There’s something special about chasing the extraordinary—the kind of unique or luxurious experiences people dream about for years. Some experiences stay with you. They don’t just fill your camera roll; they leave a mark.
Most of us carry a list of things we’d love to try someday. Some are bold, others peaceful, but they all have one thing in common: they make us feel more alive.
Bucket lists aren’t really about checking things off. They’re about the moments that bring you closer to the life you imagine when no one’s watching—the one that feels more like you. The kind that stays in the “maybe someday” corner of your mind, until one day, you just go for it.
Here, we’ve gathered a few extraordinary moments and luxurious experiences that appear on many people’s bucket lists.
1. Sleep Beneath the Northern Lights (Finland)
Watching the Northern Lights is a common dream. But watching them from your bed, wrapped in warmth inside a glass igloo in Finnish Lapland? That’s something else. The Northern Lights shift slowly across the dark—green and purple, calm and steady. It’s the kind of quiet where you just sit there, not saying much, just watching.
What makes this experience extra special is that only the lucky and patient get the chance to see this phenomenon, as it doesn’t happen every night.
2. Float Above Fairy Chimneys (Cappadocia)
Cappadocia is one of those places that doesn’t look real. The landscape is full of these tall, odd-shaped rock formations people call “fairy chimneys,” and many of them have homes carved right into the stone.
The balloon ride is the big draw. You get up early—really early—and head out while it’s still dark. Then suddenly, you’re in a basket drifting over hills and valleys as the sun comes up. It’s quiet up there and kind of unreal watching dozens of balloons in the sky with you. You don’t need to be into hot air balloons to get why it’s on so many bucket lists. It’s one of those rare mornings when you almost forget where you are.
3. Dine at a Michelin-Star Table in the French Countryside
Michelin-star restaurants are awarded for their food, the chef’s skill, and the overall dining experience, and earning even a single Michelin star is a huge accomplishment in the culinary world. Dining at a Michelin-star restaurant is a slow, thoughtful experience, and each course encourages you to really enjoy the moment.
In the French countryside, many Michelin-star restaurants are located in quiet villages, surrounded by hills and vineyards. The atmosphere is relaxed and elegant, with every detail carefully arranged to make you feel well taken care of.
4. Step Into the World’s Most Iconic Casinos
A bucket list experience doesn’t always mean being out in nature. Sometimes, it’s about the thrill of high stakes and that touch of glamour. Stepping into famous casinos is a whole other kind of adventure.
Monte Carlo Casino has this old-school elegance, with the luxury of the French Riviera to match. Marina Bay Sands in Singapore has those crazy views, while you’re in the middle of the action. And Vegas? It’s its own world—casinos wrapped up in huge resorts with shows, great food, nightclubs, and rooftop bars.
Inside, you see people in sharp suits and sexy dresses sinking into velvet chairs, and you can just feel the anticipation. Each game feels different, with its own rhythm, and every moment brings a little more excitement.
5. Cruise Through the Galápagos Islands (South America)
The Galápagos aren’t your typical beach getaway. They’re remote, a bit rugged, and full of animals that honestly don’t care that you’re there. Sea lions nap right on the sand, giant tortoises slowly do their thing, and birds walk past your feet like you’re not even a big deal.
Most trips are done by small boat, stopping at different islands with guides who know the place inside out. It’s less about luxury and more about getting close to a world that hasn’t changed much in hundreds of years. If you’re someone who loves nature and wants to see wildlife just doing its thing, this is one of the few places left where that still happens.
6. Walk Through Petra by Candlelight (Jordan)
By day, Petra is impressive. By night, it’s magic. The Siq offers visitors an experience they will never forget. The ancient city becomes accessible through this narrow gorge illuminated by candles, and it’s an experience that should be included on everyone’s bucket list. At the end, the Treasury appears—carved straight into pink sandstone, glowing in the flicker.
7. Go on a Safari in the Serengeti (Tanzania)
Seeing the “Big Five”—lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros—up close in their natural habitat is unforgettable. The wide-open plains and the sounds of animals all around you make it feel like you’re part of the wild. It’s an experience unlike any other and one definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
8. A Landmark Worth Visiting: Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of the iconic travel destinations that deserves a spot on the bucket list. A place with centuries of history, surrounded by mountains and nature, blending ancient stone ruins with the landscape.
Many people get there by hiking the Inca Trail—a multi-day walk through mountains and old stone paths the Incas once used. There are also trains and short bus rides for those who don’t want to hike through high altitudes. Keep Machu Picchu in your bucket list from May to September, when it’s less rainy and the sky is clearer.
Beyond the Routine: What’s Worth Remembering?
The moments that stick with you aren’t always the loud or flashy ones. Sometimes it’s just the quiet of a new place, the awe brought on by a natural destination, or even just the feeling that you’re far from your usual routine. Years from now, when you think about the best things you’ve done, it probably won’t be a work deadline or a weekly habit—it’ll be that one sunrise, that hike, that night you felt totally present.
There’s still time to add more of those moments. So, what’s on your list?
