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backpackingmatt

With international travel on pause for the moment, our travel bucket lists aren’t getting any shorter. In fact, quite the opposite! As the focus remains on staying home, staying local, and waiting for the world to heal, it’s easy to get caught up staring out your window dreaming of your next destination. 

So, when it’s safe to travel again, where will you go? 

These adventure destinations are sure to inspire your next lockdown daydream session.

1. Hike Acatenango Volcano, Guatemala 

If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal with a live volcano, Guatemala is the place to do it. Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes, three of which are active and the rest dormant. Acatenango is the third-highest volcano in Guatemala, offering a challenging but achievable hike. 

Reaching the summit takes around five hours, but it can also be done as an overnight hike with options to camp out under the stars. From here you’ll see Acatenango’s crater and reach the best lookout point for viewing the active Fuego Volcano, which is always putting on a show.

2. Try Dog Sledding in Alaska

Imagine speeding through snow-covered Alaskan Forest on a sled pulled by dogs. This Alaskan obsession can be enjoyed as a one-day trip or multi-day adventure, with opportunities to see the vast Alaskan countryside, pet the beloved sled dogs, and learn about the rich cultural heritage behind the sport.

3. Snorkel with gentle giants at Ningaloo Reef, Australia

The whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef are the biggest fish in the ocean. Living on a diet entirely of plankton, there’s no need to fear these gentle giants. Between March and August, these amazing creatures migrate along the coast, putting on a spectacular show for snorkelers.

If you’re curious about sharks, but you’re not quite into cage diving with Great Whites, this adventure might be right up your alley.

4. Visit the cutest little capital in the world – Wellington, New Zealand

Fly to the corner of the world and visit the cutest little capital, Wellington City. Here you can get the full mix of New Zealand’s natural, cultural, political and historical scene while trying some of the country’s best cuisine and coffee. 

Wander along the waterfront, visit parliament’s Beehive building, or discover New Zealand’s vibrant history at Te Papa Museum. If you stay nearby you’ll also be able to visit the native wildlife at Zealandia Ecosanctuary, or see many of the famous movie artefacts at Weta Workshop. With the smell of coffee filling the air and music bustling out from every shop, the vibe is always good in Wellington.

5. Go Ziplining in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Head to Northern Thailand to scale the canopies of the 1500-year old Chiang Mai Rainforest. Ziplining on a single-person swing lets you glide along the Yang treetops, giving a bird’s eye view of the jungle below and making this a bucket list activity for GoPro fanatics and rush-seekers. This activity offers the perfect adrenaline rush for solo travellers, groups or families. See the wonders of the jungle including cliffs, rivers and the wonderful Chiang Mai wildlife.

6. Try Coasteering in Pembrokeshire, Wales

What’s Coasteering, you ask?

Coasteering is an exhilarating way to explore the coastline of Wales. This unique adventure takes you to Pembrokeshire where you’ll navigate the coastal terrain with a mix of cave exploration, cliff jumping, swimming, and rock climbing. This safe, action-packed adventure will get your adrenaline pumping and showcase the beauty of the Welsh coast and wildlife. With a fun team of experienced guides, your Coasteering experience will be one for the memory bank.

7. Go Dune Bashing in Jaisalmer, India

Experience the beauty of Sam Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer on this thrilling 4×4 adventure. Dune Bashing is relatively new to India but is quickly gaining popularity with adventure-seekers. Unleash your inner adventurer as you blast your way over the golden mounds of the Thar Desert.

Check out the tourist hub at Jaisalmer while you’re at it. Taste the Indian cuisine, ride a camel, and visit the ornate Jain temples that date back as far as the 12th century.

8. Walk village-to-village in Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is a colourful string of picture-perfect villages on the Italian Riviera. Like a scene from a postcard, the incredible location offers an authentic Italian experience. Traverse the area’s villages using a mix of boat, rail, and walking trail. 

This flexible walking adventure can be as long as you like, with the option to stop for a smooth cappuccino, an Italian lunch, or handmade gelato along the way. See the hillside fishing villages, climb the steep pathways, marvel at the olive groves, and explore a historical castle before making your way back to your seaside hotel.

9. Float through the Takachiho Gorge, Japan

Head to Japan’s Takachiho Gorge for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With unimaginable scenery, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled onto a movie set. This deep volcanic gorge was formed by four separate volcanic eruptions that date back as far as 270,000 years ago. Feel the mist from the waterfalls plunging over the basalt columns as you float along the calm Gokase River. Feel free to disembark your boat to hike the Takachiho trails and discover the natural and cultural features of the area.  

