[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

1) Galapagos Islands: Just a whole other world, with so many cool animals to see, who weren't afraid of humans at all. Definitely do it as a cruise, versus staying on land because you can get to more islands that way. And if you're going there, spend a few days in mainland Ecuador as well.

2) Portugal: Beautiful, friendly, not super expensive. Fun things to see and do (port tasting in the Douro Valley, rose wine museum in Porto, day trip to Sintra.

3) Mongolia: Did a canoe trip and then a 4x4 van trip, stayed in gers, rode camels, stopped at these little stores in the middle of nowhere and bought whatever random things they were selling (always alcohol and then something else). Met a guy from Alberta on top of a sand dune in the Gobi Desert.

4) Poland: The saltworks museum in Wieliczka was very cool. They have all kinds of thing, including a church built underground in a salt mine. When I was there, people could have their weddings there.

5) Kenya and Tanzania: Did the safari thing and it was amazing. Also stayed on Lamu Island, a small island with a town built out of stone. There are no cars on the island, so everything is transported by donkey. Easy for visitors to get lost, so the locals often just walk you to where you're trying to go.

Honourable mention to Hungary and Finland, two countries I lived in many years ago.

Any recommendations on booking this?

I have been suggesting this type of trip for my dad/brothers for a couple years now, but never knew anyone that did it. Did you book through a tour operator?