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21st Jul 2018

These are the Top 20 ‘Once-In-A-Lifetime’ journeys, according to travel experts

Rory Cashin

top destination 2019

Ireland does get mentioned, but not in the top twenty.

We probably should have realised that when the list includes trekking to the base camp of Mount Everest, which only came in at 22nd, or cruising down the Nile (24th), that it was going to be a tough list to get on.

Still, driving along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way did arrive at No.40 on this list of Once-In-A-Lifetime journeys that has been put together by Flight Network and over 500 of the world’s top travel journalists, agencies, bloggers, and editors.

So if you’re wondering where in the world you should be aiming to go before you kick the bucket, this is what the experts say are the top twenty, or even to see how many you’ve already done!

20. Hike along Cinque Terre – La Spezia and Liguria, Italy

19. Drive the Great Ocean Road – Torquay, Allansford and Victoria, Australia

18. Safari in Kruger National Park – Kurger National Park, South Africa

17. French Polynesia Cruise – French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean

16. Drive the Amalfi Coast – Salerno, Sorrento and Naples, Italy

15. Travel the Silk Road – Xian, China to Istanbul, Turkey

14. Explore the Italian Countryside – Lucca, Montalcino and Tuscany, Italy

13. Amazon River Cruise – Manaus, Brazil to Iquitos, Peru

12. Fjord Cruise in Norway – Sognefjord, Norway

11. Road Trip on Route 66 – Chicago, Illinois, Santa Monica and California, United States

10. Drive the Dalmation Coast in Dubrovnik – Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar, Croatia

9. Sail the Greek Islands – Syros, Mykonos, Crete and Greek Islands, Greece

8. Camino de Santiago – The French Pyrenees, France, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

7. Cruise to Alaska – Alaska, United States

6. Drive Iceland’s Ring Road – Keflavik to Reykjavik, Iceland

5. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway – San Francisco, San Diego and California, United States

No Trespassing… No Problem. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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4. Trek to Machu Picchu – Cusco, Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

3. Travel the Trans-Siberian Railway – Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia

#снег

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2. Cruise the Galapagos Islands – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Sombrero Chino (Chinese hat), a small island in the southeast of Santiago Island. The turquoise blue waters with the volcano in the background already show how exceptional this place is ? We walked alongside lava tunnels, saw penguins in the water, sea lions nursing their young, and vegetation of reddish tones. In Galapagos preservation is always a priority, so to get here, only in cruises of up to 15 passengers. Untouched nature What a beautiful lesson, Ecuador . ———————————————————————— . Sombrero Chino (chapéu de chinês), uma pequena ilha no sudeste da Isla Santiago. As águas azuis turquesa com o vulcão de fundo já mostram quão excepcional é esse lugar ? Caminhamos ao lado de túneis de lava, vimos pinguins dentro da água, lobos marinhos amamentando os seus filhotes e uma vegetação de tons avermelhados. Em Galápagos a preservação é sempre prioridade, por isso para chegar aqui, somente em cruzeiros de até 15 passageiros. Natureza intocada Que linda lição, Ecuador ?? . . . #GalapagosIslands #Galapagos #Ecuador #SouthAmerica

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1. Expedition to Antarctica – Antarctic Peninsula