Our Earth is full of fantastical places. Here are some magical locations that will entice you to book your next trip.
1. Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namibia
Photo by Sander Wehkamp
The Namibian dunes do not disappoint. Its fiery red sands are some of the highest in the world. The fine grains combined with the dunes’ width and height are impressive to behold. In the early morning or late night under the stars, they take on an almost supernatural appearance.
2. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Photo by Brittney Burnett
This national park boasts 16 crystal-clear lakes and incredible waterfalls among the mountains and caves. The forest surroundings are home to wildlife, including bears and rare butterflies, making this a truly fairytale-like destination.
3. Dallol volcano, Afar Region, Ethiopia.
Photo by A Savin
These volcanic, sulphur springs in Ethiopia do not look of this world. Ethiopians have traditionally harvested salt from these springs and locals continue the practice today. The neon colours are created by the hot magma below the surface which emits salt and sulphur.
4. The Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Photo by Matthias Mullie
We don’t need to remind you about the beauty of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons on the planet. Not only that, it also has the deepest cliffs yet discovered.
5. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Photo by Susanne Feldt
Here lies the legacy of a prehistoric lake that went dry. Today, it is one of the largest salt flats in the world. The snow-white surface acts as a mirror to the sky, adding to the surreal nature of Salar de Uyuni.
6. Drakensberg Amphitheatre, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Image credit: Wikicommons
This naturally-formed amphitheatre is impressive in its scale and rugged looking silhouette. The entire Drakensberg mountain range is around 1,000km in length and offers numerous hiking trails.
7. Pulpit Rock, Norway
Image credit: Getty
This rock with a steep precipice rises 604m above the ground, so needless to say the view from the top is the best you’ll get of the surreally-beautiful surrounding country, While you may prefer to keep your distance from the cliff’s edge, many a base jumper comes here specifically to launch themselves off the sheer drop with just small parachutes to slow their fall.
8. Pamukkale, Turkey
Photo by Antoine Taveneaux
The word ‘pamukkale’ means ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish. The terraces are hard calcium carbonate mineral deposits. The deposits are continually fed by underground springs which cascade down the terraces, creating a dreamy, snowy look.
9. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Photo by Olga Stalska
Steep ice-capped mountain peaks, crisp lakes, bright blue skies, and golden grasslands – the natural beauty of this national park in Chile is spellbinding.
10. Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, Southern Yunnan Province, China
Photo by Tiraya Adam
Who thought growing rice could look this good? A UNESCO World Heritage site, this 40-acre area of rice terraces has a long, rich history dating back 1,200 years.
Featured picture: Tiraya Adam
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