Hmmm ... missed this when it first came up, and it's an interesting enough question to stand revival ...
For me money is not so much the issue (although it's not trivial, to be sure) as logistics is. There are a number of places that might appear on my list if I was convinced I could do them reasonably safely, but I'm not, and the safety cannot always be bought simply by throwing money at the problem. An example: I'd love to see the really remote parts of the Aleutian Islands (e.g. the Islands of Four Mountains section), but no amount of money is going to mitigate the dangerously vile weather, lengthy voyage across treacherous seas, lack of a safe landing point, etc.
That said, after considerable reflection (Andrew is right, this is harder than it looks), my choices are:
1. A good solid month wandering Australia.
2. Another good solid month in Iceland, particularly including expeditions to the interior.
3. The amazing African volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, and other stuff along the African Rift Valley along the way. Only if logistics were well in hand, though. If not, then replace this one with Alaska.
My priorities are to avoid cities, get into beautiful and exotic places, avoid cities, be active, avoid cities, see something really new and different, and oh yes, avoid cities. I've had the good fortune in my life to do a lot of trips that meet these goals, so a number of things that I'd recommend to others with similar priorities (e.g. Hawaii except Oahu, Costa Rica) don't appear here simply because I've been there.
Bill-on-the-Hill
Sleeping thread, wake!
Hmmm ... missed this when it first came up, and it's an interesting enough question to stand revival ...
For me money is not so much the issue (although it's not trivial, to be sure) as logistics is. There are a number of places that might appear on my list if I was convinced I could do them reasonably safely, but I'm not, and the safety cannot always be bought simply by throwing money at the problem. An example: I'd love to see the really remote parts of the Aleutian Islands (e.g. the Islands of Four Mountains section), but no amount of money is going to mitigate the dangerously vile weather, lengthy voyage across treacherous seas, lack of a safe landing point, etc.
That said, after considerable reflection (Andrew is right, this is harder than it looks), my choices are:
1. A good solid month wandering Australia.
2. Another good solid month in Iceland, particularly including expeditions to the interior.
3. The amazing African volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, and other stuff along the African Rift Valley along the way. Only if logistics were well in hand, though. If not, then replace this one with Alaska.
My priorities are to avoid cities, get into beautiful and exotic places, avoid cities, be active, avoid cities, see something really new and different, and oh yes, avoid cities. I've had the good fortune in my life to do a lot of trips that meet these goals, so a number of things that I'd recommend to others with similar priorities (e.g. Hawaii except Oahu, Costa Rica) don't appear here simply because I've been there.