7 Activities To Do Before You Die

It’s funny with all of the amazing restaurants opening daily, bizarre and trendy night clubs, museums with astounding artifacts and—let’s face it—some hands down credit card-debt-be-damned-worthy shopping areas, throughout the ages, when people are asked what they would do before they died, if they could do anything at all, these largely urban, modern sites don’t make the list. And that is largely because restaurants, nightclubs and shopping come and go. They hold no legacy. The stories of the largest Bloomingdales probably won’t be passed down from generation to generation. When all is said and done, and buildings are put up and torn down, the sites and experiences that will be talked about for ages are linked with—you called it—good old mother earth. Here’s a handful that have gained some notoriety.

Photo: Woo Bing Siew

Escape To A Paradise Island
Long before the popular animated Madagascar reared its animated head, paradise beaches have existed right here off the big screen. Northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa lies a group of 115 tropical islands, and hiding from civilization within that group you’ll find La Digue, an island whose sandy white beaches have drawn top magazines from around the world for their photo shoots. This island is the stuff those silly Corona commercials are made of, at about 3.73 miles long by 1.8 miles wide, paper-white beaches, crystal clear waters and palm trees that generously bend to give shade. The average yearly temperature is 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average temperature of the water is 81 degrees Fahrenheit. If you get exhausted from walking in the heat, the main transportation on the island is bike or Ox cart. Bird enthusiasts might go to see the black paradise flycatcher—only about 300 are in existence today.

Photo: Nick Griffin

Go On A Safari
Naturally, when one thinks of what he’ll do before dying, he becomes a little bolder. A safari will satisfy that need to shiver in your jungle boots. There are a few different ways to mingle with wildlife. Popular in Africa, a Balloon Safari will let you drift at a safe distance above the landscape, catching views a regular jeep safari doesn’t get. You’ll also be at leisure to sip champagne. For the Egyptian Desert a Camel Safari seems most suitable. At any destination, to get the true Safari experience, a walking Safari will get you up close in personal with animals that don’t know to even fear humans.

Sleep In A Tipi
You probably had one of those small Tipis from Toys R Us as a child. But in the Welsh Mountains you can stay in a “grown up” tipi. This circular abode has a diameter of 21 feet and is equipped with all the trappings of an Indian movie—wood burning chimney, sheepskin rug, and an organic hamper for food. Upon arrival, your hamper will already be stocked with wine, hot chocolate, cookies, oh and some “healthy” stuff, if you really insist on it. Your stay includes a Reiki healing session and moonlight meditation.

Photo: Jose Antonio Sanchez Romero

Visit The Egyptian Pyramids
Most famous is the pyramid of Giza, part of a complex of buildings dedicated to the ancient Pharaoh Khufu and nearby lies the famous Sphinx. You can reach the temples by air-conditioned shuttle, but if you really want to authenticate the experience, arrive on camel back. The pyramids are surprisingly easy to access since the city of Cairo has expanded almost to their doorstep.

Photo: Cheryl Whitney

Catch The Other Loch Ness Monster
I’m talking about fishing for the Blue Marlin. Apparently quite a few fishing enthusiasts took one BBC poll on things to do before you die, because tracking down one of these real-life sea beasts came up a lot. The fish weighs an average of 1,000 lbs and runs 11 feet or longer. The largest Blue Marlin caught to date was 1,805 lbs and was snatched up in Oahu, Hawaii by a party of anglers. Other popular spots to bate your giant pole: Portugal, The Canary Islands, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Brazil and Venezuela.

Visit The Lost City
Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian, impeccably preserved Inca ruin above the Urubamba River Valley in Peru. The ruins consist of 5 square miles of terraced stone and 140 buildings connected by 3,000 steps. This city center, dating back to about 1460 and built for the Incan nobility, has temples dedicated to the Incan gods, sanctuaries, parks and residential structures. Machu Picchu is an admirable model of sustainability, with agricultural terraces intermixed with the buildings and water coming from natural springs. Some visitors skip the bus and make the 3 to 4 day hike from Cusco to catch sites of other ruins along the way.

Photo: Dreamstime

Explore Antarctica
This land is about as green as it gets—just not in color. No man has claimed it. It has no government and no country. But if we were to compare it to a country, it is larger than Europe. While Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, with 98% of the land covered in mile-thick ice, it is also the driest, making it technically the largest desert. And treat it like a desert by bringing plenty of sunscreen because the vast amount of snow reflects the sun so strongly, sunburns are a major issue for visitors.

Editor's Note: The title of this post has been changed to reflect that all of the activities listed are not sustainable, merely acknowledged as incredible experiences.

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