There are many beautiful places in the world that most of us are unaware of. Whether you’re looking for breathtaking waterfalls and jaw-dropping natural wonders or mysterious lost cities and quaint landmarks, your options are endless.
Here are seven attractions that should be at the top of your bucket list, since each experience is one worth savoring, a moment you’ll remember forever.
- Antarctica
Even though the vast majority of Antarctica is covered in ice, its landscape still manages to be incredibly diverse — surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, the rough Drake Passage, and 360-degrees of untouched snow. Even better is the view when you see an emperor penguin or a humpback whale.
- Antelope Canyon, Arizona
As its Navajo name suggests, the canyon was formed by erosion as water run through rock. Through the striated stone, sunlight creates vivid patterns that can be seen when it filters through narrow, undulating gaps between rock formations.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan
There is no better way for travelers to enjoy the ethereal glow in this bamboo forest on the outskirts of Kyoto than to experience its seemingly endless heights.
Even the sounds here contribute to the spiritual experience: Japan’s Ministry of the Environment ranked the sounds here as one of the 100 top soundscapes of Japan in 1996.
- Atacama Desert, Chile
Would you like to explore the moon someday? There is a much shorter flight from Chile’s Atacama Desert to Valle de la Luna. A landscape resembling our favorite celestial body has been formed by erosion over the years.
- Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
With 250 miles of water separating it from continental Africa, Madagascar is the greatest adventure to add to your bucket list. A unique feature of this island nation is its giant moths, bug-eyed lemurs, and sites like the surreal Avenue of the Baobabs, where hundreds-old trees reach 100 feet high.
- The Azores, Portugal
This Portuguese archipelago located 900 miles offshore from Lisbon is a place of wonder that can inspire wanderlust with a single picture.
The Azores is a paradise worth exploring, but make sure to visit before others beat you to it. Its verdant valleys, steep oceanside cliffs, rows of hydrangeas, and waterfalls all make it an unforgettable experience.
- Banff National Park, Canada
With views of the Canadian Rockies and a constant cast of wildlife, Banff National Park is easily one of the most beautiful spots in Canada. Its numerous lakes, such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and glacial Lake Minnewanka, are also well-known.