10. Take a Hot Air Balloon over Marrakech, Morocco

No adventure bucket list is complete without a ride in a hot-air balloon, and where better to do this than over Marrakech. Take in the expansive view from above this bustling city. See the Atlas Mountains, valleys, date palms and olive groves, and look out onto the surrounding Berber villages. You’ll set off at sunrise when the air is still and the city is waking. When you’re safely back on the ground, explore more Moroccan experiences such as camel riding and 4×4 tours.

When the world opens up again, your dream travel destinations await.

So for now hold onto that bucket list, and keep dreaming of your next adventure!

Are you dreaming of Dolce Vita and can’t wait to shop in Milan, visit museums in Florence, and eat all the pizza in the country? I’m just as excited as you are about your first Italian trip.

There are certainly some things you need to know before you leave, though. For a start, don’t forget that you will probably need to apply for an ETIAS authorization from late 2022.

So if you’re planning long-term, remember that those who can go to Italy visa-free now, like US citizens, will need the new electronic authorization soon (don’t worry though, you can request it online in just a few minutes.)

Now that the bureaucracy is out of the way, you may start drafting your Italian itinerary and familiarizing yourself with the Italian lifestyle and customs. It’s no secret that Italians live well and long: Italy ranks above the average in terms of income and wealth, work-life balance, health, and social connections, according to the OECD. 

Moreover, it has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, within the top 10 on the planet with an expectancy of 81 years of age for men and 86 for women. It may have something to do with the Mediterranean diet and the long walks by the sea.  

Finally, there is a very strong sense of community and high levels of civic participation in the country.

But how to enjoy your time in Italy and get a real sense of how Italians live? Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Keep reading to find the most important Do’s and Don’ts for Italy if you’re a foreigner visiting the country.

Italian Do’s for Tourists

Here are examples of behaviors that Italians will appreciate:

• Do greet strangers like taxi drivers, waiters, etc. with a smile or a “Buongiorno.” Italians are very friendly and welcoming people and will love a quick conversation.
• Do talk with your hands. This Italian stereotype is completely true and if you don’t know how to better express yourself in the local language, use gestures.
• Do compliment the country as Italians are proud of their picture-perfect natural and cultural beauties.
• Do carry some cash with you as you will probably find some establishments that don’t accept card payments.
• Do dress up (but don’t stress about it.) Especially if you visit large centers like Rome or Milan and chic holiday destinations, you will spot fashion victims all around you. In general, Italy is a country that pays more attention to quality clothing than the average. Remember that in churches and other religious places (even if they’re major tourist landmarks) you’re expected to cover your knees, shoulders, and cleavage.
• Do look after your belongings as pickpocketers are at work in urban areas, especially in busy spots like street crossings, museum queues, and metro stations.
• Do relax. Yes, there’s a lot to see and do in Italy. But if you do Italy right, what you will most likely bring home with you is a great sense of relaxation and having enjoyed life. With their world-class food and wine and laid-back lifestyle, Italians know how to do it. Learn from the locals.

Italian Travel Advice: Don’ts in Italy

It’s true that Italians are friendly and relaxed. It’s also true that some tourist habits may get them to raise their eyebrow. For a smooth and enjoyable experience in Italy, here are some behaviors to avoid:

• Don’t get in the way of local life. Although Italian art cities look like open-air museums, people live here. Try not to disrupt everyday life. Don’t block pavements and narrow streets, photograph residents without their permission, or shout and play loud music while on vacation.
• Don’t fall into tourist traps. Fine, some will be unavoidable. But try, for example, to stay clear of restaurants near major tourist sites. Unsurprisingly, they will have tourist menus with high prices and often low-quality ingredients.
• Don’t tip like in the US. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Italians leave tips that are smaller than in the US, unless they have found the service exceptionally good.
• Don’t picnic on monuments, historic steps and fountains, or inside museums and above all, don’t forget to take your trash with you if you do. Hefty fines apply.
• Don’t forget to validate your tickets if you use public transport like trains and buses. Train stations may be hard to navigate in Italy and it’s easy for foreigners to forget to look for the validating machines before getting on the train. However, that may result in a fine.
• Don’t expect Italian food to be like it is abroad. That means, for example, not ordering fettuccine Alfredo (they simply don’t exist in Italy) and refraining from adding ketchup to your pasta. 

Author Bio: 

Susan Noel is an experienced travel writer. She is associated with many renowned travel blogs as a guest author where she shares her valuable travel tips with the audience.

Irasshaimase fellow travelers, today we explore the land of Japan. From the bustling Tokyo to the zen-full Kyoto and peaceful Okinawa with the snowy Hokkaido in between, Japan is a land filled with high-tech innovations and futuristic buildings next to traditional wooden temples and houses, colorful streets and all the cultural politeness and respect.

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