Known to many as the Northern Lights, this natural phenomenon is a beautiful show of blue, green, pink, red and violet streaks in the night sky. The best time to see the auroras is between October and April, but they can be seen throughout the year.
At a mile deep and 18 miles wide, the Victoria Falls is one of the world's biggest curtains of water. The spectacular waterfall is also a popular spot for swimming.
Chocolate Hills
Sculpted over the course of millions of years by erosion and wind, these rock formations look like something out of a sci-fi movie. From a crystalline cave to a bubblegum pink lake, these natural wonders are truly mind-blowing.
The Chocolate Hills are limestone mounds scattered across the Philippines island of Bohol. The unusual geological phenomenon consists of nearly 1,300 almost-symmetrical hills, and they get their name from their chocolatey brown appearance during the dry season when the grass that covers them withers.
Located in the town of Carmen, you can visit the Chocolate Hills via van or motorbike, though we recommend going to Taytay Hills for a stunning view of the hills and the surrounding scenery. For a more adventurous trip, you can also try out the 550-meter-long Rush Bike Zipline at Sagbayan Peak. To book your visit, reach out to them on their Facebook page.
Zhangjiajie National Park
The karst mountains and pillar-like rock formations of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China are among the most stunning natural landscapes on earth. Their unique beauty, resembling the mountains in James Cameron's movie Avatar, have made this park a top destination for millions of tourists.
The park is dotted with spectacular waterscapes, including calcified lakes, waterfalls and travertine beach lands. Among them, the most impressive are Long Lake and Shuzheng Lakes. The former features curious color patterns, while the latter is a mesmerizing sight with its emerald green and blue waters.
The park is also home to several incredible man-made attractions, like the Bailong Elevator, which stretches 326 m (1,070 ft) high and can take up to 50 people at once. It's also home to three jaw-dropping walkways, including the world's longest and highest glass bridge.
Salar de Uyuni
Located in southwest Bolivia, the massive salt flats of Salar de Uyuni are the legacy of a prehistoric lake that dried up. Now, it’s home to an otherworldly landscape of blinding white salt and cacti-studded islands.
Salar de Uyuni is famous for its mirror-like reflections, and it’s a must-see during the rainy season between December and April when a thin layer of water covers the salt flats. During this time, the horizon disappears and you can capture mind-blowing photographs where the sky and ground merge together.
Besides being a photographer’s dream, the salar is also an important resource for Bolivia. It’s part of the “lithium triangle” and contains a significant portion of the world’s lithium resources, which are used in everything from cellphone batteries to electric cars. This makes it a popular stop for travelers headed to nearby San Pedro de Atacama and elsewhere in the Andes region.
Waitomo
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a series of limestone caves in the north island of New Zealand that are home to a special glowworm species (Arachnocampa luminosa). The glowworms light up the caves creating an other-worldly experience. Visitors can take guided tours of the caves which also include the Ruakuri and Aranui Cave. The site is a popular tourist attraction and includes a modern visitor centre located near the cave entrance.
The caves have two levels, the lower being a series of stream passages and glowworms and the upper level featuring stunning rock formations such as the Cathedral Cave. Tours are conducted by guides who are direct descendants of Maori chief Tane Tinorau and provide a fascinating cultural perspective on the cave.
Located an hour from Hamilton, 2 hours from the Bay of Plenty and 2.5 hours from Auckland it’s perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway. The area offers quaint accommodation and numerous restaurants and bushwalks.
Glowworm Caves
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The Glowworm Caves in New Zealand are a wonder of bioluminescence that will transport you to another world. The turquoise lights reflect off the still water in the underground caverns, creating a mesmerizing ambiance that James Cameron would surely love (though he has never confirmed that he took inspiration from this attraction).
These amazing glowworm caves are home to a unique species of glowworm called Arachnocampa luminosa. When the glowworms light up, they are trying to attract a mate. They emit a soothing blue glow through long strings of excrement that are suspended from the cave ceiling.
Unlike the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, these natural wonders are not crowded with tourists. Plan your next adventure to one of these otherworldly destinations and you’ll be glad that you did.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Located in the southern Min Shan Mountains, Jiuzhaigou Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is renowned for its landscape of incredibly vivid blue lakes and verdant forests. According to ancient legend, the goddess Semo smashed her mirror here and the pieces formed 108 winkling lakes and streams.
Narrow conic karst land forms combine with waterfalls to reveal incredible natural beauty at this high altitude forest habitat. It's home to around 140 species of birds and a wide range of endangered animals, including the giant panda and Sichuan takin.
The reserve is beautiful year-round, but autumn is a particularly stunning time to visit. Expect to see a kaleidoscope of color as the leaves change. It's also less crowded than summer and winter. The area is also a great place to explore quaternary glacial fossils.
The Wave
For centuries mariners have spun terrifying tales of colossal, ship-swallowing rogue waves. But the scientists who study them haven’t believed these stories until now, when a series of mysterious, record-setting waves have been detected.
The Wave is located in Coyote Buttes North near the Utah Arizona border and consists of a rock formation that is popular with photographers. The best time to photograph it is in the Spring (April – May) when average wind speed is low and temperatures moderate. A permit from the Bureau of Land Management is required to access the area and during peak months securing one is difficult.
But for a select few extreme surfers these giant waves are a holy grail. Author Susan Casey’s riveting account follows this unique tribe as they fly around the world seeking the ultimate challenge.
Tsingy de Bemaraha
The Tsingy de Bemaraha World Heritage Site is a rock plateau and forest in western Madagascar, a large island off the coast of Africa. It's known for its karstic landscapes, including impressive limestone peaks and a 'forest' of needle-like rocks. It also contains lakes, rivers and undisturbed forests. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. It's split into a national park, which has mostly the rock formations, and a strict nature reserve, which includes more forests and other landforms.
It meets the UNESCO criteria for natural wonders under Criterion (vii). The reserve presents rare or eminently remarkable geological phenomena. Its rocky formations are veritable cathedrals, offering one of the grandest natural landscapes in Madagascar and the world. It's also home to a number of unique and endangered animals, such as lemurs and chameleons.
Lake Hillier
From afar, Lake Hillier of Middle Island in Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago looks like a swath of bubble-gum pink. Draw closer and the color becomes more watery and translucent, but it’s still unmistakably pink.
The pink coloration of the lake is caused by a combination of algae species (such as Dunaliella salina) and pink bacteria. These microorganisms thrive in the highly saline environment of the lake, which is also inhospitable to many other types of life.
The pink hue of the lake attracts attention from tourists and scientists alike. Due to its delicate ecological balance and status as a natural wonder, Lake Hillier has become the focus of ongoing research into the underlying biological, chemical, and geological processes that contribute to its unique coloration.
Ha Long Bay
The seascapes of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Vietnam, are like something from a fantasy novel. Limestone pillars rise from the emerald waters, and their varying colors and shapes blend together to create a surreal scene.
Legend has it that when the Vietnamese fought off northern invaders, they were helped by a family of dragons who spat out jade and emeralds to form these stunning islands. That might explain why the bay was named Ha Long (meaning “descending dragon”).
Today, visitors to Ha Long Bay can explore these karst formations by yacht or traditional wooden junk boat. Many locals live on the secluded bay’s islands, mainly in Cua Van, Ba Hang and Cap De fishing villages (Hung Thang Ward, Halong City). Their livelihood depends on tourism, and they offer bedrooms for rent and boat tours to travelers.
