Photo Essay: Our Top 10 Travel Experiences of 2015

Our year 2015 was a year of diverse travel adventures and cultural experiences.  It has been very hard to decide which experiences we will include in our top 10 list and which ones we will leave aside. Comparing to previous years, in 2015 we travelled quite slowly, so we had lots of time to immerse ourselves in different cultures, meet interesting people and get to know lots of fabulous and inspiring places.

Here is a look back at our most amazing travel experiences of 2015 – what a year it has been!

1. Attending Dalai Lama’s speech in McLeod Ganj, India

Seeing Dalai Lama was the real highlight of 2015. When we were staying in McLeod Ganj, a town in the mountains in northern India, we were so lucky to get there just in time – just a few days before Dalai Lama had a speech there. Bringing camera was not allowed so we can’t show you any photos of Dalai Lama from that day. However, we had one photo taken by a Tibetan photographer Lobsang, a friend of ours.

Photo credit to Lobsang Wangyal

2. Visiting the Golden temple in Amritsar, India

You won’t believe it until you see it! The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the holiest shrine for Sikhs – not only in India, but in the whole world. It was absolutely fantastic and life changing to meet all those Indian pilgrims and Sikhs who live around the temple. 

3. Witnessing the fire puja in Guyto monastery in Dharamsala, India

Framed by the Himalaya, Guyto monastery was one of the most beautiful Tibetan monasteries that we had ever seen.  Witnessing the fire puja, a special fire ceremony and offerings of Tibetan monks, was amazing and unforgettable.

4. Hiking the Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand

Tongariro Crossing is a 1-day walk through the Tongariro Crossing National Park in New Zealand’s South Island. It is one of the best walks in New Zealand and also in the world. Hiking 19 km in the volcanic landscape was quite demanding, but totally worth it. The landscapes resembling moonscape that we saw along the way was just unbelievably stunning and magical. 

5. Hitchhiking New Zealand

We hitchhiked all around New Zealand, 3966 km with 52 drivers. It was fantastic! We got a lift from lots of very friendly people, made new friends on the way, and saw amazing places. Read the whole story Hitchhiking New Zealand – Hidden Gems and Wild Seal Pups that we shared on The Planet D, the awesome adventure travel blog.

6. Camping by lake Pukaki in New Zealand.

We don’t have to tell you anything more. These photos say it all.

The only thing we have to mention here is that Lake Pukaki really was one of the 5 stunning places in New Zealand’s South Island you must see. 

Anybody travelling to New Zealand this year? Check out our New Zealand Travel Guide: Everything You Need To Know Before You Go 

7. Exploring Australian hidden beaches 

Australian beaches are very long, wild and really impressive. Only if the water wasn’t so cold!

At the beginning of this year we travelled along the coast of New South Wales and found some gorgeous, almost hidden beaches there.

Long Beach in Jervis Bay, Australia

Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia

8. Immersing ourselves in the local cultures in George Town, Malaysia

We simply adore George Town! It has been our third time visiting this fascinating city this year. To know more about this unique multicultural Malaysian town, take a look at 10 reasons to visit George Town Penang Malaysia. 

9. Going for a trip to the Thar desert in India

India was overwhelming. We managed to escape all of it for one day at least. 🙂

To know more about our experience going to the Thar desert with Kheta, “the real desert man”, and to watch the video from this perfect day, check out  A Day in the Thar Desert – an experience not to be missed. 

10. House sitting in Dubai

We finished the year of 2015, the year full of travel adventures and unforgettable cultural experiences, by taking care of two lovely doggies Beau and Kobi in Dubai. We also had enough time to see most of this exciting city. Last time we visited Dubai was 20 years ago! The city has changed tremendously! Then there were 5 % of tourists and 95 % of locals. Nowadays, foreigners living in Dubai and foreign visitors create 85% of the population of Dubai. The city is great for people watching:). So many different ethics and nationalities from all over the world!

It has been our third time that we did house sitting. House sitting is such a great way of travelling the world! Have you not heard about it yet?  House Sitting – the new way of travelling the world? will tell you all about house sitting, where you can find available house sits and how you can become a house sitter too.

What were your travel highlights of 2015? Where did you travel?

What are your best travel memories?

We would love to hear about them!