For many people reaching their 30th birthday is a milestone, as it is the age of settling down and having a family. This is when the adventure spirit is detronated from time to time by the spirit of cuddling down with the cat and loved one on the couch. But before you put away the backpack, you should make sure you’ve ticked off the list of all the best things this world has to offer for you.
Here is the bucket list of the 30 things to do around the world before you turn 30!
1. See all the seven continents
Each country has its unique adventures and its unique culture, but you can’t say you’ve seen them all until you’ve traveled on all the seven continents. Don’t limit yourself to Europe or America: spread your 20something wings across the entire world, even Antarctica. It will be hard, but the rewards are more than worth the risks and efforts!
2. Ride a large animal – not a horse
There is nothing more amazing than visiting the jungle on the back of an elephant! On the same level of awesomeness is seeing the pyramids on the back of a camel. The connection between you and the animal is going to be amazing and you will be astonished at how gentle a giant can be, especially one which is a wild animal, deep inside.
3. Ride the bicycle across a country
This is one of the things to do around the world which doesn’t suit everyone – you have to be in top health to ride the bicycle on large distances, but if you can do it, do it! You will be exposed to the people and you will get in touch with the local culture directly, which is a completely different experience compared to the car exploring experience.
4. Explore the Everest in a hiking trip
All treks are important challenges which require a solid pair of shoes and a fit body, among other things. The experience of exploring the Everest in a hiking trip is going to bring you amazing memories which will last a lifetime. There are many treks, ranging from easy to difficult and you will reach dizzying heights – literally! But the height is not going to be the only thing to cut your breathe short, as the scenery is amazing. Don’t forget to include the Seven Summits on your mountain trekking list.
5. Visit an Aboriginal village and live like a local for a month
Natives have a different view upon life, which can broaden your own perspective on the world. You can visit a Native’s village and enjoy a meal and a dance or take it to another level and spend a month living like a local. You can also travel to a foreign country and blend in with the locals, if you want to embrace another nation’s culture.
6. Taste the blues in Chicago
Few people understand blues and one of the reason for this is because music is focused on commercial power these days. The best way to taste the real blues is to hang out in a blues bar in Chicago.
7. Travel by train across multiple countries
One of memorable things to do around the world is traveling by train. I don’t mean going from A to B, but crossing Europe by train or traveling across India by train. This transportation allows you to watch the country closely and taste the diversity of the regions you are crossing.
8. Participate in a carnival
You don’t know how to party until you’ve been dancing the week away with Brazilians at the great carnival parade, unleashing your crazy nature during Mardi Gras or lighting lanterns in the Asian New Year celebrations. Not to mention the masquerade in Venice!
9. Volunteer abroad
Traveling as a tourist is great, but you need to see the other side of the world as well. The side where poverty is the norm. Volunteer abroad for one month or more and learn the value of a helping hand. Each volunteer changes the world one word and task at a time and being part of this is going to make you more aware of all the things you take for granted in your daily life. You will also learn the value of a smile!
10. Meet your favorite writer
If you are lucky enough to love a writer who is still living, spare nothing to meet him and let him or her know how much their writings mean for you. The same thing is valid for your favorite actor, musician or another person who inspired you.
11. Do heli-skiing
New, exciting and adventurous. Definitely one of the things to do around the world before you turn 30!
12. Swim with sharks, dolphins and whales
One of the thrilling experiences in life is swimming with a wild animal. Dolphins are great swimming partners; so are whale sharks and sharks. Swimming with a whale shark is a powerful experience and you will acknowledge the smallness of a human being, as well as the gentle soul of a wild animal. When it comes to sharks, they are pure adrenaline! You can feed them and watch them closely during a cage dive in Australia or Africa.
13. Have a book which inspired you to travel the world? Then recreate the path in the book.
14. Visit an active volcano
Active volcanoes are dangerous, but there are couple of them which can be visited. You can climb on top of the volcano and witness the bubbling lava making small explosions and creating hot water geezers at the top of the volcano.
