The Ultimate 2016 Travel + Leisure Bucket List

“Norway has been on my list for years now. I want to visit my family and take advantage of all the natural beauty Norway has to offer: hiking, kayaking, and biking my way through the fjords, and quaint villages.” —Erin Fagerland, Online Photo Coordinator

"I’m always intrigued by places that are hidden and take a bit of effort to discover, so Marrakesh, with its private courtyards, secret gardens, and out-of-the-way shops is very appealing to me. I want to stay at a small riad like El Fenn, where life revolves around the courtyard, though I would certainly want to have a drink at La Mamounia—Marrakesh’s grand dame that has drawn Hollywood royalty for a century. I’d visit Jemaa el-Fna and the medina with its food stalls, spice shops, and artisans, sample sweetened mint tea, and buy a set of Moroccan tea glasses to bring home. I’d spend an afternoon at the Jardin Majorelle, which Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé saved from destruction and transformed into an oasis full of plants and a vibrant blue villa. I also love Moroccan cuisine, so I’d never tire of the mezze, tagines, and other delicacies." —Laura Itzkowitz, Research Assistant

"At the top of my bucket list is a trans-national winter journey through Lapland, taking in the snowy wonderland of a landscape, seeing the Northern Lights, and immersing myself in Sami culture." —Nathan Lump, Editor

"There are a few reasons why Mexico City is on my bucket list: there’s tons to see, do, and eat; and it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to get to. My dream itinerary includes walking around the markets, visiting the world famous Museo Nacional de Arte, and dining at all three of the restaurants on the San Pellegrino top 50 list. There’s also an incredible amount of activities just outside the city: I’d love to take a day trip to Teotihuacan to see the ancient pyramids, wander around Frida Kahlo’s house and admire her art collection, and hire a boat to tour the Xochimilco Canals—apparently you can take beers out with you, and for lunch, little rafts float nearby, preparing homemade tacos." —Stephanie Wu, Senior Editor

"I'd say roughly 80 percent of the items on my bucket list are travel-related. I feel like I add new items to the list every week, but one of the most recent additions is to camp out in the Sahara Desert on one of the darkest nights of the year. I want to take photographs of the endlessly brilliant, starry sky contrasting against the sand dunes and then wake up with the sunrise the next morning." —Danica Jorge, Digital Photo Editor

"Other people can take their hikes to see the Northern Lights—I’m doing a different type of stargazing. A trip to the Cannes Film Festival, with sing-songy French to tickle my ears and Mediterranean sunshine to brighten my face, has always seemed to me the epitome of luxury travel: Beautiful, powerful people? Check. Breathtaking scenery? Check. A sneak peek at the world’s best films? Check. Glamorous parties, luxury yachts, and first-class food and drink? Check, check, and check. Of course the one check I don’t have is the one to pay for any of this, but hey, it’s fun to dream." —Chris Abell, Digital Producer

"For an elephant lover like myself, there's no place more fascinating than the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The property serves as a village for mahouts, or dedicated elephant trainers, who work with rescued elephants and study their behavior. The 25 resident elephants are integrated into every component of your stay: they greet you upon arrival, assist you in elephant yoga classes, and are your partners in crime for sunset treks overlooking the Mekong. And when you need a break from wildlife (never!), day trips to Myanmar or Laos are a breeze—that is, if you're not lured into the traditional Thai spa instead." —Nikki Ekstein, Associate Editor

"I spend most of my time in cities when I travel; there’s convenience in density. But traveling to the more remote corners of the globe is why I got into this business. You test your patience and skill, navigating from one obscure area to the next, and there’s a satisfaction in knowing that you’re experiencing something so different from your norm. The serenity of looming, cartoon-like trees in the midst of sea breezes and dirt roads make visiting the Avenue of the Baobabs in rural Madagascar a dream for me. It’s always been the place that I envisioned I’d travel to when I was older after seeing it in a childhood storybook. Eventually I will get there." —Sean Flynn, Digital Producer

