Bucket List Travel Destinations, Ranked By Top Travel Professionals

Trends – other than people's love for travel – come and go, so you may as well try to stay with them before change inevitably occurs.

Adventures who explore new frontiers and are willing to challenge traditional sightseeing and vacationing are going to have a fun year.

The following list is based on a diverse collection of hidden gem locations and exhilarating activities from every stunning corner of the planet assembled by Flight Network.

To create the World's Ultimate Bucket List for 2018, Flight Network has consulted 800+ of the world's leading travel journalists, agencies, bloggers, and editors – the people who do this for a living – to gain insight from their opinions and expertise.

"A wildlife safari is a moment of pure adrenaline. You feel called back to nature as herds of elephants and packs of lions roam freely around you. This experience is absolutely worth every second and an adventure meant for a lifetime." – Robin Kawakami, Today.com

"Imagine a whale surfacing beside you to say hello as penguins leap at the bow of your boat all while you circumnavigate an iceberg by kayak. This is kayaking in Antarctica, the ultimate Bucket List experience." – The Planet D

"The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that has inspired awe in human beings for ages. This is Mother Nature's multicolored fireworks display." – Maria Teresa Hart, Oyster.com

Hiking the Inca Trail is a loud, beautiful reminder of the power of past centuries and the roots of our history which remain alive to this day." –Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, Geotraveler Media

"Enter the Land Before Time, and you will understand why Darwin found his remarkable dreamland here. Bountiful flora and fauna and amazing species color the environment in excitement meant to exhilarate you on your adventure." –Paul Rubio, Paul Rubio Travel

"For the history, for the little gems to discover, for the fact that you can almost walk everything from a point to another – Paris, France, is a world unlike any other." –Vanessa de Montigny, Journal de Montréal

"Waking up above the waves at your own idyllic overwater bungalow in the Maldives will bring your tropical realities to life." –Collette Stohler, Roamaroo

"Watching these incredible creatures interact with each other is simply the best wildlife experience in the world. " –Arnie Weissmann, Travel Weekly

"There is hardly a country in the world that packs as many momentous landscapes in such a short amount of time. The beauty attracts you. The diversity makes you never want to leave." –Cameron Seagle, The World Pursuit

"Everything is better in Greece where the wine is smoother, waters are clearer, and the rainbow-colored sunsets are stronger. Travelers never want to leave." –Courtney, Huffington Post

"You cannot believe the immensity in front of you, made even more awe-inspiring by its natural creation. This is the planet at its most remarkable." –Karen Beddow, Mini Travellers

"Every part of your adventure in the Western Cape will astound you from the flight in over massive waves to exploration of the stunningly vibrant cities." –Deborah Calmeyer, Roar Africa

"The Great Barrier Reef is a whole new world – diving and snorkeling here brings an under the sea world to life with incredible marine life and vivid colors." –Geoffrey Morrison, Forbes

"Cultural magic meets rich history amongst the ruins of Angkor Wat. It really is where Tomb Raider meets Raiders of the Lost Arc. " –Dawn Reiss, USnews

The Taj Mahal is a shining jewel in the Crown of India. The immensity and intricacy will overwhelm you in all of its glories." –Saurabh Gambhir, SITA World Tours

"Bordeaux is heaven on earth with beautiful, endless rolling hills of the French countryside and award-winning, world-renowned food and win to tantalize every taste bud." –Carrie Coolidge, Forbes

"They say you either stay in the desert for one night or for the rest of your life. I left a huge chunk of my heart in the Sahara Desert." –Ashley Puscas, Wanderlust in the City

"Get your fill of adventure, beauty, and eye-boggling landscape when your bucket list takes you to Bali where memorable adventure is around every corner." –Kiyomi Kimura, AST Adventures

"Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful scenes imaginable over a landscape that's unlike anywhere else." –Brendan Dorsey, The Points Guy

"Not only is Alaska one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, cruising there is one of the most relaxing and still engaging ways to visit." –Jason Leppert, Travel Pulse

"You stand beneath the pyramid, imagining the immense labor that went into constructing it more than 4500 years ago and wonder still how did they do it?'" –Molly Casey, Far Horizons

"Swimming with these giant creatures provides an understanding of the ocean rich with sea life by those who experience this unforgettable activity." –Matthew Greenspan, Flightnetwork

"The City that Never Sleeps keeps you bursting with excitement during every second of your stay." –Seth Kamil, Big Onion Walking Tours

"The Treasury in Petra is without question an inspiring monument that'll blow you away, but the region is also surrounded with phenomenal hiking among these ancient ruins. Even better, you can cap the day by sharing a meal with a local Jordanian family at A Piece Of Jordan." –Joe Baur, Without A Path

"The Great Wall of China is an almost incomprehensible feat of ancient architecture that fills you with awe and appreciation for the past." –Lindsay Cohn, Freelance Travel Writer