Top 50 Places on Planet Earth to Add to Your Bucket List

Today, we’re going to present to you the top 50 places on planet Earth for you to add to your bucket list. Just a reminder, there will be timestamps below, so you can click around from destination to destination.

Iguazu Falls, South America

First up, we’re headed to South America to one of the most spectacular waterfalls on planet Earth, Iguazu Falls, located on the border of Argentina and Brazil in the Iguazu National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Typically, people who want to visit here arrive in Buenos Aires and then take a flight to Iguazu. The main area of the waterfall is called the Devil’s Throat Canyon; it’s 300 feet wide and 260 feet deep. There is also a walkway around the waterfall.

Petra, Jordan

Next up, we’re headed to the Arabian Desert, where Petra, Jordan is located. This is home to the ancient Nabataeans, and currently, the Bedouin people live here. This archaeological site is 150 miles away from Jerusalem and 150 miles away from Amman, so you can get there both ways. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. At one point in time, the Romans had expanded their empire into Petra around 106 A.D. It takes a full day to explore this site, and you can explore it at night and in the daytime as well.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Next up, we’re headed to Cappadocia in Turkey, another famous rock formation city that was built into caves. Nowadays, it is a historical heritage site, commonly seen with hot air balloons flying around the area, providing you with a bird’s eye view of just how amazing the landscape of this city really is. You can easily catch a flight from Istanbul to one of the two major airports in Cappadocia, Kayseri being the main airport you would pick.

Costa Rica, Central America

Next up, we’re headed to Costa Rica in Central America, one of the most biodiverse countries on planet Earth. Many species of birds, mammals, and flora and fauna are abundant everywhere you look. Be sure to check out the wildlife in Manuel Antonio, the hot springs around La Fortuna, and the beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific sides. If you want to get to Costa Rica, there are two airports, one in San Jose and the other in the north in Liberia. You will need at least two to three weeks to explore this whole country.

Tanzania, Eastern Africa

Next up, we’re headed to Eastern Africa to Tanzania. This is home to Mount Kilimanjaro and many incredible wildlife safaris that you can do along with trekking up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Don’t forget to head over to the coast to Zanzibar and check out the turquoise water. When you arrive, you can say “Jambo,” which is hello in Swahili, and “Hakuna Matata,” which means no worries.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Now we are headed to Southeast Asia to Cambodia. This here is Angkor Wat, located in Siem Reap, deep in the rainforest in the former Khmer Empire under the reign of King Suryavarman. This was one of the largest religious sites on planet Earth when it was developed over 400 acres. The main temple complex is surrounded by a moat, originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the god Vishnu around the 12th century.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Now we’re headed back to South America, off the coast of Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, one of the most amazing volcanic archipelagos on planet Earth. There are over 18 main islands with three smaller islands, and it was made famous by Charles Darwin, who is said to have developed his theory of evolution right here in the Galapagos Islands. There are many unique species of plants and animals like the giant tortoise, marine iguana, blue-footed boobies, penguins, and much more.

Bali, Indonesia

Next up, we’re headed back to Southeast Asia to the gem of Indonesia, Bali. Known for its many temples, volcanic mountains like Agung, rice terraces, beautiful beaches, friendly people, and incredibly rich culture. With many different beaches, some of the popular towns to stay in are Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Uluwatu, and the airport that you’ll arrive in is located in the capital of the island called Denpasar. While here, prepare to eat lots of seafood, mie goreng, and nasi goreng, which basically translates to fried rice.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Next up, we’re headed to the west coast of Italy to the Cinque Terre, which basically translates to the five towns. Those five towns are Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Monterosso al Mare. While here, do indulge in some of the local seafood along with the local cuisine, including pesto and wine. As you will see, there are many grapes growing on the sides of the hills. You can walk around the villages and see the amazing colorful houses and views that they offer here, as well as do some hiking and swimming.

Maldives

Now, we’re headed to the Indian Ocean, right in the middle is the small island nation of the Maldives, which consists of over 1,000 coral islands and 26 atolls. The capital is Malé, which is considered one of the most densely populated capitals on Earth. While here, you’ll experience stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters full of marine life. The best time to visit is the dry season, December to March.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Next up, we’re headed over to Tahiti, which is in French Polynesia. More specifically, you want to check out Bora Bora. This volcanic island is surrounded by a coral reef and is absolutely stunning. Tahiti is home to many popular tourist destinations like Moorea, with these floating beach bungalows over the water. Tahiti is divided into two parts: Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti. You will arrive here in Papeete at the airport of Fa’a’a.

