My International
Travel Bucket List
Some journeys begin with a reservation. Others begin with a photograph, a story or a single experience that stays in your imagination until you can find a way to make it real.
This page brings together the international destinations and experiences that continue to inspire my future travels.
The places below are part of my personal international travel bucket list. I have not experienced these particular journeys yet, so this is not presented as firsthand destination advice. Instead, it is an honest collection of the landscapes, cultures, creative traditions and meaningful encounters I hope to experience and photograph one day.
As these travel dreams become plans—and eventually memories—I will update this page with my original photography, practical guidance and links to complete destination stories.
About the Images on This Page
Some destination images on this page are illustrative rather than photographs from firsthand visits. I will replace them with my original photography as these journeys become real.
What is on my international travel bucket list?
Iceland · Greek Isles · Switzerland · Italy · Morocco · Thailand · Bali · Bora Bora
My list currently includes seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, sailing the Greek Isles, riding Switzerland’s Glacier Express, learning traditional crafts and cooking in Italy and Bali, photographing Chefchaouen in Morocco, responsibly observing elephants in Thailand and staying in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora.
These are future travel goals rather than places I am recommending from firsthand experience.
How I Choose Destinations for My Travel Bucket List
My international travel bucket list is shaped by the kinds of experiences that inspire me most as a traveler and photographer. I’m drawn to destinations with distinctive landscapes, architecture, wildlife, local culture and experiences that offer a strong sense of place.
Some are once-in-a-lifetime adventures, while others are places I hope to explore slowly enough to photograph the details and learn more about the people and traditions behind them.
As I eventually visit these destinations, I’ll replace the inspiration and research on this page with firsthand stories, original photography and practical travel guides based on my own experiences.
Europe Travel Dreams
Europe holds several of my strongest travel dreams—from watching the night sky come alive in Iceland and crossing the Swiss Alps by train to learning traditional creative and culinary skills in Italy. These are the European experiences I most hope to plan, photograph and eventually share from firsthand experience.
See the Northern Lights in Iceland
Seeing the aurora borealis above Iceland’s dark, open landscapes sits near the top of my international travel bucket list. I hope to stay beyond Reykjavík’s city lights, allow several nights for changing weather and join an experienced guide who can follow current forecasts.
The dream combines patience, winter landscape photography and the chance to witness one of nature’s most remarkable displays.
Sail Through the Greek Isles
Rather than experiencing Greece only from a large cruise ship, I dream of joining a small-group sailing journey through the Aegean.
Quiet ports, hidden coves, whitewashed villages, local meals and long evenings near the water would offer a slower and more personal way to experience the islands while photographing places beyond the most familiar views.
Ride the Glacier Express Through the Swiss Alps
My European train travels have strengthened my appreciation for journeys where the route becomes part of the experience. Riding the Glacier Express would offer panoramic views of mountain passes, valleys, bridges and alpine villages while allowing time to watch the scenery unfold.
It is the combination of rail travel, winter landscapes and unhurried observation that places this journey high on my list.
Create a Mosaic in Ravenna
Ravenna’s artistic heritage makes it more than a place I want to observe—it is somewhere I hope to create. My dream is to learn from a local mosaic artist, select and cut the small pieces known as tesserae, and assemble a design using techniques connected to the city’s historic mosaics.
Bringing home something made by hand would turn the experience into a personal connection with Ravenna’s creative traditions.
Learn to Make Pizza on the Amalfi Coast
I would love to join a hands-on pizza-making class overlooking the Amalfi Coast, learning how dough, fresh ingredients and a wood-fired oven come together through generations of Italian tradition.
The experience is not simply about eating pizza in a beautiful location. It is about learning from local people, participating in the region’s food culture and creating a memory through something made with my own hands.
Travel Dreams Built Around Culture, Creativity & Wildlife
These travel dreams are especially connected to photography, wildlife and traditional creative practices—experiences where slowing down and learning from the destination would matter as much as seeing it.
Photograph Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen’s blue-painted streets, arched doors, textured stairways and setting within the Rif Mountains make it one of the most visually compelling places on my list.
I hope to explore slowly, photograph the details without treating the city as merely a backdrop and experience the markets, architecture and daily rhythms that give Morocco’s Blue City its identity.
Observe Elephants Responsibly
Seeing elephants in Thailand would only feel meaningful if their welfare came first. I would look for a transparent sanctuary that does not offer riding, tricks or forced interaction and instead emphasizes rescue, natural behavior, education and observation on the elephants’ terms.
Careful research will be essential because responsible wildlife travel matters more than obtaining a close photograph.
Learn Batik Art
In Ubud, I hope to learn the traditional wax-resist process behind batik from an experienced local artist. Using a canting tool, applying wax and building color through layers of dye would offer a hands-on connection to Balinese creativity and storytelling.
The finished textile would matter, but learning the patience, symbolism and cultural meaning behind the craft would be the true experience.
Stay in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora
Staying above Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon would be a rare, once-in-a-lifetime splurge built around stillness, privacy and immediate access to the water.
If I pursue this dream, I would look for a responsible way to balance the experience with the cost—possibly combining a short bungalow stay with more affordable accommodations, considering rewards and traveling outside the busiest season.
The setting, surrounding peaks and changing light would also make it an extraordinary place to photograph.
Turning Travel Dreams Into Plans
A bucket list becomes meaningful when a dream begins moving toward a real plan. When I am ready to choose one of these experiences, I’ll use the same planning resources and photography approach that shape my other travels.
And while the destinations on this page are still future goals, Ireland is one international destination I have already experienced and documented firsthand.
Frequently Asked Questions About My International Travel Bucket List
What destinations are on my international travel bucket list?
My current international travel bucket list includes experiences in Iceland, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Morocco, Thailand, Bali and Bora Bora. The list focuses on experiences I hope to photograph and explore in the future rather than destinations I am recommending from firsthand experience.
What kinds of experiences do I include on my travel bucket list?
I’m especially drawn to experiences involving photography, distinctive landscapes, local culture, traditional arts and food, wildlife and memorable forms of transportation. I look for experiences that provide a meaningful connection to a destination rather than simply checking a famous place off a list.
Will these bucket-list destinations become travel guides?
As I visit these destinations, I plan to update this page with my original photography, firsthand experiences and links to practical destination guides where appropriate. Until then, the destinations on this page remain travel goals and inspiration rather than firsthand recommendations.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.