Adventure Travel Bucket List – My Top 10 Suggestions For 2020
15 Minute Read
If you – like many others – are stuck in quarantine with an overwhelming sense of wanderlust, then fear not. For I have gathered together some of my favourite adventures from the last few years to give you some ideas to fuel your 2020 travel plans. Here is my ultimate adventure travel bucket list:
- Chase Waves and Waterfalls in Taiwan
- Hike Along the Great Wall of China
- Go Hiking in the Himalayas
- Become an Adrenaline Junkie in New Zealand
- Spend 7 Days on the Trans Siberian Railway
- Take a Road Trip On Some of the World’s Highest Roads in India
- Go Wild Camping in Norway
- Live Like a Nomad in Mongolia
- Explore the Arid Australian Outback
- Drive Around Iceland’s Ring Road
1. Chase Waves and Waterfalls in Taiwan
Taiwan has increasingly grown into a hotspot travel destination amongst backpackers. For years it was the forgotten island in eastern Asia with most travellers opting for the big names of Thailand, Vietnam, or Japan. My theory for this is that everyone in the West associates it with the damning “Made in Taiwan” insignia that found it’s way onto many toys and miscellaneous household items of our childhood. So, sadly, most people seem to associate the country with factories and production-line manufacturing!
But now the word seems to have gotten out – and a good thing too. Taiwan really has all the right ingredients to be a perfect backpacking location, particularly for those seeking adventure and nature. Almost two-thirds of the country is carved with mountains, and a great deal more covered with lush rainforest that brims with waterfalls, river valleys, and gorges all waiting to be hiked. Not to mention, along the country’s east coast are numerous hidden beaches with rolling swells from the pacific bringing wave after curling wave crashing into shore.
Not only is the country small and easy to get around (using Route 11 that runs the length of the east coast), but it’s also relatively inexpensive. As I’m sure you can tell, this ticks all the boxes for an adventure traveller. My recommendation is that you do an east coast road trip or a full loop of the island if you have time. Ten days should be enough for the east coast; if you have 2-3 weeks then opt for the full loop.
Lots of people choose to hire a moped and take it at their own pace as it’s very difficult to get lost! There are also train networks to get you between the bigger cities. I found hitchhiking was very easy along route 11 but more difficult outside of that. Probably because on route 11 it’s all surfers and backpackers happy to give you a ride!
2. Hike Along the Great Wall of China
This hardly needs an introduction. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The Great Wall is of course on the bucket list of many-a-traveller. But what you might not realise is that you aren’t merely limited by looking at the wall, you can actually hike along it – and even camp on it!
As with many tourist destinations in China, they are usually overrun with crowds of people. Luckily I have a tip on how to avoid this. There are a variety of sections people visit from Beijing, all of which range in proximity and ease of access. Because of this, if you choose the closest wall it will obviously be the most overrun. You need to carefully select where you want to go if you want the place to yourself!
Badaling is the closest to Beijing, fully restored, and very busy. Mutianyu is fairly close but also restored and thus lacks authenticity. Jinshanling is an excellent compromise because it’s far enough away not to be overrun with crowds, but close enough to do in a day. There is an amazing 10km hike you can do which takes in both old and restored parts of the wall so you get the best of both worlds! If you want to camp on the wall, you need to choose somewhere off the beaten track like Jiankou. This will be harder to get to, but the pay off is massive… and anyway, if you’re a true adventurer, that shouldn’t stop you.
Here’s my China Travel Guide if you’re interested in finding out more!
3. Go Hiking in the Himalayas
Anyone serious about hiking – and probably those who aren’t – has at some point fantasised about hiking in the Himalayas. There’s something about conquering trails winding amongst the highest peaks on earth that is romantically epic and epitomises the dreamland of the adventurer.
The bulk of the mountains stretch across Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, but in this case, I want to recommend the home of Sherpas and the birthplace of trekking culture: Nepal. There are a nearly endless number of routes you can select but I think the two most epic are Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit. EBC is accessible from Kathmandu but for the Annapurna Circuit you’ll have to hop on a fantastically dangerous bus and brave sheer drops from bumpy roads to get to Pokhara. This level of rugged danger should, of course, strike excitement into the heart of any adventurer.
Once you arrive, spend a couple of days idling by the gorgeous Phewa Lake, stock up on supplies, and catch a movie at the incredible outdoor Movie Garden, before you’re ready to tackle your trek. The Annapurna Circuit takes a minimum of two weeks and takes you through a stunning range of biomes. From jungles to tundra, to desert, to soaring glacial peaks. The highest point of Thorong La pass is a dizzying 5,416m above sea level. The route is a well-trodden one with many cosy tea houses to rest your feet in after a long days hike. Enjoy some warm Nepalese hospitality with a huge serving of dal, a cup of hot tea, and maybe an apple pie whilst you admire views of the world’s greatest mountain range. With these surprising home comforts, they don’t call it the Apple Pie Trek for nothing!
