5 experiences you need to add to your bucket list in 2019

This is it: 2019 is the year for putting experiences over anything else, and there are few experiences as transformative and amazing as travel.

Forget following some list you found in an old guidebook, choose for yourself what’s on your bucket list and see the sites that are most wonderful to you — and you alone. Wondering where to start? Decide where you want to go, and make it happen before you’re 35 with Contiki.

While planning a complete jam-packed travel itinerary can be enjoyable for some, for the majority of us it can be super stressful. Honestly, just leave all the hassle to the experts so you can focus on what’s important. It’s all about the experience — and these are five that you need to be adding to your bucket list in 2019!

Explore the Great Pyramids of Egypt

Take a step back in time and transport yourself to ancient Egypt when you visit the Great Pyramids. You don’t have to be a history buff to appreciate the amazing ruins and achievements of the ancient Egyptians, and it really is a place you have to see to believe. Explore Cairo, take a cruise down the Nile, and don’t forget to relax along the beaches of Hurghada while you’re there.

Walk in the footsteps of the Incans in Peru

Get a truly historical experience by diving deep into some of Peru’s most iconic sites, from hiking the Inca Trail to Amazonian adventures in the jungle. Yes, Machu Picchu is a must-see, but you can gain a true appreciation for how advanced the Inca were from the amazing ruins that can be found throughout the highlands of Peru. Plus, explore the vibrant cities, remote villages, and unique foodie experiences for the full Peruvian experience.

Experience hot springs and hotter sites in Japan

Don’t get us wrong, we love adventuring on vacation, but when we’re in Japan we’re also dying to relax in hot springs with geothermally heated waters in both Kyoto and Tokyo. As a relatively volcanically active country, Japan has an abundance of natural hot springs, or onsens, to enjoy in between all of your wanderings. Plus, make sure to pay a visit to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, one of the most well-known shrines in Kyoto — where you can see the famous walkway up the mountain featuring a line-up of thousands of torii gates.

And of course, don’t forget to eat as much sushi as you can while exploring the beautiful country of Japan!

Drive through the Serengeti in Africa

The Serengeti could very well be the greatest of all national parks, and is home to an unrivalled number of the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Get up-close and personal with lions, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, elephants — you name it! Top it off with a bungee jump at Victoria Falls and luxury camping under the stars, and you’ve got an Africa trip made for the history books.

Learn to make pizza and eat authentic gelato in Italy

What could be better than getting the most genuine experience, learning to make pizza and eating your body weight in gelato while you explore Italian favourites including Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice? Visit all the major historical sites while you’re there, but let’s be honest — we’d be there for the food, too.

So, are you ready to take off? Here’s where to start.

When you travel with Contiki, you can get the most out of your trip, with all the details taken care of. Every traveller is unique — with different interests, bucket list destinations and travel styles, but there’s something for every 18-35 year old — including over 350 Contiki trip selections for 2019, spanning six continents with real travel experiences built for memory making.

And not only will you have real travel experiences, but you’ll also be able to do so with like-minded people from all over the world who are chasing the same sense of adventure. If there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, whether it be Europe, Latin America, or the complete opposite end of the world with Australia and New Zealand, the world is yours to explore.

Until April 14, you can save $250 on select 2019 Contiki trips, so there’s really no better time to start planning. Stop wondering, start wandering and make 2019 your year to travel!

Contiki is also giving you a chance to win your ultimate travel experience, and all you have to do is choose your seven favourite Contiki trips, and add in what must-do destination you’d pick for your eighth. It’s as easy as that to enter.

Someday isn’t a day of the week, so travel with no regrets. It’s finally time to start checking off that bucket list!