Feature photo by acastellano Photo above by Matador Community
Whether single events or processes that take weeks, months, or years, these experiences remind us that the world remains a magical place.
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Editor’s Introduction – David Miller:
This July 4th we stood on a dock at Green Lake waiting for the fireworks to begin strobing the dark sky above Seattle. Except for the occasional pop of a bottle rocket, it was peaceful there, quiet. Our 9-month old daughter slept in her car-seat. My parents stood nearby holding hands. The water lapped against the dock pilings and nobody said anything.
As we kept looking skyward I had this strange thought that if everyone came out each night just to listen and watch the sky like this then the word would be different somehow. Better.
And then the fireworks started, far away, the muffled booms arriving several seconds after the flaring colors. Layla sensed the excitement and woke up and we lifted her to watch the display, her first. She smiled and reached her hands out as if trying to grab what she saw.
After it was over my mom said “Well, if she’s lucky she’ll have another 100 years of fireworks.”
It got me thinking about just what she might see in her lifetime, and what I’d still like to see in mine. There is so much out there, and on the other hand, so much less wilderness and wildlife. Sometimes it feels like we’re racing against time to experience something or somewhere before whatever it is that makes it special has been exhausted, used up, crowded out.
And yet the experiences we seek as “once in a lifetime,” the ones Josh Lew and other Matador community members have collected here, have a way of transcending time. Whether single events or processes that take weeks, months, or years, these experiences remind us that the world remains a magical place.
50 Things to do Before you Die
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
Photo by Ben Ditto
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues?
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process.
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves.
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
Photo by Creative Corners
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano.
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
Photo by James Dorsey
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating.
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime.
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry.
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere.
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
Photo by astropixie
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important.
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
Photo by Nickmunstr
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway.
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran).
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102 Comments... join the discussion!
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Why do we always think immediately at the financial part, why cant we just let go and focus on the nice, positive side of life?! We can do so many things before we die and we would not need a penny!
I’ve found this article really nice, full of ideas and I thought of myself that I have already done some of them and feel proud of it. Thank you Josh for this article.↵ -
money?? im a 21 year old broke student and ive already done 7 or 8 of these!
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haha, thats awesome, howdyu get around?!
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I am right there with you. I am 21 years old and I have done quite a few of these things as well… all you need is motivation, determination, and a passion to see the world. Make money as you go…money can be remade, life-changing experiences cannot.
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Okay Josh, these are all pretty lofty goals. but great all the same. I think some of the commenters missed it. This is not about travel bores with lots of money –re-read the list! This is about maximal living. Feeling alive. Being part of the world around us. I think it’s a good enough list to print out and start making some plans to do these things. We appreciate this post!
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Josh, I love your list. I am 64 and my husband 65. I know we won’t physically be able to do everything but I am posting this list tonight and we are going to start making our priority list. Hope to see you along the way. Jane
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Be original.
If you follow this list or anything remotely like it, the book of your life will not be worth reading. However, you could start a religious cult based on the works of Enid Blyton, resolve only to have sex with amputees, or start a campaign to change the name of your town to Vomit, California.
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Cool article. Why are people on here so negative, though? Do what I do. Use lists like this for inspiration and then adapt to your own lifestyle, dreams, and goals. I never would have known about places like Angkor Wat or the Batu Caves if some travel writer hadn’t recommended them.
By the way, I am hardly rich yet I’ve managed to do more than half the things on this list. I am 35 and have managed to visit almost 50 countries on 6 continents (still trying to figure out a way to visit Antarctica with out ‘busting the bank’). I also pay a mortgage on my house and just finished paying off my student loans not that long ago. Never let someone tell you CAN’T when it comes to your dreams…
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50 things to do before you die is a correct title for this post. I liked the way you have explained the people’s inner wishes. Although, it requires lot of money which is not possible in this recession still its a good choice. Go Live your Life.
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Nice list and it would certainly help stimulate the economy if everyone did all those things but I’d rather find inner peace and contentment.
There are alot of people who have done none of those things and they are very interesting and pleasant people. Somehow it’s about incorporating what you have done and what you have available to you that gives you the feeling you’re looking for. I suppose there are so many more variables than just the activity itself. Ya’ll get what I’m saying or does this sound gibberish?
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Wow, great article.
I find myself subconsciously checking things off and making notes of others. Swim with a whale shark is definitly high up on the list. Great blog here, you can feel the sense of adventure. These are good people to be around!
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Great article. I would like to say I have done a lot on that list, but I haven’t, though I have done other things. Standing at the very top of Europe in Switzerland is something I would recommend.