15. Travel with a caravan on the famous Silk Road.
16. Roll a havana in Cuba
Havana cigars can’t be compared with a regular cigar and the experience of smoking one in Cuba, its original land, is memorable. Just like the next entry on the list, there is something about having a traditional delight in the land where it was first made.
17. Drink a Guinness in Dublin
Dublin is where the story of the unique dark beer Guinness began, which makes it the perfect place to have a drink. No other country can provide you with the same taste as drinking a Guinness in Dublin, so this is one of the things to do around the world before you turn 30 or right on that day!
18. Spend the night at one of the most haunted places in the world
Depending on where you want to “enjoy” the chills, you can pick the famous Lizzy Borden Bead and Breakfast located in Fall River, Massachusetts, the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana or jump on the American Haunting Tour to get more frighting experiences. The rest of the world is also filled with scary places where ghosts are the real owners, so regardless if you believe in their existance or not, spend a night in a haunted building.
19. Attend the Christmas Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Vienna.
20. Go Sky Diving in Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman is the capital of adventures, so this is the best place in the world to sky dive. Enjoy the stunning view of the earth from above as you jump off a plane at 1600 feet! To be able to survive the jump you will be equipped with an oxygen container.
21. Fly a stunt plane in New Zealand
Another entry on the list of things to do around the world which is not for the fainthearted ones: fly a plane. Not any plane, a stunt plane, which shows you what it means to do loops in the air. In New Zealand any person can become a stunt pilot for couple of minutes, as you are allowed to control the plane under the watchful eyes of a trained professional pilot who can take control over the plane at any moment.
22. Hug a Koala in Australia. Because they are cute and hugable!
23. Enjoy kayaking… among crocodiles.
This one is a bit stupid – Ok, it’s very stupid!, but it’s also the most adrenaline boosting thing on this list. In South Africa you can take kayaking to another level: you can embark on the kayak and go down the stream in waters filled with crocodiles, hippos and other nasty creatures which could easily snack on you.
24. Drive a Ferrari
You don’t have to be a millionaire or Jeremy Clarkson to drive a Ferrari: you can do this in Italy, at La Modena. Enjoy couple of laps with the red icon and then toast to the Italian engineers.
25. Swing over a huge abyss
The swing of the little house located on a cliff in Banos, Ecuador looks like it’s ready to entertain a child, but this is no toy, because it swings over a 2660 meters abyss. La Casa del Arbol is where you will find the Swing at the End of the World, which doesn’t have any safety devices attached to it. You just hop on the swing, a simple piece of wood connected by two metal rods and swing! If you dare!
26. Go Snorkeling in Galapagos
Galapagos has unique wildlife, so it’s the perfect place to go snorkeling. You can watch the amazing animals, which are all well fed, so the danger of attacks is really low. You can play with sea lions, meditate in the sun with giant lizards and ride a Galapagos tortoise. Plus, there are sharks to swim with, if you want more adrenaline.
27. Go to the beach. Nude!
Sunbathing nude is one of those things to do around the world at least once in a lifetime. Don’t keep anything on – your skin is the only cover you need. To make the experience more interesting, travel to Spiaggia di Guvano, Corniglia, Italy, where you will be greeted by an isolated, small beach where the locals come to enjoy the sun and the sea in the nude.
28. Go Dirt Biking
Dirt biking is one of those crazy things you need to do. The thrill of jumping over the logs and feeling the bike’s suspension working their head off is worth the effort.
29. Go Skijorring
Skijorring is an old sport which gets new attention. All you have to do is put on the skis and attach yourself to a pair of dogs trained for this sport and then enjoy the ride.
30. Run a marathon
Pick your favorite charity and run a marathon, even if you will be mostly walking instead of running. The joy of reaching the finish line is worth the effort.
30+. Enjoy your 30th birthday along with your loved ones!
Featured photo credit: Albumarium via albumarium.com
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