Looking for ideas for your bucket list? Here are 25 things you really should try before you die. Our selection is a mix of must-do bucket list experiences covering culture, travel, adrenaline, surprise and the darn-right outrageous. Get ticking them off.
If you've got the time, the guts, and in some cases lots of cash, then we reckon you'll need to get started on these to do items straightaway if you are to fit them all in before you kick the bucket. Some of these bucket list ideas might just be enough to make you die of excitement or maybe fright.
Maybe you might want to set a target of doing some of these thing before you reach a certain age milestone like 40, 50, or older, but either way, the clock is ticking so get started on your things to do before you die list before it's too late. Just click on each of the links below to find out more about each bucket list idea.
Swim with dolphins
Coming face-to-face with one of the planet’s most fascinating and most-loved creatures is hard to beat, but ideally don’t swim with dolphins kept in captivity. That’s what conservation organisations, such as the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society say. If you want to experience the true wonders of being in the water with a dolphin then go to their territory and let them visit you on their terms. There are a number of travel companies which offer swim-with-dolphin trips. Make sure the organisation you pick is reputable and operates an eco-friendly policy. Among the best places to swim with dolphins are Egyptian Red Sea, the Azores and the Bahamas.
Walk the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China has achieved fame as the only man-made creation that can be seen from space. China’s Great Wall stretches more than 4,500 miles (7,200km) across the northern Chinese countryside. The Great Wall of China is perhaps the most impressive feat of construction in the world and that’s why it cruises into the list at number two. The building of the wall began in the seventh century BC, with additions being constructions and parts rebuilt up to the sixteenth century AD. Large sections of the wall are in ruins or have disappeared, but there are excellent viewpoints a short drive from Beijing. Visitors can also take a cable car for a top class view of the wall.
Dive with sharks
Seeing the ocean’s top predator swimming towards you underwater is sure to make your heart beat a thousand times faster. No extreme sport beats the adrenaline rush of diving with sharks. Cage diving with great white sharks is amazing, the best swimming with sharks experience is off the Cocos Island. Located in Costa Rica, 350 miles (563 km) off the Pacific Coast; this is one of the best places for shark activity. Here you will see hundreds of schooling hammerhead sharks and the waters here also play home to other top marine creatures, including manta rays, whales and dolphins.
Run the Virgin Money London Marathon
The sheer sense of achievement of taking part in the Virgin Money London Marathon, one of the world’s greatest marathons, make it one of the top things to do before you die. There are two ways of entering the marathon; either through the ballot system or through a charity place. Entering the ballot system does not guarantee a place, which means applying through a charity is the preferred option for most runners. Most places are allocated by the end of December. If you agree to take a charity guaranteed place, then you will need to agree to raise a set amount of money. Run the Virgin Money London Marathon and you’re guaranteed an unparalleled race day atmosphere and an experience you’ll never forget. Picture Credit: Bikeworldtravel / Shutterstock.com
Visit Petra in Jordan
Described by poet John William Burgon as a ‘red-rose city half as old as time,’ Petra in Jordan with its astonishing buildings and structures carved out of rock should make it onto your list of things to see before you die. ‘The lost city’ was also named as one of the new seven wonders of the world in 2007. Petra is the treasure of the ancient world and there is nothing in the world that resembles it. Hidden behind rugged mountains, the dramatic rock-carved, archaeological city boasts more than 800 individual monuments. The historic city sits about 163 miles (262 km) south of Amman and 83 miles (133 km) north of Aqaba where the country’s two international airports are situated.
See the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights or aurora borealis is by far the greatest light show on earth. The Northern Lights occur when electrically charged particles at high speed hurtle towards the earth until they collide with the atmosphere. This releases a burst of radiation to create the most spectacular display in the sky. The Northern Lights occur most frequently in a belt of 1,553 miles (2,500 km) on the magnetic north pole, known as the auroral. The zone covers northern Scandinavia, the southern tip of Greenland, the north of Canada, Alaska and northern coast of Siberia. Norway is the best place to see this phenomenon - appearing at least every other clear night. The lights can be seen all year round, and are not, as some believe, exclusive to winter months.
