Near-Perfect Travel Experiences: Travel Linkup

Well, nothing in life is ever perfect… right?

At least my travels are never perfect. I think that’s what makes them some of the best stories I have to share!

So this month I’m taking the angle of near-perfect experiences, let’s see if these can send you out into a dream world of imagination and delight!

The near-perfect wildlife encounter

In the depths of the green leafy hills of Rwanda I hike up and up. Lagging behind, hardly getting any rest, wishing I’d had a bigger breakfast… and then the time comes, we reach a clearing.

The sun is shining and creeping through a few bushes I see for the first time: a mountain gorilla. Her coat is silky smooth, shining in the sun. Possibly the healthiest hair I’ve ever seen in a stunning shade of black. She’s being groomed by another large mountain gorilla, face to face, hairs being separated by the fingers of another gorilla.

Oblivious to the small group of people around them.

Then looking around I see it’s a group, there’s a little baby gorilla tumbling around on the ground, a massive silver back sitting back enjoying the sun and more teenagers playing in the bushes.

The near-perfect sunset

Cocktails, friends and a good meal. Location, high above the ocean edge, stoney buildings all around. The odd donkey bell ringing in the distance. Heat beaming down, even as the evening closes in. Then the sunset: oranges, yellows, pinks and blue… where could I be? Oia, in Santorini.

 

The near-perfect natural wonder

The rain drizzles down off and on, but the crowds are gone. Crackle, crackle, then smash. Ice crashes into the freezing water below. I’m at Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate in Argentina.

The near-perfect waterfall

This has to go to the waterfalls that spread across three Latin American countries, two of which I visited and got up close and personal two in Argentina and enjoyed the wide sweeping pan across the entire array of waterfalls. This is Iguazu Falls.

The near-perfect hikes

This one couldn’t just be one. It comes down to three:

Climbing Machu Picchu Mountain, Peru

The hard 3 hour slog and scary edges that dropped to death lead up to a little oasis that overlooked the incredible Inca city of Machu Picchu. While difficult, Machu Picchu Mountain was incredible to say the least.

El Chalten, Argentina

The day hikes around El Chalten’s snow-capped mountains, glaciers and forest is so unique and incredible for any nature lover.

Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand

This is my happy place. Walking around the base of Mt. Maunganui doesn’t take too long, but there are plenty of photo stops and picnic spots to enjoy. You can spot the odd seal around the base and enjoy views over the calm harbour of Pilot Bay, then as you make your way around you see the beauty of Mt. Maunganui’s surf beach. If you want a bit more exercise, then you can climb up to the top as well!

The near-perfect road trip

This award goes to the Southern Lakes region around Queenstown in New Zealand. Driving from Queenstown to Glenorchy along Lake Wakatipu, or over the Crown Range to Wanaka, or over to the gold mining town of Arrowtown. Not to mention Milford Sound.

This region is home to some of the best road trips you could ever imagine.

Those are my ‘near-perfect’ travel experiences around the world… for more of my Top Experiences, check out my growing list of my Top 30 Travel Experiences before I’m 30 here »