Must-Experience Life Changing Trips
Most New Year’s Resolutions don’t last. You should put something completely new and life-altering on your list—a resolution that’s easy to keep, like “treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime.”
The world is filled with true once-in-a-lifetime adventures and destinations. Some are expensive, others can be surprisingly affordable, but all will pay you back with experiences you’ll treasure the rest of your life.
Raft the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is America’s most famous natural landmark. Ironically, millions of people go to see the Canyon each year, but few really see much more than a broad overview — to appreciate the Canyon you have to go into it, and that means getting on the Colorado River. Arizona River Runners has operated since 1970 as an authorized concessioner of Grand Canyon National Park, and its seasoned staff takes hundreds of travelers through the Canyon each year, offering a variety of experiences, from 3-day samplers to 15-day descents of the entire 225-mile Canyon.
Estera Island, Chile
No one knows for sure why an ancient people built the towering statues known as Moai, or why their entire civilization became extinct. But the history they left behind is simply awe inspiring, with hundreds of Moai all over the remote island. Easter Island is the remotest community on earth — the inhabited place furthest from any other inhabited place — yet it is relatively easy to get to on daily LAN Chile flights from Santiago. Explore Easter Island on foot, bike, or even by boat.
Tiger Safari By Chartered Plane
There are few places on earth where you can see tigers in the wild and India is probably the top destination. Terra Incognita Ecotours offers a trip that any tiger enthusiast will leap at. Travelers will tour Corbett National Park, the only park in India where visitors can actually stay inside the park boundaries and the only one that allows walking in certain areas. You’ll fly to Bandhavgarh National Park, with another very high concentration of tigers, containing the jungles described in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. This 11-day India tour also gives travelers an opportunity to explore the parks’ historic sites. There is also a tour of the historic sites and points of interest in Delhi, gourmet Indian cuisine, and a unique elephant-back safari. Terra Incognita Ecotours donates a portion of the proceeds to the World Wildlife Fund in India.