Peru

We are in Peru, again in South America. This nation is home to some of the most amazing sites on Earth: the Atacama Desert, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, the capital of Lima, and Machu Picchu. Be sure to also explore Cusco.

Philippines

Now we’re headed to Southeast Asia to the Philippines, a place that is considered one of the premier travel destinations of the 21st century. With over 7,000 islands and 109 million people living here, you originate in Manila and then head out to one of those amazing tropical islands. Some of the favorites here are Palawan and El Nido, Boracay, Bohol, as well as Surigao del Sur.

Taj Mahal, India

Now we are headed to the wonderful Taj Mahal located in Agra. This mausoleum was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the year 1632 and completed in 1653 for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The dome of the Taj Mahal is 73 meters high, and the exterior is made of white marble. It glimmers in the sun, and there is a reflection pool that overlooks a beautiful garden.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Next up, we’re headed to the highest mountain peak in the world, Mount Everest, located in the Himalaya Mountains. This borders between Nepal and Tibet, also northern India. The elevation of Mount Everest is 29,000 feet. The first summit of this mountain was completed in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Heading back down to South America, we are coming to you from Rio de Janeiro, here in the southeastern part of Brazil, famous for its Carnival celebrations, beautiful beaches like Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, just to name a few, as well as the Christ the Redeemer statue. Going to the top of Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain is a must. They do speak Portuguese here, so “Bom Dia,” which means good morning. Spending three to five days in Rio is definitely time well spent.

Venice, Italy

Next up, we’re headed back to Italy. This time, we’re on the Adriatic side over in Venice, built on a group of small islands separated by canals. It is famous for gondola rides and was a historical trading and commerce area during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Nowadays, you can visit the Piazza San Marco, Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Grand Canal area, and really just take in all of the history. It does get crowded, though, and they now require a reservation to visit.

Banff, Canadian Rockies

Now we’re on our way to the Canadian Rockies to Banff. There is a town here and also several different lakes. It’s surrounded by spectacular mountains, glaciers, lakes, and forests. People come up here for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, you name it. It’s a very popular place. Also, there are the Banff Hot Springs and the popular lakes known as Peyto Lake and Lake Louise.

Niagara Falls, Canada/USA

We’re staying in Canada, and we’re going to the east. This time, we’re going to Niagara Falls, located along the Niagara River. It actually borders between the United States and Canada and consists of three separate waterfalls: Bridal Veil Falls, American Falls, and Horseshoe Falls. While you’re here, you can actually take a helicopter ride, do a boat tour up to the waterfalls where it gets very misty, or just look from above on the observation decks. The Canadian side is considered the most well-known.

Road to Hana, Maui

Heading out to the middle of the Pacific, this time we’re headed to the island of Maui for the Road to Hana. This windy road is 52 miles long and goes through the lush rainforest on the island, where you’ll see many different waterfalls and beautiful coastline views. Some of the towns you’ll stop along the way are Paia, Haiku, and Hana. At the very end, you will find a red sand beach, a black sand beach, and a white sand beach, Wailua Falls, and the Seven Sacred Pools.

Patagonia, South America

On our way down to Patagonia, here in South America, it is located in Chile and Argentina. This majestic region is mountainous and lush. Here you will find glaciers, marble caves for kayaking around, and lots of different wildlife, including llamas, pumas, flamingos, and other animals. You also have the area of Tierra del Fuego and the famous southern village known as Ushuaia.

Uluru Rock, Australia

Now we’re actually headed over toward Australia to the Outback. This here is Uluru Rock, formerly known as Ayers Rock. This is really a unique place in the middle of Australia. There are no big cities anywhere to be seen for hundreds and thousands of miles in either direction. With a circumference of 5.8 miles, it is considered the world’s largest rock monolith.

Swiss Alps, Europe

Heading back to Europe, this time we’re headed to the Swiss Alps, a popular ski resort destination with towns including Zermatt, which is considered the base camp for the Matterhorn Mountain. One of the best ways to see the Swiss Alps is by train. You can get the Golden Pass and check out the towns and villages in between, where there’s Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, and so many special places. Most people like to go here for the skiing in the Swiss Alps, but the good news is, you can visit the Swiss Alps during the winter, spring, fall, and summer and enjoy it.

Ancient Egypt

On our way back down to Africa, this time we’re in Egypt, exploring ancient Egypt where the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza are along the Nile River. Here you can find the Great Pyramid and the tombs that are located near Cairo. If you head south toward Aswan, you end up in places like Luxor, Abu Simbel, and the Valley of the Kings. While here, you can actually take a Nile River cruise and explore all of the ancient sites from the luxury of a tour boat. I recommend at least seven days to explore all of ancient Egypt.

