So two weeks ago, we were sharing how we choose where we travel based on the unique experiences we can find there. So naturally, the logical next question is:

"But what are these experiences?"

And rather than just highlighting a specific bucket-list country or spot, we thought it would be even more helpful to highlight 6 experiences we think everyone should have at least once in their life.

These aren’t tied to a specific country or destination. They’re the type of experiences we think are worth seeking out, wherever in the world you can find them. And, of course, we’ll share some of our favourite places to actually experience them.

6 Experiences we encourage everyone to do at least once in their lifetime

1) Self-Drive Safari: Connect With Nature

We’re so used to seeing the world from a very human perspective that it’s easy to forget we’re actually just one species among millions. But on a Safari, you get to see the entire animal kingdom up close and witness the circle of life playing out right in front of you. You might watch an animal being born one minute and hunted the next, and somewhere along the way, you start to realize something pretty humbling: we’re actually not at the top of the food chain. In fact, if we just took one wide step outside our game vehicle, we’d be pretty pitifully close to the bottom. I mean, even a honey badger could probably take us down.

We live in an extremely human-centric world, where it’s easy to forget that there is so much more happening around us. Sitting quietly in your own vehicle, watching an entire ecosystem carry on without giving the slightest care that you’re there, puts things into perspective. You realize that you’re just one small part of a much bigger world, and that the world we share with all these animals is incredibly precious and worth protecting.

Finally, on a self-drive safari, you’ll often be camping on the roof of your vehicle, which brings you even closer to the wild. There’s something very different about sleeping just metres above the ground, rather than being tucked safely away inside a lodge.

2) Multi-Day Hiking: Push Your Limits

As humans, we are naturally drawn to comfort. A comfortable bed, a hot shower, good food, and an easy way of getting from A to B. But there is something truly special that happens when you take all of that away on a multi-day trek.

You go further and further from civilization, disconnecting from the noise and immersing yourself in nature. You test your capabilities, push yourself outside your comfort zone, and slowly realize that you are capable of much more than you thought. Every day you hike a little further, overcome another challenge, and build a little more confidence in yourself.

Yes, you can reach Machu Picchu by taking a scenic train and then a bus, but the feeling of arriving there after 4 days of hiking is indescribable. You did it. You hiked through peaks and conquered the elements. And when you finally arrive, there is an incredible sense of accomplishment knowing that you got yourself there.

3) Scuba Diving: Enter Another World

How often can you say that you’ve travelled to a completely different world? When I first tried scuba diving, it changed my world completely. The moment you hit the water, everything you know and understand seems to flip on its head. Up is down, down is up, gravity seems to disappear, and suddenly you can move in three dimensions as if you can fly. And all around you is a world so colourful and alien that it’s almost difficult to comprehend.

In fact, humans have explored more of the moon and other planets than we have of our own oceans. Just beneath the surface exists an entire world that most of us will never see, and getting to spend 40 minutes at a time breathing from a tank and existing in that world is something that never gets old. I might be a little crazy, but there is something incredibly stimulating about floating along a coral cliff face, looking down below you and seeing absolutely nothing but darkness. You are literally suspended between two worlds.

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And that’s only half the list. 👀

The other three are just as meaningful, but in very different ways. They’ve challenged some of the things we thought we knew, pushed us outside our comfort zones, and changed the way we look at travel and the world around us.

We’ll share all six, along with some of our favourite places to experience them, practical tips, how much it costs, and more in the full article.

Hope this gives you a little inspiration for your own bucket list!

Ryan & Nan

WaylessTravelers