From standing on a glass platform high above a Norwegian fjord to sharing a first glimpse of the Grand Canyon with someone you love, travel has a way of turning big and small moments into memories we’ll hold for a long time. Stepping out of the everyday and into somewhere new – ideally a place you’ve long dreamed of seeing – is one way to add special moments to your memory bank.
In celebration of Trafalgar’s Big Travel Sale, we’re spotlighting five big travel moments that meant the world to our past guests. Each one is shaped by a place or dream, reminding us that the best travel experiences often happen when we least expect them.
1. Linda stepped up to new heights
Travel has a habit of nudging us right to the edge of our comfort zone, then rewarding us with a view worth the nerves. On Trafalgar’s Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords tour, that moment often arrives at the Geiranger Skywalk, perched high above one of Norway’s most famous fjords. From here, the blue Geirangerfjord stretches out below, framed by sheer rock walls with white waterfalls tumbling from the heights.
Would you step on the skywalk for a once-in-a-lifetime view? Luckily Travel Director Michael was there to coax Linda out from the edge and give her the courage.
“This was special because I usually do not like heights. My Travel Director Michael encouraged me to go on this Skywalk and it was an epic adventure for me. I will never forget it,” she reflected.
Travel is about ticking off your bucket list, but also quiet achievements like gaining confidence from doing something you didn’t think you could.
2. Marcia felt the magic of Machu Picchu
High in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu does more than just impress visitors – there is something otherworldly about the remote mountain landscape and UNESCO World Heritage site. Past guest Marcia Mertens reached the ancient Incan citadel on Trafalgar’s Highlights of Peru tour. Long before tourists arrived, this 15th-century city was a place of ceremony, astronomy and deep spiritual importance. Today, there’s still a mystical atmosphere to the site as you stand there surrounded by peaks and centuries of human civilization.
“Definitely a highlight to be in this magical energy vortex of Macchu Picchu!!” Marcia said, who admired the stone terraces and watched clouds drift over the landmark.
On the Highlights of Peru tour, Machu Picchu isn’t a rushed photo stop. In fact, you’ll visit twice – giving you two opportunities and two days to explore the site. Take the Vistadome train to the site, where a Local Specialist will show you the great Temple of the Sun, House of the Priest, Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. Return at sunrise the next day for more time at the hilltop ruins.
3. Dave lived a lifelong golfing dream in Scotland
For all keen golf lovers, St Andrews is the spiritual home of the game. The Old Course is a stretch of fairway along Scotland’s coast that’s basically the birthplace of modern golf. The Swilcan Bridge at the 18th hole is a place where sport, history and passion collide, and its significance wasn’t lost on avid golfer and past guest Dave Sheik
Standing on the hallowed grounds of St Andrews was the highlight of his Best of Scotland tour. “The bottom photo is me, leaning against the bridge that spans the 18th hole at the Old Course at St Andrews,” he said.
“As an avid golfer, not only do I play a lot of golf but I watch equally as much, especially the Open (formerly the British Open). The winner is always photographed standing on that bridge, and it was a dream come true to stand where so many of the world’s greatest golfers have stood.”
4. Stacy shared a once-in-a-lifetime view with her mum
While some big travel moments aren’t about where you go, but who you share them with, we will admit that a scenic location or once-in-a-lifetime experience certainly helps to cement special memories.
Trafalgar’s 5 Epic National Parks tour is filled with grand landscapes but for past guest Stacy Bilhartz, her journey carried extra meaning. She traveled with her 75-year-old mother, who had never been farther west than Oklahoma. Together they set off on desert roads under wide-open skies, watching the American Southwest unfold slowly as the coach rolled towards Grand Canyon National Park.
Anticipation and excitement were at an all-time high as the awe-inspirining natural wonder came into view – and Stacy took things up a notch. While seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time is unforgettable on its own, it’s even more magic from above.
“Sharing in the optional flight excursion over the Grand Canyon with my mom was a once-in-a-lifetime event,” she said. “This was the first glimpse of the Grand Canyon and it was spectacular. What a special memory with my mom – one that will be cherished forever!”
5. Colleen’s bucket-list moment in Rome
The Trevi Fountain is one of those places that exists in our imagination long before we see it in real life. The glorious fountain pops up in films, TV shows, magazines and postcards – and yet it’s even more breathtaking in real life.
“My whole life I have dreamed of seeing the beauty of the Trevi fountain,” recounts past guest Colleen B. “I never wanted to be one of those people with regrets of not travelling. My dream came true this year and this trip was more than I ever imagined. The history and endless beauty left me awe struck. I can finally say that I have checked one item off my bucket list!”
Colleen joined Trafalgar’s Best of Italy tour, which starts and ends in the Eternal City and turns long-held dreams into lived experiences! Besides tossing a coin into the iconic fountain, guests explore Rome’s layers of art, history and daily life, stepping down narrow, cobblestone streets and past major ancient highlights like the Colosseum and Pantheon.
Start planning your next big travel moment with Trafalgar’s Big Travel Sale….