A new survey by Bucket List Travels has shown that most of us have a travel bucket list of some description – 40% of us keep it in our heads and only 14% of us actually write it down. 

Research has proven that there are many holistic, physical and mental benefits of travel – which are significantly enhanced when going somewhere new. A new study carried out by Bucketlisttravels.com, a new specialist travel inspiration website dedicated to the discovery of the world’s greatest “bucket list” travel, supports this. 

The survey revealed that 38% of us get a sense of achievement when travelling to a new destination, 36% feel it refreshes their mental perspective on their lives, 32% feel that it helps them focus back on the positives and less on the negatives and a quarter of us say that it makes us feel calm and more emotionally rebalanced. 

Over a quarter said it helps them build closer relationships with their companions (family and friends), appreciate what they have, gain an increased sense of mindfulness and even enjoy better sleep. 

Planning your next big adventure can often bring as much joy as the trip itself, Matt Roach, Founder of Bucket List Travels says: “Now more than ever, we all need something to look forward to. Planning your next big adventure or even just anticipating travelling somewhere new or doing something special has been shown to boost mental health.” 

56% say they’d like to see at least five more different countries in their lifetime, with over a third of us doing bucket list travel whenever we get a chance. Not surprisingly, this is highest amongst singles and the younger age groups (nearly 50%). However, almost a quarter of married couples and those living with a partner are waiting for retirement.

Londoners are most likely to tick off their destinations, with 90% stating they try to have at least one or more bucket list holiday per year.

Of the thousands surveyed, over a quarter (27%) cited viewing the Northern Lights as their ultimate bucket list experience, followed by an American road trip (17%), a safari in Africa (16%) exploring the Great Barrier Reef (13%) and cruising Norway’s Fjords (13%).

Matt Roach, Founder of Bucket List Travels, said: “The world’s greatest light show, it’s no wonder the Northern Lights came out on top. A remarkable, ethereal light display that’s one of nature’s greatest spectacles.”  

Also featured in the top ten most coveted experiences are seeing Niagara Falls, visiting the Eifel Tower, marvelling at the Pyramids of Giza, visiting the Great Wall of China and whale watching.

6 in 10 of us say that money is the main obstacle to getting things ticked off our travel bucket lists, alongside a lack of holiday time, and the effort needed to research and the risk of going somewhere new. 

Matt Roach continued: “I wanted to create a one-stop, trusted site that helps people quickly discover inspirational travel experiences, and then be able to plan a holiday around them. There are so many incredible travel experiences, and they are more accessible than ever.

“If not now, then later. A ‘travel bucket list’ saves those good ideas we find along the way for when we need them and gives us something to look forward to and aspire to”. 

Bucket List Travels currently features over 2,200 curated, trusted recommendations from leading, specialist travel writers, alongside more than 25,000 images to inspire and amaze. It includes most of the world’s signature and famous travel experiences (more being added every week), alongside many lesser-known, but equally, if not more, rewarding. 

An advanced search engine allows travel-seekers to quickly search these recommendations and filter the results down to their specific needs and desires – a huge time-saving.

Once the travel-seeker has found something to do or somewhere to go, the site aims to help in the holiday planning by providing destination guides, recommended places to stay nearby, recommendations of who to book with, and ready-made, simple itineraries.

By making bucket list travel research so much easier, the site aims to become a leading travel planning resource, and the first-place travel-seekers will go to when looking for inspiration or starting to research their next trip. It notably allows users to save their favourites, to create their own personal “travel bucket list”.