Extraordinary natural wonders and scenic landscapes
Extraordinary natural wonders and scenic landscapes
Famous scenic landscapes and natural wonders
Natural wonders occupy a different category from other travel destinations. They are places where the scale, the geology, the light or the sheer improbability of what exists there produces an experience that is difficult to process in the moment and hard to adequately describe afterwards. The best of them tend to change how a place feels for the rest of a trip and how the world looks for some time after.
The wonders on this list span an extraordinary range of natural phenomena. Ancient geological formations, active volcanic landscapes, vast cave systems, extraordinary water features and atmospheric optical phenomena all appear alongside more living wonders defined by the concentration and diversity of the life they support. No two are alike and no single region holds a monopoly.
Timing, crowd management and physical preparation all factor into how well a visit to a natural wonder lands. Some are best experienced at specific times of day or year. Others require a degree of fitness or logistical planning to reach properly. Going in informed and with realistic expectations about what the visit involves tends to make the experience significantly more rewarding.
Lists by region
Worldwide (348)
Africa (33)
Asia (79)
Europe (99)
North America (67)
Oceania (36)
South America (27)
National Park in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla Encounters in Ancient Forest
Bwindi's forest is thought to be more than 25,000 years old, among Africa's oldest. Thick tangled undergrowth gives the park its impenetrable name. Steep ridges and narrow valleys make even short treks here slow going. Mist regularly settles over the canopy, adding to the forest's dense, ancient feel.
City in Canada
Niagara Falls (Ontario)
Nature’s Power, Lights and Mist
Horseshoe Falls curves along the Canadian side, carrying most of the river's flow. Boat tours can sail directly into the base of the falling water. The Journey Behind the Falls tunnel leads visitors behind the curtain itself. Fireworks light the gorge above the falls on summer evenings.
National Park in Colombia
Tayrona National Park
Where Jungle Meets Turquoise Caribbean
Cabo San Juan beach sits where dense jungle meets the Caribbean along Colombia's coast. Granite boulders frame the cove's two connected bays of white sand. Hikers can reach the beach on a trail through tropical dry forest. Hammocks strung in a beachfront hut let visitors stay the night.
Village in Iceland
Vík í Mýrdal
Black Sands, Puffins and Volcano Views
Reynisfjara's black sand beach sits beneath towering basalt columns near this Icelandic village. Waves here can pull swimmers out with little warning, so most stay on the sand. Visitors can walk among the hexagonal rock formations at the cliff's base. Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise from the water just offshore.
Village in Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen
Valley of 72 waterfalls
This Swiss valley holds 72 waterfalls dropping from sheer cliff walls. Staubbach Falls plunges nearly 300 metres straight past the village edge. Visitors can walk the valley floor and watch the water scatter into mist. Cable cars climb from here towards the Jungfrau glaciers above.
National Park in Australia
Twelve Apostles Marine National Park
Iconic Cliffs and Wild Ocean Wonders
Limestone stacks rise from the surf along this stretch of Australia's Great Ocean Road. Erosion has slowly worn the coastline back, leaving these towers standing alone. Visitors can view them from clifftop platforms above the pounding waves. Sunset turns the stacks a deep orange against the darkening sea.
National Park in India
Kaziranga National Park
Land of Rhinos and Wild Grasslands
Kaziranga sits along the floodplain of the Brahmaputra River in northeastern India. Tall elephant grass, some growing over four metres high, covers much of the park. Annual monsoon floods reshape the landscape and push wildlife onto higher ground. Wetlands and oxbow lakes left behind by the shifting river dot the terrain.
Region in Nepal
Annapurna
Legendary Trekking in Himalayan Diversity
Annapurna rises to over 8,000 metres as the tenth highest mountain on Earth. Climbers have long considered it one of the most dangerous peaks to summit. The Annapurna Circuit trek loops around the range without requiring technical climbing. Trekkers pass through rice terraces, rhododendron forests and high alpine passes.
Region in United Kingdom
Cotswolds National Landscape
Honey-Colored Villages and Rolling Hills
The Cotswolds take their golden colour from a local limestone quarried for centuries. Rolling hills here rarely rise above a few hundred metres in height. Dry stone walls, built without mortar, crisscross the countryside for miles. Steep, narrow valleys called combes cut through the hills near villages.
Mountain in Tajikistan
Pamir Mountains
The Remote Roof of the World
The Pamir Highway climbs above 4,000 metres through this Tajik range once called the Roof of the World. Glacial lakes sit tucked between jagged, snow-capped peaks along the route. Travellers can stop at Karakul Lake for views of the surrounding summits. Wakhan Valley further south runs along the border with Afghanistan.
National Park in Tanzania
Tarangire National Park
Elephant Paradise with Baobab Backdrops
Baobab trees dot this Tanzanian park's dry landscape in twisted, ancient shapes. Elephant herds gather here in some of the country's highest concentrations during the dry season. Safari vehicles can follow the Tarangire River where wildlife clusters for water. Termite mounds rise several metres tall across the open plains.
National Park in United States
Valley of Fire State Park
Fiery Red Rocks and Ancient Art
Red sandstone formations glow bright orange across this Nevada desert park's terrain. The Fire Wave's striped rock pattern draws photographers to its curved surface. Visitors can hike short trails winding between the eroded red rock. Ancient petroglyphs carved by earlier inhabitants survive on several rock faces.
Town in Argentina
Puerto Pirámides
Whale Watching on Wild Patagonian Shores
Southern right whales gather in the sheltered bay off this Argentine coastal village each year. Mothers and calves stay close to shore during the June to December breeding season. Visitors can join boat tours that approach the whales at a respectful distance. Sea lions and elephant seals haul out on beaches nearby.
Town in Chile
San Pedro de Atacama
Mars-like Landscapes and Starry Nights
Valle de la Luna's cracked salt flats and dunes resemble a lunar surface in northern Chile. Wind and erosion carved the valley's ridges over thousands of years. Visitors can watch the rock formations glow pink and orange at sunset. Geysers at El Tatio nearby erupt at dawn in the desert cold.
Town in New Zealand
Taupō
Volcanic Lake, Adventure and Hot Springs
Huka Falls channels the Waikato River through a narrow gorge at high speed. Roughly 220,000 litres of water pass through the falls every second. Visitors can walk footbridges close to the churning turquoise water. Lake Taupo nearby fills a supervolcano crater larger than the country of Singapore.
National Park in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
Jungle, Wildlife and Stunning Beaches
White-faced capuchin monkeys move through the trees along this Costa Rican park's trails. Sloths hang from branches just above paths near the coast. Visitors can swim at protected beaches framed by rainforest on both sides. Squirrel monkeys, found only in a few pockets of the country, live here too.
City in Argentina
San Martin de los Andes
Patagonian Paradise by Lake Lácar
Lanin volcano rises in a near-perfect cone above this Argentine lake district town. Its snow-capped peak reflects in Lake Lacar on still mornings. Visitors can hike trails through native pehuen forests towards the volcano's base. Nearby Lake Huechulafquen offers a quieter view of the same peak.
Nature Reserve in Kenya
Maasai Mara
Endless savannahs echo with wildlife rhythms
Black rhinos, critically endangered elsewhere, still survive within this Kenyan reserve's borders. The Mara Triangle section stays under separate, stricter management than the rest of the reserve. Visitors can track rhinos alongside lions and leopards on guided game drives. Balloon safaris drift silently over the plains at sunrise.
National Park in Indonesia
Komodo National Park
Dragons, Pristine Reefs and Wild Beauty
Komodo National Park spans a cluster of rugged, volcanic islands in Indonesia's Flores Sea. Pink Beach gets its colour from crushed red coral mixed into the white sand. A steep climb up Padar Island reveals three separate bays in contrasting colours. Dry, grassy hills cover much of the terrain outside the coastal mangroves.
Country
Andorra
Mountain paradise between France and Spain
Andorra sits tucked entirely within the high peaks of the eastern Pyrenees. The Madriu Perafita Claror valley here earned UNESCO World Heritage status for its glacial landscape. Steep granite cliffs and alpine lakes fill this narrow mountain valley. Chamois and golden eagles still range across its high, roadless terrain.
Island in Greece
Milos
Volcanic Beauty with Hidden Coves
Sarakiniko beach on this Greek island looks carved from smooth white stone. Volcanic rock here eroded into an almost lunar landscape of pale curves. Swimmers can dive from ledges into small pools among the rock. Kleftiko's sea caves nearby are best reached by boat from Adamas.
Mountain in Slovakia
Vysoké Tatry
Slovakia’s Majestic Alpine Playground
Jagged granite peaks rise sharply above glacial lakes in this Slovak mountain range. Strbske Pleso, a small lake, reflects the surrounding summits on calm days. Hikers can follow trails linking mountain huts across the high ridgelines. Chairlifts carry visitors partway up for closer views without a full climb.
City in China
Guilin
Karst Mountains and Serene Rivers
Guilin's karst peaks rise abruptly from flat farmland along the Li River. Centuries of erosion carved these limestone hills into their distinctive rounded shapes. Boats drift slowly downriver past scenes long used on Chinese currency. Caves honeycomb the hills, including the famous Reed Flute Cave with its coloured lighting.
National Park in Brazil
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Waterfalls, Caves and Diamond History
Poco Encantado sits at the bottom of a cave shaped like a deep sinkhole. Between April and September, a beam of sunlight pierces its opening at midday. The light turns the underground lake a vivid, almost glowing blue. Elsewhere in the park, tabletop mountains and waterfalls define the rugged landscape.
Nature Reserve in Mexico
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Ancient Maya Ruins in Pristine Jungle
A Maya pyramid rises above the jungle canopy deep in this Mexican reserve. Structure II reaches over 45 metres, among the tallest in the Maya world. Visitors can climb the pyramid for a view over unbroken rainforest. Howler monkeys and jaguars still move through the surrounding forest.
Town in Australia
Esperance
Australia's Whitest Beaches and Turquoise Waters
Esperance sits along a stretch of coast famous for its bright white sand and turquoise water. Kangaroos regularly nap on the beach at nearby Lucky Bay. Offshore, Lake Hillier is normally coloured a striking, distinct bubblegum pink. Scientists believe salt loving algae and bacteria produce that unusual hue.
City in China
Zhangjiajie
Avatar's Floating Mountains Come Alive
A glass bridge stretches across a gorge over 300 metres above the valley floor here. This Chinese park's stone pillars inspired the same floating peaks seen in Avatar. Visitors can ride the Bailong lift, one of the tallest outdoor lifts on Earth. Mist often settles between the pillars in the early morning.
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Remote polar wilderness with wildlife
King penguin colonies number in the hundreds of thousands along this sub-Antarctic island's beaches. Ernest Shackleton is buried in the whaling station cemetery at Grytviken. Visitors can land by ship to walk among the penguin colonies. Glaciers descend steadily from the island's mountainous, snow-covered interior towards the sea.
Fjord in Norway
Sognefjorden
Majestic waters framed by towering cliffs
Norway's longest fjord cuts over 200 kilometres inland between cliffs a mile high. Glaciers carved the fjord's steep walls during past ice ages. Ferries can carry visitors past waterfalls dropping directly into the water. Naeroyfjord, a narrow arm of the fjord, ranks among the most dramatic stretches.
Town in Switzerland
Zermatt
Alpine Magic and the Matterhorn
This Swiss village bans combustion-engine cars, relying instead on electric taxis and trains. The Matterhorn's peak looms directly above the town's narrow streets. Visitors can ride a cable car towards Europe's highest cable car station nearby. Skiing here continues through summer on the glacier above the village.
National Park in South Africa
Kruger National Park
Where Africa's Big Five Roam Free
Kruger National Park spans roughly two million hectares of South African bushveld. The Sabie and Olifants rivers cut across the reserve, drawing wildlife to their banks. Granite outcrops called koppies rise abruptly from the surrounding flat savanna. Paved and gravel roads crisscross the park, letting self drive visitors explore independently.
National Park in Canada
Banff National Park
Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes
Banff became Canada's first national park when it was established in 1885. Glacial rock flour gives Lake Louise its striking, milky turquoise colour. Snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies rise sharply above the surrounding valley. Moraine Lake nearby is often ranked among the most photographed lakes on Earth.
Island in Seychelles
Mahé
Tropical Paradise with a Wild Side
Anse Source d'Argent-style granite boulders frame beaches across this Seychelles island. Beau Vallon beach stretches along the northwest coast beneath forested hills. Snorkellers can explore reefs just offshore from the main strip of sand. Morne Seychellois National Park covers much of the island's mountainous centre.
Region in India
Ladakh
Himalayan Cold Desert of Contrasts
Ladakh sits in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, creating a stark, high altitude desert. Much of the region lies above 3,000 metres, with some passes over 5,000. Pangong Lake shifts colour throughout the day, from deep blue to turquoise. Snow leopards move through the surrounding mountains, rarely seen but tracked by researchers.
City in United States
Sedona
Red Rocks, Vortexes and Starry Skies
Cathedral Rock's red sandstone spires glow deep orange at sunset in this Arizona town. Erosion has carved the surrounding buttes into their distinctive layered shapes. Hikers can climb the short trail to a saddle between the rock's twin peaks. Oak Creek Canyon nearby cuts a green corridor through the same red rock.
City in Canada
Whistler
Alpine Adventure, Epic Views, Year-Round Fun
Two glacier-capped peaks rise side by side above this British Columbia resort town. The Peak2Peak gondola links them, spanning over four kilometres between summits. Skiers can ride lifts across both mountains on a single pass. Mountain bikers use the same slopes on built trails through the warmer months.
Island in Indonesia
Mentawai Islands
Surfer's paradise with tribal culture
Long, reef-fed swells break consistently off this Indonesian island chain's west coast. Surfers travel here for waves like Macaronis and Lance's Right. Boat charters can reach breaks otherwise unreachable by road. Rainforest interiors still shelter Mentawai communities living much as they always have for generations.