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I swelled with pride that I have done some of the things on this list. The people who are negative are jealous that they can’t dream big, and don’t want anyone else to. Shoot for the stars and enjoy the view along the way – even if you never manage to do all of these things, the book of your life at the end will be amazing – it’s not about the destination – it’s about the journey.
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We’re looking for idea’s for our around the world trip. There are a few things that we would love to do and this list defiantly gave us a few ideas.
Thank you for taking the time to post the things you would like to do before you die.
How many have you done so far?
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Don’t forget to go to Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia to see the Fairy Penguin Parade – http://www.phillipisland.net.au/penguinparade.html
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“50 things to do before you die” i read your this article. all 50 things are very good things but, in my view it is not enough article because climb to Mt everest is not included in this article. Mt everest is one of the highest mountain in the world. it’s hight is 8848 m so need to include this. second is i “THE GREAT WALL in china. every one need to visit once this wall. i thing we need to visit all “WORLD HERITAGE SITES” once before we die
thanks
Monterosa↵ -
hi my name is frances, i am 15 and from england.
i’m currently starting to think about some of the things i want to do in my gap year and this has really helped me so thankyou
i agree that people are missing the point about these type of lists; who cares about money when you can have such life changing experiences? it seems trivial really when there is such a huge world out there.
what would be your best tips for raising money to do the things on the list? & how many of the things have you done so far?
(this is a general question to anyone that reads this because i would be very interested to hear of people’s experiences and possibly any suggestions of things i should do in the future with barely being of the legal age to do anything except live!)
thanks, have fun guys x↵ -
A few years ago while on my first trip to North Carolina, I was watching the fireworks on the beach for the 4th of July. I was in N.C. to visit a friend stationed at Ft. Bragg and we decided to make a trip with some friends to the coast to watch the fireworks. That night, I made myself my own version of my life “to do” list. My goal is to see the fireworks on the 4th of July in every state. I am now 28, and started this when I was 24. I am originally from IL and so far I have seen them in IL, MO, NC, KS, and FL. It is something that for now while money is tight, I can just take a day (or two) trip to one of the surrounding states. As time goes on and money is more readily available, I can go to the further destinations. Experiencing new things doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. If you want to do it, you can find a way. And I love the fact that these trips take me to other parts of the country during one of the most patriotic times of the year, and I get to hang out with the locals!
izzy
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crazy!~
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Hey, truly amazing…
Definitely the best things to do before i die.. among all this i feel being at south/north pole would b the best(I have many times dreamed for this)
Perfect list for an adventure life… I wish i could make all of this and i wish extend this list beyond 50..
Life is journey, lets start….Thanks a lot josh……
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I like the list, or rather part of the list. The intent is clear. It is about an adventurous journey through life, and encouragement to actually go out there and start crossing things of your list. Great! I already have done some of the things, and others I will likely never do. The list gives me ideas and it inspires me to make my own list. Thanks, Josh…
Mark
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Vietnam is a beautiful country. Sleep overnight on the junk boat in Halong Bay, stay with local minority people in Mai Chau, visit a picturesque Sapa and many other places. Good food in Vietnam and the local people are very friendly and hospitable.
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dude you are realy samrt I want to do all of that shit alone (unless I have a girlfriend then she comes with me if she wants to) it would be sweet im 15 when I get my job hafe of all my pay checks will go to my dreams I want to do
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So inspiring, thanks Josh! I agree with many of the other comments that this list doesn’t need to define your life – make your own list! As with any travel advice/writing, it is merely a starting point to give you inspiration for some of the things you may not have thought of before. One of the things I had never thought of doing before was visiting the gravesite of a cultural icon – this has inspired me but some of the other things I can’t imagine myself ever doing.
And as for finances, recreate the list to fit your budget. Instead of skydiving, climb a mountain and experience standing on the edge of the world. I like Izzy’s post on her goal of visiting a different state every July 4th – it’s a goal that is more realistic for her. Travel may seem difficult to get started when you are financially challenged but if you set yourself saving goals, you can make it happen. And instead of just travelling, work around the world to fund the travels. This way you can be a part of a local community and experience other cultures which is the most important part of travel to me.
Thanks for all the inspiring articles, matador! Keep up the good work!
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” And instead of just travelling, work around the world to fund the travels. This way you can be a part of a local community and experience other cultures which is the most important part of travel to me.”
You’re correct, indeed!
My husband and I are from the Philippines but we’re are currently working in Qatar. We are able to travel AND earn money at the same time
Our 2 daughters are also here with us; the eldest attends school here. We meet people from other countries (Arabs, Egyptians, Indians, Americans, Brits etc) and learn their languanges (My Egyptian co-workers teach me the basics).↵ -
Can I count the Falkland Islands as Antartica ????
