30 Life Changing Experiences Every Traveler Should Have Before 30

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From bungee jumping off epic cliffs in New Zealand to chasing tornadoes in the US, here are 30 life-changing things every travel nut needs to experience before they turn 30.

Traveling in your late teens and in your 20s is important. Why? Because when you travel young, you begin to realize who you are and what you want to be. It also prepares you for all the major life decisions you’ll have to make eventually: career, kids, marriage, worldview and all the other daunting social stuff in between. Basically, the things that will impact the rest of your life forever – so no pressure.

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Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Let’s be honest, traveling is expensive but if you do it right, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your entire adult life. And, if you were to complete our list of these top 30 travel experiences before you’re actually 30, then we think you’re gonna have a pretty awesome existence.
So grab a pen and paper, maybe a credit card and check out these ultimate soul-searching experiences. We assure you, they’re totally worth it.

1. Test your survival skills in Namibia’s larger than life Sossusvlei desert…

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2. Known as the ‘Second Buddha’, climb up to the breathtaking Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan…

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3. Push yourself to the limit and swim through thousands of stinging golden jellies in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake…

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4. Put your life in someone else’s hands and bungee jump off a giant cliff in New Zealand…

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5. One of the most iconic pile of bricks in the world, pack your bags and walk the Great Wall of China alone (not the whole thing, though – it’s over 5,000 miles long!)…

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6. Risk it all and navigate the Drake Passage. The penguins in this part of Antarctica are uber cute too!

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7. Get wasted Berlin style in the world’s hottest techno club, the Berghain…

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8. See the world from an entirely different point of view by following in the footsteps of famous explorers by trekking the Himalayas…

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9. Conquer one of mankind’s tallest structures and dangle off the top of the CN tower, all 457 metres of it…

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10. Live dangerously. Grab a storm chaser and seek out America’s most terrifying twisters…

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11. Join a group of extreme drivers and embark on a 10-hour, off-the-road race through the Kenyan savannah on an amazeballs ‘Rhino Charge’. Don’t worry, it’s all in the name of animal conservation…

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12. Make BFFs by going on an epic pub crawl in London. (You’re totally spoilt for choice as there are over 7000 of them to get smashed in)…

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13. Grab a handful of glitter, a fabulous hat, throw out your inhibitions and shake your butt at the New Orleans Mardi Gras…

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14. Feel the force of the oceans and go catch the surf in Bondi beach…

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15. Drink, have sex with total strangers and party until 6AM in Ibiza….

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16. Meet the love of your life tubing through Laos’ incredible rivers…

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17. Instagram Bolivia’s stunning salt flats to death. Why? Because it’s so pretty…

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18. Experience the best of local culture and head to Catalonia to join thousands of Catalans to form some of the largest human towers on the planet…

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19. Had a bad break up? Get over it, scream your lungs out and hike the 26-mile Inca Trail all the way to Machu Picchu. Once you see the view at the top, you’ll forget all about it…

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20. Be one with our forests and zip line through the jungles of Costa Rica…

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21. Live like a daredevil and skydive over the Great Barrier Reef…

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22. Join 60,000 other rockers and party like a Hell’s Angel at the Burning Man festival…

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23. Steep hike across the 3,922 steps of Hawaii’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Once you reach the top, take pride in knowing you climbed one of the most demanding staircases on the planet…

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24. Find inspiration in mother nature and day hike through giant trees, roaring rivers and scale great peaks in Yosemite National Park…

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25. Enter another world and swim with great white sharks in South Africa…

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26. Lose yourself walking across a bewitching glacier in Iceland…

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27. Create your own society based entirely on creative freedom at Spain’s Nowhere festival…

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28. Buy a run-down camper van and get plenty of me time road tripping the USA…

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29. Find yourself in the crazy streets of New York. After all, it is a ‘concrete jungle where dreams are made of’…

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30. And finally, forget all the world’s problems and go colour-crazy at India’s Holi festival…

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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