A Year’s Worth of Adventure

As the year comes to a close, I inevitably start dreaming of future travel adventures. Here are 12 experiences that are on my personal “bucket list.” They roughly align with the months of the year, although it would be quite a feat to check them all off in 12 months!

Ice Hotel Sweden, cc license

1) Sleep in the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden – Every winter, a hotel made entirely of ice and snow is rebuilt north of the Arctic Circle. Everything from the beds to the bar, the sculptures to the sauna is -5° C! The Ice Hotel is open from mid-December through March when it begins to thaw.  

2) Witness the Aurora Borealis near Reykjavik, Iceland – The Northern Lights are one of the most hauntingly beautiful natural phenomenons in the world and the 11-year cycle of activity will reach its peak in 2011-2012.

3) Snorkeling/Diving on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia – Swim with a magnificent array of marine life that lives around the largest coral formation in the world. The reef is easily accessible by boat or even from some beaches.

Image by Dr Zizimun

4) Zorbing in Rotorua, New Zealand – Envision hurtling downhill inside a 10’ diameter soft plastic ball. This crazy adventure sport was born in New Zealand, though courses have sprung up across the globe.

5) Heli-hiking in Banff, Canada – Combine spectacular aerial views from a helicopter with the exhilaration of a hike through the scenic Canadian Rockies wilderness.

Gorilla licking wound, cc license

6) Gorilla tracking in Rwanda/Uganda – Less than 700 mountain gorillas survive in the world, so seeing them in the wild is a special and exclusive experience. They roam along the Rwanda/Uganda border and in the Bwindi Rainforest.

7) Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey – Silently float above the unique volcanic chimney rock formations and subterranean caves that were inhabited for centuries. The mystical field of natural minarets is an other-worldly experience.

8) Culinary focus in Tuscany, Italy – Hunt for prized truffles or visit a family-run olive oil farm. Taste flavorful wines at a local vineyard, and then learn how to use all that new knowledge with a Tuscan cooking class.

9) Elephant wrangling in Chiang Mai, Thailand – Meet the herd of rescued Asian elephants at the Elephant Nature Park and help to feed and river bathe these giants. Learn about conservancy in Southeast Asia for the endangered creatures.  

10)  Ride camels at the pyramids of Giza, Egypt – Cleopatra surely had more plush transportation, but visualize sauntering through the desert on the swaying back of a dromedary within view of the some of the largest structures ever built. These pyramids are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World remaining.

11) Cave tubing in Belize – Float on an inner tube past underground waterfalls and swirl around stalagmites protruding from the water with only a headlamp to light the way through the “River of Caves.”  This was a spiritual place to the ancient Mayans.

12) Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina – Titillate the senses with this passionate dance that is one of the hallmarks of this vibrant city. Watch, learn, or practice the improvisational moves that make tango so breathtakingly sensual.

What is on your travel bucket list? Let Covington help plan your ultimate adventure!