If your retirement plan includes enjoying some truly amazing places, look no further than our guide to 5 breathtaking destinations to visit.
1. Orangutan-spotting in Borneo
The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is part of the Malay Peninsula and is politically divided between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. With ancient rainforests, rich cultural heritage and a cuisine blending local ethnicities, Borneo has a great deal to offer.
Add to that the chance to see the endangered Bornean orangutan and it’s easy to see why the country makes it onto so many bucket lists.
Countless companies offer orangutan-spotting tours. From three-day boat trips on a Kinabatangan River tour in the island’s Malaysian north to six-night treks through Batang Ai National Park staying in basic jungle camps, your choice is limited only by your level of fitness and sense of adventure.
Boat tours are the more sedate option and often incorporate trips to other places too – the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, for example, guaranteeing an orangutan sighting and the impressive Gomantong Caves which are well worth a visit too.
If the intense heat of the jungle gets too much, escape to the island of Manukan for its beaches and crystal-clear water or else visit Kuching, the colonial city of cats.
2. Hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti
Serengeti means ‘the place of endless plains’ in the language of the Maasai and the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania is a vast expanse, covering almost 15,000 square kilometres.
Safaris and tours are widely available. National Geographic offers a nine-day safari that includes hikes, visits to traditional Maasai communities and the chance to see elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and lions amongst other wildlife. This safari also includes an optional hot-air balloon ride.
The best way to see the country’s wildlife – and to appreciate the sheer scale of the plains – an air balloon ride is a must. Even more so if you time it to coincide with the great migration.
The wildebeest migration across the Serengeti is one of the wonders of the natural world. And although they generally won’t be tied to a definite schedule, the best chance of witnessing them is in June and July.
As the sun rises over the Serengeti and a million animals parade below you in their annual migratory loop, you’ll tick another once in a lifetime sight of your bucket list.
3. Cherry blossoms in Japan
For the Japanese, the annual flowering of the cherry trees (or sakura) is a meditation on life and death, and the short-lived nature of existence. It’s also a beautiful natural wonder that draws crowds from all over Japan and the rest of the world.
Current forecasts suggest the blossoming could occur early this year. But with sakura sites dotted all over the country, and forecasts ranging from late March in the subtropical south to early May on the northern island of Hokkaido, you could be planning a trip to catch them very soon.
Visit Fuji Five Lakes and Mount Fuji will be the backdrop to the annual blossoming. If you want to combine your sakura visit with a trip to the nation’s capital, then try Ueno Park, home to many cherry blossom festivals in the immaculate parks and gardens threaded between the glass and steel high-rises.
Finally, if the bustle of the city isn’t for you, head due west to Kyoto’s Maruyama Park. Kyoto is the former capital city of Japan, where tea houses, historic temples, and geisha will be framed by gorgeous cherry blossom in a city that clings firmly to tradition.
4. Santorini, Greece
A bucket-list favourite, Santorini in Greece is part of the Cyclades islands and was shaped by a 16th-century volcanic eruption. Its distinctive whitewashed houses adorn the cliff edge above the wide lagoon of an underwater crater.
Hiking trails, catamaran cruises, and archaeological site visits top the ‘things to do’ list. If you’re looking to relax, spend an afternoon on the black sand of Paralia Perissa in the southwest of the island, or visit ancient Thera, an 11th century Dorian settlement that includes remains from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
5. Iguazu Falls
Think about the world’s largest waterfalls and Victoria and Niagara might come quickly to mind, but a visit to the Iguazu Falls is a unique once in a lifetime experience.
Situated on the border of Brazil and Argentina in the Iguazu National Park, the series of 275 falls that form the Iguazu system make it the largest waterfall in the world. Most of the individual falls are around 200 feet in height and you can take a boat trip up and (depending on water flow), even under, some of the falls.
The most impressive and substantial fall is the Devil’s Throat. A u-shaped chasm 270 feet high, 492 feet wide and 2300 feet long, you’re able to stand on a platform watching the water tumbling away beneath you.
Whether you visit on the Brazilian or Argentinian sides, you won’t see the visitor numbers Victoria and Niagara attract (Iguazu has 1.5 million visitors a year compared to Niagara’s 30 million) giving you space to enjoy this remarkable wonder of nature.
At Life Matters, we believe that financial planning is about giving you the means to live your best life. Whatever that looks like to you, we’re here to help.