2025 Bucket List

In response to requests from our brilliant and adventurous executive education students, each year, my colleagues and I curate a fresh list of global adventure experiences that have inspired us most. These are trips we've taken within the last 12 months that are surprisingly wonder sparking, perspective expanding, and educationally enriching. If you try one, we'd love to hear how it shapes your journey.

Hut-to-Hut Hiking in the Italian Dolomites

Topping the list this year! Since their first Everest Base Camp trek in 1969, MT Sobek has been connecting adventurers to the world through active and immersive experiences. This was our first time traveling with an adventure tour company like MT Sobek, and we were wildly impressed with not only the 75 miles of well-guided trekking but the quality of community among our cross-generational fellow travelers. Hot tip: if the Dolomites aren't top of your list, check out their global trips and treks of varying modes and intensity levels!

Esalen Institute Workshop Retreat in Big Sur

Perched on the California Pacific Coast cliffs, Esalen Institute is a holistic educational retreat center, established in 1962 and considered the epicenter of the human potential movement. They offer a range of personal development workshops (several taught by colleagues and friends) punctuated by cliffside hot springs, reflection and meditation spaces, and gorgeous gardens on the expansive grounds. Hot tip: Communal dining delivers delicious grub and a welcoming community of new connections and friendships.

Motorcycle Tour of the Route des Grandes Alpes

A helmet and a motorcycle license is all you need for admission to one of Europe’s most iconic alpine routes, from Lake Geneva to the Côte d’Azur. This was our first bike trek, and it exceeded expectations: a self-guided, five day (round trip) windswept adventure of hairpin turns, dramatic peaks, and spontaneous lodging in charming French villages. Hot tip: get your helmet intercoms sorted before hitting the road for expansive conversation that matches the scenery.

Beachside Getaway in Oman's Zighy Bay

For the health and wellness enthusiasts looking for a calming treat to complement the high octane adventure, a recent experience in Oman was stunning enough to make the list. If you're in the region and in the market for beachside luxury, check out Six Senses Zighy Bay, a secluded village-style resort where desert peaks meet turquoise sea, breathwork classes follow morning yoga, and footwear is irrelevant. Hot tip: grab some stand-up paddle boards and catch a sunrise on the water. (Yes, we know this is the 'relaxation' option, but you know us well enough to expect a 5am wakeup somewhere!)

Backpacking in the Yosemite High Sierras

For the independent back-country explorers! Many visiting adventurers head to Yosemite Valley, but we've long been fans of the back country treks from the less frequented Tuolumne Meadows. Head to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, loop past Bernice Lake and down Lewis Creek through Lyell Canyon. Four nights gives you time to linger at alpine lakes, catch sunrise at Vogelsang Pass, and blend high-country solitude with lush meadow trekking. Hot tip: if back-country camps are your preference over full backpacking, enter the High Sierra Camp lottery for both guided and unguided options.