This year we were able to tick off one of my bucket list destinations: Nepal. And it was as spectacular as I had imagined. We intend to criss cross the globe and can concede that just about every place has a certain charm. However, there are certain places and trips that really speak to us and they are as follows:
Iceland - Don't let the name fool you. Iceland can be lush and is rife with waterfalls, streams, geysers, and hot springs. And the Blue Lagoon is truly magical. It is the least populated country country in Europe with 80 percent of land uninhabited. Sounds like the perfect place to backpack? We think so and intend to cross the country, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Mysterious Iceland. Photo credit: Snaefellsnes Arnarstapi via Flickr Creative Commons
New Zealand - Numerous trips to Australia and I still haven't made it to New Zealand which is practically a crime. This place may only be around the size of California but it has everything. One day you can be backpacking through pristine mountains reminiscent of the Alps and the next you can be shredding waves on a golden beach. If you're still not convinced, Google the Milford Sound.
Bowen Falls, NZ. Photo credit: Trey Ratcliff via Flickr Creative Commons
Patagonia - a region of South America shared by both Argentina and Chile. Mountainous and glacial, Patagonia is also home to vast grassy plains and stunning lakes. A definite must for us will be to visit Torres del Paine National Park in the southern Chilean part of the region.
Torres del Paine National Park. Photo credit: Geoff Livingston via Flickr Creative Commons
Trans-Siberian Railway - Built in the late 1800s to early 1900s, this network of railways spans nearly 6,000 miles from Moscow to the Sea of Japan. There are multiple routes one can take but we definitely plan to take the Trans-Mongolian route which dips down to Ulaan-Bataar and ends in Beijing.
Trans-Siberian Railway. Photo credit: Boccaccio1 via Flickr Creative Commons
John Muir Trail - We've been told that the John Muir Trail (JMT) encompasses almost all of the best parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and at only 210 miles in length makes for a more manageable trip time wise. It starts in Yosemite National Park and ends at Mt. Whitney so you can just imagine how fantastically beautiful the terrain is. We reckon we can backpack it in two weeks.
High Sierras. Photo credit: Andy Porter via Flickr Creative Commons
The Isle of Skye - The second largest of Scotland's islands, this often misty and mysterious place was referred to as the "cloud island" by the Vikings, leading to it's modern day name. Velvety green hills, jagged mountains, long sandy beaches, creeks and waterfalls, and an abundance of bird life make the Isle of Skye an outdoor lover's paradise. The magnificent Fairy Pools, pictured below, have become especially famous on this beautiful island.
Fairy Pools on Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Loic Lagarde via Flickr Creative Commons
There are definitely more seeing how big and amazing our world is, but those are currently at the top of our list. Tell us your bucket list travel plans and you might inspire us to add them to our list!