Walk the Machu Picchu trail
The mountain-top ruins of Machu Picchu are the most popular tourist attraction in South America. Machu Picchu is one of the most magical places in the world and is located high in the Andes Mountains. It lies 43 miles (69 km) north-west of Cuzco at the top of a ridge Machu Picchu (meaning ‘manly peak.’) It was built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Incan ruler. Experts believe it was most likely a royal estate and religious retreat. The city has an altitude of 8,000 feet, high above the Urubamba River canyon cloud forest. The real Inca Trail is a walking route that leads through the mountains above the Urubamba River, following (at least partly) the course of an old Incan roadway leading to the city of Machu Picchu.
Go on an African Safari
An African safari is the ultimate wildlife spotting experience. Coming face-to-face with lions, giraffes, hippos and zebras in their natural environment is high on most peoples’ wish lists. Kenya and Tanzania in Africa are the most popular places to go on safari. No two days are the same on safari and you can never predict what breathtaking experiences await you. One thing guaranteed is that the landscapes, people and the abundance and variety of wildlife encountered will blow you away. There are lots of different safari tours on offer to meet most budgets, whether you pick a lodge or camping safari. The national parks of Africa are geared towards safari tourists and experienced guides will aim to show you the best of what’s on offer.
Float in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea lies 1,300 ft (396 m) below sea level and is the lowest exposed land on the planet with the world’s saltiest water. You can sit in the sea without any floats and read a newspaper quite comfortably. As the sea sits between the borders of Jordan and Israel, you will need to work out which country will act as your base from which you will visit the Dead Sea from as there are lots of opportunities to bathe in the salts from both countries. Not only is floating in the Dead Sea a great experience, but it is also good for you. The salt and mud are considered to have health giving properties and the area’s dense oxygen is believed to block out harmful UV rays.
Go whitewater rafting
Whitewater rafting (hurling yourself down whitewater rapids in a flimsy boat) is definitely something everyone should try once, and we rate whitewater rafting as one of the most exhilarating activities in the extreme sports world. Although there are many local opportunities for water rafting, one of the best places on the planet to go rafting is on the majestic Zambezi River in Zambia’s north-west. The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa at 1,678 miles (2,700 km) and runs through six countries on its trail to the Indian Ocean. Around 550,000 cubic metres of water plummet over the waterfalls each minute, creating some serious whitewater below. Whitewater runs are classified; one being the easiest and five to six being the hardest. The Zambezi offers the highest grades of whitewater runs and spectacular scenery as a backdrop (if you get a chance to glimpse at it while hurling down a grade five run, that is.)
Visit the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest boasts more species of fish than can be found in the entire Atlantic Ocean - a staggering 2,000. The vast forest also has around 4,000 species of birds. The Amazon jungle and rivers cover a whopping six million sq km through eight countries and is a true mecca for adventure travellers. We reckon everyone should try to see it before it goes or they do! There are plenty of ways in which to experience the Amazon, such as hiking and flying. The most popular way to see it is by boat. A popular spot to begin an Amazon adventure is in Iquitos in Peru. Iquitos is the largest jungle city of Peru and is considered one of the most ecologically and visually rich areas of Amazonian rainforest.
Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge is as iconic to Sydney as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the Statue of Liberty is to New York and the Golden Gate Bridge is to San Francisco. The main attraction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is that you can climb to its very peak and stare down at this fabulous city. At its highest point, the arch is 134 m (440 ft) above sea level. Firmly clipped to a safety line, you can walk and climb 1,500m (4,921ft) over the arch. The climb is open to anyone over 12 years of age, who is fit enough to handle the climbs, height and metal ladders. Climbs depart every 10 minutes throughout the day in groups of 12 climbers. In order to avoid disappointment, it is best to pre-book your climb well in advance.
See an eclipse
A solar eclipse is caused when the moon passes in front of the sun, plunging a certain section of the earth into a brief period of darkness. There are many different types of eclipse to be seen, but the most awe inspiring has to be a total solar eclipse, when the moon perfectly blocks out the sun. Sadly such a spectacular event is relatively rare, with total eclipses only happening on average every two years. Add to that the fact that they only last around seven minutes and often happen in remote corners of the earth, and it becomes apparent that you’ll have to do some serious planning to see this breath-taking astronomical phenomenon. Not to worry though – NASA provides a handy eclipse calendar, which gives detailed information on when and where you can see them.
Visit the Galapagos Islands
An archipelago of several volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands lie about 650 miles (1,046 km) west of Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are packed full of animals, plants and terrain that inspired Charles Darwin on hi