"Forget Cuba and its vintage cars; for a real time-travel experience—to the glorious 1970s, no less—I want to go to North Korea. Ideally, I’d fly into Pyongyang from Beijing on a Soviet-era Air Koryo jet, see the sights of the capital on a guided tour that includes a ride on one of the world’s deepest subway systems, and catch an awe-inspiring and uniquely North Korean cultural performance, be it the Arirang Mass Games, some of the world’s most musically-gifted toddlers, or the Kim Jong Un–created girl group, Moranbong Band!” —Derek Eng, Designer

"My most satisfying vacations are the ones when I get outdoors and off the grid, and the photos and first-person accounts of Zion National Park make me really want to go. Echo Canyon, Angels Landing, the Emerald Pools; they look so stunning in photos. I can only imagine that they are even more astounding in person. The challenge of the logistics and effort required by a hiking and camping trip focus attention and take the mind away from habitual thought patterns—for a real getaway." —Laura Teusink, Managing Editor

"Like any good bucket list obsession, my fascination with Bhutan began with a single photo on Pinterest. I’ve been obsessed with the idea of solo trekking and visiting ancient sacred sites there since I was a teenager, and that photo of Paro Taktsang, a monastery complex hugging the cliffs of Bhutan’s Paro valley, really got me planning. I’d like to hike the sacred site (there’s also the option to go on horseback, but the arduousness of the day seems to be a big part of the spirituality of it, plus horses kind of freak me out), as part of a larger, 14-day trip. In total, my dream route is between 100 and 150 miles long, and includes frequent stops for prayer and meditation. It also, of course, winds through the amazing, diverse landscapes of the eastern end of the Himalayas: the meadows, the mountain passes, and the jungles." —Amy Schellenbaum, Digital Editor

"I'd love to eat my way through Sicily, stopping to lounge on a hidden island beach or two along the way." —Anya Hoffman, Contributing Digital Editor

"I spent two years in Phnom Penh and traveled quite widely around the region, but I never made it to Myanmar, which at the time was less accessible. For me, it’s the final piece of the Southeast Asian puzzle. And while of course I’d love to see Yangon and Bagan and Lake Inle, boating among the untouched beaches and unique communities of the Mergui Archipelago before they open up to tourism would be a truly one-off adventure." —Flora Stubbs, Articles Editor

"After getting my fill of sea turtles, penguins, and blue-footed boobies, I’d make my way to Post Office Bay, on Floreana Island. There, I’d drop an unstamped postcard into the wooden barrel of a mailbox and pick up a few more to deliver back in the States. The post office—which has roots dating back to the 1700s—still requires the help of travelers passing through to deliver the mail." —Caroline Hallemann, Associate Digital Editor

"My fiancé's grandfather is Portuguese, and while the family is also Polish and Salvadorean (an exotic mix, I know!), the Portuguese culture in the household is by far the strongest. Grandpa José loves to recount his past as a fisherman in Algarve. Based on his colorful stories alone, I dream of lounging on the beach there, with a picnic basket of pastéis de nata all to myself. Those are my favorite treats, and while Newark, New Jersey, is home to some pretty great Portuguese bakeries that I frequently visit, to taste them in their country of origin would be spectacular." —Danielle Berman, Senior Digital Producer

"I love denim more than anything in fashion (when I’m not Travel + Leisure-ing, I’m running my website, JeanStories.com). Japan is famous for its denim manufacturing and indigo-based textile arts. At the recommendation of my friend Scott Morrison, who designs the cult denim line 3x1 in NYC, I’d start in Kojima in Okayama Prefecture, which is known as the birthplace of Japanese jeans, to shop the “Jean Streets.” Then, I'd visit Arimatsu in Aichi Prefecture, where they do traditional indigo tie-dyeing (shibori), for studio visits, workshops, and more shopping!" —Jane Bishop, Style Director

"At the top of my bucket list is Central Java, in Indonesia, including the city of Yogyakarta, the huge temple complex at Borobodur, and the sacred volcano Mount Merapi. I wrote my college anthropology thesis about Central Java, but I have never been. Tradition and pageantry survive there, and I have never seen so many crafts classes for travelers!" —Kathy Roberson, Copy and Research Chief