Nature Reserve in Ecuador
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Amazon wilderness teeming with life
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve protects Ecuador's largest wetland inside the Amazon basin. Rivers here spread into a maze of blackwater lagoons and flooded forest. For much of the year, canoes remain the main way to move through the trees. Laguna Grande, the largest lagoon, is known for spectacular sunsets over still water.
City in Italy
Como
Lakeside charm meets mountain views
Lake Como formed inside a deep valley carved by ancient glaciers. Steep, forested mountains rise almost straight up from its shoreline. Grand villas and gardens line the water's edge near towns like Bellagio. The lake's great depth keeps its water notably cold even in summer.
National Park in United States
Yellowstone National Park
Geysers, wildlife and untamed wilderness
Old Faithful erupts on a predictable schedule roughly every 90 minutes in this Wyoming park. Boiling geysers and colourful hot springs sit scattered across the surrounding basin. Visitors can walk boardwalks past bubbling mud pots and steaming vents. Grand Prismatic Spring nearby shows bands of orange, yellow and blue.
City in France
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Alpine thrills beneath Mont Blanc
Chamonix sits directly beneath Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. A cable car climbs to the Aiguille du Midi, over 3,800 metres above sea level. From the summit station, glaciers spread out in every direction below. The Mer de Glace, France's largest glacier, is retreating visibly year by year.
Country
Mongolia
Land of endless steppes
The Gobi Desert stretches across southern Mongolia in dunes and rocky plains. The Flaming Cliffs near Bulgan turn a deep, rusty red at sunset. Paleontologists have uncovered fossilised dinosaur eggs preserved in the cliffs here. Travellers can camp in traditional gers with nomadic herding families nearby.
Town in Greece
Oia
Sunsets Over Whitewashed Cliffs
Oia sits perched on the rim of a massive volcanic caldera in Santorini. A single explosive eruption around 1600 BC reshaped the entire island. Whitewashed houses cascade down the cliffside towards the deep blue water below. Crowds gather each evening along the caldera edge to watch the sunset.
Country
São Tomé and Príncipe
Equatorial paradise with volcanic landscapes
Pico Cao Grande juts nearly 370 metres straight up from the rainforest canopy. This volcanic spire formed from cooled magma left standing after softer rock eroded away. Hikers can trek through the jungle for views of the needle-like peak. Cocoa plantations still cover much of the surrounding lowland forest.
Outer Territory in France
Réunion
An Island of Adventure and Beauty
Piton de la Fournaise erupts regularly on this French island east of Madagascar. Lava fields from recent flows still cover parts of the volcano's flank. Hikers can cross the Plaine des Sables to reach the crater rim. Cirque de Mafate nearby holds villages reachable only on foot.
National Park in Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano National Park
Lava Trails, Rainforest and Epic Views
This near-perfect cone last erupted heavily in 1968 after centuries of dormancy. La Fortuna Falls drops nearby through dense rainforest into a clear pool. Visitors can hike trails around the volcano's base through old lava fields. Hot springs fed by the same volcanic system draw visitors after a hike.
National Park in United States
Arches National Park
A Desert Wonderland of Stone Arches
Arches National Park protects more than 2,000 documented natural stone arches. Wind and water slowly carved these formations from layers of ancient red sandstone. Delicate Arch stands as the park's most photographed and recognisable formation. Freezing temperatures still widen the cracks that will eventually topple some arches.
Region in Australia
Ningaloo Coast
Australia's Accessible Underwater Wonderland
Whale sharks gather seasonally along this Australian reef, among the few predictable sites worldwide. The reef sits close enough to shore that snorkellers can reach it without a long boat ride. Visitors can swim alongside the sharks during their annual feeding season. Turtles nest along the same beaches later in the year.
National Park in United States
Canyonlands National Park
Epic Canyons and Untamed Wilderness
Canyonlands National Park was carved by the meeting of the Colorado and Green Rivers. Deep canyons split the park into distinct districts including Island in the Sky. Sandstone spires and fins fill the aptly named Needles district. Few roads reach into the park's most remote canyons and mesas.
Village in Switzerland
Wengen
Car-Free Alpine Bliss and Epic Views
Cars are banned entirely in this Swiss village reachable only by cable railway. Views open across the Lauterbrunnen valley towards the Jungfrau's snow-covered face. Visitors can ride the railway up to Kleine Scheidegg for closer mountain views. Skiers use the same slopes each winter beneath the same summit.
National Park in Ethiopia
Simien National Park
Jagged peaks of ancient wilderness
Jagged escarpments drop over a thousand metres across this Ethiopian highland park. Gelada baboons graze in large troops along the cliff-edge grasslands. Visitors can trek multi-day routes past dramatic viewpoints like Imet Gogo. Walia ibex, a rare wild goat found only here, still climb the park's steepest ledges.
National Park in New Zealand
Tongariro National Park
Volcanic landscapes and epic hikes
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing climbs past active volcanic craters over roughly 19 kilometres. Emerald Lakes get their colour from minerals leaching out of the volcanic soil. Hikers can cross the whole route in a single long day. Mount Ngauruhoe's symmetrical cone rises beside the trail's midpoint.
Country
Dominica
Nature island with pristine rainforests
Dominica calls itself the Nature Isle for its dense, mountainous rainforest. The Boiling Lake here ranks as one of the largest of its kind on Earth. Its grey blue water stays near a constant simmer, heated by volcanic gases below. Over 350 rivers and streams cut through the island's steep terrain.
Island in India
Lakshadweep
Pristine coral paradise off India
Lakshadweep scatters 36 small coral islands off India's southwestern coast. Shallow lagoons ring most of the atolls, sheltered by fringing reef. Only a handful of the islands are inhabited or open to outside visitors. Palm groves cover nearly every inch of land not taken up by beach.
Nature Reserve in Costa Rica
Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves
Mist, Wildlife and Cloudy Magic
Hanging bridges cross the canopy of these Costa Rican cloud forests at treetop height. Mist rolls through the reserve most mornings, coating leaves in moisture. Visitors can spot resplendent quetzals among the moss-covered branches. Zip lines elsewhere on the reserve carry riders above the same green canopy.
National Park in Namibia
Etosha National Park
Namibia's Wildlife Sanctuary
Etosha National Park surrounds a massive salt pan visible even from space. The pan floods only briefly after rare heavy rains each year. For most of the year, its cracked white surface stretches to the horizon. Waterholes along its edge draw large numbers of animals during the dry season.
Country
Aruba
White Sands and Sunny Vibes
Aruba sits outside the Caribbean hurricane belt, keeping its climate reliably dry. Constant trade winds have bent the island's divi-divi trees into permanent, southwest-leaning shapes. A natural pool called Conchi sits tucked inside volcanic rock on the northern coast. Waves crash over its rim, refilling the pool with seawater.
Island in South Korea
Jeju Island
Nature's Island Paradise
Jeju Island formed almost entirely from volcanic activity centred on Hallasan, South Korea's tallest peak. Lava tubes beneath the island include some of the longest in the world. Basalt columns line parts of the coast, stacked in tight hexagonal patterns. Female divers called haenyeo still free dive for shellfish along these shores.
Town in Slovenia
Bovec
Slovenia’s Adventure Capital
The Soca River runs through Bovec in a vivid, almost unnatural emerald green. Glacial minerals and clear mountain water give the river its striking colour. Steep peaks of Triglav National Park rise on either side of the valley. Rafters and kayakers come from across Europe to paddle its rapids.
Island in Ireland
Inishmore
Stone Forts, Cliffs and Celtic Spirit
Dun Aengus, a stone fort, sits on a cliff edge dropping straight into the Atlantic. This largest Aran Island still speaks Irish as an everyday language for many residents. Visitors can cycle narrow lanes between stone walls dividing small fields. Cliffs along the island's western edge drop over 100 metres to the sea.
Village in Austria
Lech and Zürs am Arlberg
Alpine luxury meets skiing heritage
Deep, reliable snowfall built this Austrian resort's reputation among Alpine skiers. The Arlberg region records some of the highest average snow totals in the Alps. Skiers can trace long runs between the two connected villages. Wide bowls above the treeline draw off-piste riders each winter.
Island in Japan
Yakushima
Ancient cedars, mossy forest and waterfalls
Jomon Sugi, an ancient cedar tree, may be over 2,000 years old on this Japanese island. Moss-covered forests here reportedly inspired the setting of a well-known animated film. Visitors can hike for hours through dense forest to reach the tree. Waterfalls and hot springs dot the island's mountainous, rain-soaked interior.
National Park in Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park
Elephant Herds and Wild Horizons
Over 40,000 elephants move through this Zimbabwean park, among the largest herds in Africa. Waterholes here draw large gatherings during the dry season's driest months. Safari vehicles can park near pumped waterholes for close wildlife viewing. Painted dogs, a rare African predator, still roam the park's woodland.
Nature Reserve in South Africa
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Barrier of spears touching sky
The Amphitheatre, a curved basalt cliff nearly five kilometres wide, dominates this South African park. Tugela Falls drops from its rim in a series of steep cascades. Hikers can reach the top by chain ladder for views across the escarpment. San rock art painted centuries ago survives in caves throughout the range.
National Park in Indonesia
Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park
Where volcanoes meet ancient traditions
Mount Bromo's crater still smokes at the centre of an ancient volcanic caldera. A flat expanse of dark volcanic sand, called the Sea of Sand, surrounds it. Jeeps and horses carry visitors across the sand before dawn for sunrise. Mount Semeru, Java's tallest peak, looms as a backdrop to the whole scene.
City in Zambia
Livingstone
Gateway to Victoria Falls Adventure
This Zambian town sits on the edge of Victoria Falls' eastern side. The Zambezi River drops over a mile-wide basalt ledge nearby. Visitors can walk to the Knife Edge Bridge for a close view of the spray. Rafting trips launch downstream through the gorge the falls have carved.
Region in Iceland
Landmannalaugar
Colorful mountains and natural pools
Landmannalaugar's mountains glow in shades of red, yellow, green and blue rhyolite. Minerals like iron and sulphur react with air and water to create these colours. A dark lava field from a 1477 eruption spreads out beside the peaks. Hikers can soak in a natural hot spring at the valley's base.
Town in Canada
Tofino
Wild Pacific, Rainforest, Endless Waves
Old growth rainforest meets the open Pacific along this Vancouver Island town's coast. Storm season draws visitors to watch waves crash against the rocky shoreline. Surfers can paddle out at nearby Long Beach through much of the year. Sea otters and grey whales pass offshore during their seasonal migrations.
Region in Austria
Salzkammergut
Alpine lakes meet imperial heritage
Hallstatt sits on a narrow ledge between a lake and steep mountain walls. This Austrian village's salt mines have been worked for over 7,000 years. Visitors can ride a funicular up to the mine and ice cave above. Boats cross the lake to reach the village from the far shore.
Town in Slovenia
Bled
Fairytale Lake and Alpine Beauty
Lake Bled formed from a glacier that retreated thousands of years ago. A tiny island sits at its centre, topped by a church reachable only by boat. A medieval castle perches on a cliff overlooking the turquoise water. Visitors traditionally ring the church bell there for good luck.
National Park in United States
Denali National Park
Wild Alaska’s peaks and wildlife
Denali rises to over 6,190 metres as the tallest peak in North America. Its base to summit rise is often called the greatest of any mountain on land. Clouds hide the peak on most days, so clear views are considered lucky. Glaciers spill down its slopes, feeding rivers that wind through the valley below.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Bhutan's government says the country absorbs more carbon than it emits each year. Gangkhar Puensum here is considered the tallest unclimbed mountain on Earth. Bhutan bans mountaineering above 6,000 metres to respect local spiritual beliefs. Dense forest still covers more than 70 percent of the country.
National Park in United States
Glacier Bay National Park
Majestic glaciers and pristine wilderness
Glacier Bay was almost entirely covered by ice just over 250 years ago. The glaciers here have retreated more than 100 kilometres since then. Tidewater glaciers still calve directly into the sea, sending chunks of ice crashing down. Humpback whales and sea otters now feed in waters once buried beneath ice.
Island in Japan
Okinawa Island
Reef beaches and Ryukyu Kingdom heritage
Coral reefs ring this southern Japanese island chain in shades of turquoise and blue. Kerama Islands nearby hold some of the clearest water in the region. Divers can spot sea turtles feeding along the shallow reef edges. Traditional Ryukyu culture still shapes the islands' food, music and architecture.
National Park in Japan
Shiretoko National Park
Brown bears and drift ice in Hokkaido
Drift ice piles along this Hokkaido coastline each winter, carried down from the Sea of Okhotsk. Brown bears forage along the shoreline once the ice retreats in spring. Boat tours can cruise close to the ice-covered cliffs in February. Waterfalls along the peninsula's coast freeze solid through the coldest months.
National Park in Thailand
Khao Yai National Park
Wild Elephants, Waterfalls and Jungle Trails
Khao Yai spans dense rainforest and grassland across Thailand's Korat Plateau. Waterfalls scattered through the park include Haew Narok, one of the tallest in the country. Wild elephants sometimes cross the park's main road at dusk. Mist regularly settles over the forest canopy during the cooler winter months.
Town in Canada
Revelstoke
Big Mountain Adventure, Small Town Soul
Snow piles deep each winter in the mountains above this British Columbia town. Heli-skiing operators here reach terrain unreachable by lift or road. Visitors can ride a gondola up Revelstoke Mountain for a valley-wide view. Backcountry huts scattered through the range shelter multi-day ski tours.
Town in Canada
Jasper
Raw Wilderness and Starry Skies
Jasper sits inside the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Dark sky preservation rules here help make it one of the world's premier stargazing spots. The Athabasca and Maligne rivers both cut through steep valleys nearby. Wildlife including elk and bighorn sheep regularly wander through town.
Island in Philippines
Palawan
Paradise of Lagoons and Limestone Cliffs
El Nido's limestone cliffs rise straight from turquoise lagoons across this Philippine island. Hidden Beach sits behind a narrow gap in the surrounding rock walls. Boat tours can weave between the karst formations to reach it. Underground rivers near Puerto Princesa cut through caves further south.
