15 of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth
Have you ever thought about travelling simply to experience how beautiful the world is? If you'd like to travel for no other reason than to be astonished by it all, we suggest starting with these fifteen places. And then going from there.
Antarctica
Location:
Antarctica
Only Time to Go: November to March
An extreme bucket-list destination,
Antarctica is a world away, in every sense. Huge glacial fields, immense
floating icebergs and towering mountains dominate the pristine environment.
Visitors go largely for the iconic adventure and the unique wildlife-watching
opportunities. Be aware that while the heroic age of exploration is gone,
Antarctica is still logistically challenging and very expensive to get to.
Antelope Canyon
Location: Arizona,
United States
Best Time to Go: March to October
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon and a
geological wonderland. With its towering walls of sandstone, unique structures,
unearthly colours and dynamic plays of light, the canyon draws photographers
from around the world. There are two sections to the canyon, each with their
own surreal beauty. To access either of them, however, you need a guided tour,
so plan ahead.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Location:
Kyoto, Japan
Best Time to Go: June to September, early weekday mornings
Frequently called one of the world’s most
beautiful forests, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a feast for the senses. Immense stands
of bamboo create a feeling of complete immersion in nature, even though you’re
right in the city. The alluring rustle of the wind in the leaves gave the grove
a spot on the Ministry of Environment’s “100 Soundscapes of Japan.”
Atacama Desert
Location: Chile
Best Time to Go: March to May; September to November
The Atacama Desert is an extraordinary
place of geological diversity and endless starry skies. Comprising more than
1000 kilometres of land between the Andes and the Cordillera de la Costa
mountains, Atacama encompasses vast plateaus, immense valleys and unique
geothermal features. It attracts many adventurers with a taste for remote
isolation, but has more recently become a prime destination for stargazers.
Banff National Park
Location: Alberta,
Canada
Best Time to Go: June to August
Banff National Park brings together many of
nature’s most beautiful things: pristine forests, stunning mountains, wild
mountain rivers and scenic lakes. Set amidst the Rocky Mountains, Banff reveals
incredible new vistas at every turn of the road. From glaciers to alpine
meadows to staggering waterfalls, there’s always something to captivate
visitors.
Boracay
Location: Western
Visayas, Philippines
Best Time to Go: November to April
The tiny island of Boracay features
irresistible stretches of pure, white sand and balmy seas that have made it a
perennial favourite with travellers. Recently re-opened after a closure to let
the island recover from the environmental impact of all those visitors, Boracay
plays host to fewer numbers nowadays but is still incredibly popular.
Cliffs of Moher
Location: County
Clare, Ireland
Best Time to Go: April to May; September to November
Impressive and dramatic, the Cliffs of
Moher are a spectacular vantage point from which to see the Atlantic and an
incredible attraction in their own right. The immense striated cliffs tower
over the crashing waves and stretch like bastions into the sea. A visit to the Cliffs
or a hike along the clifftops is a highlight of a trip to the West of Ireland.
Laguna Colorada
Location: Potosí,
Bolivia
Best Time to Go: December to April
Laguna Colorado gets its intense colour
from the abundance of red algae that populate the lake. Under a bright blue
sky, the effect of the red salt lake, with its white borax islands, is
completely surreal. Heightening the effect is the breathtaking backdrop of the
sometimes snow-laced Andes. The lake also plays host to flocks of flamingos,
which draw photographers and birdwatchers from around the world.
Lake Tekapo
Location:
South Island, New Zealand
Best Time to Go: December to February
The mountainous backdrop and turquoise
waters of New Zealand’s Lake Tekapo are spectacular to behold. Whether staying
at lake level or hiking the surrounding mountains, visitors have a variety of
stunning perspectives from which to enjoy the lake’s scenic beauty. The lake
draws photographers from around the world by day but the stargazing
opportunities make this location equally spectacular at night.
Machu Picchu
Location: Cusco,
Peru
Best Time to Go: May to June; September to October
Nature and architecture combine here in
really unparalleled ways. While this Incan citadel is impressive in and of
itself, its breathtaking mountaintop setting is what really makes jaws drop.
The iconic views of tropical mountains make this a perennial favourite with
travellers, and the massive stoneworks and the dizzying architectural
achievements of Machu Picchu typically leave visitors speechless.
Nā Pali Coast
Location:
Kauai, Hawai’i
Best Time to Go: May to October
Stretching along Kauai’s famed North Shore
is the dramatic Nā Pali Coast. It’s a land of razor-edged mountain peaks, deep
green valleys, plunging waterfalls, jagged sea caves and white sandy beaches.
Viewed by air, by sea or by a challenging and immersive hike through this lush
wilderness, Nā Pali is simply stunning to experience.
Pamukkale
Location:
Denizli, Turkey
Best Time to Go: April to June
The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale
are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Often likened to frozen waterfalls, the
warm basins of these thermal terraces form a surreal landscape with their cascading
white rock ledges and turquoise waters. The ancient Greek and Roman ruins at Hierapolis
complete a picture that has fascinated visitors for millennia.
Salar de Uyuni
Location: Daniel
Campos, Bolivia
Best Time to Go: December to March
Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt
flat, is a staggering expanse of pure white geometric patterns when it’s dry. During
the rainy season, however, the water pooling on the flats creates an immense
and perfect mirror of the sky above. Wet or dry season, this unique environment
creates incredible illusions of perspective and light.
Trolltunga
Location: Odda,
Norway
Best Time to Go: June to September
High above the spectacular Ringedalsvatnet Lake,
you’ll find one of Norway’s most fascinating rock formations, Trolltunga. Trolltunga
is not for the faint of heart. This famous rocky outcropping juts out into
empty space and gives the impression of belonging more to the sky than the
ground. The surrounding cliffs are no less majestic.
Zakynthos
Location:
Greece
Best Time to Go: May to October
The island of Zakynthos is incredible in
its diversity. Sandy beaches, towering cliffs, deep forests and flower-studded
meadows are just a small part of its natural beauty. The island’s many lovely churches
speak to its long architectural history and those who find beauty more in
human-made things will have much to appreciate here.
feature image: Andreas Kambanis; image 1: Peter & Michelle S; image 2: Pixabay; image 3: Marlis Börger
; image 4: Harshil Shah; image 5: Brian Snelson; image 6: Leonora (Ellie) Enking; image 7: Henry Burrows
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