The trips that you take in life will differ according to your current situation: the rowdy Eurotrip with your best buds in tow is perfect when all you want to do is party and flirt with boys with accents, the soul-searching solo trip when you’re at the crossroads of life, the destination wedding when your best friend gets married and the relaxing island getaway when you need a breather from full-time work and the responsibilities of adulthood. Here are 12 trips to take in your lifetime: how many have you done?
1. The ‘backpacking’ trip
Try: Eastern Europe
Backpacking aligns perfectly with the adventure-seeking ethos of younger travellers and is a good option for those keen to save their pennies in order to make the journey last a little longer. Often taken as a transitional trip, i.e. between high school and university or between jobs, backpacking is an excellent way to see the world on a budget and a great opportunity to make friends (and more-than-friends) in the boisterous hostels that you stay in along the way. Eastern Europe is a fantastic region to backpack through as it is considerable cheaper than Western Europe, with just as much history, architecture and culture to offer.
Alternatives: South-East Asia; South America
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2. The ‘island’ trip
Try: The Gili islands off Lombok, Indonesia
The island getaway is ideal for those times when you’re in need of some pampering and time-out from the daily grind of life. It’s all about the 3 R’s: rest, rejuvenation and rubs – yes, I’m taking about massages and plenty of them. The Gili islands offer a relaxing island escape and is quickly gaining in popularity with tourists. There are 3 islands: Gili Meno, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan; choose one or island-hop between all three.
Alternatives: Boracay, Philippines; Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands, Australia
3. The ‘solo’ trip
Try: Peru (all of it)
Aka the ‘find-yourself’ trip’, this journey is for those needing to re-evaluate and to ponder the meaning of life – or simply the only option when no-one is free to travel with you. Whether single or in a relationship, solo trips are perfect for soul-searching and getting an adequate dose of ‘me’ time. Peru is a suitable choice for solo travel as the country offers such a wide variety of landscapes and experiences that will test yourself and your limits: go sand boarding in Huachina, drink pisco in the wine region of Ica, explore the colonial city of Arequipa, visit the floating villages of Lake Titicaca and, of course, hike the Inca Trail and arrive at the Sun Gate at sunrise for the ultimate in solo nirvana.
Alternatives: Norway; Japan
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4. The ‘couples’ trip
Try: The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Getting away together on a ‘trip for two’ allows couples to focus on each other and to rekindle the flames of passion that can get flicker dangerously low when combined with the less romantic facets of life such as work and house chores. It’s the secret to a long and lasting relationship – at least, this is what I tell the hubby (no-one tell him otherwise!). The Amalfi Coast radiates romance with its pastel-coloured cliff-perched buildings, the shimmer of the sea, and the lyrical tongue of its locals. In a word: bellissimo.
Alternatives: Havana, Cuba; Granada, Spain
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5. The ‘luxury’ trip
Try: A luxury safari in Tanzania
Maybe you’ve just gotten a promotion with a hefty pay increase, you’ve come into some money, or you’re just thinking ‘to hell with it’, but there are times when you need to treat yo’ self and enjoy the finer things in life without any feelings of guilt. A luxury African safari allows indulgent comfort and exhilarating experiences, and after a day in the savanna of close encounters with the wildlife, you’ll be able to retire to your lodge like the adventurer that you are – invest in some key khaki and beige pieces to get the full experience.
Alternatives: Dubai; Skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland
6. The ‘festival’ trip
Try: The Burning Man Festival, Nevada
There are certain festivals around the world that are worth basing a trip around: the Burning Man Festival can be counted as one of them. Thousands of people descend on the Black Rock City Desert in Nevada to create the temporary city of Black Rock City which espouses the ideals of self-expression and self-reliance. A pop-up city? Pretty incredible. It’s part hippy commune, part psychedelic creative hub and all-round good times.
Alternatives: Holi, India; Lantern Festival, Taiwan
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7. The ‘family’ trip
Try: New Zealand
Family trips can be surprisingly difficult to organise because it can be an ordeal finding a destination that has activities to entertain EVERY member of the family – cost and proximity are also factors to consider. New Zealand offers the ideal combination of fun outdoor escapades and adventure activities as well as some epic scenic drives where games of I-Spy can be played in the backseat.
Alternatives: Fiji; Hawaii
8. The ‘BFFs’ trip
Try: India
Sometimes all you want to do is get away with your bestie, to catch up on all of life’s happenings and to reminisce about the past, and all the while creating new memories to look back on in future. Go somewhere vibrant and full of colour such as India, an experience that will truly awaken the senses. You’ll return with tales of Delhi belly, something that your BFF will keep bringing up in years to come because that’s what friends are for.
Alternatives: Morocco; Spain
9. The ‘road’ trip
Try: Ring Road, Iceland
The Ring Road (or Route 1) in Iceland is quite possibly the easiest road trip you can do – it is basically a loop around the entire island making it virtually impossible to get lost. However, there is so much to see along the way that you’ll need to dedicate a leisurely couple of weeks to take it all in. If you’re short on time, focus on one area of the island such as the South of the island.
Alternatives: South Island, New Zealand; Garden Route, South Africa
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10. The ‘hiking’ trip
Try: Appalachian Trail, USA
A hiking trip is a great way to get back to nature and to escape urban life, at least for a little while. The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world and runs across 14 American states from Georgia to Maine, passing mountainous terrain, forest and lakes. Practise your coo-ees before you set off into the wilderness.
Alternatives: Overland Track, Tasmania; Fitz Roy Trek, Patagonia
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11. The ‘foodie’ trip
Try: Vietnam
But of course you should plan a trip around food. I mean, it’s the fuel that sustains us, right? Whether you’re a gastronomic foodie or you eat to live, head to Vietnam for a culinary adventure of delectable proportions. Each region serves up cuisine that differs slightly in taste and flavour: in Northern Vietnam, black pepper is often used in place of chilis, and flavours are subtle; Central Vietnamese dishes are more complex and the use of chilis is abundant; and South Vietnam offers slightly sweeter dishes. Fill your belly with banh mi, pho, bun bo hue, banh xeo, banh beo, banh canh…the list goes on. (Or go on the Urban Adventures Hanoi street food tour and try ALL of the food.)
Alternatives: Lima, Peru; New Orleans, USA
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12. The ‘volunteer’ trip
Try: Anywhere
It’s always good to give back to the community, whether it be through our time or expertise. Consider a volunteering trip, and perhaps align it with your area of interest such as teaching, community development or conservation.
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This post was also published on Elite Daily on 26 July 2016.
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Really enjoyed this thanks – food for thought for next year! Great idea to give alternatives as well.
Thank you so much for reading! I’d love to hear about which trip you decide to take next year 😉
Absolutely love this!
I have done a solo, backpacking, voluteering and besties trip. Getting ready to go and volunteer at the Olympics on my own too. At 24 years old, I think 3/4 isn’t too bad, ayy?
🙂
Not bad at all! 😉 Which trip did you like the best? Volunteering at the Olympics sounds like it will be such an incredible experience – I would love to eventually make my way to Brazil 🙂
I’m in Australia next year so hoping to do the South-East Asia trip after my year there :)!