Whether or not we like them, we all have a bucketlist or two – for life and in this case for travel. Mine is subject to an annual update as horizons widen or tastes change.
I’ve just looked back at my 2014 and 2015 lists and it’s fantastic to see how the travel bug has developed. This year we ticked off Israel, with a big tick. We also went to India – I was sure this was on my list, but clearly only in my mind.
I’ve already written my wishlist for 2017, and to accompany it here is my mid-30’s bucket list, enjoy.
New bucketlist entries
Shimla and Kerala
The sign of a good trip is coming back wanting to see more. India is enormous and we only scratched the surface. Top of our list (aside from more of Rajasthan) is Shimla – in the Himalayas and the former summer capital of the British Empire. We’d love to pair exploring there with time in the backwaters and beaches of Kerala.
Myanmar (Burma)
I’ve seen so many photos of temples in the mist and I’m coming round to the idea of heading further east. It looks like a truly magical part of the world. I suspect we’d pair it with some time in Thailand – firmly at the top of Mr P’s own bucketlist.
Jordan
Petra is a must-visit l. This wasn’t an area I’d given much thought to, until we visited Israel and I started wondering what was on the other side of the Dead Sea. For starters there are some peaceful hotels but most importantly the stunning rock architecture of Petra is somewhere I would love to visit.
Madeira
The place most likely to get ticked in the next few months. Mr P went work and fell in love with the island charm, in particular the sleepy Porto Santo island. I’ve eyed up a Design Hotels abode on the main island and there are some charming guest houses on Porto Santo calling out to us.
Stubborn bucketlist entries
Midnight sun
A quick glance at my instagram will confirm I like watching the sun go up and down. I would love to watch the almost-setting in Norway or nearby.
Patagonia
The pinnacles are magnificent and exploring the Torres del Paine National Park would be a real treat as well as a trip to Tierra del Fuego. I’d like to throw in the salt pans in Bolivia and wine tasting in Argentina.
Maldives
Still on the list for my 40th, and approaching faster than I would like. With our new found love of India I can see a lovely two-part March holiday forming already!
Yacht charter
Mr P and his best friend researched this thoroughly in October as they clinked their way around Lanzarote by boat. Next, they need to take their girls with them!
Namibia
The sand dunes are too stunning to ignore. Our foray into the desert gave me a little taster but I would love to explore Namibia – Etosha, fish river canyon, Sossusvlei, the skeleton coast and Damaraland would mark out my trip.
Isles of Scilly
Our little trip to Cornwall this Christmas reminded me I still want to explore the balmy climes of the Scillies in spring. The daffodils are already blooming down there and on sunny spring days the bays will be akin to the Maldives.
Necessary revisits
Israel
Far too much more to explore – Golan heights, down south in the desert, more of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and perhaps adventuring to Bethlehem and the Sea of Galilee.
Greece
Apparently there are 227 inhabited islands in Greece. So far all I have seen is the mainland (which I loved), so there’s a fair bit more still to see. Whitewashed buildings, stunning sunsets, beautiful azure sea.
Washington DC
I want to explore the city with Mr P. Visiting with work and in a hurry is fine, but there is so much to see, slowly. And with Baltimore and Philadelphia nearby, plenty to explore.
This years bucket list post has been written as part of the fabulous travel linkup. We’ve gone back to basics for January and to bring the New Year in with a bang we are talking Travel Wishlists and plans for the year of adventures ahead. Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th January), add it to the link up widget – found on either Angie‘s, Emma’s or Polly’s blog – from the 1st of the month. There are no rules – basically all we ask is that you check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travel link up; make a few comments here and there and tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love. It’s a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging joy!
And the sign of a great travel bucket list is making someone want to book a trip! I’ve still, somehow, never been to Greece… Must fix! x
Author
A job well done! Book it – you would love The Kinsterna based on your love of the Scarlet and the tins, but there’s 200 odd islands to discover too!
Iceland and Budapest are my stubborn entries that are pretty easy to tick off but I just never have!
Author
Haha – it is the easy ones that we keep forgetting. Now Budapest – that’s an idea!
You’d love Thailand, we had a great time and there’s so much to see, definitely worth pairing with a trip to Myanmar
Author
It’s always felt too far away, but India has changed our outlook on what we enjoy!
