We asked our Contiki employees what they'd like to do before they die. Here's what they said..

For us, no regrets isn’t just a travel philosophy, it’s a way of life. So this got us thinking - what does living with no regrets really mean to our Contiki crew - the people who live and breathe this way of thinking every single day?

With that in mind, we put two seemingly simple questions to the gang - what it is they most want to do before they die, and what is their biggest life regret? As the responses came flowin' in, we realised they all, probably unsurprisingly, had one thing in common...

TO TRAVEL

#1: Travel to all 7 continents

#2: Skydive the Swiss alps

#3: Travel the World, obviously

#4: Swim with whale sharks

#5: Skinny dip in every country I visit

#6: Sail around Turkey

#7: Turn my passion for travel into a career that progresses into something I’m proud and happy to continue doing

#8: Swim with Blue Whales

#9: Go to Antarctica and North Korea

#10: Travel through the Amazon in South America

#11: Travel across all continents for one whole year on one epic trip

#12: Visit the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

#13: Get married

#14: Travel to over 100 countries

#15: Walk the Silk Road

#16: See the Northern Lights in Iceland

#17: Travel to country number 100… I still have 55 to go! 🙂

#18: Start my own business

#19: Face my greatest fear: Bungee jumping

#20: Go to India on a hippy dippy yoga adventure

#21: Sail the Caribbean on a private yacht

#22: Sail around Croatia on a private boat

#23: Buy a house

#24: Travel the world, non-stop

#25: Go to the airport with a packed bag and no idea where I’m going

#26: Buy a boat and go sailing for a year

#27: Spend a year training polo ponies in Kenya

#28: Live in Australia and the USA at some point

#29: Create an artistic/activist community centre for anyone to join

There seems to be an underlying theme beneath most answers. Not a single one was materialistic. Each and every wish in our lives is intrinsically close to our souls. It’s an opportunity we shouldn’t waste. And guess what? WE ALL LOVE TO TRAVEL.

Knowing this, we then asked the same people: ‘What’s your biggest regret?’ And guess what? Another theme soon became apparent. Read below…

#1: Not focusing on my health

#2: Not finishing University before moving overseas for 18 months

#3: My Ex (Amen)

#4: Not spending more time with my family

#5: Not owning a camera when travelling through Europe

#6: Not travelling sooner

#7: Ending a 15-year dancing career

#8: Not thinking things through before I act

#9: Not going to Africa with a Fly and Build team when I was offered a spot

#10: Wasting my money on silly nights out

#11: Not trekking the Inca trail when in Peru

#12: Staying in a job I hated for too long

#13: Taking up smoking

#14: Not saving more money to travel more frequently

#15: Not going on exchange during University or moving overseas to live for a couple of years

#16: Not learning a language at school/uni

#17: Worrying too much!

#18: Not travelling enough and being better with money!

#19: Moving back to the UK from Australia

#20: Not spending a summer working in Ibiza

#21: Not taking a gap year out to travel and getting tied down to a 9-5

#21: Dating my cocky ex-boyfriend for way too long (Amen)

Notice what they all have in common? They were about the opportunities not taken.

But one particular response gave us all of the feels…

"I regret spending most of my money on material things instead of travelling to make myself richer"

Keyword: richer. Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. It allows us to connect to ourselves on a much deeper level, because the material things fade and depreciate over time, but that moment you truly step outside your comfort zone and see the world, that’s the moment that changes you as a person. That’s the feeling that never goes away. Experiences beat material possessions. #Fact.

Understanding the nature of people’s regrets has been a huge learning for us. They are so inherently close to our personalities and the way we live our lives. It’s no surprise that we want to be healthier versions of ourselves, spend more time with our closest family and friends, and experience as much of this world as possible. So many of us choose to travel wanting to learn and experience new places, new cultures and meet like-minded people. Yet we all probably wait too long to actually go out there and do the things we dream of.

Somehow, it’s when we near the end of our lives, we suddenly realise what’s before us. We realise that time is no longer our friend. And then we start to think about what we should have done, what we regret, the love and relationships we faced and the life not lived.

We challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and do things you never thought possible. Because that’s what life is really about. Living a life with #NOREGRETS.

Want inspiration on how to travel with no regrets? We’ve challenged some familiar faces with doing just that. Head on over to Contiki to discover more, or take our quiz to discover what your travel personality says about you…