Grand canyon and Antarctica cruises shine in latest bucket list rankings

Bucket list travel dreams vary widely among individuals, but some experiences capture global imagination more than others. According to a recent survey by adventure travel company Skyhook, certain destinations and activities consistently top the list for many travelers.

The survey, which polled 4,000 people worldwide, revealed the most coveted travel experiences, from witnessing the Northern Lights to embarking on a cruise to Antarctica.

As travelers seek out these iconic adventures, the rankings highlight both timeless aspirations and evolving trends in global tourism, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Bucket list travel goals often vary from person to person, with each traveler crafting their own unique list of destinations and experiences they dream of one day. However, certain global adventures have widespread appeal and frequently appear on many people's lists. To identify the most coveted travel experiences, adventure travel company Skyhook conducted a survey of 4,000 people worldwide about their travel preferences.

In the Skyhook survey, participants selected three top activities from a list of 15 popular bucket list experiences. These options included climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, taking a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia in Türkiye, going on a cruise to Antarctica, traveling to space, and embarking on a gorilla trek.

The top bucket list travel activity globally is witnessing the Northern Lights, according to recent rankings. Travelers typically journey to destinations such as Iceland, Norway, Sweden, or Finland for a chance to see the Northern Lights, often receiving late-night alerts from accommodations when the sky becomes vibrant with green, pink, and purple hues, or staying in glass igloos to view the phenomenon. This experience is especially popular among Gen Z, with 60 per cent of respondents from this generation listing it as a top bucket list item.

Although the Northern Lights can occasionally be seen in parts of the US, including Alaska, Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine, the aurora borealis was notably visible across a broader range of lower latitudes in May due to a global geomagnetic storm.

For Baby Boomers, cruising to Antarctica emerged as a top bucket list choice, with 46 per cent selecting it as a premier travel experience. Recent years have seen a surge in interest in Antarctic cruises, where travelers can observe penguin colonies and humpback whales amid ice glaciers. However, environmentalists are raising concerns about the impact of increased tourism on the continent’s wildlife and are calling for stricter regulations.

Among the top 15 bucket list activities, the only US-based destination to make the list is the Grand Canyon. As one of the most visited attractions in the country, the Grand Canyon draws over six million visitors annually to its vast 277-mile expanse, with rugged walls that descend more than a mile to the canyon floor. Visitors flock to see the breathtaking views from the rim (particularly the popular South Rim), camp within the national park, or raft along the Colorado River that runs through the canyon.