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51. Die in debt and more spiritually empty as you started.
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These are good ways to get yourself killed.
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Man o man… some of the comment-ors are really retarded for lack of better terms… A professor once told me to ‘take it for what its worth’ – and the appropriate comments are people doing just that… maybe they dont like the article but found out that they want to do #37 (or whatever) of the list… If you dont like it, move along, dont read this authors articles and thats that… I love the article and the list of things to do… While maybe its not as original as some want it to be – we can make it that way, customizing the list to our liking on our own journeys…
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do” – ?
… and please stop worrying about $$… If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way.
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haha i cant beleive how many of these things i have done ….
i am 18 years old and done around half of all that …… and am doing much more i am not rich but i am determined …… when i have an experiance i know its good because i smile whenever i think about it … i have worked hard for what i have got and when people say im lucky i am not i am not blessed with this stuff i have worked for it so people should stop thinking of this type of stuff as why cant i do that but think of it as i am going to do that …… all i say is becarefull but stop listening to people, take advice but adapt it to your own thoughts ….
enjoy life why worry about things in the future im not saying take loans out and go wild im saying live in the moment save up for what you really want and then do it and no regrets ….
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41 of them bore me and many of them from experience are over rated. Why don’t people just follow there own and original path, the key word is original!
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Will the people who don’t like the list just pi$$ off. Create your own list, or maybe don’t do a list and live in your work 5 days a week, waste the other 2 watching television.
I have a list, it includes big goals like scuba diving in Oz. But also silly ones like eating a chili in Chile. My list also includes ‘to die’. Someone will have to tick this one off for me!↵ -
i’ll vote for mountain climbing anytime.
kudos.↵ -
I had a great time reading your article..
Thank you and it help me a lot doing my 7 last days..↵ -
I like that list.
Will follow up on it when I graduate!↵ -
I loved your list and it has really inspired me. I am currently funding my travel by teaching English overseas and hope to accomplish some more of these. I used to be one of those people who would say that yourt list is only for those who have a lot of money, but now that I am living this life I know that is not true. Thanks for the post!
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Excellent idea, Josh! I actually printed this out and found it an inspiration to start a list of things I want to experience and do before I die for my own life! I’m not sure why some people get so angry over someone stepping out and posting their own list of what they think would be great things to accomplish in their lives. Everyone sees the world through their own eyes. I personally found this to be a great tool while learning about new places to see and things to do. I had never heard of heli-skiing before reading this!
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I love your list. I am 18 and I’m starting to make a list about all the things I want to do in my life. I’ve even added a couple things from you list. I’m so excited! I just want to start now and live life to the fullest. I don’t care if I can only do one or two things on my life, I will always know that those one or two things will mean more to me than anything else I’ve ever done. I wish you and everyone else luck on finishing their lists!
Megan
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I enjoyed reading the list. I have one questin though. Why wasn’t “Yell For Help” listed. Just saying.
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this is for rich people… it is a crime…
is better the movie I dont remember name, in spanish is: antes de partir..
it is more realistic… just with 10 this… nor 50!!
however.. it is OK↵ -
I am just 15, so lots of time,. but I plan to accomplish at 75% of this list. I really like travelling.
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PS: To all of you who think money is a problem, it is even more fun if you try to do these things with as little money as possible. Try hitchhiking or couchsurfing, that adds a new dimension to your travels, I certainly think.
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ok the people who dont have pics are clearly old or cpu dumb sry its true live with it also the people who do have the pic are not yay for you now 2 the mail point we young age might be good these computers tho we are careless with money so hint every 1 with a pic is pro to this artical ( dont gethe t me wrong great artical) then the people with out a picture they are con to this idea they relize how muchthis will cost ( closer to dieing so tryed 2 plan failed not enuff money loll jk u get my nkthi i ) tink u get my drift so bye
chris miller 17yrs old↵ -
You forgot to mention horrible with grammer because i understood NOTHING of that sentence…
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Life is short. Play hard. Love it!
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All of that sounds great, I really wish I could travel more.
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i would also suggest that big tomato fight in the country i have always wanted to do that.
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I am only 14 years old and am determined to do some of these during my life. I am young, and learned that I should live life to the fullest. I am going to live.
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i realy dont know why so many people are finding problems with this list. i think it is a great list. and they are more like guidlines anyway. there is no such thing as a cookie cutter expierience, if everyone who commented did everything on this list they would get something different out of it. The things on this list are some of the icons of cultural expierences and adventure classics. I hope to do many of them in my travels.
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