"I want to go to New Zealand to visit the country that made my favorite novels—the Lord of the Rings series—come to life on screen. I'd start the trip on the southern island and visit the breathtaking Milford fjord (used as a backdrop for Isengard and Lothlorien) while staying at the modern Milford Sound Lodge. From there I'd island-hop to the north and take a quick tour of the Weta Cave Workshop in Wellington, where thousands of the films' props reside. A few hours up the road sits the Tongariro National Park, where Mount Nguaruhoe is located, and which has been used as the stand-in for Mount Doom. The best angle to see this amazing landscape would be a bird's eye view. I'd take a helicopter to see the region from above and maybe sneak a day of skiing in there. The final stretch of the journey would be exploring Matamata (aka Hobbiton), stepping inside tiny hobbit holes or gazing out at the bucolic landscape, all while picturing a wizard with a gray hat strolling along the road." —Kira Turnbull, Photo Assistant

"This is a relatively recent addition to my bucket list—I first heard about chef Massimo Bottura on the Netflix series “Chef’s Table.” Massimo’s episode shared his unique and intimate take on the entire dining experience—and while his methods took a while to take off in Modena, his restaurant Osteria Francescana is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. I’m a sucker for food with a story, and I can’t think of any better way to spend a day than learning how to make something delicious with Chef Bottura." —Erika Owen, Audience Engagement Editor

"I want to stay at the world’s oldest hotel: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, about 100 miles from Tokyo. Not only has it been in operation since 705 AD, but it’s been run by 52 generations of the same family. The hotel is known for its natural hot springs, and has gorgeous wooden baths where you can soak while taking in the views of the mountains. Samurai used to stay there. But more important, if you can stay in the hotel business for 1,300 years, you must be doing something right." —Sara Clemence, News Director

"I’m hard pressed to explain why an Antarctic cruise is my dream trip—I hate the cold, avoid snow at all costs, and generally limit myself to those destinations where you can feel sunshine on your face and sand between your toes. For some reason, though, the idea of sailing into the frozen abyss—with miles of empty tundra, larger-than-life icebergs, and only penguins for travel companions—seems a wholly life-changing experience, and one that would surely push me out of my comfort zone." —Katie James, Assistant Editor

"The Pony Express, that fabled horseback mail service that ran between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, from 1860-61, crosses some of America’s most iconic landscapes: rolling prairies, the Rocky Mountains, vast Western deserts, and majestic untamed rivers. Boy, I’d love to follow that route! But my cowboy skills aren’t quite on par with the hellbent-for-leather riders of yore, so I’ll travel the next best way—in comfort and style on the back of a Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra motorcycle. I’ll even carry a letter for you." —Mark Orwoll, International Editor

"I first got the inspiration to visit Bolivia from Pam Houston’s essay “Soul of the Andes,” and once I learned about the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, the country made it to the top of my bucket list. I want to walk along that 4,086 square-mile landmark and see the sky reflected at my feet. I like high-elevation destinations, so I’ll stick around and stay in a hotel made from salt blocks before touring the Altiplano; hopefully I’ll spot some pink flamingoes along the way. After visits to Lake Titicaca, Parque Nacional Sajama, the volcanoes and surrounding villages, La Paz will be the last stop. My last order of business before I go? Stargazing—I hear it’s some of the best on the planet." —Corina Quinn, Digital Travel Editor

"There are few destinations as ethereal as Iceland, and it's the landscape’s beauty that draws me there. Of course, like any good tourist, I'd begin my trip in Reykjavik with a concert at Harpa Hall and a feast at Perlan. Then, I'd take my journey beyond the city, setting ION Adventure Hotel as my home base as I ventured across enormous ice glaciers to find the Grímsvötn Ice Cauldron, the kaleidoscopic volcanic Landmannalaugar mountains, and Skaftafell Ice Cave. Finally, I'd drive the Golden Circle in pursuit of misting geysers and the Gullfoss falls." —Melanie Lieberman, Assistant Digital Editor

“I want to take a road trip from Seattle to Santa Fe, down the Pacific Coast Highway, through the Red Rocks in Arizona, ending in Santa Fe and Taos. I’d photograph the entire experience in the same vein as Lee Friedlander and Stephen Shore. —Mariah Tyler, Digital Photo Editor

