Save the date: 8 once-in-a-lifetime experiences

Ready to swap the ordinary for the unforgettable? We’re talking once-in-a-lifetime experiences that go far beyond the usual traveller trail, and give your passport more than its fair share of stories. Think dancing through the barrios with a caipirinha at Rio’s legendary Carnival, chasing colour at India’s Holi Festival, or standing in awe beneath an Arctic Circle eclipse.

Watch wrestling and horse riding on the sweeping steppes of the Mongolian plateau, soar above Cappadocia, and pay your respects to the dead in Mexico. Big and bold adventures, these are the travel stories you'll tell for years to come. So, without further ado, here’s 8 once-in-a-lifetime experiences you won’t soon forget.

Naadam Festival, Mongolia

Kicking off this roundup of unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experiences is Mongolia’s Nadaam Festival, where the spirit of the ‘Three Manly Games’ — wrestling, horse racing, and archery — takes centre stage. This isn’t just a festival; it’s a full-on celebration of traditional Mongolian nomadic culture, food, and music. Plus, you’ll experience all of this in arguably one of the most breathtakingly beautiful countries on earth. What’s not to love?

With your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) by your side, catch all the big ceremonies, cheer like the local people, and soak up the atmosphere of every drumbeat and victory shout. Beyond all the festival fun, visit the towering Chinggis Khan statue, wander Gorkhi-Terelj National Park’s alpine scenery, and share a traditional lunch in a ger camp. It’s four days of culture, thrills, and memories to talk about well after the dust settles.

Experience it for yourself on: Mongolia: Naadam Festival

Day of the Dead, Mexico

Mexico’s famous Day of the Dead festival — or Día de los Muertos as it's commonly known — isn’t a quiet affair. It’s a full-blown celebration of life, death, and everything in between. Cobblestone streets burst to life with music, local people paint their faces like skulls, and families gather in candlelit cemeteries to laugh, eat, and raise a glass of mescal to departed loved ones.

One of the best places in the country to experience this unique festival is Oaxaca — a UNESCO-listed city synonymous with magnificent churches, scenic plazas, and street markets aplenty. Step right into the heart of the action with four straight days of parades, macabre costumes, immersive street art, and regular market visits in search of iconic sugar skulls. Led by a local guide throughout, it’ll feel like Halloween with a real difference.

Experience it for yourself on: Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead

Rio Carnival, Brazil

Whether you’re into beaches, samba, sunsets, hiking, or history, Rio de Janeiro is packed with experiences that leave you in awe. But none more so than the famous Rio Carnival — a wild, no-holds-barred party where samba beats take over the streets and everyone’s invited to dance, cheer, and get lost in the moment. It’s officially the biggest party on earth, with over two million people hitting the streets for uma festa every day dressed to the nines.

Join in the ruckus and make your way to various different blocos — free neighbourhood parties famous for their beats and performers. Stilt walkers, marching bands, DJs, dance troupes… they’re all here and anything goes. Add in optional favela visits with the local community, beach trips, and a guided tour of the iconic Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain viewpoints, and you can see why it’s one heck of a good time.

Experience it for yourself on: Rio de Janeiro Carnival Experience

Eclipse Viewing, Greenland

There’s nowhere quite as magical as the Arctic Circle. Remote, raw, rugged, and packed full of wildlife like polar bears, puffins, whales, orcas, and seals — it’s almost otherworldly, particularly explored on our Arctic expedition cruises. Pass by remote landscapes like Svalbard and Greenland, explore by zodiac and on foot, and enjoy lectures from naturalists and field experts throughout.

Wildlife is practically guaranteed and you’ll get to visit the tiny Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit — one of the world’s most isolated towns. To make this trip even more once-in-a-lifetime worthy, join it for our August 3, 2026 departure. It’s 15 days worth of epic Arctic Circle adventure, PLUS the chance to see a partial or full solar eclipse depending on the ship's location in the magnificent Kejser Franz Joseph Fjord — the world's northernmost fjord system.

Experience it for yourself on: Arctic Highlights Southbound

Holi Festival, India

There’s arguably no better way to welcome spring than diving headfirst into a rainbow — and Holi offers exactly that. This joyful, high-energy celebration marks both the start of spring and victory of good over evil — and it does so with a whole lot of colour. Throngs of people take to the streets with handfuls of bright gulal (powder), water balloons, and big smiles, ready to cover friends and strangers alike in a technicolour blur. The fun kicks off the night before with huge bonfires, symbolizing the burning away of negativity and the legendary overpowering of the evil demon Holika.

Then it’s on to dancing, singing, eating, drinking, and giving thanks for new beginnings and prosperous harvests. But Holi is about more than just the powder — it’s about joy, unity, and letting go. Everyone’s welcome, no matter where you’re from or how messy you get. So grab a fistful of colour and join the happiest splash party on Earth!

Inti Raymi, Peru

Feel the heat of the Andes as the Sun Festival — locally-known as Inti Raymi — bursts into life every June 24 in Cusco. It’s a living time machine: 800+ performers don vibrant Inca costumes, process from the Temple of the Sun aka Q’orikancha to the Plaza de Armas, and then on to the Sacsayhuamán fortress for a grand finale packed with music, dance, and even a simulated llama offering to honour Inti — the mighty Sun God.

It’s a celebration of renewal and tradition, where ancient rituals meet modern-day pageantry and living history plays out in full colour. Picture ceremonies at sunrise, the sound of panpipes echoing through Cusco’s streets, and crowds gathered to honour the sun. While we don’t have specific tours that include Inti Raymi, many start and end in Cusco, so it’s the perfect tie-in experience before or after your tour.

Great Migration Safari, Kenya and Tanzania

When it comes to world wildlife encounters, East Africa’s Great Migration is up there with the best of the best. Over a million wildebeest — along with hundreds of thousands of zebras, antelope, and gazelle — follow the rains and make their way from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara and back again. Of course, they’re not alone. Lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, crocodiles, and cheetahs wait to see who they can pick off along the way.

It’s an almighty spectacle and the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the entire world. Rain — or the absence of it — determines where and when the herds migrate throughout the year, often making the actual migration hard to predict. You can, however, guarantee it will take place in Kenya and Tanzania, and river crossings are likeliest in July and September. It’s the real-life Lion King and a definite bucket-list travel experience.

Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Kenya Safari Experience or Journeys: Tanzania Safari Experience

Cappadocia Balloon Festival, Turkey

Rounding off our once-in-a-lifetime experiences list is none other than Turkey’s Cappadocia Balloon Festival. Each year around July or August, this sky-high party draws thousands of global thrill seekers for one seriously photogenic adventure. Think colourful balloons dotting the sky, unique landscapes, and that ‘is this real life?’ kind of magic.

As well as hot air balloon flights, you can enjoy dancing with local folks, open-air concerts, and even light shows. Of course, Cappadocia and the chance to lift off in a balloon is possible even when the festival isn’t on. Book any time and opt to soar high above the fairytale landscapes below for that moment of a lifetime.

Experience it for yourself on: Absolute Turkey or Turkey: Coastlines & Cappadocia