Town in Switzerland
Saas-Fee
Glaciers, Peaks and Alpine Serenity
Thirteen peaks above 4,000 metres ring this Swiss village, earning it a mountaineering reputation. Glaciers spill down from the Mischabel range just above the rooftops. Visitors can ride a cable car into a glacier cave carved beneath the ice. Hiking trails circle the valley floor beneath the surrounding summits.
Town in Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Caribbean Vibes and Pristine Beaches
Punta Uva beach curves along this Costa Rican Caribbean coast beneath coconut palms. Coral reefs sit just offshore, visible in the clear, calm water. Visitors can snorkel or paddle out from the sand in minutes. Howler monkeys call from the rainforest edge behind the beach.
Region in Mexico
Baja California Sur
Desert meets ocean adventure land
Jacques Cousteau once called the Sea of Cortez the aquarium of the world. Baja California Sur sits where this rich gulf meets stark desert mountains and dunes. Espiritu Santo Island rises from the water in layered volcanic cliffs. Sea arches and hidden coves line its rugged, wind carved coastline.
Nature Reserve in China
Danxiashan World Geopark
China’s Red Cliffs and Legends
Red sandstone cliffs and pillars fill this Chinese geopark in layered bands of colour. Millions of years of mineral deposits gave the rock its distinctive reddish hue. Visitors can hike trails between formations with names tied to local legend. One rock formation here has drawn particular attention for its unusual natural shape.
City in Vietnam
Ha Long
Mystical limestone islands and emerald seas
Thousands of limestone karsts rise from the emerald water of this Vietnamese bay. Caves hidden inside several islands hold stalactites formed over millions of years. Visitors can cruise between the towers by traditional junk boat overnight. Kayakers can paddle into lagoons enclosed by the surrounding cliffs.
Town in New Zealand
Wanaka
Alpine Adventure, Lakeside Serenity
A lone willow known as That Wanaka Tree grows out of the lake's shallow water. Photographers gather at the shoreline for reflections of the tree at sunrise. Visitors can hike Roys Peak nearby for a wide view over the lake. Mount Aspiring's snow-capped ridge lies within reach on a longer trek.
Town in Peru
Machupicchu Pueblo
Gateway to the Inca wonder
An Inca citadel sits perched on a ridge between two peaks above this Peruvian valley. Terraced fields and stone temples remain remarkably intact after centuries of isolation. Visitors can climb Huayna Picchu for a view down onto the ruins. Clouds often drift through the valley below at sunrise.
Country
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
Bioluminescent plankton light up the shallows around Vaadhoo Island after dark. The glowing waves earned the beach the nickname Sea of Stars. Visitors can wade in at night to watch the water spark with each step. Coral atolls elsewhere in the chain draw divers to their drop-offs.
State/Prefecture in United States
Arizona
Desert Wonders and Scenic Adventures
The Grand Canyon in Arizona stretches over a mile deep in places. The Colorado River carved this gorge over roughly six million years. Exposed rock layers here reveal nearly two billion years of geologic history. Sunrise and sunset paint the canyon walls in shifting shades of red and orange.
Town in Portugal
Nazaré
Giant Waves and Coastal Charm
Praia do Norte off this Portuguese coast produces some of the biggest waves ever surfed. An underwater canyon nearby amplifies incoming Atlantic swells to enormous size. Spectators can watch from the clifftop lighthouse during peak winter swells. Big wave surfers have set several world records off this same beach.
National Park in Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Cascading Waterfalls and Turquoise Lakes
Sixteen terraced lakes cascade into one another across this Croatian park. Travertine barriers formed naturally over centuries, shaping each waterfall's edge. Wooden boardwalks let visitors cross just above the turquoise water. Waterfalls connect the upper and lower lakes at nearly every turn along the trail.
National Park in Peru
Manú National Park
Pristine Amazon biodiversity wonderland
This Peruvian park spans elevations from Andean peaks down to Amazon lowlands. Macaw clay licks along the rivers draw dozens of species at once. Visitors can watch flocks gather at dawn to feed on the mineral-rich soil. Jaguars and giant otters still roam the park's remote lowland rivers.
Outer Territory in Norway
Svalbard
Arctic wilderness at Earth's edge
Polar bears outnumber residents across this Norwegian archipelago's icy terrain. The Global Seed Vault sits carved into a mountainside near Longyearbyen for safekeeping. Visitors can join boat trips past glaciers calving into Arctic fjords. The sun never fully sets here through the height of Arctic summer.
National Park in United States
Zion National Park
Red rocks, epic hikes and nature's beauty
The Narrows carves a slot canyon so tight that hikers wade the river itself. Sandstone walls rise over 600 metres on either side of this Utah waterway. Visitors can wade upstream for miles between the towering canyon walls. Angels Landing nearby requires a chain-assisted climb to its narrow summit.
Island in Portugal
Madeira
Dramatic Cliffs and Eternal Spring
Levada trails follow centuries-old irrigation channels across this Portuguese island's cliffs. Laurel forest, a UNESCO-listed relic of ancient Europe, still covers much of the interior. Hikers can walk the narrow paths beside the water channels for miles. Whale watching boats leave Funchal's harbour to track sperm whales offshore.
Region in Canada
Bay of Fundy
Home to world's highest tides
The Bay of Fundy holds the record for the highest tides anywhere on Earth. Water levels can shift by more than 16 metres between low and high tide. At Hopewell Rocks, receding water reveals towering, mushroom shaped sea stacks. Visitors can walk the ocean floor at low tide and kayak over it hours later.
Region in Austria
Styria
Green Heart of Alpine Austria
Gruner See fills each spring as snowmelt floods a mountain park into a clear green lake. Trees, benches and footpaths submerge entirely beneath the rising water. Divers can swim through the flooded park among the underwater branches. By late summer the lake drains back down to a shallow pond.
National Park in Brazil
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park
World's largest tropical wetland paradise
This Brazilian wetland floods seasonally, drawing one of South America's densest concentrations of wildlife. Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks more often here than almost anywhere else. Boat safaris can track caimans and capybaras through the flooded channels. Hyacinth macaws nest in the scattered palm trees nearby.
Nature Reserve in Portugal
Sintra-Cascais Nature Park
Where Europe meets the Atlantic
Pena Palace rises in bright colours above the forested hills of this Portuguese park. Mist often rolls in from the Atlantic, wrapping the palace in low cloud. Visitors can wander the palace gardens before hiking trails deeper into the park. Cliffs along the coast nearby drop straight into the ocean below.
Town in Norway
Bergen
The gateway to the fjords
Bergen sits surrounded by seven steep mountains along Norway's rainy west coast. A funicular railway climbs Mount Floyen for sweeping views over the harbour. Rainfall here averages well over 200 days a year, feeding lush green slopes. The city also serves as the main gateway to Norway's dramatic fjords.
Island in India
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Crystal waters and pristine wilderness
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands sit far out in the Bay of Bengal, ringed by coral reefs. Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island has been ranked among Asia's finest beaches. Bioluminescent plankton light up the shallows on certain dark nights. Dense rainforest still covers much of the archipelago's interior.
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Remote volcanic islands with history
Tristan da Cunha ranks as the most remote inhabited island on Earth. Its nearest neighbour sits over 2,400 kilometres away across open ocean. Visitors can reach it only by a multi-day boat trip from South Africa. A volcanic peak called the Queen Mary's Peak rises above the settlement.
National Park in United States
Mount Rainier National Park
A Majestic Volcano and Wild Beauty
Glaciers cover more of this Washington volcano than any other peak in the contiguous United States. Wildflower meadows bloom below the snowline each summer at Paradise. Hikers can walk the Skyline Trail for close views of the mountain's icefalls. Sunrise on the northeast side offers a quieter approach to the same views.
Nature Reserve in Greece
Meteora
Monasteries Suspended in the Sky
Monasteries perch atop sandstone pillars rising from the plains of central Greece. Monks once reached them only by rope baskets or removable ladders. Visitors can climb stone steps carved into the rock to several monasteries. Sunset here turns the pillars a deep orange against the valley below.
Town in Austria
Ischgl
Alpine Thrills and Après-Ski Legends
Ischgl sits high in the Tyrolean Alps near the border with Switzerland. Its ski slopes connect directly to the Samnaun resort across the mountain pass. Snow reliability here stays strong thanks to elevations above 2,300 metres. Cable cars link the valley town to slopes with sweeping alpine views.
National Park in Brazil
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Otherworldly dunes with turquoise lagoons
Rows of white sand dunes stretch across this stretch of northern Brazil. Rainwater collects between them each year, forming clear turquoise lagoons. Visitors can wade into the pools after the rainy season peaks. The dunes shift slowly with the wind, redrawing the park's shape over time.
Village in Italy
Manarola
Enchanting Cliffside Coastal Village
Via dell'Amore once connected these two Cinque Terre villages along a cliffside path. Pastel houses stack above the harbour at Riomaggiore's edge. Visitors can hike terraced vineyards between the villages for sweeping coastal views. Manarola's small marina fills with swimmers on calm, sunny summer afternoons.
National Park in United States
Yosemite National Park
Nature's Grand Cathedral
El Capitan's sheer granite face rises nearly a kilometre above this California valley. Climbers spend days on the wall attempting routes to its summit. Visitors can view Half Dome's rounded profile from the valley floor below. Yosemite Falls drops in multiple tiers as one of North America's tallest waterfalls.
City in Switzerland
Lucerne
Alpine Beauty Meets Medieval Charm
The Chapel Bridge crosses the Reuss River beneath the peaks of central Switzerland. Painted panels line the wooden bridge's roof, depicting scenes from local history. Visitors can ride a cogwheel train up nearby Mount Pilatus for a lake view. Paddle steamers still cross Lake Lucerne between mountain villages.
Nature Reserve in China
Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
Colorful lakes in Tibetan mountains
Jiuzhaigou takes its name from the nine Tibetan villages once scattered through the valley. Mineral rich water gives its many lakes an intense, almost artificial looking turquoise. Waterfalls cascade between terraced pools stacked along the valley floor. Snowfall dusts the surrounding peaks well into the spring season.
Island in Australia
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
Whitehaven Beach's sand is almost pure silica, staying cool even under the tropical sun. Its brilliant white curve stretches along this Australian island chain's coast. Visitors can view the swirling sandbar pattern from a lookout above the bay. Coral reefs surround the islands just offshore from the beach.
Region in Dominican Republic
Punta Cana
Tropical Bliss and Crystal Waters
Hoyo Azul, a bright blue cenote, sits hidden inside Scape Park's jungle grounds. Rainwater filtered through limestone gives the sinkhole its striking colour. Visitors can swim in the cool water surrounded by dense vegetation. Miles of white sand beach line the coast just beyond the park.
National Park in New Zealand
Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand’s alpine wonderland
Aoraki Mount Cook stands as New Zealand's tallest peak at over 3,700 metres. The Tasman Glacier below it is the longest glacier in the country. Boat trips can weave between icebergs floating in its glacial lake. Kea, the world's only alpine parrot, sometimes visit hikers on nearby trails.
National Park in Guatemala
Tikal National Park
Lost Mayan City in the Jungle
Maya temples rise above the rainforest canopy in this Guatemalan park's dense jungle. Temple IV reaches over 70 metres, among the tallest structures the Maya built. Visitors can climb wooden stairs to the top for a view across the treetops. Howler monkeys call loudly through the surrounding forest at dawn.
City in Japan
Fuji
Mountain views, paper mills and fresh shirasu
Mount Fuji rises as a nearly perfect symmetrical volcanic cone above the surrounding plains. Its last eruption occurred more than 300 years ago, in the early 1700s. Thousands of pilgrims still climb its slopes during the short official summer season. Snow caps the summit for most of the year, framing classic postcard views.
National Park in Indonesia
Tanjung Puting National Park
Orangutan paradise in Borneo jungle
Orangutans swing through the rainforest canopy along this Indonesian park's rivers. Camp Leakey, a research station, still tracks rehabilitated orangutans released here. Visitors can travel the river by traditional houseboat called a klotok. Proboscis monkeys, known for their large noses, also gather along the same riverbanks at dusk.
Island in Italy
Capri
Mediterranean Elegance and Natural Beauty
The Blue Grotto on Capri glows an intense electric blue when sunlight enters underwater. Light bends through a small submerged opening, filling the cave with colour. Visitors must lie flat in a rowboat to pass through its low entrance. Steep cliffs and hidden coves ring the rest of the island's coastline.
National Park in India
Bandhavgarh National Park
Tiger territory in ancient forests
A 2,000 year old fort crowns the sandstone cliffs at the heart of Bandhavgarh. Numerous caves cut into the rock nearby hold ancient shrines and inscriptions. The park also has one of the highest recorded tiger densities anywhere in India. Steep plateaus and dry forest surround the ruins on all sides.
Country
Samoa
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
To Sua Ocean Trench drops into a sunken pool fed by the sea below. A wooden ladder leads swimmers down through the surrounding jungle to the water. Waves surge into the trench through a hidden underwater channel. Palm trees lean out over the pool's steep volcanic walls.
Town in Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
The Smoke That Thunders
Locals call this Zimbabwean waterfall Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. Spray from the falls rises hundreds of metres and can be seen for miles. Visitors can swim in Devil's Pool right at the edge during the dry season. Rainbows form almost constantly in the mist below the falls.
Town in Ireland
Killarney
Ireland’s Adventure Gateway Town
Killarney National Park protects Ireland's last surviving herd of native red deer. Three lakes here reflect the surrounding MacGillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountain range. Ross Castle sits on the largest lake's shore, ringed by old oak and yew woodland. Boat trips can reach the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow glacial pass through the mountains.