4. Become an Adrenaline Junkie in New Zealand
If there’s a country more suited to the lifestyle of an adrenaline junkie, I’m yet to find it. Just to give you an idea of what’s an offer, I’ll give you a list of everything I did in the space of one month.
I went sand-boarding in the Bay of Islands; I went searching for glow worms in an underground caving system in Waitomo; I went skydiving over Mount Doom (actually called Mount Ngauruhoe); I went on a stunning day hike across the snow-capped Tongariro Alpine Crossing; I swam in geothermal pools under the stars; I went white water rafting in River Valley; I went downhill luging in the volcanic town of Rotorua; I went skiing for a day at the Remarkables; I flew in a helicopter to go ice-trekking on a glacier in Franz Joseph; I did 4 bungee jumps and a rope swing in Queenstown, and I probably did a lot of other things I’ve now forgotten.
On top of all of this, you’re also in the land of rugby, Lord of the Rings, and a stupidly high number of stunning natural landscapes. If you were in any doubt over New Zealand’s status as adventure capital of the world, hopefully you ain’t now.
5. Spend 7 Days on the Trans Siberian Railway
Another absolutely essential journey for your adventure travel bucket list. If under any other circumstances someone told you they would voluntarily be locking themselves in their room for 7 days, you’d have them sectioned. But when it’s done in the bold name of adventure, and it’s to experience one of the longest train journeys in the world… well, that’s a different story entirely. Isn’t it?
In any case, by the time this quarantine is over, most of us will be well versed at being confined to a small space for extended periods of time. So don’t fret, you’re already partway there!
There are two main routes travellers choose to do: Moscow to Vladivostok or, Moscow to Beijing via Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. I would say it’s an absolute no-brainer to opt for the second route. You get to see a much greater variety of landscapes and cultures. Especially in Mongolia which is one of my all-time favourite countries for adventure travel. I would recommend you extend your trip to include some other destinations at either end. To this itinerary, I added: Tallinn, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg, and then an additional 3-weeks to explore China.
You can technically do this trip at any time of year. If you really fancy a challenge then the -30 degree Siberian Winter would suit you just fine. If you’ve more partial to pleasant clines that don’t freeze the liquid in your eyeballs (yep that’s actually a thing) then Spring or Summer is more for you.
6. Take a Road Trip On Some of the World’s Highest Roads in India
Oh, Ladakh. One of my favourite regions I’ve ever travelled to. As I so delicately described it to my friends when I got back from my trip “It was like being on the fucking moon.”
The reason the area of Jammu and Kashmir are so peculiar is that they’re high altitude, in the Himalayas, but they’re actually in the rain shadow. What this means is that the tops of the mountains are so tall that they create a barrier preventing clouds from reaching the far side. This creates a highly unusual landscape where the mountain tops are covered in snow, but the valleys are arid deserts. On top of this, in the depths of the basins, snowmelt creates streams that allow for verdant strips of lush grassland to bloom. All in all, this creates the craziest range of colours and biomes across a very small area.
The most adventurous way to get there is to road trip from Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Ladakh. This route just so happens to take you across some of the highest (and probably scariest) roads in the world. In fact, the roads are so high that on the journey you’ll likely find yourself getting breathless and suffering from bouts of headaches – an early sign of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)! Luckily you cross the highest passes quickly before dropping down to a lower altitude again so you shouldn’t be in danger if you stay hydrated, don’t linger, and listen to your body.
Once in Leh, you can branch out to a range of other adventures. Spend the night at the serene high-altitude lake of Pangong Tso that borders Tibet. Visit ancient Buddhist monasteries perched on the edge of soaring cliffs. Meander through winding alpine passes before dropping into sweeping desert valleys. All whilst admiring the majesty of the Himalayas: lofty roof to this world. Now if that doesn’t sound like an adventure to you, then I don’t know what is.
7. Go Wild Camping in Norway
Norway’s Allemannsretten (freedom to roam) rule combined with its breathtaking range of mountains, fjords, and coasts are a match made in heaven. You can pack up your camping gear, hop on a plane to one of the airports along the west coast, and after a short bus journey, find yourself in raw wilderness open to exploration. I absolutely love it. Norway is one of my favourite countries in the world to go hiking and camping in, and it’s irritatingly underrated amongst many travellers.
