Don’t you need a vacation? Sure you do! The rat race of life isn’t getting any less rat-racey, and the troubles and stresses of home only seem to increase by the year. You need to unwind! You need to get away from it all… You really need that vacation!
But, before you start planning just any old vacation, perhaps it’s time you start thinking outside of the box. While you could totally go to your favorite vacation spot, wouldn’t you rather do something a little different? Don’t you want to see something you’ve never seen before? Don’t you want to try doing something you’ve never done before?
If you answered “yes” to the above questions, then you’ve come to the right place. On the list below, we’ve pulled together our top 20 picks for having a unique vacation experience. Interested in volunteering on your next trip? Looking to take a hike you’ll tell your grandchildren about? Those are just a couple of the things we’ll be covering below… So, let’s take a look!
1. Great Ocean Road (Australia)
Cruising along the Great Ocean Road gives you the chance to see some of the most beautiful landscape in all of Australia.
2. Alberobello (Italy)
This wonderful town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a place where you can learn old Italian cheese-making techniques.
3. Surf Morocco
If you find yourself in Morocco, then you can get a truly unique experience by learning to surf in Taghazout.
4. Denali National Park (Alaska)
When you put up your tent in this National Park, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to sleep beneath the Northern Lights.
5. Isle of Scilly (United Kingdom)
The wonderful botanical gardens of this islands are absolutely exquisite, and you’ll also get the chance to get up-close and personal with puffins!
6. Ayurvedic Cooking Courses (India)
During a trip to Kerala in India, it’s possible to learn cooking techniques that stretch back millennia.
7. Jewish Heritage Tour (Poland)
Especially in this day and age, it’s important to understand the darker moments of world history.
8. Altiplano Ecosystem Restoration Camps (Spain)
In exchange for five-hours of work a day and a bit of money, you can sleep in cave houses and help restore the natural environment.
9. The Camino (Spain)
If you’re in for a good, long, multi-day hike, then you’ll want to check out this one from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela that draws thousands every year.
10. Fried Insects in Bangkok
Different cuisines for different cultures! You might turn up your nose at trying fried insects, but your opinion will soon change after you’ve done it.
11. Peljesac (Croatia)
Forget about the other wine regions in the world and instead check out this emerging and gorgeous spot in Croatia.
12. Really Experience Fiji
Don’t just go to Fiji to stay at a resort; instead make it a point to participate in local cultural events.
13. Craft Beer Trails (B.C., Canada)
In British Columbia, you can hop on a bike and hit a trail that takes you to some of the region’s very best breweries.
14. Secluded Intown Treehouse (Georgia)
Here you can live out a childhood fantasy by sleeping in a well-appointed treehouse.
15. GVI Teaching Program (South Africa)
Those who’ve got a yen for teaching can experience the beauty of South Africa while volunteering as a teacher for young orphans.
16. Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge (Uganda)
Forget about just seeing the gorillas at the zoo and instead walk among them on a walking safari here.
17. Provence (France)
If you want an old-school vacation experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime, try biking through Provence.
18. Coffee Tasting in Bogota
If you can’t start your day without a solid cup of joe, then you might as well go learn everything there is to know about coffee in Bogota.
19. Bergen (Norway)
This great Norwegian community is something else, and it’s a real trip to spend time here and really try to go full native.
20. Glacier Hiking (Argentina)
For one of the most surreal and rewarding experiences on this planet, try hiking the glaciers in Patagonia.