Island in Australia
Kangaroo Island
Wildlife, Wonders and Rugged Coast
Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island are massive granite boulders sculpted by wind and salt spray. The formations balance atop a wide, exposed granite dome above the ocean. Nearby, Admirals Arch has been carved directly into the coastal limestone cliffs. Waves crash beneath the arch, worn smooth over thousands of years.
Lake in Russia
Lake Baikal
World's deepest lake, Siberia's jewel
Lake Baikal holds more fresh water than any other lake on the planet. It formed over roughly 25 million years, making it the world's oldest known lake. Winter ice on its surface turns remarkably clear, sometimes revealing the water below. More than a thousand plant and animal species here exist nowhere else.
City in Nepal
Pokhara
Lakeside Calm, Himalayan Adventure Gateway
Phewa Lake mirrors the Annapurna range on clear mornings in this Nepali town. Machapuchare's twin-peaked summit rises sharply above the water's surface. Visitors can paddle boats out to a small island temple on the lake. Paragliders launch from nearby ridges for views over the whole valley.
National Park in Botswana
Chobe National Park
Elephant Haven in Botswana
Chobe National Park holds one of the highest concentrations of elephants anywhere in Africa. Tens of thousands gather along the Chobe River, especially in the dry season. Boat safaris drift close to herds drinking and bathing at the water's edge. Hippos and crocodiles also crowd these same riverside shallows.
Island in Seychelles
La Digue
Secluded island with dream beaches
Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue ranks among the most photographed beaches on Earth. Massive pink granite boulders frame the shallow, turquoise water along the shore. Bicycles and ox carts remain common transport, since the island bans most cars. Coco de mer palms and dense jungle cover much of the interior.
Island
Borneo
Wild rainforests meet unique wildlife
Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo holds the largest known cave chamber on Earth. The Sarawak Chamber alone could fit several jumbo jets inside its walls. Millions of bats stream out of nearby Deer Cave each evening at dusk. Limestone pinnacles and dense rainforest surround the park's cave systems.
Country
Solomon Islands
Tropical paradise with pristine waters
Marovo Lagoon stretches as one of the largest saltwater lagoons on Earth. Coral reefs and small islands fill the lagoon's calm, sheltered water. Divers can also explore World War Two shipwrecks scattered around Iron Bottom Sound. Rainforest-covered volcanic islands rise steeply from the same surrounding waters.
Island in Greece
Santorini
Breathtaking Views and Blue Domes
A collapsed volcanic caldera left this Greek island its dramatic curved cliffs. Whitewashed towns like Oia perch along the rim above the water. Visitors can walk the caldera-edge path between villages for sweeping sea views. Red and black sand beaches nearby come from the same volcanic rock.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Sugarloaf Mountain rises straight from Guanabara Bay on granite slopes cable cars still climb. Tijuca Forest, one of the largest urban rainforests on Earth, covers the hills behind it. Visitors can hike through the forest to Corcovado's summit above the city. Beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema curve beneath the same mountain backdrop.
National Park in Switzerland
Swiss National Park
Majestic alpine wilderness, untouched and serene
This Graubunden park was Europe's first, established in the early 1900s to stay untouched. Hunting and off-trail hiking remain banned across the entire protected area. Visitors can spot ibex and chamois grazing openly on the high slopes. Larch forests turn gold each autumn across the park's steep valleys.
Nature Reserve in Botswana
Okavango Delta
Africa’s Uncharted Water Wilderness
Seasonal floodwaters spread across this Botswana delta, turning desert into a maze of channels. Elephants and hippos move through the waterways during the annual flood. Visitors can explore the delta by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. Wildlife concentrates around the remaining islands as the water recedes each year.
Island in Canada
Vancouver Island
Untamed Beauty and Coastal Charm
Old growth Douglas fir and cedar tower over trails in this British Columbia island's rainforest. Pacific Rim National Park's beaches draw surfers to breaks along the exposed west coast. Visitors can walk boardwalks through groves like Cathedral Grove near the island's centre. Grey whales pass close to shore during their spring migration north.
Region in Switzerland
Graubünden
Alpine wonderland with pristine lakes and trails
Graubunden is Switzerland's largest canton, covering a maze of Alpine valleys. Over 150 valleys and 615 lakes are scattered across its mountainous terrain. The Rhine and Inn rivers both begin here, flowing off in opposite directions. Glacier fed peaks surround resort towns like St. Moritz and Davos.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Cusco sits high in the Andes at an elevation of roughly 3,400 metres. The city served as the capital of the Inca Empire before Spanish colonisation. Massive stone walls built by Inca masons still form the base of many buildings. Nearby, the Sacred Valley stretches between snowcapped peaks and terraced hillsides.
Town in Georgia
Gudauri
Alpine Adventures Await You
The Cross Pass climbs to over 2,300 metres through this Georgian ski resort's mountains. Snow-capped Caucasus peaks surround the road on both sides through winter. Skiers can ride lifts above the treeline for wide, open terrain. Summer visitors can drive the same pass for views without the snow.
Country
Kyrgyzstan
Untouched mountain wilderness awaits explorers
Kyrgyzstan is covered almost entirely by the Tien Shan and Pamir mountain ranges. Lake Issyk Kul, one of the world's largest alpine lakes, never fully freezes despite the altitude. Nomadic herders still move livestock to high summer pastures called jailoo. Glaciers and snowmelt feed the rivers that cut through the country's steep valleys.
City in Turkey
Pamukkale
Cotton Castle of Thermal Pools
White travertine terraces cascade down a hillside in southwestern Turkey, filled with mineral-rich water. Centuries of calcium deposits built the pools into their layered shape. Visitors can wade barefoot through the shallow, warm terraces. Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city, sits in ruins just above the site.
Lake in Italy
Lake Garda
Italy's largest lake of wonders
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, stretching between the Alps and the Po Valley. Steep cliffs rise along its northern shore, while gentler hills surround the south. A distinct microclimate lets olive trees and lemon groves grow along its banks. Strong, reliable winds funnel down the lake, drawing windsurfers and sailors.
National Park in United States
Mesa Verde National Park
Ancient Cliff Dwellings and Rich History
Cliff Palace holds over 150 rooms built into a sandstone alcove in Colorado. Ancestral Puebloans constructed the dwellings here around the late 1190s. Visitors can join ranger-led tours that climb ladders into the site. Balcony House nearby requires a crawl through a narrow tunnel to enter.
City in South Africa
Cape Town
Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture
Cape Town sits where two mountain ranges meet the cold Atlantic Ocean. Chapman's Peak Drive winds along cliffs with views stretching far out to sea. Cape Point, at the peninsula's tip, marks where two ocean currents collide. Baboons and ostriches sometimes wander freely along its rocky trails.
National Park in Japan
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Fuji, Hakone, Izu and volcanic islands
Fuji Hakone Izu National Park surrounds Mount Fuji with hot springs and volcanic lakes. Lake Ashi, formed inside an old volcanic crater, offers some of the clearest reflections of Fuji. Hakone's hot springs draw on the same volcanic activity that shaped the mountain. Boats and cable cars carry visitors between the park's scattered viewpoints.
Island in Brazil
Fernando de Noronha
World's Best Beaches and Dolphins
Fernando de Noronha rose from the seafloor as part of an ancient volcanic chain. Baia do Sancho, reached by a narrow crack in the cliffs, regularly tops beach rankings worldwide. Spinner dolphins gather by the hundreds each morning in a sheltered bay. Brazil limits daily visitor numbers to help protect the island's fragile ecosystem.
Region in Ireland
County Mayo
Wild Atlantic beauty and sacred peaks
County Mayo holds some of Ireland's wildest and most dramatic Atlantic coastline. Croagh Patrick, a steep quartzite peak, rises sharply above Clew Bay. Pilgrims have climbed its rocky summit trail for well over a thousand years. Sea cliffs near Achill Island rank among the tallest in Europe.
National Park in United States
Acadia National Park
Rugged Shores, Sunrise Peaks, Wild Beauty
Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is one of the tallest peaks on the Atlantic coast. For part of the year, it ranks among the earliest spots in the country to see sunrise. Granite cliffs plunge into the sea along Maine's rugged Park Loop Road. Harbour seals and puffins nest along the rocky islands offshore.
Region in Panama
Bocas del Toro
Tropical Bliss in Panama
Bocas del Toro scatters nine main islands across a shallow Caribbean archipelago. Mangrove channels wind quietly between them, sheltering calm turquoise lagoons. Coral reefs ring many of the smaller surrounding cays just offshore. Red frogs found on Isla Bastimentos give one popular beach its nickname.
Village in Switzerland
Grindelwald
A Majestic Swiss Mountain Village
Grindelwald sits beneath the sheer north face of the Eiger, one of the Alps' most notorious climbing routes. Cable cars now reach Eiger Glacier station, cutting the old approach time dramatically. Below, green alpine meadows contrast sharply with the jagged peaks above. Cows still graze these same pastures each summer, wearing traditional bells.
Region in Ethiopia
Danakil Depression
Earth's Hottest, Most Alien Landscape
Erta Ale's lava lake glows continuously inside this Ethiopian depression's volcanic crater. Sulphur springs nearby stain the ground in bright shades of yellow and green. Visitors can trek overnight to camp near the crater's rim. Temperatures here regularly rank among the hottest recorded anywhere on Earth.
National Park in Australia
Kakadu National Park
Ancient Rock Art and Wild Wetlands
Kakadu's sandstone escarpment stretches for hundreds of kilometres across the park's eastern edge. Waterfalls like Jim Jim and Twin Falls plunge from the plateau during the wet season. Much of the park floods completely between November and April each year. Ancient rock formations here have eroded into their current shapes over millions of years.
City in United States
Juneau
Glaciers, whales and wild Alaska
Juneau has no road link to the rest of Alaska or the continental U.S. The Mendenhall Glacier flows almost directly to the edge of town. Steep, forested mountains rise straight up from the water on every side. Whale watching boats regularly spot humpbacks feeding in the nearby channel.
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
Fiordland ranks among the wettest places on Earth, with over 6 metres of rain yearly. Doubtful Sound, a remote fjord here, takes far longer to reach than Milford Sound. Waterfalls appear temporarily on its cliffs after heavy rain, then vanish within days. Dense rainforest crowds right down to the water's edge throughout the park.
National Park in Turkey
Göreme National Park
Fairy chimneys and cave wonders
Fairy chimneys, tall cone-shaped rock spires, rise across this Turkish valley's terrain. Ancient inhabitants carved homes and churches directly into the soft volcanic stone. Visitors can explore cave dwellings before watching hot air balloons drift overhead at dawn. Hundreds of balloons fill the sky above the valley most mornings.
Town in Slovenia
Postojna
Caves, Castles and Karst Wonders
This Slovenian cave system stretches over 24 kilometres through limestone beneath the hills. A small train carries visitors deep into the cave's largest chambers. Blind olm salamanders, found nowhere on the surface, live in the cave's dark pools. Stalactites and stalagmites fill the passages after thousands of years of dripping water.
Island in Japan
Kyushu
Volcanoes, onsen and tonkotsu ramen
Kyushu holds some of Japan's most active volcanic terrain, including Sakurajima and Mount Aso. Mount Aso's caldera ranks among the largest in the world, spanning an entire town inside its rim. Steam rises constantly from hot spring towns scattered across the island. Subtropical beaches line the southern coast near Kagoshima and Miyazaki.
Town in Japan
Takachiho
Rowboat gorge and shrines of Japanese myth
A narrow gorge cuts through basalt cliffs formed by ancient lava flows in Kyushu. Manai Falls drops nearly 17 metres into the gorge's green water below. Visitors can paddle rowboats along the gorge beneath the towering rock walls. Shrines nearby honour myths said to have originated in this valley.
Island in Malaysia
Sipadan
Crystal reefs and untouched tropical paradise
Barracuda gather here in a spinning tornado formation just off this Malaysian island. The reef wall drops nearly 600 metres straight down from the shallows. Divers can watch green turtles resting on ledges along the drop-off. Sipadan sits on top of an extinct volcanic cone rising from the seabed.
Village in Italy
Positano
Cliffside Beauty on Amalfi Coast
Pastel houses cascade down a steep cliff towards the sea on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Narrow stairways link the town's layers from the clifftop road to the shore. Visitors can walk down to the small beach for a view back up at the village. Boats leave the harbour for trips along the coastline.
Island in Norway
Lofoten
Dramatic Peaks and Northern Lights
Jagged granite peaks rise straight from the sea along this Norwegian archipelago. Reine village sits tucked beneath the mountains on a narrow fjord. Fishermen still hang cod to dry on wooden racks each winter. Midnight sun in summer keeps the peaks lit well past midnight.
Mountain
Mont Blanc
Majestic peaks echo timeless alpine serenity
Western Europe's highest peak rises above the border of France and Italy. Its summit sits just over 4,800 metres, capped year-round in snow. Cable cars from Chamonix carry visitors partway up for glacier views. Climbers still attempt the classic Goûter route to the top each summer.
Town in Japan
Kusatsu-Onsen
Steaming hot water field and bath hopping
Kusatsu produces more hot spring water than any other town in Japan. At its centre, the Yubatake channels scalding volcanic water through wooden chutes to cool. Steam and a strong sulphur smell hang over the town's central square. Workers once stirred the water with long paddles in a ritual called yumomi.
National Park in United States
Grand Canyon National Park
Epic Vistas, Timeless Adventure
Layered rock walls drop nearly a mile from rim to river in this Arizona canyon. Each coloured band represents millions of years of geological history. Visitors can walk the Rim Trail for continuous views along the canyon's edge. Mule trips and rafting trips both descend to the Colorado River below.
Region in United Kingdom
Scottish Highlands
Rugged Beauty and Ancient Legends
Glencoe's steep valley walls rise above a glen shaped by ancient glaciers. Waterfalls drop from the steep ridgelines after every heavy Highland rain shower. Hikers can follow trails along the valley floor beneath the surrounding peaks. Loch Ness stretches further north through the same rugged Highland landscape.