"Africa has always been appealing to me, and after visiting there for a month a few years ago, I found myself wanting to see more of the gorgeous continent. The natural beauty there is truly breathtaking and, as an avid hiker, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was a natural fit for my bucket list. The ascent to the top is actually not that difficult—most climbers succumb to altitude sickness before physical fatigue. The 55-mile hike brings you through multiple climates: farmland, rainforest, and finally arctic temperatures at the summit showcasing a wide range of wildlife (and making strategic packing a must!). I’ve actually starting planning this dream trip and will embark on the one-week trek, followed by a weeklong safari in October 2016. I’ll be documenting my adventure, so stay tuned!” —Lindsey Campbell, Associate Editor, Audience Engagement

"I want to explore Fogo Island in the summertime with my fiancé, while staying at the striking Fogo Island Inn. The landscape there is beautifully stark and vast—it’s a welcome escape from New York City, where we’re blind to the stars, and the streets are alive with perpetual commotion. We’d spend the days adventuring on foot with cameras in hand, and at night we’d sit by a bonfire, built on the rocks beneath the Inn." —Dani Vernon, Assistant Photo Editor

"When I was a kid, Star magazine did a "Win this trip!" giveaway that caught my eye. Destination: Russia. I was totally fascinated by the Candyland-style domes and spires of St Basil's Cathedral in the photo printed on the sweepstakes entry. Alas, I was not the big winner—but I’ve wanted to visit Russia ever since. One day I'll make it there and my must-do list will include: taking in ballets at the Mariinsky and Bolshoi theatres; boarding a Golden Eagle train (luxury cabin, please!) for a Northern Lights quest; tiptoeing onto the otherworldly frozen Lake Baikal in winter; seeing the wooden churches on Kizhi Island; visiting the Winter Palace; and of course, finally making it to see those iconic St. Basil domes." —Skye Senterfeit, Associate Photo Editor

"Chile has always seemed like this magical place, where you can experience some of the best star-gazing on the planet one day, and hike amid mountains, fjords, and glaciers the next. I would start near the top in the Atacama Desert, visiting the largest telescope in the world and camping under the stars. From there, it would be off to Santiago for a whirlwind few days of eating (including a stop at Boragò) before continuing all the way south to Punta Arenas, home to penguin colonies. Up next: Patagonia. I would stay at either the Tierra or Singular hotels, and spend my time hiking, riding horses, and taking in the scenery of the surrounding Torres del Paine National Park. Finally, I would somehow get myself to Easter Island. This remote island—and World Heritage Site—in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean is known for its moai statues that date back to the 1100s." —Brooke Porter Katz, Travel and Food Editor

"My bucket list trip is a horseback safari in Africa. It allows you to get incredibly close to the animals, and to go places vehicles can’t. Imagine, instead of watching a herd of gazelle cross a river, you are crossing the river with them!" —Jeffries Blackerby, Executive Editor

"Not to appropriate a questionable Bud Light slogan, but I'm generally down for whatever when it comes to travel—particularly when it concerns potential trips. But as a food obsessive who also loves being active and also the beach, I've had my eye on Basque Country for a while. The goal would be to balance blowout tasting menu experiences at giants of this region—Arzak, Mugaritz, etc.—with barhopping for sherry and pintxos. A friend recently recommended Bar Nestor, which basically only serves my two favorite foods: tomatoes and steak. After I've had my fill, I'd pick up the Camino del Norte, reputed to be more low key than Spain's more trafficked El Camino de Santiago, and hike eastward, stopping at the villages and beaches dotting the country's magnificent Green Coast." —Sarah Firshein, Digital Director

"I'd love to live in one of those beautiful, old-world hotels in Tangier for as long as possible (like, a year) and write a novel." —Thessaly La Force, Senior Editor

