Agent Selling Tips: Bucket-List Travel
01-Aug-2025
Category: News Stories
PATA committee members, Sam Collins (Best At Travel) and Helen Wheat (Travelbag) have teamed up to give us their top bucket-list experiences in the Pacific Asia region. Read on to hear this month's recommendations:
Helen, what are your top tips for agents selling bucket-list experiences in Australasia & Pacific?
Helen Wheat: "For Oz & NZ book in early to avoid disappointment. Experiences like those on the Great Barrier Reef (especially the likes of Reefsleep) and heli hikes in NZ will get booked up during peak seasons so you don’t want your clients asking to add on further down the line and nothing to be available. Look for more unique ways of seeing the icons. For example take a segway tour around the base of Uluru instead of a walking tour and Sunrise Kayak around Sydney harbour instead of taking a cruise."
Sailing with a view
A sailing trip around Halong Bay remains a ‘must do’ for Vietnam. However the amazing limestone islands can get very busy with day trippers and those on shorter cruises. To experience the spectacle in it’s full glory, look at longer 2 night cruises that travel further from the mainland to bays like Lan Ha that have far fewer boats.
Japan's cherry blossoms
Cherry blossom season in Japan remains top of many bucket lists – unfortunately that is shared by most of the world! This means that you often need to book 2 years in advance to secure tours and guides. However autumn in destinations like Kyoto can also be a stunning display of colour – with a fraction of the tourists, costs, and easier to organise without the advance notice!"
Helen, what booking trends are you seeing recently?
Sam, what are some of the most memorable and ethical animal experiences you would recommend to travelers exploring Southeast Asia?
Sam Collins: "Animal encounters feature high on many peoples bucket lists – be it Orang Utans, Komodo Dragons or Elephants. But it is important to understand that not all experiences are fully ethical and focused, so research first. Ask Tour Operators about who they work with, and what certification the sanctuaries / camps hold.
Sam Collins: "Animal encounters feature high on many peoples bucket lists – be it Orang Utans, Komodo Dragons or Elephants. But it is important to understand that not all experiences are fully ethical and focused, so research first. Ask Tour Operators about who they work with, and what certification the sanctuaries / camps hold.
Appreciate that you won’t always get to see wild animals by the nature of them being wild. For example if you’re looking to see the majestic Orang Utans many tours start with visits to sanctuaries such as Sepilok in Sandakan. but it is worth considering lesser visited destinations to avoid crowds. For example Semenggoh Nature Reserve near Kuching, Sarawak receives much smaller numbers than Sepilok in Sandakan, Sabah. Also for those visiting the Komodo Dragons, most day trips take you instead to the closer, neighbouring island of Rinca which hosts the majority of dragons. However longer tours and liveaboards tend to focus on the actual island of Komodo which receives far less tourists.
Many Asian beach hotels now protect turtle laying hatcheries – important as turtles return to the same beach every year to lay eggs. It can be an amazing experience to witness, but have a look at quieter destinations like the East Coast of Malaysia – Tanjong Jara has a hatchery and you are most likely to witness this between May – September, however you have to have a degree of luck to witness this spectacle. Make sure you pick the right seasons (unlike me in Papua New Guinea who stayed awake on a beach all night to then be told I was 3 months late)."
Helen, what are your top tips for agents selling bucket-list experiences in Australasia & Pacific?
Helen Wheat: "For Oz & NZ book in early to avoid disappointment. Experiences like those on the Great Barrier Reef (especially the likes of Reefsleep) and heli hikes in NZ will get booked up during peak seasons so you don’t want your clients asking to add on further down the line and nothing to be available. Look for more unique ways of seeing the icons. For example take a segway tour around the base of Uluru instead of a walking tour and Sunrise Kayak around Sydney harbour instead of taking a cruise."
What are your top tips for travelers visiting temples in Asia?