National Park in Namibia
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Endless Dunes and Desert Drama
Dune 45 rises over 80 metres above the desert floor in this Namibian park. Deadvlei's cracked white clay pan holds centuries-old dead camel thorn trees. Photographers can catch the dunes glowing orange at sunrise. Oryx sometimes wander across the pan against the red sand backdrop.
National Park in Iceland
Vatnajökull National Park
Glaciers, Volcanoes and Ice Caves
This Icelandic glacier covers roughly 8 percent of the entire country's land area. Ice caves form each winter beneath the glacier in shifting shades of blue. Visitors can join guided tours into the caves before spring meltwater reshapes them. Diamond Beach nearby scatters chunks of ice across black volcanic sand.
Country
Saint Lucia
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
The Pitons rise as twin volcanic spires straight from the Caribbean Sea. Gros Piton and Petit Piton frame the bay of Soufriere below. Hikers can climb Gros Piton's steep trail with a required local guide. Sulphur springs nearby still steam from the same volcanic system.
National Park in United States
Katmai National Park
Bears, salmon and volcanic wonders
A massive 1912 eruption at Novarupta created the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in Katmai. Thousands of steam vents once rose from the ash covered valley floor. Most of that steam activity has since faded, leaving a stark volcanic landscape. Brown bears gather each summer along the park's salmon filled rivers.
National Park in Montenegro
Durmitor National Park
Montenegro’s Wild Peaks and Deep Canyons
Tara River Canyon cuts nearly 1,300 metres deep through this Montenegrin park's limestone. Rafters can navigate the canyon's rapids past sheer rock walls on either side. Black Lake sits tucked beneath the park's highest peaks near the main village. Glacial cirques scattered through the range hold smaller lakes of their own.
Country
Faroe Islands
Dramatic cliffs meet misty landscapes
The Faroe Islands rise abruptly from the North Atlantic as steep, grass topped cliffs. Mulafossur Waterfall drops directly into the sea near the village of Gasadalur. Thick fog and shifting weather can transform the landscape within minutes. Sheep far outnumber people across these eighteen volcanic islands.
Village in Norway
Geiranger
Majestic Fjords and Dramatic Waterfalls
Geirangerfjord cuts deep into western Norway as a narrow, steep sided inlet. The Seven Sisters waterfall tumbles more than 400 metres down one of its cliff faces. Across the fjord, a single waterfall called the Suitor faces them from the far wall. Farms abandoned decades ago still cling to ledges high above the water.
National Park in United States
Grand Teton National Park
Stunning Peaks and Wildlife Wonders
The Teton Range rises abruptly from the valley floor with no foothills in between. Grand Teton itself reaches over 4,100 metres, dominating the skyline. Jenny Lake sits directly beneath the peaks, formed by ancient glacial activity. Moose and elk regularly graze the sagebrush flats below the mountains.
City in Norway
Ålesund
Art Nouveau Gem by the Fjords
A devastating fire destroyed most of Alesund's town centre in 1904. The town was rebuilt almost entirely in the ornate Art Nouveau style within a few years. Colourful turrets and spires now line its narrow, walkable streets. A steep climb up Fjellstua offers views over the harbour and surrounding islands.
Nature Reserve in Canada
Mont-Tremblant
Year-Round Adventure in Québec
This Quebec resort turns bright red and orange each autumn along its slopes. Autumn foliage draws hikers to the summit gondola for wide valley views. Skiers return each winter for the same terrain under fresh snow. A pedestrian village at the base fills with cafes year-round.
Lake in Italy
Lake Como
Alpine elegance meets Italian charm
Lake Como stretches in a distinctive Y shape between three separate mountain arms. Silk production once drove the local economy and mills still operate near the shore. A funicular from Como town climbs steeply to Brunate for sweeping lake views. Elegant 19th century villas line much of the shoreline near Bellagio.
City in Brazil
Foz do Iguaçu
Where three nations meet waterfalls
Iguazu Falls spans nearly three kilometres across the border of Brazil and Argentina. The falls are made up of more than 250 individual cascades and cataracts. Devil's Throat, a horseshoe shaped chasm, sends up clouds of mist visible for miles. The Brazilian side offers sweeping panoramic views across the entire system.
Lake in Canada
Lake Louise
Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies
Lake Louise sits beneath the Victoria Glacier inside Banff National Park. Glacial rock flour suspended in the water gives it a striking, milky turquoise colour. A historic chateau built in the early 1900s overlooks the lake's edge. Canoeing here draws visitors even though the water stays cold year round.
National Park in Japan
Kerama Shoto National Park
Kerama blue seas, coral and whales
Water here reaches such clarity that locals call it Kerama Blue, visible from the air. This Japanese park's coral reefs surround a scattered chain of small islands. Divers can explore reef walls just offshore from several of the beaches. Sea turtles nest on quieter stretches of sand within the park.
Mountain in China
Huangshan
Mystical Peaks and Ancient Villages
Huangshan's granite peaks rise dramatically out of a sea of shifting clouds. Twisted pine trees grow directly from cracks in the exposed rock. Painters and poets have depicted these misty peaks for well over a thousand years. Sunrise viewpoints along the ridgelines fill early with visitors hoping for clear skies.
Desert in Namibia
Namib
Endless dunes whisper ancient desert secrets
This coastal desert ranks among the oldest deserts on Earth, shaped by wind for millions of years. Fog rolling in from the cold Atlantic sustains life in an otherwise dry landscape. Visitors can spot fog-basking beetles that drink moisture straight off their own shells. Towering red dunes rise inland from the misty coastline.
National Park in Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
The Ultimate Safari Adventure
The Great Migration crosses this Tanzanian plain as over a million wildebeest circle for grazing grounds. Predators including lions and cheetahs follow the herds across the open grassland. Safari vehicles can track the migration's position through the park's central Seronera region. Hot air balloon rides drift over the plains at dawn.
Town in New Zealand
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
Franz Josef Glacier descends unusually close to sea level through temperate rainforest. Few glaciers anywhere sit so near dense, subtropical feeling vegetation. The ice has retreated significantly over the past few decades due to warming. Helicopter tours now offer close access to sections of the upper ice.
Region in Germany
Bavaria
Alpine beauty meets medieval charm
Zugspitze, Germany's tallest peak, rises above the Bavarian Alps near the Austrian border. A cable car climbs nearly 2,000 metres to reach its glacier capped summit. Konigssee, a narrow alpine lake nearby, sits surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs. Its still, clear water is often compared to a Norwegian fjord.
Town in Oman
Nizwa
Ancient Capital with Mountain Charm
A round stone fort with a cannon-studded tower anchors this Omani town's old quarter. Built in the 1600s, it once guarded the routes into the interior. Visitors can climb the fort's spiral ramps for views over the palm groves. A Friday livestock market still draws traders from surrounding villages.
Island in Indonesia
Lombok
Untamed Beaches and Majestic Mountains
Mount Rinjani towers over this Indonesian island as its second-highest volcano. A crater lake sits inside the summit, ringed by steep, forested walls. Trekkers can camp on the rim before the final push to the top. Pink Beach on the south coast gets its colour from crushed red coral.
Mountain Range
Alps
Majestic peaks echoing alpine serenity
The Alps form the highest and longest mountain range entirely within Europe. Mont Blanc, its tallest peak, rises over 4,800 metres near the French Italian border. Thousands of glaciers still carve through these mountains despite steady retreat. Chamois and ibex move across slopes that draw climbers from around the world.
Nature Reserve in Kenya
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Witness the Great Migration
Over a million wildebeest cross this Kenyan reserve during the annual Great Migration. Herds swim the Mara River while crocodiles wait in the current. Safari vehicles can follow the migration route across the open grassland. Maasai guides often lead walking trips through the surrounding conservancies.
Bay in New Zealand
Bay of Islands
Sunlit coves echo with ancient legends
Roughly 144 islands scatter across the sheltered coastline of the Bay of Islands. A natural sea arch called the Hole in the Rock pierces Cape Brett's tip. Boats can pass directly through the opening when conditions allow. Subtropical waters here stay warm enough for swimming most of the year.
Town in Switzerland
Interlaken
Adventure, Lakes and Alpine Magic
Interlaken sits on a narrow strip of land between two turquoise alpine lakes. Its name literally means between the lakes in Latin. The Jungfrau and neighbouring peaks tower above the town year round. Cable cars and cog railways carry visitors up towards some of the highest train stations in Europe.
National Park in India
Kanha National Park
Tiger paradise in magical wilderness
Kanha National Park's sal forests thin into wide, open grassland meadows called maidans. Morning mist regularly settles low across these clearings before burning off by midday. Bamboo groves and dense forest ring the park's central plains. The landscape here is often credited with inspiring the setting of The Jungle Book.
City in Japan
Furano
Lavender fields and powder snow in Hokkaido
Furano's lavender fields bloom into vivid purple rows each July. Farms here line the hills in neat, colour coded strips of flowers. Nearby Biei adds a patchwork of wheat, potato and flower fields to the scenery. The same slopes turn into powder snow ski runs once winter arrives.
National Park in Croatia
Krka National Park
Waterfalls and Pristine Nature
Skradinski Buk cascades over travertine barriers into a wide swimming pool below. This Croatian park's waterfalls stay open to swimmers during the summer months. Visitors can walk boardwalks through the forest for views of each cascade. Boats can also reach the falls directly from the town of Skradin.
Island in United States
Kauai
Lush Landscapes and Secluded Beaches
Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands, shaped by ages of erosion. Waimea Canyon here has been called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific for its scale. The Na Pali coast rises in sheer cliffs accessible mainly by boat or trail. Mount Waialeale nearby ranks among the wettest spots on Earth.
Island in Spain
Lanzarote
Volcanic Landscapes and Sunny Shores
Lanzarote's Timanfaya National Park formed from volcanic eruptions that lasted six years in the 1730s. Black volcanic soil now covers much of the island's surface. Vineyards here grow in small pits dug into the ash to trap moisture. Architect Cesar Manrique shaped much of the island's design to blend with this stark landscape.
Region in Finland
Lapland
Northern lights and midnight sun
Lapland sits almost entirely above or near the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. The aurora borealis appears here on roughly 200 nights each year. Summer brings the opposite extreme, with the sun barely dipping below the horizon. Reindeer herding remains a living Sami tradition across the region.
Island in Thailand
Ko Phi Phi
Tropical Paradise Awaits You
Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Leh sits enclosed by limestone cliffs on three sides. Steep karst walls rise straight up from the water around the cove. The bay gained global attention after appearing in the 2000 film The Beach. Authorities have since limited visitor numbers and banned swimming to protect the coral.
Lake in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
Lake Tekapo glows a milky turquoise from finely ground rock carried in by glacial rivers. Dark sky reserve status here helps make it one of the world's clearest places to see stars. Lupins bloom in vivid purple along the lakeshore each summer. Mount John Observatory sits on a hill overlooking the entire basin.
National Park in United States
Olympic National Park
Untamed Wilderness, All in One
Rainforest, alpine peaks and wild coastline all sit within this Washington park's borders. Hoh Rainforest gets over 140 inches of rain most years, coating trees in moss. Hikers can walk shaded trails beneath towering Sitka spruce nearby. Ruby Beach on the coast scatters sea stacks along the shoreline.
National Park in Norway
Jotunheimen
Home of giants and glaciers
Jotunheimen holds Norway's tallest peaks, including Galdhopiggen at over 2,400 metres. The name translates roughly to home of the giants in Old Norse. More than 60 small glaciers remain scattered across the range's higher elevations. Deep valleys and turquoise lakes separate the jagged mountain ridges.
National Park in Iceland
Þingvellir National Park
Where History Meets Nature’s Power
Thingvellir sits directly on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where two tectonic plates pull apart. A visible rift valley splits the park where North America and Europe are slowly separating. Iceland's parliament, one of the world's oldest, first met here in the year 930. Divers can swim in the crystal clear water filling the rift itself.
Region in Indonesia
Bali
Tropical beaches, vibrant culture and adventure
Bali rises around a chain of active volcanoes, including the towering Mount Agung. Centuries old rice terraces at Jatiluwih follow a traditional irrigation system called subak. Waterfalls tumble through jungle gorges across the island's interior. UNESCO recognised the subak system for blending farming with spiritual belief.
Island in Yemen
Socotra
Alien Landscapes, Untouched Adventure
Dragon's blood trees spread their umbrella-shaped canopies across this Yemeni island's highlands. Their red sap once traded as a valuable dye and medicine. Visitors can hike among the trees on the Dixam plateau's rocky ground. Isolation over millions of years left much of the island's plant life found nowhere else.
National Park in Kenya
Amboseli National Park
Elephants Against Kilimanjaro's Backdrop
Amboseli National Park offers some of the clearest views of Mount Kilimanjaro anywhere. Large herds of elephants cross its open plains beneath the mountain's snowy peak. Swamps fed by underground springs keep the park green through the dry season. Researchers have studied some of these elephant families continuously since the 1970s.
National Park in United States
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
Where two nations preserve wilderness
This park spans the Canada-US border as the world's first international peace park. Glacially carved valleys connect Alberta's Waterton Lakes to Montana's Glacier side. Visitors can drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road for views across both halves. Mountain goats and grizzly bears roam the high alpine terrain on either side.
National Park in Thailand
Similan Islands
Thailand's underwater paradise
Granite boulders stack into surreal shapes above the water on these Thai islands. Sail Rock formation balances near Koh Similan's northern shore. Divers can explore steep walls and coral gardens just offshore. Manta rays and whale sharks pass through the surrounding channels during migration season.
Island in Spain
Canary Islands
Spain's volcanic paradise year-round
The Canary Islands formed from volcanic activity that continues to this day. Mount Teide on Tenerife is Spain's tallest peak at nearly 3,718 metres. Lava fields at Timanfaya National Park still radiate heat just beneath the surface. Rangers there famously light straw on fire using nothing but geothermal warmth.
