

Middle East & Central Asia

• Iran
• Jordan (see above)
• Oezbekistan
• Oman

Africa

• Botswana (see above)
• Congo, Rwanda & Uganda (see above)
• Morocco: Marrakech – Chefchaouen – Fez
• Tanzania
• Kenya

Pacific

• Australia: Goldcoast – Melbourne – Tasmania – Westcoast
• French Polynesia: Bora Bora

Europe

• Austria: Graz – Innsbruck – Salzburg – Hallstatt – Langenfeld
• Belgium: Bruges
• Cyprus
• England: Bath – Cambridge
• France: Corsica
• Georgia (see above)
• Germany: Spree – Burg Eltz – Dresden – Lübeck
• Greece: Athens – Delphi – Zakythos – Naxos – Paros – Kos – Corfu – Milos
• Iceland (see above)
• Italy: Venice – Verona – Bologna – Bari – Sardinia
• Portugal: Porto and country side (pousadas)
• Scotland: country side (beyond Edinburgh)
• Spain: Granada
• Macedonia
• Sweden: westcoast incl. Fjällbacka
• Ukraine (see above)

OK. That’s it. For now at least haha I guess my fridge will collapse at one point from all the magnets that I always take home from each and every trip LOL What’s on your bucket list? Where do you dream about traveling to? Any similarities to the above?

Since the original date of this article I was able to tick several destinations off my bucket list. So lucky! For an overview of all the countries where I have ever been, check out this page.

Last Updated on 05/28/2020