The ultimate travel bucket list: 31 things to do before you die

To mark World Tourism Day, Telegraph Travel's team of experts has selected the 31 experiences that should be on your "bucket list".

1. See the northern lights

"The northern lights are one of nature's great displays: a mysterious, multicoloured show in which the night sky is suddenly lit up with a wondrous glow that twists and swirls like a heavenly lava lamp," says Nigel Tisdall, Telegraph Travel's Northern Lights expert.

"Elusive and ethereal, it is one of the great, timeless thrills of travel, a beautiful, shifting dance of nocturnal rainbows that many viewers find a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience.

"It occurs most commonly in the Arctic region, and in recent years the chance of enjoying the spectacle has become a prime reason to fly north for a winter break, despite the often high costs and the cold. The good news is that the range of holidays available for viewing the northern lights has never been better."