Village in Japan
Kurokawa Onsen
Riverside bath hopping in a Kumamoto valley
Riverside hot spring baths sit tucked between thatched-roof ryokan in this Japanese mountain town. Steam rises from the outdoor pools even as snow falls in winter. Visitors can buy a pass allowing entry to several different baths in one visit. Wooden walkways link the inns along the narrow river gorge.
Mountain
Pyrenees
Where France meets Spain majestically
Ordesa Canyon cuts deep through limestone cliffs along the Spanish side of this range. Waterfalls drop from hanging valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Hikers can follow trails along the canyon floor beneath towering rock walls. Bearded vultures, one of Europe's rarest birds of prey, still nest on ledges above the gorge.
Region in New Zealand
Marlborough
Wine Country Meets Stunning Coastal Sounds
Queen Charlotte Track winds through this New Zealand region's sounds and coastline. Walkers can trace the ridge path above deep, forested inlets. Vineyards fill the flat Wairau Valley just south of the water. Water taxis link isolated bays that the walking track alone cannot reach.
National Park in Australia
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Sacred Red Rock and Majestic Domes
Uluru rises as a single sandstone monolith over 340 metres above the surrounding desert. Its surface shifts through shades of red and orange as the sun moves. Visitors can walk the base track circling the rock on level ground. Kata Tjuta's domed rock formations sit a short drive to the west.
Nature Reserve in China
Wulingyuan nature reserve
Misty Peaks of Avatar Fame
Thousands of narrow sandstone pillars rise from the forest floor in this Chinese reserve. One formation inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. Visitors can ride a glass lift up one of the tallest columns. Suspension bridges span gaps between peaks for closer views of the pillars.
National Park in Chile
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
Three granite towers give this Chilean park its name, rising sharply above the Patagonian steppe. Glacial lakes at their base shift between turquoise and slate grey with the light. Hikers can trek the multi-day W Circuit past the towers and nearby glaciers. Condors often circle the peaks on the strong Patagonian winds.
Nature Reserve in Jordan
Wadi Rum
Valley of the moon's timeless magic
Red sandstone mountains rise from this Jordanian desert's wide, empty valleys. Its Mars-like terrain has stood in for the red planet in several films. Visitors can ride jeeps or camels between towering rock formations. Bedouin camps offer overnight stays beneath the desert's clear night sky.
Island in Philippines
Bohol
Beaches, Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers
More than 1,200 symmetrical hills rise across the interior of Bohol island. Grass covering them turns a deep chocolate brown during the dry season. Geologists still debate exactly how these uniform mounds first formed. A viewpoint above Carmen offers a sweeping look across the whole formation.
National Park in United States
Rocky Mountain National Park
Majestic Peaks and Untamed Wilderness
Trail Ridge Road climbs above 12,000 feet through this Colorado park's alpine tundra. It ranks among the highest continuous paved roads in the country. Drivers can stop at overlooks for views across jagged, snow-streaked peaks. Elk herds gather in the meadows below each autumn during the rut.
National Park in Japan
Aso-Kuju National Park
Giant caldera, active volcano and highlands
Mount Aso's caldera ranks among the largest in the world, spanning over 100 kilometres around. Active vents inside the crater still release steam and sulphur smoke today. Visitors can ride a cable car close to the crater's edge when conditions allow. Grasslands filling the wider caldera support cattle grazing much of the year.
Nature Reserve in Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Nature's Untamed Sanctuary
This Tanzanian crater holds one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife within its walls. Steep slopes trap resident lions, elephants and rhinos inside a natural bowl. Safari vehicles can descend to the crater floor for close sightings. Maasai communities still graze cattle along the rim above.
Island in United States
Maui
Island of Sun, Surf and Serenity
The Road to Hana winds past 600 curves and dozens of waterfalls in Hawaii. Bamboo forests and black sand beaches line the route's edges. Drivers can stop at Wailua Falls for a full view of the drop. Haleakala's summit nearby offers sunrise views above the clouds.
Town in Chile
Pucon
Volcano Views and Adventure Bliss
Villarrica volcano looms over this Chilean town, its crater still glowing at night. Climbers can hike to the rim and look down at the active lava lake. Hot springs scattered around the base draw visitors after the descent. Lake Villarrica below reflects the cone on calm afternoons.
National Park in China
Huanglong National Park
China's Colorful Terraced Wonderland
Huanglong Valley holds more than 3,000 travertine pools stacked down a mountainside. Mineral rich spring water deposits calcium carbonate that shapes new terraces over time. Sunlight, algae and mineral content combine to give each pool a different colour. The park's Chinese name means Yellow Dragon, describing how the terraces snake through the valley.
Island in Chile
Easter Island
Mysterious Moai and Volcanic Landscapes
Easter Island sits more than 3,500 kilometres from the nearest populated landmass. Its interior holds several extinct volcanic craters, including Rano Raraku. Nearly 900 moai statues were carved from that crater's soft volcanic stone. Many were later abandoned mid transport, still scattered across the slopes today.
Town in Finland
Kittilä
Lapland’s Arctic Playground Year-Round
Kittila sits well above the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. Polar night settles in for weeks each winter, with the sun never fully rising. The aurora borealis appears regularly on clear nights during the darker months. Come summer, the same skies stay lit almost around the clock.
National Park in Italy
Vesuvius National Park
Walk the Rim of a Volcano
This active volcano last erupted in 1944, following a much larger eruption in 79 AD. Its slopes overlook the Bay of Naples and the ruins of Pompeii below. Visitors can hike a trail to the rim for a view down into the crater. Vineyards growing on the fertile volcanic soil circle the mountain's base.
Island in France
Corsica
Island of Beauty and Contrast
Corsica earned the nickname Isle of Beauty for its dramatic mix of mountains and coast. Red granite cliffs plunge into the sea inside the Scandola Nature Reserve. Snow capped peaks rise inland, visible from many of the island's beaches. The GR20 trail crosses the island's mountainous spine and ranks among Europe's toughest hikes.
Island in Spain
La Palma
Volcanic beauty under starry skies
The Caldera de Taburiente forms a vast crater at this Canary Island's core. Roque de los Muchachos rises above it, home to one of the clearest night skies in Europe. Hikers descend through pine forests into the crater floor below. Black volcanic beaches line the coast where lava once met the sea.
Town in Austria
Neusiedl am See
Lakeside Charm and Panonnian Wines
Reed beds line much of this shallow lake on the Austria-Hungary border. Storks and herons nest among the reeds through the warmer months. Visitors can cycle the flat paths circling the lake's edge. Windsurfers use the steady summer breeze that sweeps across the open water.
Region in Mexico
Yucatán
Gateway to the Mayan world
Ik Kil, a deep limestone cenote, opens beneath the jungle floor near Chichen Itza. Vines hang down from the surface into the clear blue water below. Swimmers can descend a stone staircase to reach the sinkhole's surface. Thousands of similar cenotes riddle the peninsula's porous limestone bedrock.
National Park in Namibia
Sossusvlei
Towering red dunes meet white clay
Big Daddy, one of the tallest dunes on Earth, rises over 325 metres in this Namibian desert. Its ridgeline offers a steep climb rewarded with views over the surrounding red sand sea. Hikers can descend towards Deadvlei's cracked white clay pan below. Dead camel thorn trees there have stood blackened for centuries without decaying.
Region in United States
Outer Banks
Wild horses and pristine shores
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stands over 60 metres tall along this North Carolina barrier island chain. Shifting sandbars offshore earned the waters the nickname Graveyard of the Atlantic. Visitors can climb the lighthouse's spiral stairs for a coastal view. Wild horses still roam the beaches further north near Corolla.
Island in United Kingdom
Isle of Skye
Dramatic Landscapes and Ancient Legends
The Old Man of Storr rises as a jagged basalt pinnacle above this Scottish island's coast. Ancient landslides left the surrounding hillside scattered with smaller rock spires. Hikers can climb the trail to the formation's base for close views. The Fairy Pools further south offer clear turquoise swimming holes fed by waterfalls.
Island in Philippines
Boracay
Powdery white sands and turquoise waters
Boracay's White Beach owes its powdery texture to finely crushed coral and shells. The sand stays cool underfoot even under the tropical midday sun. Turquoise water fades gradually into deeper blue just offshore. Sunsets here regularly paint the whole bay in shades of orange and pink.
Country
Greenland
Arctic wilderness with ice landscapes
Greenland's massive ice sheet covers roughly 80 percent of the entire island. In places, the ice reaches more than 3 kilometres thick. Icebergs calve constantly from coastal glaciers and drift slowly out to sea. Beneath the ice, entire mountain ranges and valleys remain almost completely unmapped.
Town in Italy
Tropea
Italy's Coastal Hidden Gem
A small church sits atop a rocky islet just off this Italian coastal town. Santa Maria dell'Isola connects to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand. Visitors can climb steps up to the church for views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Cliffs beneath the old town drop straight down to beaches below.
Island in United States
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
Waimea Bay on Hawaii's North Shore produces some of the biggest surfable waves in the world. Winter swells regularly top 20 feet along this stretch of coast. Spectators can watch big wave contests from the beach in peak season. Calmer summer months turn the same bay into a popular swimming spot.
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
British Virgin Islands
Pristine sailing paradise with beaches
Massive granite boulders tumble down to the sea at The Baths on Virgin Gorda. Ancient volcanic uplift and erosion left these giant rocks stacked and scattered. Visitors squeeze through narrow passages between boulders to reach hidden pools. Shafts of light filter through the gaps, lighting shallow grottoes below.
National Park in Slovenia
Triglav National Park
Slovenia’s Natural Beauty
Mount Triglav rises as Slovenia's highest peak at the park's northern edge. The Soca River cuts a bright turquoise path through the valley below. Hikers can follow trails along the river before climbing towards alpine lakes. Traditional herding huts still dot the high pastures each summer.
City in Japan
Kagoshima
Volcano views, samurai history and black pork
Kagoshima sits directly across the bay from Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes. Ash from regular eruptions occasionally dusts the city's streets. Ferries cross the bay constantly, connecting the mainland to the volcano's base. Hot sand baths near Ibusuki use heat drawn straight from the ground.
National Park in Thailand
Khao Sok National Park
Ancient Jungle and Emerald Lake Paradise
Khao Sok protects some of the oldest evergreen rainforest on Earth, older than the Amazon. Limestone karst towers rise sharply from the forest and the waters of Cheow Lan Lake. The lake itself formed when a dam flooded the valley in the 1980s. Floating bungalows now let visitors sleep surrounded by the karst scenery.
Country
Madagascar
Unique biodiversity meets diverse landscapes
Baobab Alley lines a dirt road near Morondava with centuries-old trees. Their thick trunks rise from the red earth like inverted roots. Visitors can watch the trees turn gold at sunset from the roadside. Lemurs found nowhere else on Earth live in the forests nearby.
National Park in Costa Rica
Tortuguero National Park
Wildlife and Waterways Adventure
Sea turtles nest along this Costa Rican park's beaches in some of the region's largest numbers. Green turtles arrive most heavily between July and October each year. Visitors can join guided night walks to watch females dig nests in the sand. Canals through the park's rainforest can only be explored by boat.
Town in Italy
Riva del Garda
Lakeside beauty meets mountain adventure
Steep cliffs frame Lake Garda's northern tip near this Italian lakeside town. Strong, reliable winds funnel down the valley each afternoon across the water. Windsurfers and sailors gather here for some of the most consistent conditions in Europe. Mountains rise directly from the shoreline on both sides of the lake.
National Park in United States
Death Valley National Park
Otherworldly Extremes and Silent Beauty
Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth. Badwater Basin here also marks the lowest point in North America. Salt flats stretch for miles across the basin floor, cracked into hexagonal patterns. Despite the extreme heat, wildflowers can carpet the valley after rare rains.
National Park in United States
Redwood National Park
Home of the World’s Tallest Trees
Hyperion, the tallest known tree on Earth, grows hidden somewhere in this California park. Coast redwoods here can top 100 metres, dwarfing the forest around them. Visitors can walk groves like Lady Bird Johnson without ever spotting the record holder. Fog drifting off the Pacific keeps the trees fed through dry summers.
Outer Territory in Australia
Christmas Island
Island Paradise of Red Crabs
Each year, tens of millions of red crabs migrate across Christmas Island to spawn. The forest floor turns red as they march in a wave towards the coast. Rangers close roads and build bridges to help the crabs cross safely. Steep limestone cliffs and blue holes ring much of the island's coast.
Region in Austria
Wachau
UNESCO Heritage along the Danube
Terraced vineyards climb steep hillsides above the Danube through this Austrian valley. Apricot orchards fill the flatter ground closer to the riverbank. Visitors can cycle a path tracing the river between medieval towns. Durnstein Castle's ruins sit perched above the water on a rocky outcrop.
City in Argentina
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
Nahuel Huapi Lake stretches beneath snow-capped Andean peaks in this Argentine town. Circuito Chico, a scenic road loop, threads between forest, lake and mountain views. Visitors can ride a chairlift up Cerro Campanario for a full panorama. Glacial valleys nearby draw hikers deeper into the Nahuel Huapi range.
Region in Austria
Carinthia
Land of Lakes and Alpine Beauty
Carinthia holds some of Austria's warmest and clearest alpine lakes, including Worthersee. Snowmelt keeps the water remarkably clear well into the summer months. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs nearby towards the country's tallest peak. Glaciers along the route are visible from numerous roadside overlooks.
National Park in United Kingdom
Snowdonia National Park
Mythic Peaks and Wild Welsh Beauty
Mount Snowdon rises as the highest peak in Wales at over 1,000 metres. Six different trails climb the mountain, ranging from gentle to steep. Hikers can also ride a heritage railway to the summit café. Glacial lakes sit tucked into valleys throughout the surrounding park.
Island in Greece
Kefalonia
Wild Beauty of the Ionian Sea
Melissani Cave on Kefalonia holds an underground lake beneath a partially collapsed roof. Sunlight pours through the opening around midday, turning the water a vivid turquoise. Rowboats carry visitors quietly across the lake past ancient stalactites in the dark. Seawater from the far side of the island resurfaces here after travelling underground for weeks.