Iceland

Now we’re actually headed way up north, this time to Iceland, a volcanic island with tons of water in streams and rivers running all throughout. Here, you’ll find many different waterfalls and actually active lava flow, known as the land of fire and ice. You can also do geothermal pools like the Blue Lagoon and other geysers. Here you will see a very beautiful, green side of Iceland as well, with majestic horses and other wildlife, along with herds of sheep and the Midnight Sun. If you stick around long enough, you might find the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights are a thing that you’ll want to see, but not exclusive to Iceland. You can find them in Norway, Alaska, and other parts of Scandinavia. If you’re looking for Aurora Borealis, you can check out the Northern Hemisphere for this, most commonly seen during the winter months, but it’s not always a guarantee that you will see them. When seeking Aurora Borealis, consider yourself lucky if you are ever so fortunate to actually see them in person.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Heading back down under, this time we’re at the Great Barrier Reef off of Queensland, Australia. It’s over 900 islands, making it the largest coral reef system in the world, extending 1,430 miles. There are said to be around 1,500 species of fish and 411 different species of hard coral. Here, people like to go and explore this natural marine biodiversity without leaving any footprint.

Great Wall of China

Now we’re headed to the Great Wall of China. Construction began over 2,000 years ago to protect the Chinese people from northern invaders like the Mongols. It extends 13,000 miles, built primarily of brick and tamped earth, with stone. The most efficient way to get here is from Beijing and then take a bus or a train to Badaling. There are other sections of the China Wall that you can visit, but the easiest one is probably going to be from Beijing.

Antarctica

Heading all the way down south this time, we’re headed to Antarctica, the southernmost continent and the fifth largest in the world. This is one place that, if you go to, you are in a very small demographic of people who have actually visited. It is very rugged and rough, comprised of 90% of the world’s ice and 70% of the world’s freshwater, teeming with wildlife such as penguins and a variety of different whales. The best way to get here is by boat from Argentina.

New Zealand

Heading over to the island nation of New Zealand, it has a North Island and a South Island, along with several smaller islands. It offers a wide variety of climate zones and landscapes, with beaches in the north and snow-capped mountains in the south. They also have the fjordlands in the South Island, very beautiful around Queenstown. If you go to Abel Tasman Park or Mount Cook, very awesome places to explore. You can do hiking, skiing, surfing, and there are many geothermal parks as well as lots of waterfalls.

Rome, Italy

Heading back to Italy, this time we’re exploring around Rome. Ancient Rome has the Forum, the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, the Vatican City, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. There’s so much history in Rome. After all, this is the head of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of its history, it is a must-do bucket list destination. You should expect to be here for at least three days.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Now we’re headed to a hidden gem, the Dalmatian Coast right along Croatia. It extends for 400 miles. There is an ancient history dating back to medieval times that you’ll want to explore in places like Dubrovnik or Hvar. For those of you who like Game of Thrones, there’s also beautiful water, bays, and islands that you can explore all across this region of Croatia. By the way, guys, I want to remind you that if you check the links below, we have specific travel guides for some of these destinations, so don’t forget to check the description below.

Guatapé Peñol, Colombia

Now we’re headed to Colombia, to Guatapé Peñol. This large rock is very interesting because you can actually walk up the sides of the cliff and then get a view of the lake and the surrounding area around Guatapé. It’s a very idyllic environment. The best way to get to Guatapé is a tour bus that goes from Medellin all the way over here. It does take around an hour and a half to get here, but like I said, it is worth it.

White Sands, New Mexico

Now we’re headed to White Sands, New Mexico. Here you will see the silica-type white sand that you can walk across or even sandboard, gliding along this beautiful soft sand right out here in the middle of the desert.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Now we’re actually headed back out to Hawaii, to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is home to the active volcano known as Kilauea. There are two volcanoes in the region: there’s Mauna Loa, which is considered the largest active volcano, and then Kilauea, considered the most active volcano in the world. It’s not always running with lava, but when it is, it is raging. So if you get a chance to check out this lava flow, do so. There are many hikes that you can do while in this area of the Big Island, so do some research before exploring.

Santorini, Greece

Next up, we’re headed to another volcano caldera. This one’s called Santorini, the honeymooners’ paradise right here in the Cyclades islands of Greece. Some of the places to explore are going to be Oia, Fira, and Akrotiri. Four