9 Once-in-a-Lifetime Trips You Should Be Booking a Year in Advance

The rush of clicking ‘book now’ can be half the thrill of traveling. Planning your trip far in advance, though, has a longer-lasting payoff: you save money, lock in the best experiences, and extend the excitement of anticipation. Here are some rare trips that are best secured a year ahead.

Egypt

A slow trip down the Nile between Luxor and Aswan gives you access to some of Egypt’s most significant ruins, without the noise of a massive cruise. The Nour El Nil dahabiya carries about 20 passengers and moves at its own pace. Days are spent walking quiet archaeological sites with guides, eating well-prepared local food, and watching the river drift by from the deck.

Costa Rica

Travelers interested in nature-focused trips often look to Costa Rica for its mix of rainforests, wildlife, and coastlines. November through April is high season, so flights and accommodations sell out early. Lapa Rios and Aguas Claras offer highly rated eco-lodges that fill fast. Plan ahead to secure domestic flights between San José and Liberia and not miss out.

South Korea

Tasting a dish where it was first made reveals more than any guidebook can. In South Korea, culinary trips now lead beyond Seoul to places like Jeollanam-do, where visitors try fermented crab, beef-rib soup, and other regional specialties. These trips highlight how food connects to history, tradition, and everyday life in precise, tangible ways.

France

Most European trains are built for speed. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express isn’t. This restored 1920s train runs routes like Paris to Venice and often fills up months in advance. Cabins are compact, wood-paneled, and detailed down to the brass fixtures. Meals are served in vintage dining cars. Prices start around $3,500, but this ride is about the journey itself, not just getting from one city to another.

Turkey

Cappadocia’s landscape looks otherworldly even from the ground, but it’s the early morning balloon flights that leave the strongest impression. Dozens of balloons rise before dawn over dry valleys and stone spires. The best flights leave from small towns like Göreme and Uchisar, where hotels often sit within walking distance of the launch fields. Watching the light change as the sun hits the rock formations is part of the experience.

Scotland

In the Scottish Highlands, a few historic estates still welcome guests with little fanfare and a strong sense of place. Inverlochy Castle rests near Ben Nevis, surrounded by quiet woods and water. Rothes Glen sits deeper in Speyside, in the heart of whisky country. These aren’t themed stays. The rooms are furnished with care, the dinners are formal, and the atmosphere leans more toward stillness than spectacle.

Serengeti

The Great Migration is the largest land animal migration on Earth, which involves over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras crossing the Serengeti each year. August river crossings draw those hoping to witness predators in pursuit. Safari packages with mobile camps near key crossing points can exceed $9,000 per person. These include expert-guided drives, meals, and charter flights.

Malaysia

The Datai Langkawi is located inside one of the world’s oldest rainforests and is a common attraction for those visiting Malaysia. It offers a rare combination of high-end comfort and deep ecological immersion. The resort borders the Andaman Sea and provides villa stays surrounded by dense jungle. Naturalists lead daily walks, and you can join reef conservation or wildlife tracking efforts.

Peru

Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes, surrounded by cloud forest and steep ridgelines. It was built by the Incas in the 15th century, but its exact purpose still isn’t clear. Some think it was a royal estate, others see signs of religious use. What’s certain is that the outside world didn’t pay much attention to it until 1911, when Hiram Bingham arrived with a Yale expedition and wrote about what he saw.

Antarctica

Most visitors reach Antarctica between November and February, during the short summer window when conditions are stable enough for landings. Expedition trips—not standard cruises—offer access to research stations, glacier hikes, and open-water kayaking near icebergs. The wildlife is unbothered by humans, which means close views of penguins and seals are common. Costs usually start around $10,000 and vary depending on the vessel and how far off the grid you plan to go.

French Polynesia

Demand for Bora Bora remains high, especially during its dry periods between May and October. The island’s lagoon surrounds a dormant volcano and hosts some of the frequently photographed overwater bungalows in the world. Resorts like the Four Seasons book out months ahead, mainly requiring deposits beforehand.

Mongolia

The Gobi Desert, one of the largest and most remote deserts in Asia, is a rare chance to experience vast wilderness with minimal infrastructure. The good news is that it is situated in Mongolia, where it covers nearly 500,000 square miles. Peak season runs May through September, and limited space makes booking essential for this remote journey.

China

While China is known for the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and bustling megacities, Zhangjiajie presents something entirely different. This national forest in Hunan Province inspired the floating mountains in Avatar with its towering sandstone pillars and mist-filled valleys. The park includes five main zones with timed entries to manage crowds, and travel involves flying into Changsha for good lodging options.

Iceland

Private helicopter tours in Iceland allow access to glaciers, volcanoes, and fjords far from the main roads. Companies plan routes that include landing on icecaps and flying above lava fields. However, the availability largely depends on permits, airspace coordination, and weather conditions.

Norway

In Lofoten, summer feels stretched out and quiet. The sun barely dips below the horizon, and the sea stays calm enough for long paddles between rocky coves. Visitors sleep in rorbuer—wooden cabins that once housed fishermen during the cod season—and spend their days watching puffins nest or hiking past old docks and grazing sheep. It’s a working landscape that hasn’t been polished for show, which is part of its pull.