Town in Slovenia
Kranjska Gora
Alpine Adventure at Slovenia’s Edge
Kranjska Gora sits at the base of the Julian Alps near Slovenia's borders with Italy and Austria. The Vrsic Pass above town climbs through 50 hairpin turns to cross the mountains. Lake Jasna, fed by glacial streams, reflects the surrounding peaks in still, clear water. Deep snow reliably covers the surrounding slopes each winter.
National Park in Canada
Jasper National Park
Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies
Jasper National Park protects the largest area of any national park in the Canadian Rockies. The Columbia Icefield here feeds glaciers that melt into three separate oceans. Maligne Canyon cuts more than 50 metres deep in places, narrow enough to straddle. Spirit Island, reachable by boat, sits on one of the park's turquoise glacial lakes.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Lake Mashu in eastern Hokkaido is often ranked among the clearest lakes on Earth. Thick fog frequently hides the crater lake from view for days at a time. Drift ice pushes down from the Sea of Okhotsk and blankets the Shiretoko coast each winter. Steep, forested peaks surround much of the region's undeveloped interior.
National Park in Spain
Teide National Park
Mars-Like Landscapes and Epic Views
Los Roques de Garcia rise as jagged volcanic outcrops across this Tenerife park's crater floor. Erosion has carved the surrounding landscape into shapes resembling a Martian surface. Visitors can hike trails winding between the rock formations near the base. Mount Teide's summit looms above the entire scene.
City in United States
Niagara Falls (New York)
Thundering Wonder on the US Side
The American Falls drop about 21 metres on this side of the border. Cave of the Winds lets visitors walk a wooden deck close to the base. Mist rises constantly from the churning pool below the falls. Goat Island sits between the American and Canadian sides, reachable on foot.
Island in Spain
Tenerife
Volcanoes, Beaches and Endless Sun
Mount Teide rises as Spain's highest peak, a volcanic cone visible across the Canary Islands. A cable car climbs most of the way to its summit crater. Visitors can walk the lunar-like Las Canadas landscape spread around its base. Stargazers gather at the summit's observatory, among the clearest skies in Europe.
National Park in Japan
Kamikochi
Clear river valley beneath the Hotaka Range
Kamikochi sits at roughly 1,500 metres inside Japan's Northern Alps. The Azusa River runs crystal clear beneath the valley's jagged peaks. Taisho Pond formed suddenly in 1915 when a volcanic eruption dammed the river. Private cars are banned, so buses carry visitors into this protected mountain valley.
Country
Tonga
Tropical paradise with volcanic islands
Humpback whales gather in this Pacific kingdom's warm water to breed each winter. Swimmers can enter the water alongside mothers and calves under licensed guides. Vava'u's islands offer some of the few places on Earth permitting this close contact. Whales return to the same waters from Antarctic feeding grounds each year.
Town in New Zealand
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
Lake Wakatipu stretches beneath the jagged Remarkables range in this New Zealand town. Bungee jumping was born here at the nearby Kawarau Bridge in the 1980s. Visitors can ride a gondola up Bob's Peak for a full lake view. Fiordland's peaks lie within reach on a day trip south.
Ski Resort in Chile
Valle Nevado
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
This Chilean ski resort sits less than two hours from Santiago high in the Andes. Snowfall here can exceed several metres across a single winter season. Skiers can ride lifts above 3,000 metres for wide views of surrounding peaks. Summer visitors can hike the same slopes once the snow clears.
Region in Italy
South Tyrol
Alpine culture where worlds collide
The Dolomites rise in pale, jagged peaks above this northern Italian region's valleys. Seiser Alm spreads out below as the largest high alpine meadow in Europe. Hikers can cross the plateau with views of the Sassolungo massif ahead. Cable cars climb from valley towns to trailheads scattered across the range.
National Park in Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica’s Wildest Rainforest Frontier
Corcovado National Park sits on the remote Osa Peninsula, where rainforest meets open ocean. Steep, forested ridges drop almost directly into the Pacific along much of the coast. Heavy rainfall here supports one of the last large lowland rainforests in Central America. Trails require fording rivers and streams that shift with the tides.
Archipelago in Portugal
Azores
Volcanic Isles of Atlantic Wonders
Sete Cidades on Sao Miguel Island fills a vast, still active volcanic crater. Two lakes sit side by side inside it, one blue and one green. Local legend says the colours come from the tears of forbidden lovers. Hiking trails along the crater rim offer sweeping views of both lakes at once.
Town in Costa Rica
Quepos
Gateway to Tropical Adventure
Sportfishing boats leave this Costa Rican harbour town chasing marlin and sailfish offshore. The nearby continental shelf drops steeply, drawing big game fish close to shore. Anglers can charter boats for day trips into deep Pacific water. A busy marina keeps the town's fishing fleet docked between trips.
National Park in Bulgaria
Pirin National Park
Alpine Peaks, Glacial Lakes, Wild Beauty
Vihren Peak rises over 2,900 metres above glacial lakes in this Bulgarian range. More than a hundred lakes sit scattered through the park's granite basins. Hikers can trek between them on trails linking mountain huts. Ancient Bosnian pine trees nearby rank among Europe's oldest living things.
Village in Norway
Reine
Lofoten’s Iconic Fjord Village
Red and white fishing cabins called rorbuer line the harbour of this Norwegian village. Jagged peaks rise almost directly from the water behind the small settlement. Visitors can hike a steep trail up Reinebringen for a view over the whole scene. Fishing boats still work these waters much as they always have.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands formed from a volcanic hotspot in the middle of the Pacific. Fernandina and Isabela islands still have active volcanoes that erupt periodically. Ocean currents meeting here create sharply different climates from island to island. Isolation over millions of years let each island develop its own distinct wildlife.
Town in Georgia
Stepantsminda
Breathtaking Peaks and Ancient Churches
Gergeti Trinity Church sits on a hilltop beneath Mount Kazbek's snow-covered summit. This Georgian mountain village serves as the starting point for treks towards the peak. Visitors can hike or drive up to the church for close mountain views. Clouds often part briefly to reveal the summit above the valley.
Island in Australia
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
Cradle Mountain's jagged dolerite peaks reflect in Dove Lake on calm mornings. Ancient rainforest and alpine moorland surround the lake's walking track. Hikers can circle the lake in a few hours beneath the mountain's profile. Wombats and wallabies graze openly along the same trails at dusk.
Island in Croatia
Brač
Island of Sun, Stone and Sea
Zlatni Rat beach on Brac extends into the Adriatic as a narrow pebble spit. Currents constantly reshape its tip, so the point shifts direction over time. Pine forest crowds right up to the edge of the shoreline. The beach is best appreciated from the air, where its horn like shape becomes clear.
Town in United States
Mammoth Lakes
Alpine Paradise in Eastern Sierra
Devils Postpile stands as a wall of hexagonal basalt columns in the Sierra Nevada. Lava cooled slowly here, cracking into the tall, symmetrical shapes. Hikers can reach the formation on a short trail from Mammoth Lakes. Rainbow Falls drops nearby into a pool ringed by granite cliffs.
Town in Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Dolomite Peaks, Alpine Glamour, Adventure
Cortina d'Ampezzo sits ringed by the pale limestone peaks of the Dolomites. Sheer cliffs here glow pink and orange at sunset, an effect called enrosadira. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three distinctive towers, rise nearby above green alpine meadows. UNESCO recognised the Dolomites as a World Heritage Site for their striking geology.
Region in India
Zanskar
Hidden Himalayan Buddhist wilderness frontier
The Chadar trek follows a frozen river through this Himalayan region's deep gorge each winter. Trekkers walk directly across the ice where the Zanskar River freezes solid. Villages along the route remain cut off from road access for months. Buddhist monasteries perch on cliffs above the same river valley.
National Park in Guyana
Kaieteur National Park
World's Most Powerful Single-Drop Waterfall
Kaieteur Falls drops water in a single, uninterrupted plunge nearly five times the height of Niagara. This Guyanese park's remote location keeps visitor numbers far lower than similar sites elsewhere. Visitors can fly in by small plane to reach the falls directly. Golden frogs live only in the bromeliads growing near the cascade's edge.
Country
Lesotho
Mountain kingdom in the sky
The Maloti Mountains earned this country its nickname, the Kingdom in the Sky. Sani Pass climbs to over 2,800 metres along a rough mountain road. Travellers can cross into the highlands on horseback with local guides. Villages here still rely on Basotho ponies for transport through the peaks.
Overseas Territory in France
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
Bora Bora in French Polynesia is often credited as the birthplace of the overwater bungalow. A shallow, turquoise lagoon surrounds the island, ringed by a protective barrier reef. Mount Otemanu, an extinct volcanic peak, rises dramatically at its centre. More than 100 islands and atolls make up the wider territory.
Island in Indonesia
Nusa Penida
Bali's rugged island paradise
Kelingking Beach curves beneath a cliff shaped like a T-rex head off Bali's coast. Turquoise water fills the cove far below the viewpoint above. Visitors can hike a steep trail down to the beach itself. Manta Bay nearby draws divers hoping to swim alongside resident manta rays.
Town in Ireland
Dingle
Wild Atlantic Views, Music & Craic
Slea Head Drive winds along cliffs above the Atlantic on this Irish peninsula. Beehive-shaped stone huts built centuries ago still dot the roadside fields. Visitors can stop at viewpoints looking out towards the Blasket Islands. Sheep graze on steep green slopes right up to the cliff edge.
City in Norway
Tromsø
Arctic Lights, Culture and Wild Beauty
The northern lights appear regularly over this Norwegian city through the dark winter months. Its position inside the auroral oval makes sightings more reliable than most Arctic towns. Visitors can ride a cable car up Mount Storsteinen for a wide view. The Arctic Cathedral's angular roofline rises sharply against the fjord behind it.
National Park in Venezuela
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
Angel Falls in Canaima National Park drops farther than any other waterfall on Earth. Water plunges more than 800 metres uninterrupted from the top of Auyantepui. Much of the falls turns to mist before it ever reaches the ground. Flat topped mountains called tepuis rise sheer from the surrounding jungle.
National Park in United Kingdom
Cairngorms National Park
Scotland’s Wild Heart of Adventure
The Cairngorms form Britain's largest national park, spanning ancient granite plateaus. Remnants of the old Caledonian pine forest still cling to its lower slopes. Arctic like conditions persist on the high plateau even in summer. Reindeer, reintroduced decades ago, now roam these Scottish mountains again.
Village in Austria
Hallstatt
A Fairytale Village by the Lake
Hallstatt sits wedged between a steep mountainside and a narrow alpine lake. Salt mining here dates back more than 7,000 years, among the oldest in the world. Houses cling to the shoreline with barely enough space for streets between them. Fog often rolls off Lake Hallstatt in the early morning, softening the view.
National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Where predators rule the Kalahari
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park spans the border between South Africa and Botswana across the Kalahari. Red sand dunes stretch across much of this semi arid, sparsely vegetated terrain. Dry riverbeds, flowing only after rare rains, cut through the landscape. Extreme temperature swings define the desert here, from scorching days to freezing nights.
National Park in United States
Bryce Canyon National Park
Hoodoo Wonderland and Starry Nights
Bryce Canyon holds the largest concentration of hoodoos anywhere on Earth. These thin spires form as frost repeatedly cracks and shapes soft limestone rock. Sunrise light turns the amphitheatre's layered reds and oranges especially vivid. Snow sometimes dusts the hoodoos even as nearby deserts stay warm.
National Park in Ireland
Connemara National Park
Wild Bogs, Peaks and Ponies
The Twelve Bens mountain range rises above blanket bog across this Irish park's terrain. Wild Connemara ponies still roam freely across the open, rugged landscape. Visitors can hike Diamond Hill for views over the surrounding bogland and coast. Loughs scattered through the park reflect the mountains on calm days.
National Park in Argentina
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
Perito Moreno Glacier advances across Lake Argentino in southern Patagonia. Chunks of ice regularly calve off its face with a loud crack. Visitors can walk boardwalks facing the glacier's blue, jagged wall. Boat tours cross closer to the ice for a full view of its scale.
National Park in United States
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Home of the Giant Sequoias
General Sherman, the largest tree by volume on Earth, grows in this California park. The sequoia stands over 83 metres tall with a trunk wider than most rooms. Visitors can walk a paved trail through the surrounding grove to see it. Kings Canyon nearby cuts deeper than the Grand Canyon in places.
National Park in Australia
Blue Mountains National Park
Majestic Views and Untamed Nature
The Blue Mountains take their name from a faint blue haze over the forest. Oil released by eucalyptus trees scatters sunlight to create this optical effect. Three sandstone pillars called the Three Sisters rise above the Jamison Valley. Sheer cliffs and deep gorges cut through the plateau for miles.
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
Falkland Islands
Untouched wilderness with abundant wildlife
The Falkland Islands sit almost entirely without native trees, swept by constant Atlantic wind. Strange rivers of broken quartzite rock, called stone runs, cover parts of the hillsides. These formations likely date back to intense freezing during the last ice age. Peat bogs and low tussac grass dominate much of the remaining landscape.
Country
Palau
Pristine paradise with underwater wonders
Jellyfish Lake holds millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their ability to sting. Snorkellers can swim among them without the usual risk of jellyfish stings. Rock Islands nearby rise as mushroom-shaped limestone domes from the lagoon. German Channel close by draws divers hoping to spot passing manta rays.
Town in Norway
Longyearbyen
The Edge of the Arctic Wild
Polar bears outnumber people on this Arctic Norwegian archipelago's outlying land. Longyearbyen sits at nearly 78 degrees north, among the world's northernmost towns. Visitors can join snowmobile trips out towards glaciers and frozen fjords. The midnight sun keeps the sky bright for four months straight each summer.
