After becoming the first female to visit all the countries on our
planet, Cassie De Pecol decided to share her 7 favorite destinations.
Cez and Agness from eTramping.com, an adventure travel blog that
provides unique travel tips and interesting facts about destinations across the
whole globe, were particularly inspired by the story of Cassie De Pecol, a
young woman who has been to every country in the world. Since both of them are
experienced travelers, it only makes sense that they take local advice
from other adventurers like Cassie.
Cassie De Pecol achieved what most people could only
dream of. This young woman from Connecticut managed to travel to every single
196 sovereign nations on our planet. Not only did Cassie become the first woman
to do this, but she became the fastest person to visit every country in the
world. This 27-year-old woman managed to travel the whole globe in just 18
months and 26 days, thus significantly beating the old record of three years
and three months.
Cassie embarked on her adventure in July 2015 and
completed it this February. She spent about two to five days in each country.
The whole journey ended up costing her around $137,000. Although her goal was
to promote peace throughout the world, she also decided to share some of her
favorite destinations for all of the travel enthusiasts around the globe. Here
are her top 7 picks:
Maldives
First off, Cassie recommends visiting the Maldives if
you want to see “the bluest water, the whitest sand, and the most stunning
beaches.” It comes as no surprise that this country made it onto her list,
considering that it’s one of the most known and adored travel destinations on
the planet. Although you may think that this country is only for the rich, you
can actually stay in Malé, the capital of Maldives, for less than $25 a day.
The Maldives is best known for having some of the best
beaches on the planet. People come here to relax and forget about the
challenges they usually have to face daily by exploring and availing of a Maldives package. If you’re looking to take it slow
for several days, then this country is the perfect vacation spot for you.
If you have an interest in marine life, then you will
be pleasantly surprised to see just how clear the waters of the Maldives are.
If you thought that was awesome, then you should also know that because the
water is so warm here, most people don’t even wear a wet-suit when they go
diving.
Mongolia
Cassie De Pecol says that you should definitely visit
Mongolia if you want “to be immersed in the remote wilderness and to ride the
wild horses.” Most people probably wouldn’t put this country in their top
picks, but she absolutely fell in love with it.
Mongolia is the perfect travel destination for any
person that enjoys the outdoors. If you love exploring natural beauty in peace
and quiet, then you will probably be spending a lot of time in this country in
the future. It’s hard not to fall in love with the camping spots and the hiking
trails Mongolia has to offer.
Tunisia
More specifically, Cassie recommends visiting the town
of Sidi Bou Said, which is relatively close to
Tunisia’s capital. She noted that this country will make you “experience North
African culture with a Middle Eastern feel and an immense amount of
archaeological history.”
Sidi Bou Said is a town located on top of a steep cliff
that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. It’s noted for its simple, but alluring
architecture. Due to its picturesque beauty, Sidi Bou Said is usually crowded
with tourists throughout the day. After all, it is one of the most common stops
for tour groups who come to the country. If you like peace and quiet, then you
will enjoy this town when the sun sets and most of the tourists who aren’t
staying here leave.
Costa
Rica
“Monkeys, fresh fruit, good music, and volcanoes. Need
I say more?” This is all that Cassie said when she mentioned that Costa Rica
was one of her favorite countries that she’s ever been to.
Costa Rica is an amazing country for nature lovers, since it is known for having some of the most beautiful hiking trails on the planet. Just by going on a few hikes, you will be able to see the variety of life in tropical rainforests, volcanoes, and waterfalls. Upon finishing a hike, you can take a surf lesson or enjoy the afternoon at some of the great beaches this country has to offer.
Bhutan
Cassie De Pecol has said that people should visit
Bhutan in order to “learn the ethics of peaceful living.” It comes as no
surprise that she felt like there is a lot to be learned about peaceful living
here considering that traditional Buddhist culture is extremely present in the
lives of the people that live in Bhutan.
Apart from experiencing the allure of the Himalayan
landscape, you will also have a chance to visit the Paro Taktsang, otherwise known as Tiger’s
Nest, one of the most famous Buddhist temples on the planet.
Cassie had a lot to say about her trip to Tiger’s Nest.
She noted that “the pilgrimage to Paro Taktsang was something out of Avatar, a
dream to trek through low-hanging clouds with a harrowing drop at any given
moment on either side. Prayer flags swayed through the pines, prayer wheels
spinning in the breeze, and tsa-tsas (ashes of the dead) wedged between
crevices of stone.”
Oman
Cassie spoke very highly of the countries located in
the Middle East. “All of this negative stuff we hear in the news and from politicians
about Muslims and the Middle East couldn’t be further from the truth in regards
to how kind, helpful and happy the people are, generally speaking. Also, the
culture is very unique, the landscapes are beautiful, the food is delicious,”
she noted.
With that being said, Oman easily found its way onto
her list. She feels like people should visit this country in order to immerse
themselves “in the desert and mountains, while learning from locals who live in
the mountains - it’s a whole different lifestyle.”
Pakistan
Cassie said that she was very eager to visit Pakistan
because she had to wait four months to get her visa approved. However, upon
arriving here, she wasn’t disappointed. She noted that her trip to Pakistan was
very educational and culturally enriching. She also recommended visiting this
place “to get a true sense of raw, authentic Asian culture, and for the food.”
Everybody has their own favorite vacation spots according to their preferences. Some people enjoy visiting big cities, while others constantly search for a secluded retreat. However, if you are unsure about where to go next, then you might want to listen to Cassie De Pecol. After all, she did visit every country in the world…
What’s
the best country that you’ve ever been to?
About the guest writer(s):
Agness and Cez are “travel
buddies and best friends. Originally hailing from Poland, (they)
ditched their nine-to-five’s in favor of taking off for unique adventures
around the world. Ever since 2011, that’s when it all started!”
They have since written their adventures on their travel blog eTramping.
All photos credit to Pixabay
