Sure, the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal are cool, as are the Statue of Liberty and the Chichen Itza. But it’s likely things that become the most memorable moments of your holiday are the experiences you have, whether that’s getting stuck into a celebration with the locals, or catching a dazzling and rare natural phenomenon.
And the world is jam-packed with amazing travel experiences – you just need to know where to look. Thankfully, luxury travel company Kuoni have used Google Data to decipher which travel experiences are the most-searched for in the world, and the results are in.
Claiming first place is Manhattanhenge (aka the Manhattan Solstice) with over 1.3 million Google searches a year, which occurs when the sun perfectly aligns with the main grid of Manhattan creating a ‘skyrise tunnel’ during sunset. Set against the backdrop of New York’s iconic skyline, it does sound pretty amazing, and it only happens on May 28 and July 13 each year.
In second place it’s Venice Carnival with 1.2 million, a sprawling 10-day fiesta which has taken place since the Middle Ages and features elaborate costumes and processions. In third, it’s Rio Carnival with 700,000, in which millions flock to the streets for some colourful street parties and samba parades. But there’s plenty more where that came from, just take a look at the list below.
These are the world’s best travel experiences, according to research by Kuoni
- Manhattanhenge, USA
- Venice Carnival, Italy
- Rio Carnival, Brazil
- Day of the Dead, Mexico
- Chelsea Flower Show, UK
- Golden Week, Japan
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, USA
- Northern Lights in Lapland, Finland
- Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
- Obon Festival, Japan
For more travel inspiration, have a look at our list of the best cities in the world for culture. To read more about Kuoni’s research into travel experiences, you can look at the study in more detail here.
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