YOLO Travel Experiences: 10 Adventures You Must Do Before You Die

If all your mates are off to university this month and you're still pondering your gap year options, you may want to take a look at some of these awesome once-in-a-lifetime experiences you suddenly have the time to go for.

We checked out the results of a survey by Endsleigh travel insurance to see what tops students' wish lists, so we know how to make them jealous when they're stuck in a lecture hall and we're on the beach.

1. Road trip through America:

Top of students’ wish list is taking to the open road and exploring America.

With such a vast area to see you are going to need three or four weeks to travel coast to coast. Must see and dos include: travelling in style with a limousine tour of the Las Vegas strip, walking the three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean via the Golden Gate Bridge and a visit Lucille’s service station on Route 66.

2. Safari in Africa:

There’s nothing like seeing animals in their natural habitat and a safari is the closest most can get to that (safely!).

Two of the largest and most visited game reserves in Africa are Kruger National Park in South Africa and Selous National Park in Tanzania and both of these parks will offer an unforgettable experience.

Kruger is home to an impressive 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species birds and 147 species of mammals, including all of the big five game animals (the rhinoceros, the lion, the cape buffalo and the African elephant).

3. Skydive over New Zealand:

In need of a little fresh air? How about strapping onto a stranger and jumping from an airplane at 15,000 ft above the stunning Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island? Skydive Lake Wanaka is a high altitude, tandem skydive which will have you freefalling at 200kph.

It’s New Zealand’s most spectacular, multi award winning, skydive and is open to pretty much anyone aged 16+ and there’s no need for extensive training either.

A 20 minute briefing is all that’s required before the big jump, as the instructor is the one that opens and lands the parachute.

4. Stay in a jungle treehouse:

Thailand is one of the most popular backpacking countries amongst students and one of the country’s most stunning natural beauty spots, unspoilt by tourism, is Khao Sok National Park.

Our Jungle House Nature Resort is a green eco resort within the National Park with treehouses and bungalows surround by jungle, looking out to a clear river stream and limestone cliffs. Trek the rain forest, ride an elephant, go on a night safari, and even dive to sunken temples at the bottom of a lake, there’s really so much to do.

5. Walk along the Great Wall of China:

The Chinese say ‘you haven’t lived if you have not been to the Great Wall’ and it seems many agree, with a walk along the 6,000km wall coming fifth on students’ YOLO wish list.

The wall, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was constructed by human hands over 2,000 years ago and snakes its way across China, through mountains and valleys. Walking it is physically challenging, but worth it for the stunning and seamlessly never-ending, scenery.

6. Sail around the Whitsunday Islands in Australia:

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia and what better way to explore all them than with your sea legs?

There are so many different ways to do the Whitsundays, you could choose to sail by a traditional Tall ship with other travellers from around the world, or a more modern catamaran with roomy cabins and lots of living space. If you are after a faster pace a MAXI is considered the Formula 1 of yachts and as long as there’s a good sea breeze you’ll see more of the Whitsundays this way.

7. Ride the length of Vietnam on a motorbike:

Riding the length of Vietnam may sound like an exhilarating adventure, but it’s actually a very risky way to travel, and shouldn’t be attempted by an inexperienced rider.

Vietnamese roads are notoriously dangerous and there are fatal accidents daily. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s legal to ride in Vietnam with an international bike licence. You can register for a licence in Vietnam if you have a valid one issued in your home country.

Licences are only granted to those who have valid travel visas for a period of at least three months in Vietnam (though the actual length of the visit does not have to be that long). With the required documents, a licence can be registered within seven days.

8. Trek the North Pole:

With the chance to see a prowling polar bear or a herd of walrus on an arctic expedition, it’s no wonder a trek to the top of the world is on the ultimate YOLO wish list.

However, a North Pole trek certainly isn’t for the faint hearted, as the sea ice is constantly shifting which can add hours to your journey time. Temperatures can also be as low -45 degrees centigrade! Depending on the expedition you choose, you can expect to ski and sledge for around 8 hours per day to reach the pole.

9. Ride a hot air balloon over the Serengeti:

Another way to see Africa’s incredible wildlife is to hop on-board a hot air balloon (just before sunrise) for a bird’s eye view of the Serengeti’s vast savannahs.

The optimum time to take to the sky is for the annual wildebeest migration which is said to be one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events! In late June and July the wildebeest begin their move north from Tanzania to Kenya, crossing the northern Serengeti into the Masai Mara – a truly incredible site if you catch it!

10. Mardi Gras in New Orleans:

Last on the list, but by no means the least exciting, Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Traditionally a celebration before the start of lent and the name given to New Orleans’ carnival season. Mardi Gras is said to be unlike any other carnival in the world.

The event kicks off on the Twelfth Night; January 6th, and runs for a whole six weeks. The main highlight of Mardi Gras, not to be missed, is ‘Fat Tuesday’ which falls on the final day of the carnival.

On this day people fill the streets decked out in dazzling masks and flamboyant costumes, as part of numerous celebratory parades.

Find out more at Endsleigh.

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