Seeing the Northern Lights has topped the travel “bucket list” experiences for 2023 – followed by travelling on the Orient Express, and visiting the Norwegian Fjords.
Three in ten Brits (29%) want to visit somewhere they have never been before, with 38% favouring “off the beaten track” destinations, according to a poll of 2,000 keen travellers.
A safari in Africa, driving Route 66 in the USA, and walking along the Great Wall of China, are also among the top 10 wish list experiences this year.
And for the 18% who prioritise seeing local wildlife, some of the top dreams include swimming with dolphins, bathing elephants in Thailand, and seeing the puffins on Lundy Island, off the coast of North Devon.
Martin Lister, head of itinerary planning and destination experience at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, which commissioned the research, said: “For many of us, holidays and travelling the world are one of life’s highlights.
“There are so many things that we want to see, do, and explore, as shown in the wish lists shared with us, and these play a huge part in us deciding where we go when booking a holiday.”
The study also found 65% of adults want to see as much of the world as they possibly can – but with the average adult spending £2,111 on trips each year, just 15% think they will manage to tick everything off their wish list due to cost, time, or simply the amount they wish to see.
Good weather is the most important ingredient for a dream holiday for half of those polled, via OnePoll – followed by experiencing the culture, nature, and history of a country (39%).
Others look for authentic experiences (19%), and all-inclusive food and drink (17%).
As a result, the weather is the biggest factor when deciding where to go for 52%, while 42% base their decision on the landmarks or sights to see.
The travel time (39%), food (35%), and culture (30%) are also important considerations.
And almost half (47%) dislike going to the same destinations time and time again – because they have so much they want to see.
Martin Lister, from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, added: “A cruise can be a fantastic way to experience the world – arriving in a new port, spending a day exploring, and waking up somewhere different where new opportunities await.”
TOP 40 TRAVEL WISH LIST EXPERIENCES:
- Seeing the Northern Lights
- Travelling on the Orient Express
- Exploring the Norwegian Fjords
- Staying in an over-water bungalow in the Maldives
- Safari in Africa
- Driving Route 66
- Walking along the Great Wall of China
- Seeing Mount Fuji in Japan
- Whale watching
- Seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York
- Swimming in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
- Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
- Greek island hopping
- Visiting the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt
- Paying your respects at Auschwitz
- Seeing Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii
- Swimming with dolphins
- Experiencing the Midnight Sun in the Arctic
- Seeing the Geysir in Iceland
- Seeing Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
- Climbing Machu Picchu
- Seeing the Sydney Opera House
- Visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Visiting tulip gardens in Amsterdam
- Floating in the Dead Sea
- Seeing icebergs in Greenland
- Going to a casino in Las Vegas
- The carnival in Rio de Janeiro
- Seeing Father Christmas in Lapland
- Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
- Bathing elephants in Thailand
- Seeing the puffins on Lundy Island, North Devon
- Seeing Ayers Rock/Uluru in Australia
- Disneyworld in Florida
- Visiting Easter Island
- Seeing Christ the Redeemer in Brazil
- Driving the Pacific Coast Highway
- Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- Seeing The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen
