Last Updated: September 15, 2024

This video is a list of five of the best bucket list destinations in the world for retired travelers in 2024. This list includes the Faroe Islands, Lake Atitlan Guatemala, Raja Ampat Indonesia, Folegandros Greece, and Milford Sound New Zealand. Not only are each of these travel destinations incredibly beautiful, they are each incredibly beautiful places without quite as many visitors. The joy of visiting such an amazing place without having other travelers everywhere is worth every moment.

Bucket List Destinations for 2024

We have traveled full-time for the past few years in retirement and are often asked about the best places we’ve been to. In today’s video, we will tell you five places that deserve a spot on everyone’s bucket list destinations in 2024.

If you are finding us, we are a senior travel couple with a YouTube Channel. We also have a website where you can sign up for our newsletter and follow along. We are traveling full-time in our retirement, trying to experience all the world has to offer. We’ve seen some fantastic sites and been to some stunning destinations. Today, we will talk about five places that can fuel your wanderlust and renew and recharge your life.

The Faroe Islands | A Remote Territory of Denmark

The first place on our list is a discovery for us: The Faroe Islands. The Faroes are an unusual holiday destination, isolated from the world and downright wild. The first thing you will notice upon your approach is the breathtakingly rugged beauty of the islands. I don’t think we’ve ever felt excitement the way we felt just looking down upon it from the airplane.

The ever-expansive vistas are the main attractions on the Faroe Islands. They include the rare advantage of enjoying them in near solitude. Prepare yourself for the most dramatic scenery you can imagine with waterfalls on tap that could give Iceland a run for its money. You get unobstructed views, zero queues, and no tourist crowds. If you are a nature lover, hiking enthusiast, or just a photographer with a smartphone, and you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination, the Faroe Islands are for you.

Driving in the Faroe Islands

The landscape is dotted with lovely villages. Here you will find many colorful houses still follow the Viking tradition of lining their roofs with grass. An incredibly modern and maintained road system facilitates travel around the islands by rental car. You can even drive between the main islands using a unique system of tunnels. It’s quite an engineering marvel.

The islands are a peaceful respite from the hectic travel and tourist crowds that much of Europe has to offer. You will be immersed in a pastoral sense of wellness and calm. The sheep and cattle graze on lush green hillsides, sometimes on the side of the roads, and the farmer can be seen tending to his tasks.

The cliffs have no bounds, and many hiking trails offer views for miles. We ate locally caught fish at restaurants surrounding the local harbors. The official languages are Faroese and Danish, but we needed help finding people who spoke English.

The best time to visit is the summer when temperatures max out in the mid-50s. During the summer, days are long, and the weather can change on a dime, so be prepared for rain, strong winds, and sunshine all in one day.

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

If you are looking for a stunning destination for a daring adventure, look no further than Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. This mile-high lake is 1100 feet deep and covers 50 square miles. We consider this one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, where two rivers feed it but do not drain into any ocean. Surrounded by three volcanoes and 11 villages and towns, this lake will capture your heart like no other in Central America.

The Mayan culture is alive and well, with indigenous peoples living in harmony with busy people living their lives. As you pass these humble and reserved people on paths along the lake, you will undoubtedly be greeted with sweet smiles and head nods. While the understanding is not to photograph them, they will inevitably imprint your heart.

Water taxis are the only way to travel between these villages and are easy to obtain. Just walk to the dock and wave one down as if you are hailing a taxi in mid-town Manhattan. The other option is to follow the rocky paths up and around the waterfront, where sandled feet have worn a well-defined path.

Hire a guide for the day to visit the villages, embrace the many yoga retreats that will energize you, or take part in a cooking class to learn how to make classic dishes of the region. Whatever your adventure chooses, we are sure it will include a porch side hammock and the sun setting behind a beautiful volcano while water taxis transport others to their adventure.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Every bucket list indeed has a deserted, sandy beach on it, but the natural beauty of this location lies just below the water’s edge. Considered the best diving and snorkeling spot in the world, Raja Ampat is the paradise everyone should see.

Located in the middle of what is known as the Coral Triangle, it is home to 75% of the world’s known coral species. This paradise includes over 1700 different species of fish. No matter where you turn your head, you will be greeted with fish and sea turtles who seem to welcome you instead of swimming away in fear.

While it takes some effort to travel to this remote location in the northwest corner of Indonesia’s West Papua Province, you can be assured tourists will not surround you. Instead, you will be surrounded by beautiful crystal clear, azure water, white sand beaches, and even flying foxes in the trees.

The area has several options for accommodations. Whether you sleep on a live-board boat, relax at a beach resort, or enjoy a homestay, you are sure to be surrounded by a laid-back vibe of locals eager to please.

Folegandros, Greece

The Greek isles are on many bucket list destinations guides, but one is missing on far too many. Our video of Folegandros, tells more about our adventures. This tiny island is located just 45 minutes away from Santorini via ferry. So, while you might visit this more significant island to gaze at the cave houses in Oia, you must come here to experience authentic Greek hospitality and graciousness.

Home to just under 800 inhabitants, it is a 12 ½ square mile paradise. In spring, wildflowers and very few tourists are covered in the hillsides. Its miles and miles of rock terraces also feature hiking paths with signage informing you how long it will take you to traverse to the destination instead of the distance you will cover.

We saw over 600 churches on this beautiful island, that is steeped in faith and family. Centuries ago, it was Crete’s island of exiles who built a life on what was considered unfertile, barren soil, but in the end, they flourished and built a community of endurance and steadfastness.

You might pass a gentleman on a donkey, frolic in the blue waters of the Aegean Sea, or walk miles and miles of paths. Still, one thing is sure: we will never forget the experience of being on this unique island surrounded by nothing but your peaceful thoughts.

Milford Sound, New Zealand South Island

Milford Sound is often the highlight for many visitors to the South Island of New Zealand. While the island is full of breathtaking scenery, Milford Sound is the exhale. It was for us as we enjoyed a boat cruise and then a kayaking tour.

This glacier-carved Fiord valley is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It feels like a sweet corner meant to be enjoyed and savored. We were told that to experience the trifecta, we would need to see seals, penguins, and dolphins. The adventure didn’t disappoint when we spotted all three taking their bow for the standing ovation we gave.

From any vantage point, you will spot waterfalls and snowcapped mountains that drop down into Milford Sound. Imagine explorers discovering this quaint inlet and building a community here; it is remarkable.

Hiking the Milford Track is a bucket list-worthy 33-mile adventure many hikers accomplish in four days. We hiked a shorter version that can be done in a day, but no matter how you embrace this jewel, we highly recommend adding it to your list of grand adventures.

Conclusion

Many places in the world are worthy of becoming bucket list destinations. These are the ones that are currently pulling us back. We cannot wait to do these all again. We hope our list inspires you to add them to your own. Let us know your top five, so please share your favorite places in the comment section below.