The three adventures at the top of my travel wishlist

My travel wishlist has been growing in my head for years, and it never gets any shorter. On days when I am not on the road, I am usually saving photographs of places I want to see, or scrolling through my feed and imagining what an ordinary Tuesday would feel like there. I manage a few new destinations every year, but some of these need money, time and a proper plan before they become real.

The Alikats Bucket List Challenge arrived at the right moment. It gave me a reason to write down three adventurous trips I genuinely intend to take, rather than keep them as vague daydreams. Some of them may be on your list too.

1. Walking the fjords of Norway

Everything I read about Norway's coast pulls me further north. Waterfalls, trails above the water, boat trips between cliffs, and long views that seem made for a camera. For anyone who likes walking and photography in equal measure, it looks close to ideal.

When to go: June to August if you want sunlight and long days outdoors. October to March if the northern lights are the main reason for the journey.

2. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora lies in the Pacific Ocean, enclosed by a barrier reef with a lagoon inside it. I have looked at more photographs of that lagoon than I could count, on Instagram and Pinterest, and the underwater life is the part that appeals most. Snorkelling, diving and hiking all belong on the same trip.

I also learned a few words from the blogger at orientalflowers, which seems only polite before arriving. Hello is Ia Ora na (yo-rah-nah), goodbye is Nana (nah-nah), yes is E (ay) and no is Aita (eye-tah).

3. Leh, Ladakh

Narrowing the list to three is almost impossible, but Ladakh has been in my head since 2005, the year I visited Kashmir. It is a strange admission that I have seen so little of my own country. Ladakh has become busy in recent years, with holiday packages and group trips multiplying, and that makes me want to go sooner rather than later. The mountains, the lakes and the monasteries of India's far north remain near the top of the list.

When to go: May to September for summer road trips. Snow can arrive from October, so the choice is between winter snow treks and an easier drive in warmer months.

And the ones that would not fit

The Balearic Islands come first, because I was named after one of them, and while I am there the neighbouring islands deserve a look. Tasmania has been recommended to me so often that it has earned a place. New Zealand, too. The list keeps growing, which I suspect is the point.

So, which destinations are on your wishlist? Tell me below — I am always looking for the next one. The opening image comes from wanderlustmoms.com.