1. Fox Glacier
Location: New Zealand
Fox Glacier, named after one of New Zealand's former prime ministers, Sir William Fox, is one of the most worthwhile tourist destinations for hikers in the entire country. The glacier lies on New Zealand's South Island, and it stretches from the cold Southern Alps to a temperate rainforest. There's a lot to do here for tourists: you can fly above the scenic landscape by plane, go ice hiking, or explore nearby glow worm caves.
2. Caves of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst
Location: Hungary, Slovakia
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this system of caves includes an estimated 1,000 chambers. Apart from being enormous, the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst also include a wide range of climates and formations. The Baradla-Domica network of caves, for example, is decorated with countless stalagmites and stalactites, whereas the cave in Dobsina is one of the most beautiful ice caves in the world.
3. Verdon Gorge
Location: France
The turquoise Verdon river that flows through southeastern France had sculpted one of the most picturesque corners of Europe - the Verdon Gorge, a deep canyon surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. The site is in close proximity to the city of Nice and the French Riviera, so it's not surprising that it's so incredibly popular among tourists. Visitors cat hike around the canyon, kayak down the Verdon river and even go rock climbing.
4. Lake Nakuru National Park
Location: Kenya
Situated in the heart of Kenya is the magnificent Lake Nakuru National Park, a wondrous place where you can admire exotic creatures like white rhinos and leopards in their natural habitat, as well as walk through the seemingly endless acacia forests, rich in local fauna. But the highlight of the park is Nakuru lake, the place of residence for a huge colony of flamingos, for which the lake earned its nickname - flamingo lake.
5. Gran Sabana
Location: Venezuela
The landscape at the Gran Sabana in Venezuela is nothing like you'll see anywhere else in the world. The region is part of the largest national park in the country called Canaima and is characterized by luscious green forests, vast planes, and flat-top mountains. There are also many lagoons, rivers, and waterfalls in the area, with the Aponwao Falls pictured above being a particularly beautiful site.
6. Moravian Fields
Location: Czech Republic
Often referred to as 'Small Tuscany', the fields in Moravia are famous for their colorful hues. Moravia is the largest agricultural region in the Czech Republic, particularly famous for its vineyards and rolling hills turned into vast fields. If you happen to be in the Czech Republic throughout the spring and summer months, drive through this area and soak in all this beauty.
7. The Blyde River Canyon
Location: South Africa
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and this saying is particularly true when it comes to the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa, as every hiker will be able to observe this very magnificent view on their journey throughout the area. Needless to say, the area is also full of unique flora and fauna, such as antelopes, hippos, and numerous monkey and fish species.
8. Mud Volcanoes
Location: Azerbaijan
Mud volcanoes are a rare occurrence on Earth, with the majority of such volcanoes being concentrated on the territory of Azerbaijan. These natural phenomena are fairly frequent in the area. Few strong eruptions have occurred in the Azerbaijani Republic, but these can be accompanied by strong explosions and the ignition of the oil deposits surrounding the volcanoes. However, most of these so-called volcanoes are just bubbles of gas breaking through, safe for tourists to observe.
9. Salar de Uyuni
Location: Bolivia
Occupying over 4.000 square miles, the Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt pan in the world. Salt pans or salt flats are surface deposits of salt and other minerals. Coincidentally, these deposits are very shiny and reflective when they meet the sun, which is why they're so popular among visitors. To see more incredible images of Salar de Uyuni, click here: Earth's Biggest Mirror.
10. Valley of Flowers National Park
Location: India
Valley of Flowers National Park is a UNESCO protected area in the North Chamoli district of the Uttarakhand state in India. The park is home for some of the most unique endemic alpine flower species, as well as many endangered animal species, such as the Asiatic black bear and the Himalayan blue sheep. Nature lovers from around the world gather here to admire the rich botanical landscape of the park.
11. El Yunque National Forest
Location: Puerto Rico
If nature and biodiversity are your jam, then another noteworthy place for you to know about is the El Yunque National Forest, located outside of San Juan. This tropical forest is the only rainforest under the governance of the U.S. National Forest Service and also the place with the most biodiversity in any U.S. territory.
12. Ha Long Bay
Location: Vietnam
It's pretty clear why the Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The green-turquoise bay is carefully surrounded by over 1,600 inlets and islands, creating a truly outstanding and unique natural landscape. The most characteristic feature of the bay are the tall green limestone pillars. If you want to see a high-resolution video of Ha Long Bay, click on the link: Vietnam's Ha Long Bay in 4K.
13. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Location: Wales, UK
The rugged cliffs and hidden beaches of Wales are part of a beautiful 186-mile long trail throughout the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Along the way, hikers will be able to see scenic views, as well as historical buildings and wooded estuaries. The park has been a protected area since 1952, which isn't surprising, as the Welsh Coast is so very beautiful.
14. Stromboli Volcano
Location: Italy
The Aeolian Islands are a famous luxury and spa resort, but one of the most extreme attractions in the area is the Stromboli volcano, which is world-famous for erupting approximately every 15 minutes! So, if you ever dreamed to walk around an active volcano, visit the hiking trail on Stromboli island and you won't be disappointed.
15. Arches National Park
Location: Utah, USA
Utah is world-famous for the incredible natural formations carved out of red rock. The crown jewel of these magnificent landscapes is, certainly, the Arches National Park, which features thousands of strange, yet very beautiful arch rock formations, a truly unique sight to behold!