Amazing choices. I love Washington DC, such a beautiful city!
Author
I just expected it to be busy and businessy, but at the weekend it is quiet and stunning (and importantly – clean and safe)
So many fabulous places on your list that coincide with mine lol. I’m heading to Myanmar in March and can’t wait to do a balloon ride over Baggan (firmly on my bucket list!). The hubbie is desperate to visit Petra and I’d love to do wine tasting in Patagonia! After watching Planet Earth, Namibia is high on my wish list too. Too many places and not enough time!
Author
Wow – looking forward to following the Myanmar trip with interest! Far too many places, but plenty of time!
So many places on this list would be a dream! Especially Patagonia, Isles of Scilly & the maldives! What a list! I hope 2017 takes you to all these wonderful places!
http://www.ellacbee.wordpress.com
Author
Thanks Ellie – I suspect we won’t get to either of those this year, the Scillies would be easiest but we almost need to be getting on the Scillion ferry over there in the next couple of weeks!
I can vouch for Patagonia and Maldives being very worthwhile contenders for the wishlist and I myself would love to make it to Kerala and Jordan one day!
Author
Wow – you’e done some amazing travelling! Having spoken to people about Kerala over the christmas break, it is now a definite!
great ideas! #travellinkup
Author
Thanks Tanja, too many as well!
There are some real ‘wow’ destinations in this list and I loooove the idea of your two-part March trip! Make it a three-parter with a quick stop in Doha en route?! 😉
Polly xx
Author
Good plan, no reason we couldn’t – then I can stay in the Anantara I mentioned before! xx
Goodness – what an amazing year this would be if you fit it all in! SO many places I’d love to visit too – India, Burma and Petra in particular. And the Scillies too!
Author
Can you imagine the cost!! It would be a real mid-life crisis sort of year!
Haha… worth it though!
Wow what amazing entries for the bucket list! Patagonia has slowly started to creep on my bucket list as well!
Author
I really want to go, it seems so far and adventurous, but those views and the massive variety too!
Love your list. It’s so interesting to go over bucket lists every so often and tweak them here and there. I’m not sure if India will ever come off your bucket list, no matter how many times you go. It’s just so big, there’s so much to see!
Author
Fair point, and each trip will be entirely different!
Always Patagonia. I’ve wanted to go there forever, it’s just so far away! And as for Myanmar, we’re seriously considering it for next year as we’ll be in Thailand in April. Seems like an obvious choice but it’s oddly expensive?? I think things have really shot up in price so it’s tricky to find something that’s not either backpacker basic (too old for that) or super expensive for a boring Novotel or similar. Hmmm… Going to keep looking!
Author
Thailand is cheaper, so Myanmar for a couple of nights? I am sure it’s worth it, will be interested to know what you find!
I always find myself so spoilt for choice that I panic and can’t choose anywhere – what can you do!?
Author
And we end up going to places that aren’t on this list because of just that, I hear ya!
Myanmar is definitely on my bucket list too!
Author
It is definitely a place that seems to be on everyone’s lists – I hope it remains as unspoilt as it looks…
Absolutely love your list! I backpacked through India years ago and am desperate to go back – I’d highly recommend both Kerala and Simla. The midnight sun and the Scilly Islands are also both on my wish lists. And you know how passionate I am about Greece!
Author
Kerala I am pinning stuff like mad, so much to see and great hotels too.
Isn’t it funny how places so close like the Scillies seem so hard to visit?!
Namibia is an amazing country, possibly one of my favourites along with Botswana (they are next to each other and both are relatively stable)…Etosha is just a brilliant National Park where you can sit down and watch the animals coming over to the watering hole from above with a glass of wine in hand…one of my favourite experiences in my whole 7 weeks travelling through Africa.
Jordan is definitely a must, Petra blew my mind but this is possibly as I had no idea about the Red City until I stepped inside…I was more excited about visiting Syria and the Pyramids.
I hope you get to tick off everything over time Anna and looking forward to reading more about your travels in 2017
xx
Author
Thanks Kelly – great tips there, looking forward to wherever 2017 takes us and I love the bucket-list idea as it means there’s always a wishlist of fun to come! You too, and IOW soon! xx