Of course, being in Scandinavia, there are financial downsides. In my opinion, it’s the most expensive country in the world. And I’ve been to Japan and Iceland (the other most common contenders), but from my experience, they don’t come close to the outrages prices you’ll find in Norway.
But regardless of this, when you’re hiking you do things on the cheap and you don’t need to spend money anyway. You have all your gear and you’ll only buy snacks or other bits of food from the supermarket. Where it might cost a bit is if you want to lodge somewhere either side of the hike and your transport costs to get around. In any case, when you weigh this up against the money you save whilst on your hike, it pretty much evens out!
My favourite Norwegian hikes are Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Trolltunga, and Besseggen Ridge. Aside from that, I’m desperate to go to the Lofoten Islands which will definitely be my next hiking trip!
8. Live Like a Nomad in Mongolia
If you’ve been following Walk Wild for a while now you’ll know it’s no secret how much I love Mongolia. For me, it represents everything I look for in an adventure. It’s off the beaten track, there’s an amazing nomadic culture, the nature is untouched and expansive, and there’s a huge area to explore. It’s a country I could keep going back to. There are at least two other trips I have planned for the next time I go to Mongolia.
To get you started – if you only want to dip your toes in the water – go to Gorkhi Terelj National Park just outside of the capital Ulaanbaatar. If you want a real taste of adventure, head south to the Gobi Desert. If you have more time on your hands, seek out the eagle-hunting Altai people or the Reindeer Herding Dukha people.
The majority of families outside of Ulaanbaatar live the nomadic lifestyle inside their yurts. If you truly want to experience Mongolian culture you have to spend a few nights staying with a local family. It’s a wonderfully authentic experience and I’ll remember the excitement I felt at camping in the golden sands of the Gobi Desert for the rest of my life. If you’re building an adventure travel bucket list, make sure not to miss this one out.
Here’s my Mongolia Travel Guide if you’re interested in more!
9. Explore the Arid Australian Outback
The east coast of Australia is bread and butter to any backpacker’s travel plans. What most people sadly overlook is the incredible Australian outback. There’s an irony to the fact that such a huge area is so commonly forgotten about. Uluru in the Red Centre is absolutely magical. But so too are other areas of the Northern Territories like Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Not only are these places a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the wonderful Aboriginal people, but exploring the extraordinary and otherworld landscapes of Australia’s outback is an amazing experience too.
Here are just some of the things you can expect to experience in the outback: watching dust devils swirling across the red desert as wallabies and kangaroos hop across the shimmering mirage on the horizon; climbing up the towering orange rocks of Kings Canyon; swimming in waterfall oasis’ and cold creeks of Litchfield; not swimming in the wetlands brimming with freshies (freshwater crocs – not dangerous) and salties (salt-water crocs -very dangerous); stargazing in the darkest of nights; recoiling in terror at the size of the flying foxes (fruit bats) that nestle in the trees during the heat of the day; and watching the changing light of the setting sun as it seems to warp and shift the shape of Australia’s most coveted rock: Uluru.
It’s fair to say that all these components make up the perfect adventure travel bucket list. The area is massive, so either fly into Darwin or Alice Springs and catch an internal flight between the two. Or if you’re a true adventurer, consider a whopping road trip across the desert to satisfy your traveller’s chutzpah.
10. Drive Around Iceland’s Ring Road
When you first think of Iceland, I’m sure tarmac isn’t what jumps to mind. You think of Game of Thrones and a Land of Ice and Fire. But Route 1 is a lot more than a mere road. It’s an intermediary to your adventures, and the road trip itself is incredible. The route hugs the coast for a lot of the journey; wedged between crashing waves and black sands on one side, and raging waterfalls, smoking volcanoes, and craggy peaks on the other.
Having a car gives you the freedom to stop at all the places you want to see and doing things at your own pace to really admire the spectacular views. I chose to drive between each spot and camp during the nights at one of the many scenic campsites located along the ring road. It’s slightly confusing as to what the rules are for wild camping in Iceland. It’s overrun with tourists at certain times of year and people don’t respect the sanctity of the nature. So, the Icelandic government seems unwilling to encourage people’s desires to camp anywhere and everywhere. With this in mind, I’d respect their wishes and stick to the campgrounds – which are suitably wild anyway. If you want real off-road, head into the depths of Vatnajökull or Hornstrandir National Parks.
That’s my top ten recommendations for your adventure travel bucket list. Hopefully, once this quarantine is over and things are back to normal, you can start exploring some of these destinations.
Like these photos and want to see more? Head over to my Instagram and Twitter accounts for more pictures and adventure travel stories.
Have any comments or suggestions of your own? Feel free to comment below and let me know.
As always, stay safe and happy travels!