Town in United Kingdom
Portree
Colorful Harbour in the Scottish Highlands
Colourful harbour houses line the waterfront of this Isle of Skye town. Fishing boats still dock along the same curved bay each morning. Visitors can walk the harbour path for views across to the cliffs beyond. The Old Man of Storr rock formation sits a short drive north.
Town in Japan
Yufuin Onsen
Lakeside onsen town below Mount Yufu
Steam rises off Lake Kinrin's surface on cold mornings in this Japanese hot spring town. Mount Yufu's twin peaks stand behind the lake as a backdrop. Visitors can soak in outdoor baths with direct views of the mountain. Small shops and ryokan line the streets leading towards the lake.
Country
Federated States of Micronesia
Scattered paradise with tropical diversity
Nan Madol off Pohnpei island is a city built almost entirely on water. Around 90 artificial islets sit stacked from massive basalt columns quarried elsewhere on the island. Builders stacked stones in a log cabin pattern without mortar or wheels. Canals separate the islets, earning it the nickname Venice of the Pacific.
Mountain in Japan
Mount Fuji
Japan's highest peak and sacred volcano
This near-perfect cone rises 3,776 metres above the plains near Tokyo. Snow covers its upper slopes most of the year, framing classic photographs. Climbers can summit during the short official season from July to September. Lake Kawaguchiko nearby offers a mirrored view of the peak below.
National Park in Japan
Daisetsuzan National Park
Japan's largest national park, in Hokkaido
Daisetsuzan is Japan's largest national park, covering a wide volcanic plateau. Locals sometimes call it the roof of Hokkaido for its high central peaks. Autumn colour here tends to arrive earlier than almost anywhere else in Japan. Hot springs dot the base of the mountains, fed by ongoing volcanic activity.
Region in Italy
Cinque Terre
Colorful Cliffs and Coastal Charm
Cinque Terre strings five villages along a rugged stretch of Italian coastline. Steep terraced vineyards climb the cliffs behind each cluster of colourful houses. A coastal trail links the villages, hugging cliffs high above the sea. No roads connect some of the towns, so many visitors arrive by train or boat.
Town in Iceland
Seydisfjordur
Colorful Fjord Village of the East
A rainbow-painted street leads towards a small blue church in this Icelandic fjord town. Steep mountains rise on both sides of the narrow fjord surrounding the village. Visitors can hike to waterfalls tumbling down the slopes above town. Ferries connect the settlement to mainland Europe across the North Atlantic.
Island in Greece
Zakynthos
Turquoise Waters and Hidden Caves
A rusting shipwreck sits stranded on Navagio Beach's white sand cove. Steep cliffs surround the bay, accessible mainly by boat from nearby towns. Visitors can view the wreck from a clifftop lookout above the beach. Turquoise water fills the cove between the surrounding limestone walls.
Island in Greece
Lefkada
Ionian Gem with Pristine Beaches
Porto Katsiki beach sits beneath a limestone cliff on this Ionian island. Turquoise water meets a narrow strip of white pebble shore below. Swimmers descend a steep staircase carved into the rock face. Nearby coves like Egremni offer a quieter version of the same scenery.
Town in Argentina
Villa la Angostura
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
Arrayanes trees grow in a dense forest found almost nowhere else on Earth. Their cinnamon-coloured bark peels in thin layers near this Argentine lake town. Visitors can hike or boat to the grove on a peninsula in Lake Nahuel Huapi. Snow-capped Andean peaks frame the lake beyond the forest.
Island in Italy
Sardinia
Turquoise seas and ancient secrets
La Pelosa beach glows with shallow turquoise water along Sardinia's northwest tip. A ruined Spanish watchtower stands guard over the sand and clear shallows. Swimmers can wade far out before the seafloor drops away. Costa Smeralda's rocky coves lie further east along the same coastline.
Country
Mauritius
Tropical Bliss in the Indian Ocean
Chamarel's Seven Coloured Earths form bands of red, purple and brown volcanic soil. Erosion has left the dunes striped rather than mixed together. Visitors can walk raised paths around the site without disturbing the layers. Black River Gorges nearby holds waterfalls and native forest trails.
City in Norway
Kristiansand
Coastal charm meets vibrant cultural scene
Kristiansand sits along Norway's southern coast, known for its mild climate by regional standards. Rocky skerries and small islands dot the water just offshore. Setesdal valley stretches north from the city through steep, forested hills. The Sorlandet coastline nearby is dotted with traditional white wooden houses.
Town in Japan
Noboribetsu
Steaming hell valley and nine spring types
Jigokudani (Hell Valley) steams with sulphurous vents across this Hokkaido hot spring town. Volcanic activity below feeds dozens of onsen baths throughout the area. Visitors can walk boardwalks close to the bubbling, mineral-stained ground. Snow monkeys sometimes soak in nearby hot pools during the coldest months.
Valley in Peru
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
Inca terraces climb the hillsides above this Peruvian valley near Cusco. Farmers still cultivate some of the same stepped fields built centuries ago. Visitors can explore ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo along the valley floor. Snow-capped Andean peaks rise beyond the terraced slopes on clear days.
Lake
Lake Titicaca
Crystal waters echo ancient Andean legends
Lake Titicaca sits at over 3,800 metres, among the highest navigable lakes on Earth. The Uros people build entire floating islands from woven totora reeds. Ancient stone ruins on Isla del Sol are tied to Inca creation myths. Strong sunlight and thin air at this altitude can catch first time visitors off guard.
National Park in Italy
Dolomites National Park
Towering peaks and pristine wilderness
Tre Cime di Lavaredo's three peaks rise like stone towers above this Italian park's meadows. A loop trail circles all three summits in a single day's hike. Visitors can stop at mountain huts along the way for food and rest. Rock faces here turn a deep pink at sunset, a local phenomenon called enrosadira.
National Park in Japan
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
Northern Alps peaks, snow walls and onsen
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route crosses this Japanese park through a famous snow corridor. Walls of ploughed snow rise over 15 metres on either side of the road each spring. Visitors can walk between the towering white walls before they melt away. Cable cars and trolley buses carry travellers across the mountain pass.
Town in Japan
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
Toshogu Shrine holds the elaborate mausoleum of a founding Japanese shogun in the mountains. Carved details cover the shrine's gates, including the well-known sleeping cat and monkeys. Visitors can walk the cedar-lined approach before reaching the main halls. Kegon Falls nearby drops close to 100 metres into a volcanic lake.
National Park in Zambia
South Luangwa National Park
Walking Safaris and Wild Encounters
Walking safaris were pioneered in this Zambian park decades before they spread elsewhere. Armed guides still lead visitors on foot past leopards and elephants along the Luangwa River. Game drives can also track the park's dense population of predators after dark. Oxbow lagoons scattered through the valley draw large herds during the dry season.
Island in Portugal
São Miguel
Volcanic Wonders in the Atlantic
Sete Cidades fills two adjoining crater lakes with contrasting blue and green water. Legend ties the colours to a tearful princess and a blind shepherd. Visitors can view both lakes at once from the Vista do Rei lookout. Fumaroles and thermal pools steam nearby around Furnas village.
Island in Japan
Shodoshima
Japan's olive island with a tidal sandbar
Angel Road, a sandbar, appears twice daily between this Japanese island and a smaller islet. Couples walk across at low tide, believing it grants good luck. Olive groves cover much of the island's hillsides, a rarity in Japan. A cable car climbs Mount Kankakei for views over the Seto Inland Sea.
City in Australia
Cairns
Gateway to Reef and Rainforest Wonders
Cairns serves as the main gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Boats depart daily for reef sites just an hour or two offshore. The Kuranda Scenic Railway climbs steeply through rainforest gorges above the city. Nearby, a cable car glides silently over the same dense canopy.
Region in Japan
Iya Valley
Vine bridges, deep gorges and mountain hot springs
The Iya Valley cuts a steep, V shaped gorge through the mountains of Shikoku. Vine bridges, woven from local vines and reinforced steel, once provided the main crossing over the river. Legend says defeated warriors fled here after a 12th century civil war. Thatched roof farmhouses still dot the remote hillsides today.
Island in Australia
Phillip Island
Penguins, Surf and Coastal Wonders
Little penguins waddle ashore at dusk on this Australian island's Summerland Beach. Thousands emerge from the surf each night after a day spent fishing. Visitors can watch the Penguin Parade from viewing platforms along the dunes. Seal colonies gather nearby on the rocks at the Nobbies.
City in Australia
Gold Coast
Sun, Surf and Adventure
The Gold Coast stretches along more than 50 kilometres of nearly continuous sandy beach. Surfers Paradise gives the region its reputation as one of Australia's top surf breaks. Just inland, subtropical rainforest rises sharply into the hinterland's mountains. Waterfalls and lookout points sit only a short drive from the busy shoreline.
City in Japan
Beppu
Steaming hot springs and colourful Hells
Beppu produces more hot spring water than anywhere else across all of Japan. Its famous jigoku (hells) are boiling ponds coloured by different mineral deposits. One pond glows a striking cobalt blue from dissolved silica. Steam rises constantly from vents scattered across the city's hillsides.
Valley in Austria
Ötztal
Majestic alpine valley with crystal lakes
Otzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, was found preserved in a glacier here. Melting ice revealed the body to hikers in the early 1990s. Visitors can view replicas and artefacts at a museum near the valley entrance. Glaciers still cap the highest peaks above this Austrian valley today.
City in Japan
Naruto
Whirlpools, bridge walks and ceramic art
The Naruto Strait churns into some of the largest tidal whirlpools on Earth. Currents here can spin at speeds up to 20 kilometres per hour. Sightseeing boats can pass close to the swirling water for a full view. The Onaruto Bridge above offers a glass-floored walkway looking straight down at the strait.
Town in Japan
Karuizawa
Cool highland resort at the foot of Asama
Karuizawa sits at a cool, high elevation beneath the volcanic peak of Mount Asama. Japanese nobility and foreign missionaries turned it into a mountain retreat in the 1880s. Thick forest and quiet lakeshores still define much of the surrounding countryside. Shiraito Falls nearby spreads water thinly across a wide, curved rock face.
Town in Japan
Niseko
Hokkaido powder snow and four linked resorts
Powder snow falls here in some of the heaviest volumes recorded in Japan. Cold air crossing the Sea of Japan drops fine, dry snow through winter. Skiers can ride multiple linked resorts across the same mountain range. Onsen baths nearby offer a hot soak after a day on the slopes.
Town in Japan
Izu
Shuzenji hot springs, wasabi and Amagi hikes
The Izu Peninsula juts into the Pacific south of Tokyo, shaped by volcanic activity. Hot springs bubble up across the region, feeding hundreds of traditional bathhouses. Jagged sea cliffs and rock formations line much of its rugged coastline. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible rising beyond Suruga Bay.
Forest
Amazon Rainforest
Lush canopy teeming with untamed wildlife wonders
Pink river dolphins surface along tributaries winding through this vast South American rainforest. Their colouring comes from scar tissue built up over a long lifetime. Visitors can spot them on boat trips into calmer backwater channels. The surrounding forest holds more tree species than almost any other region on Earth.
Salt Flat in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
The world's largest salt flat spreads across southwestern Bolivia in a blinding white expanse. A thin layer of water after rain turns the surface into a mirror. Visitors can photograph the sky reflected perfectly across the flat ground. Cactus-covered islands rise from the salt further towards the flat's edges.
Cliff in Cape Town
Table Mountain
Cape Town’s Iconic Flat-Topped Wonder
Table Mountain rises above Cape Town with a famously flat, level summit. Clouds often spill over its edge in a formation locals call the tablecloth. A rotating cable car carries visitors to the top in under five minutes. Over 2,000 plant species grow on its slopes, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Cape in Norway
North Cape
Standing at Europe’s Edge
A cliff here marks the northernmost point of mainland Europe, dropping straight into the Arctic Ocean. Midnight sun keeps the sky bright through most of the summer months. Visitors can stand at the globe monument overlooking the sea below. Winter brings polar night, when the sun never rises above the horizon.
Mountain
Mount Everest
World's highest peak, ultimate challenge
Base Camp sits at over 5,300 metres on the Khumbu Glacier's edge. Climbers pass through the Khumbu Icefall on the route towards the summit. Trekkers without technical gear can still hike as far as Base Camp itself. Sherpa villages along the trail offer tea houses for the multi-day trek.
Mountain in Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa's Roof, World's Highest Freestanding Volcano
Africa's tallest peak rises through five distinct climate zones on its way to the summit. Rainforest gives way to moorland, then alpine desert as the trail climbs. Trekkers can reach Uhuru Peak without technical climbing gear over several days. Glaciers near the crater rim have shrunk noticeably over recent decades.
Mountain in Italy
Matterhorn
Majestic peak echoing alpine legends
This pyramid-shaped peak rises over 4,400 metres above the Swiss-Italian border. Its near-symmetrical faces have made it one of the most photographed mountains on Earth. Visitors can ride a cable car from Zermatt for a close-up view. Climbers still test themselves on the Hornli Ridge route to the summit.
Fjord in New Zealand
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
Mitre Peak rises straight from the water in this New Zealand fiord. Rain feeds hundreds of temporary waterfalls down its steep, forested walls. Boat cruises can pass close to Stirling Falls for a fine spray. Fur seals often bask on rocks near the fiord's entrance.
Landmark in Australia
Uluru
Majestic sandstone monolith under endless skies
This sandstone monolith changes colour through shades of red, orange and purple as the sun sets. Climbing the rock has been banned since 2019 out of respect for its Anangu owners. Visitors can walk the base track instead, passing sacred sites and waterholes. Guided tours explain the rock's significance in Anangu culture and law.
Landmark in Belize
Great Blue Hole
Vibrant turquoise depths reveal ancient mysteries
This Belizean sinkhole drops over 124 metres straight down into the surrounding reef. Stalactites found deep inside reveal it once formed as a dry cave. Divers can descend past the drop-off to see the formations up close. Sharks often patrol the hole's deeper, darker sections.
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