Solo trekking through the Alps. An ultra-trail at the foot of Austria's highest mountain. A night in an Irish lighthouse. People's bucket lists are becoming bolder and more concrete. Here are some experiences for 2026/27 that shouldn't just be on the list, but should be part of life.
Bucket lists were long something people wrote in notebooks and then forgot about. But that's changing. According to a recent study, almost one in four people want to discover a new continent this year, and 24.5 percent want to travel more than ever before. Travel is becoming bolder, more conscious, with a clear goal in mind. It's no longer about collecting beaches, ticking off cities, or racking up miles—it's about experiencing that one thing that stays with you. The first summit over 3,000 meters. A long-distance hike through pristine Alpine landscapes. A road trip through the Australian Outback. These experiences demand something: perseverance, openness, sometimes courage. And in return, they give something back that can't be measured in stars. "Once in a lifetime" is no longer just a marketing term. It's a way of life.
#1 Australia: To the other side of the world
Red dust, endless highways, the sea on the horizon. Australia isn't a destination you simply tick off a list. It's one you experience. In the vastness of the Outback, in the salty breeze of the Great Ocean Road, in silent awe before Uluru, which rises 348 meters high from the vast expanse of the Northern Territory, changing its color with every shift in the light. Photos can hardly prepare you for this moment. Window down, playlist on, eyes on the next horizon. The Great Ocean Road hugs the Victorian coast for 243 kilometers, past the limestone cliffs of the Twelve Apostles. On the Grand Pacific Drive in New South Wales, the Sea Cliff Bridge spans directly over the Pacific surf. At the gas station somewhere between two towns, everyone knows everyone else. The flat white is served with the same dedication as in the big cities, and the sunset comes free of charge. In between, whether snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, surfing on deserted beaches, or encountering kangaroos by the roadside; anyone who's been here understands why Australia belongs on everyone's bucket list.
#2 Zell am See-Kaprun: Run an ultra trail once
For many ambitious runners, an ultra-trail in the Alps is the ultimate challenge. At The North Face Großglockner Ultra-Trail (GGUT) in Zell am See-Kaprun, they find the grandest possible stage. The event is among the best – and toughest – in the Alps. The longest distance covers 110 kilometers through three Austrian states, past 14 glaciers, and climbs around 6,500 meters in elevation as runners circumnavigate Austria's highest mountain. There are four other distances between 84 and 16 kilometers, ensuring everyone can find the right challenge. Every route shares the same DNA: alpine, honest, and uncompromising. It demands everything, but also gives back something that is difficult to put into words: the feeling of elation when the fog lifts, the glaciers glow in the morning light, and the body keeps going even though it wanted to give up long ago. And then the final step to the finish line. Exhaustion transforms into pride. Into silence. Into the feeling of having rediscovered oneself. This feeling can't be captured on a medal. It can only be experienced within oneself. Next date: July 23–26, 2026
#3 Warth-Schröcken: Seven peaks in one day
There are days that make a difference. September 5, 2026, could be one of them. The Seven Summits Tour Schröcken follows in the footsteps of mountaineering pioneers Alois Schwarzmann and Pius Bischof, traversing seven border peaks around Warth-Schröcken. 48 kilometers, 4,300 meters of elevation gain, with the Bregenzerwald forest at your feet and the sky within reach. No race, no time pressure, but a challenge you'll be talking about for years to come. Depending on your fitness level, the tour takes ten to twenty hours. And anyone who reaches the final summit knows: this was no ordinary day. The proceeds from the entry fees go to the non-profit organization ROKPA, which works to help people in need in Nepal and Tibet. One summit for yourself. Six for everyone else.
Next date: September 5, 2026
#4 Pillerseetal: Comfortable long-distance hiking
Does long-distance hiking sound like days of exertion and sleeping bags in uncomfortable huts? The WAIWI trail in the Pillersee Valley proves otherwise. The stages are short enough to be enjoyed and flexible enough to be adapted. If you run out of breath on a climb, simply hop on the cable car. No guilt, no detour. Four days, from Waidring to Fieberbrunn, 53 kilometers, 3,200 meters of elevation gain, through one of the most beautiful Alpine landscapes between the Chiemgau Alps, the Kitzbühel Alps, and the Loferer Steinberge. In the evening, comfortable accommodation awaits in the valley. But if you do want to sleep up high, you can spend the night on the mountain during the third stage at the Wildseeloderhaus, which is located directly on the Wildsee, one of Austria's most beautiful natural spots. On the last day, the route first leads up to the 2,118-meter-high Wildseeloder summit. Afterward, it's downhill, past the Wildalm, back to Fieberbrunn. Those who persevere eventually understand why long-distance hiking is addictive.
#5 Ammergau Alps: Out of your comfort zone – into the saddle
The snow is melting, the resolutions are fresh. Now's the time to try something new. Gravel biking is booming, and anyone who's ever been in the saddle understands why. Wide tires, gravel roads, no cars, no time pressure. Just ride. The Ammergau Alps Nature Park is the perfect place for your first attempt. Gentle climbs, flexible circuits, a landscape that rewards every kilometer. Past Linderhof Palace, through moors and forests, along quiet gravel roads around Oberammergau, Ettal, and Bad Bayersoien. Anyone who pedals here quickly realizes: This isn't a sport for a fitness app. This is freedom on two wheels. Beginners will find the perfect entry point, experienced riders their flow. Gravel biking in the Ammergau Alps Nature Park isn't just a trend. For many, it's a way of life.
#6 Ireland: Reset on the Atlantic
Manchmal reicht Urlaub nicht. Manchmal braucht man etwas, das einen nicht erholt, sondern neu kalibriert. Den Wind, der einem ins Gesicht fährt, als hätte er keine Zeit für Höflichkeiten und Klippen, vor denen man so klein wird, dass die eigenen Probleme eine angemessene Größe bekommen. An der rauen Nordwestküste Irlands passiert etwas, das kein Wellnesswochenende schafft: Man hört auf zu funktionieren und fängt wieder an zu sein. Das Fanad Head Lighthouse an der Steilküste Donegals ist dafür der richtige Ort. Nachts dreht sich das Licht, die Dunkelheit weitet sich, das Meeresrauschen tritt an die Stelle aller anderen Geräusche. Tagsüber fährt man zum Whale Watching hinaus auf den Atlantik, dessen Horizont so weit ist, dass man irgendwann aufhört, ihn zu suchen. Und dann bricht das Wasser auf: ein Wal, riesig und vollkommen ruhig, völlig in seiner eigenen Welt. Ireland gibt einem zurück, was der Alltag nimmt. Nicht weil man es sich vornimmt, sondern weil der Atlantik einen gar nicht anders lässt.
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