Sam Collins: "Staying closer to temples can allow you early access before crowds arrive – such as staying at Plataran or Amanjiwo hotels in Java which is closer to Borobudur rather than the traditional hotels in Yogyakarta. You may wish to reverse traditionals tours – ie so many people do Sunrise at Angkor Wat which you could find it a lot quieter and more peaceful later in the afternoon. Remember that for children it is easy to get ‘templed out’ – especially in the heat and humidity of South East Asia, so don’t enforce your rigid schedules onto them, and look to break up full day temple trips over a couple of days."
What other bucket-list experiences do you recommend?
Sam Collins:
"Hot Air Ballooning
Whereas the traditional hot spot has been Bagan in Myanmar and is largely closed to tourists now, other destinations like Chiang Mai have opened up. Obviously research the centres running the activities carefully and ensure they are fully insured. Remember that cheapest is not always best!
Sam Collins:
"Hot Air Ballooning
Whereas the traditional hot spot has been Bagan in Myanmar and is largely closed to tourists now, other destinations like Chiang Mai have opened up. Obviously research the centres running the activities carefully and ensure they are fully insured. Remember that cheapest is not always best!
Singapore Sling at Raffles
Still one of the most requested experiences in Asia, and of course open to the public. The historic Long Bar is only open for walk ins and can get busy. However it may be worth looking at staying to appreciate the full Raffles Singapore experience – with the proliferation of luxury hotels in Singapore, it can represent good value when booked a long way in advance and of course gives you priority access to the hotel facilities!
Still one of the most requested experiences in Asia, and of course open to the public. The historic Long Bar is only open for walk ins and can get busy. However it may be worth looking at staying to appreciate the full Raffles Singapore experience – with the proliferation of luxury hotels in Singapore, it can represent good value when booked a long way in advance and of course gives you priority access to the hotel facilities!
Night Life
If you’re feeling like rediscovering your party backpacking days but not quite fancying the crowds of Koh Phangans (in)famous Full Moon Party, they have more relaxed Half Moon (and even Quarter Moon) parties that are less raucous. There are a number of great hotels on Koh Phangan like Anantara Rasananda and Santhiya Koh Phangan that are set on quieter beaches that will help you get to Haad Rin beach – and it’s easier to get back to bed than having to wait for your boat back to Koh Samui!
If you’re feeling like rediscovering your party backpacking days but not quite fancying the crowds of Koh Phangans (in)famous Full Moon Party, they have more relaxed Half Moon (and even Quarter Moon) parties that are less raucous. There are a number of great hotels on Koh Phangan like Anantara Rasananda and Santhiya Koh Phangan that are set on quieter beaches that will help you get to Haad Rin beach – and it’s easier to get back to bed than having to wait for your boat back to Koh Samui!
Sailing with a view
A sailing trip around Halong Bay remains a ‘must do’ for Vietnam. However the amazing limestone islands can get very busy with day trippers and those on shorter cruises. To experience the spectacle in it’s full glory, look at longer 2 night cruises that travel further from the mainland to bays like Lan Ha that have far fewer boats.
Japan's cherry blossoms
Cherry blossom season in Japan remains top of many bucket lists – unfortunately that is shared by most of the world! This means that you often need to book 2 years in advance to secure tours and guides. However autumn in destinations like Kyoto can also be a stunning display of colour – with a fraction of the tourists, costs, and easier to organise without the advance notice!"
Helen, what booking trends are you seeing recently?
Helen Wheat: "Australia has continued to perform well in the last few months with multi-centre/multi-state bookings dominating, average booking values have increased as clients are leaning towards experiential travel and unique accommodations. New Zealand motorhome bookings have seen a nice spike in the last couple of months and self-drivers have booked the majority of their stay in South Island.
In terms of forward booking predictions, Australia is pacing ahead in terms of late 25 and 26 bookings with Oct & Dec 25 and Jan & Feb 26 being the most popular months. New Zealand is slightly slower off the mark for 26 although the Christmas period is performing well. We have seen the lead time for NZ shorten slightly so expect to see movement on those peak 26 months very soon."
