12 Thrilling Adventure Travel Bucket List Ideas: 2023
Does yet another beach holiday fill you with dread? Do you long to push at your boundaries and give your brain’s risk-reward system a little kick? Do you want something super special to post on your Insta?
If any, or all, of these are the case, why not consider the following dozen adventure travel bucket list ideas?
From physically to mentally breathtaking, from off-the-wall to classic adventure, you’re sure to find a bucket list idea that hits the spot below.
Great adventure travel requires a leap of faith. Are you ready to take yours?
Explore the Fortresses of Rajasthan, India
Rajasthan is one of India's most historically-rich states, with many majestic temples and mighty fortresses to explore.
Highlights include the truly epic Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur, which sits astride a vast slab of the Malani Igenus Suite. People still live in the fort itself.
While here, don't miss the chance to do a camel trek into the nearby Thar Desert. Don't wander off in the wrong direction though, because you might inadvertently cross over into Pakistan!
Aside from Jaisalmer, there's Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur; Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajsamand and the Lake Palace in Udaipur (where part of the James Bond film Octopussy was shot).
Temples, too, are numerous in Rajasthan - as with most of India. Highlights include the Monkey Temple in Jaipur, so called due to the large colony of monkeys that live around it.
The state is also home to the Temple of Rats, too (guess what lives there!).
Rajasthan has so much to offer, it might easily contain a dozen bucket list travel attractions on its own!
The hanging coffins of Sagada, Philippines
While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, the hanging coffins of Sagada are nothing if not fascinating.
For nearly 2,000 years the people of Sagada have been suspending their dead on nearby cliff sides or cave walls.
The idea is that the higher the body is placed, the more likely the person’s soul is to move onto the next realm.
The process normally begins with the elderly carving their own coffin for the 'burial' process. If they are physically unable to do this, their families will do it for them.
When the person passes away, they are hoisted up a cliffside and suspended, along with many others.
In time, the coffin disintegrates - but there are still intact coffins over a century old!
Visitors can admire this incredible sight from a distance.
Sagada is adventure challenge travel of a slightly darker kind.
Dive the USAT Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
Struck by a Japanese torpedo in 1942, the USAT Liberty is now one of Bali's best known dive wrecks.
After being stripped by the US military, locals began cannibalising the rest of the ship.
However, a volcanic eruption in 1963 shifted the Liberty further out to sea, saving it from further dismemberment - and creating a fabulous dive wreck.
The Liberty is also home to an abundance of sea life, including colourful Big-eyed trevally, Jacks, Gobies, Lizardfish, and Barracuda.
If you don’t know how to dive, you can take your Padi Diver training in Bali.
And of course, before and after diving, there's rice paddies, beaches and vibrant nightlife to enjoy on the island.
Camel Ride in the Sahara
Whether a Saharan camel ride sounds cliched to you or not, it is something of a "must do" while in North Africa.
Morocco is among the easiest and best places to enjoy a camel ride, thanks to its well-developed tourism industry and high levels of security and safety.
It's common to spend one or more nights under the stars - which are clearly visible in the cloudless (and non light polluted) skies.
Enjoy classic sand dunes near Zagora/M'hamid (Erg Chigaga dunes) or near Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes).
Camel rides can also be booked around atmospheric Tangier, vibrant Marrakech and ancient Essouriera.
Volcano spotting: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
Eyjafjallajökull is only slightly harder to reach than to say!
This mighty active volcano was the one that ruined so many holidays back in 2010, as its post-eruption ash cloud spread across European skies, grounding flights.
To reach it, hop on a bus to Þórsmörk (from Seljalandsfoss), hike over the ridge for 25km to Skógar.
You can also take a helicopter sightseeing tour of Eyjafjallajökull and its glacier - but it will set you back about 800 GBP!
Credit: Sundry Photography - stock.adobe.com
Take the Greyhound bus from LA to New York
Probably the best thing about taking the bus from Los Angeles to New York is that, when you tell Americans you did it, they can barely believe you!
You see, the Greyhound bus network has a reputation it doesn’t deserve – not completely, anyway.
As you cross the States you'll see the landscape change from cactuses (Nevada) to snow-covered mountains (Colorado) to flat-green-nothingness (Nebraska) and then, finally, to the unequalled drama of New York's Skyline.
Along the way you'll meet Americans of all kinds, most of whom will be only too happy to tell you their life story!
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
Australia's Barrier Reef is the world's largest living structure, and is among the best scuba diving spots you'll find.
The sheer abundance and variety of sea life is sure to astound you. We're talking reef sharks, stingrays, spinner dolphins, green sea turtles and more molluscs than you can shake a stick at.
Not that you'd be allowed to shake any sticks in the heavily-protected Great Barrier Reef Marine Park!
If you can't dive, there's a vast choice of experienced dive schools to help you on your way; these include in-pool training and tests, before progressing to 'the practical' of diving off a real boat.
Find out more about diving the Great Barrier Reef
Walk the Camino de Santiago, Northern Spain
Known in English as the Way of St James, Camino de Santiago is a network of pathways made for pilgrims to reach the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great is located.
While paths extend as far north as England, most walkers start on the French side of the Pyrenees, then pass through cities like Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León.
It takes around 30 days to complete the walk, but it’s a hugely rewarding experience.
You'll meet many fellow adventurers on the way, and get rather fit to boot!
Take a dip in an Austrian beer pool
Forget skiing in the Alps and admiring Viennese architecture. Next time you visit Austria, take a dip in a pool filled with 42,000 pints of beer!
The world's first and only lager pool is located in the 700-year-old Starkenberger Castle. actually, it is home to seven such pools!
The beer-pool-brainwave came about when the castles' fermentation cellars fell into disuse, and the owners decided to try something fresh.
if you want the pool to yourself it will set you back around 250 GBP. But if you don’t mind sharing your ale-pool with others, it'll cost about 5 GBP.
Take an overnight journey on an Indian train
The vast Indian rail network has to be experienced to be believed. It's easily the best way to get across the country - assuming you want to see the real India!
Most long-distance services have bench-seats which double as beds. Above each of these is another bed.
Going by train is among the best ways to meet everyday Indians - they'll be only too delighted to discuss cricket (so make sure you brush up before you leave the UK!).
And there’s nothing quite like arriving in a strange new city as the sun's coming up and the organised chaos of India begins!
Sing karaoke in Japan
All major Japanese cities have karaoke boxes - sometimes a lot of them. That’s because the Japanese love karaoke; people of all ages enjoy it.
It's also a fun thing for you to try as a visitor - although it's probably best for those with travelling companions, unless you want to sing by yourself!
That said, if you latch on to a few Japanese salarymen out on the town, you may just get invited along to enjoy some karaoke in authentic Japanese style!
Try a Finnish sauna
The sauna is a cornerstone of Finnish culture; it’s a place where people relax, cleans their minds and bodies, and find a little inner peace.
You can of course experience this piece of 'intangible heritage' for yourself.
As well as being super-relaxing, it's a most liberating experience - to be naked (or very near) with your fellow man or woman. (note that swimsuits are required in mixed saunas, while au naturel is fine in single-gender establishments)
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