"Believe it or not, there's a town called "Gifford" in Scotland. It's probably blink-and-you'll-miss-it, but my husband, whose family moved to New York from Gifford in the 1760s, has always wanted to make a pilgrimage. So: we'd combine three or four nights in Edinburgh, at the iconicBalmoral Hotel, with a day trip to Gifford. Then we'd board the Belmond Royal Scotsman on one of their classic 4-night journeys and ride up into the Highlands to soak in that spectacular scenery—you know, the hills that you see on Outlander. Then, we'd finish with a visit to the windswept Isle of Skye and a Lagavulin tasting on the Isle of Islay." —Jacqueline Gifford, Senior Editor, Travel and Beauty

"As a teenager, I read a little-known travelogue called I See My Outfit by a guy named Peter Beagle, who is best known for the fantasy novel The Last Unicorn. It’s a quintessentially ’60s book, about a couple of wise-ass twenty-something New York beatniks who decide to ride across the country on scooters and—of course—get more than they bargained for. Another favorite piece of American travel writing is Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon, in which the author, finding himself at a crossroads in his life, decides to circumnavigate the country alone in a camper van, sticking to the back roads, then marked in blue on the map. Even though the country has changed vastly since these books were written, it’s always been a dream of mine to experience off-the-beaten-track America in the same languid, contemplative, intimate way that these authors did. I love the idea of doing it on a bicycle. I think I would head down to the Mason-Dixon line to follow the cultural divide between north and south, then continue through the Texas panhandle and the awesome grandeur of the Southwest, and finish by pedaling my way through the Mojave and pushing all the way to the Pacific. But there are many possible routes, any of which would offer an unforgettable encounter with this amazing country that, it’s too easy to forget, is filled to the brim with some of the most beautiful places on earth." —Jesse Ashlock, Features Director

"My trip would be an island-hopping adventure along the South China Sea. My family hails from Guangdong Province in China, and left in the 1980s to escape the oppressive Communist regime. Most of them have never returned. It has been a life-long goal to visit my family's village in Taishan for an ancestral history lesson (and to enjoy the famous hot springs) and follow their journey to Macau (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Hong Kong." —Pearly Huang, Research Editor

"Despite its tumultuous present, Egypt was the heart of a glorified past, where one of the greatest civilizations rose up out of the sand and erected monuments that still stand after 5,000 years. Few experiences seem as glamorous as stepping back in time to the days of the pharaohs, where kingdoms reigned for dynasties and countless temples honored merciless gods. I’d start in Giza, taking a camel at dawn to ride around the sun-starched Great Pyramids and stoic Sphinx. After a short flight south, I’ll land in the ancient city of Aswan and board a traditional felucca for a luxuriously slow cruise up the River Nile, floating past lesser-known tombs of ancient queens like Hatshepsut (the first female pharaoh) and tiny ports before reaching my final destination: the great city of Luxor (formerly Thebes). Here lies the closed-to-the-public tomb of Queen Nefertari, the crumbling Temple of Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings—the resting place of boy king Tutankhamun, whose fascinating discovery and even more mysterious story has enamored me since childhood." —Lindsey Olander, Assistant Editor

"I'd love to visit Tokyo for a week, and relax in Hakone." —Raymond Ho, Art Director

"I want to take a private sailboat and explore the Indonesian Archipelago, (Banda Neira, Maluku, etc.) stopping off at little islands to stay in local guest houses and eating delicious freshly caught seafood under the stars." —Gretchen Smelter, Creative Director

"I am planning a trip to motorcycle from the tip top of Alaska down California and through the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America, to the bottom tip of Patagonia. I've read it takes about 500 days. I'd do a lot of camping and also make stops with friends in cities along the way. And I want to make the journey alone—my Motorcycle Diaries meets Wild meets Into the Wild adventure of self-discovery." —Samantha Shankman, Consumer News Editor

"I've always wanted to go skiing in Niseko, Japan, home to some of the best powder in the world. While there, I would end each day with Japanese-style aprés, sipping hot sake at a cozy, slope-side izakaya or slurping ramen at one of the mountain's noodle shops." —Valbona B. Twerdahl, Assistant Managing Editor

"I'd love to go to South Africa and live like a local for a week. The idea of going to the motherland and having a truly authentic experience fascinates me." —Simona Stith, Executive Assistant