10 Once In A Lifetime Opportunities You Must Take Before You Die

We all want to make the most of our lives, but how? Here are some once in a lifetime experiences you must add to your bucket list!

There are so many amazing things to do in life that making a bucket list can seem like a great idea. However, sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start, so here are some once in a lifetime experiences that you will definitely want to have!

1. Blue Lagoon, Iceland

There’s a reason this place is one of the 25 wonders of the world, and it’s certainly one of the most magical places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit. If you didn’t already know, it’s basically a geothermal spa – but it takes the word ‘spa’ to a whole new level. If you love being ‘at one’ with nature, this is the place to go for you, and with a bar and free face mask available I guarantee you this is a once in a lifetime experience – never again will you feel so relaxed!

2. A’DAM Lookout, Amsterdam

I’ll admit, I wasn’t so much in favour of this one at first. Even if I didn’t have such a bad fear of heights, the thought of swinging off a tall building wouldn’t really appeal to me. At all. How exactly my friend managed to get me up there I couldn’t tell you, but I do know that I’m so grateful that she did! After a few seconds of panicking, I finally forced myself to open my eyes, and I was rewarded with some pretty amazing views. Yes, it was still terrifying, but it sure felt incredible doing something so far out of my comfort zone. And for such a small price, you could easily get this buzz too!

3. Helicopter over the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Now, this is a once in a lifetime experience. You surely would have heard of the Grand Canyon being up there in what people consider a breathtaking landscape, and they really wouldn’t be wrong; it’s incredible. While a bit pricey, if you ever get the chance to take a helicopter over the Canyon, do it! It’s worth every penny. I was still terrified of heights back when I did it, and I must say the ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ tune that was played over the radio wasn’t exactly reassuring, but I can honestly say that it’s the best experience that I’ve ever had.

4. Seaplane

This one is pretty darn cool if you ask me. Call me naive, but I never even knew recreational seaplanes existed until I first went on one in 2014. But, indeed they do, and it certainly feels strange when the plane starts to descend while you’re above water – with a normal plane, you’re so used to the idea that this means there’s quite a big problem! Nonetheless, it’s a great experience to tick off from your list (and if I was going to recommend anywhere to do it, it would be in Vancouver – the views of the skyline were incredible).

5. Ride The Orient Express

Perhaps quite an old-fashioned one to add to the list, but this train is iconic! While I’ve never had the chance to ride it myself, it’s definitely got a firm place on my list, and for all you lovebirds out there I’ve heard that it’s a rather romantic thing to experience together. It’s perhaps a little on the expensive side, so all the more reason to start planning ahead and saving now!

6. Do A Skydive

An utterly terrifying but once in a lifetime experience for sure! This is one of those things that I think I’ll regret if I don’t ever manage to do in my life, because so many people say that it’s a truly exhilarating experience. Whether you do it as a means of fundraising for your favourite charity, or simply want to push yourself far, far, far out of your comfort zone, this should definitely make the cut for your bucket list!

7. Run A Marathon

This one’s quite tough – I’m preparing for one now, and I’m telling you, training isn’t exactly a piece of cake. While you’ll have to get into a fairly time-consuming exercise routine so that you’re fit enough to eventually take it on, running a marathon is something that a lot of people want to give a go at some point in life. It’s an amazing goal to work towards, and you’ll feel so satisfied once you reach the finish line and get the medal to prove it!

8. See the Northern Lights

I’m all for staying up and watching the sunrise, or looking out for a rainbow when the conditions are right, but the Northern Lights are said to be truly breathtaking. As they are in Mother Nature’s hands, it’s difficult to predict when exactly you’ll be able to see them, but your best bet is to be on the watch from around 9:30am to 1am. Some of the places you are most likely to see them from include Alaska, Iceland and Norway. Of course, you’ll have to be patient, but good things come to those who wait!

9. Walk The Great Wall Of China

Located in Northern China, this is the longest wall in the world, and perfect for those of you who have an interest in history and/or ancient ruins. I won’t bore you with too many historical details, but it was basically built to act as a defence and prevent invasion, and the fact that so much of it is still intact after more than 2,300 years is really quite incredible. Undoubtedly one to remember, why not put this in the travelling section of your list?

10. Hot Air Balloon Over The Desert

I think I can speak for most of us when I say that trekking through a desert doesn’t exactly seem appealing, but perhaps you might still want to experience one without the worry of when you will next be able to eat or drink. How? Well, it’s simple, really – just take a hot air balloon. These are incredible experiences at the best of times, even just when flying over hundreds of back gardens, but imagine being able to tell your friends that you actually flew over the desert instead. If you’re going to boast about anything, I think that’s pretty acceptable, to be honest.

There are so many once in a lifetime experiences out there waiting for you, but here are just a few you should definitely consider. Can you recommend any once in a lifetime experiences? Let us know in the comments below!