Must-See Places to Travel in Your 20s (Adventure & Culture Focus)

1. India – A chaotic and holy places

When I think about must-see places to travel in your 20s, I came up with India first. I went there when I was 24 years old, and it was the most memorable trip in my life.

The white marble Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, India, with its minarets and dome, viewed from the long, manicured gardens and reflecting pools crowded with tourists.

Experience the chaos

The first impression of India was chaos! A lot of taxis or TukTuk are crossing on the road, and unbelievable amounts of garbage are thrown away on the street. The atmosphere is totally different from other countries.

A busy narrow street in India with tangled overhead power lines, local shops with Hindi signs, and a white dog resting in the middle of the road.
A night street scene in India showing a green and yellow auto-rickshaw parked next to a utility box, with a large amount of discarded disposable food bowls scattered on the dirt ground.

Gain insight into life and death perspectives in Varanasi

A crowded scene at the ghats of Varanasi along the Ganges River under a cloudy sky, featuring numerous wooden boats on the water, pilgrims bathing, and people gathering on the stone steps with temples in the background.
Three travelers in traditional Indian clothing sitting on a boat in the Ganges River, pointing at white seagulls flying over the water in Varanasi.

I recommend going to Ganges river, which is in Varanasi. The atmosphere is different from another city. It was a holy vibe around Ganges river. Local people think of it as a holy place, and they wash their clothes or bathe there.

Especially at night, they burn the bodies of people who have passed away and then release the ashes into the Ganges River. This is because Hindus believe that fire purifies the soul and that the Ganges has sacred power to cleanse and guide the spirit toward liberation. I saw the situation and I was thinking deeply about death. It was a meaningful moment for me.

A view of the Manikarnika cremation ghat in Varanasi from a boat on the Ganges River, showing smoke rising from funeral pyres, stacks of wood, and people observing the ancient rituals at dusk.

Encounter with a Tour Guide

I happened to meet a tour guide on the street. He could speak Japanese and started talking to us in Japanese. At first, we were suspicious of everything, thinking that India might be sketchy. But as we talked, I began to feel that maybe I could trust him. I was still suspicious 50%, but we decided to follow him.

He shared many things about the local area with us and explained various histories and backgrounds as well. He even took us to a shop that his family run, where they sold tea and textiles. In the end, he told us we could decide how much to pay for him, so there was no overcharging, and we had a really enjoyable time.

The strongest impression was something he said when I asked, “Was it difficult to learn Japanese?”

He replied, “Not at all. There’s nothing in life that’s truly difficult. If you really want to do something, you can achieve it, But there is one thing that is truly hard －and that is living”

At that time, I was going through a period when I had lost family members and was facing hard time, so his words really touched me. Meeting him and hearing what he said became an unforgettable and precious encounter for me.

His name is Vijay, so if you have a chance to go to Varanasi, I recommend reaching out to him.

A friendly Indian man wearing a whimsical purple animal hat with ears, smiling and making a peace sign on a boat in Varanasi. An elderly boatman is rowing in the background on the Ganges River.

2. Nepal – Himalayan Adventures

Aerial view of the snow-capped Himalayan mountain range under a clear blue sky, taken from an airplane window with the red and white wing of a Lion Air aircraft in the foreground.

See the breathtaking Himalayas

The Himalayas in Nepal was the most breathtaking scenery that I’ve seen in my whole travel life. I woke up around 4a.m. and hiked a little up the mountain to see the view.

A beautiful sunrise or sunset over a mountain range, featuring a deep purple sky transitioning into a bright orange horizon with a faint crescent moon visible above the clouds.
Distant snow-covered mountain peaks under a clear blue sky, partially obscured by morning mist and foreground trees.

Feel the kindness and warmth of local people

The local people were really kind and welcoming. I had the chance to enjoy Lassi with them and saw they’re enjoying their chatting time in the town.

I think the most interesting thing to going to advancing country is that you can feel culture more.

A close-up of a hand holding a traditional clay bowl of creamy King Curd (Juju Dhau) with a wooden spoon, with smiling local men and a green advertisement board in the blurred background.
Local men sitting and socializing in front of a traditional Nepali shop in Bhaktapur, with a green "King Curd" (Juju Dhau) advertisement board and snacks displayed in the open storefront.
Three elderly Nepali women in traditional dress sitting and talking on the brick ledge of a historic wooden building in Bhaktapur, enjoying the afternoon sun.

3. Mexico – Festival of the day of the dead

Since I first watched the movie “Coco“, I have wanted to participate in the “Day of the Dead” festival. After moving to Canada this August, I decided to go there. This is one of my bucket lists.

A vibrant night street scene decorated with colorful papel picado banners and Día de Muertos ornaments, featuring sugar skull decorations and orange marigold garlands hanging between historic buildings.

There are a lot of decorations on all of the street, and the parades are held in the street at night, which makes me feel the festival atmosphere.

The Oaxaca Cemetery Tour

On November 1st, I finally joined a cemetery tour in Oaxaca. We visited two popular local cemeteries and saw a culture that think death as not only with sadness, but also with celebration and the welcoming return of their loved ones.The graves were decorated with flowers and their favorite foods, which transforms cemeteries into place of joy.

 

In the Day of the Dead tradition, November 1st is for children and November 2nd is for adults. I participated in Children’s day. When I saw the graves and it is written their ages –some of them were less than 10 years old. It made me think deeply. I felt it’s miracle to live a life. After watching Coco, I realized that people never die as long as we remember them.

A nighttime scene at a Mexican cemetery during Día de Muertos, showing families gathered around graves decorated with bright orange marigolds (cempasúchil) and hundreds of lit candles, creating a warm and spiritual glow.

Before the tour, I got a traditional face paint on the street. There were many makeup artists and they can make up for us in about 30 minutes, which made me feel part of the celebration.

4. Mongolia – Step into the Nomadic Life

Unforgettable 10 Hour Bus Journey

I took a bus for about 10 hours from Ulaanbaatar to another countryside. Along the way, I suddenly ran into massive herds of sheep and camels crossing the road, which made me feel Mongolian! 

If you want to learn more about seeing a nomadic lifestyle, exploring the Gobi Desert please read the next blog.

A herd of sheep and goats grazing on a vast, dry plain in Mongolia under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, with a small roadside shop and a parked truck in the background.