Sometimes trips are remembered for experiencing something a little out of the ordinary. Urban landscapes and buzzing metropolises offer an interesting insight into a country's way of life, but delve a little deeper and you may just discover a side of the country seen by very few.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
A blinding sheet of white awaits you in Bolivia at the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt lake, where you are in a simple world of blueness and whiteness, or even more bizarrely where seasonal waters can reflect the sky and dissolve the horizon.
The landscape here is simply awe-inspiring — miles and miles of dazzling salt flats interspersed by cacti covered islands — it all makes for an unearthly adventure.
Mount Bromo, Indonesia
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is found in east Java, Indonesia, and is home to Mount Bromo, one of the country's most iconic sights. This active volcano stands an impressive 2,392 meters (1.5 miles) above sea level in the middle of the protected Sand Sea plain and is best viewed at sunrise when the morning light casts an orange glow across the landscape.
A mix of barren, volcanic peaks and gravel plains makes the surrounding area of Mount Bromo particularly unusual and an absolutely unmissable part of any trip to Indonesia.
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar
Described as a forest of rocks, the tsingy of Madagascar are sharp, needle-like limestone pinnacles that have been carved into the landscape by nature's elements.
The Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is located in the remote west of Madagascar and is home to birds as well as Madagascar's most famous resident: the lemur. Exploring the tsingy can be a challenging but very rewarding activity as you negotiate your way through this geological wonderland.
Bourke's Luck Potholes, South Africa
Named after one Thomas Bourke who accurately predicted gold in the area (although he never found any himself), Bourke's Luck Potholes are located in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
A natural feature created by swirling water erosion, these deep, cylindrical potholes mark the beginning of the Blythe River Canyon and are one of the most impressive geological sights in South Africa. Easily visited from White River or Hazyview, Bourke's Luck Potholes are not to be missed.
The White Desert, Egypt
The White Desert, or Sahara el Beyda, is situated approximately 30 miles north of the Bedouin village, Farafra in Egypt. Not surprisingly, the name comes from the cream colored sand and chalk rock formations of the area, formed by the occasional sandstorm.
Visit this vast landscape by moonlight to truly appreciate the beauty of the area.
Longji, China
Only two hours north of the popular tourist destination Guilin, the magnificent and ancient rice terraces of Longji, the ‘Dragon’s Backbone’, offer an awe-inspiring location to experience Zhuang minority culture first-hand.
Dating back over 800 years, the terraces are built into the hillside and change seasonally, the best time to visit being late spring (May) and autumn (September).
Kamchatka, Russia
Kamchatka — The Land of Fire and Ice — an apt title for one of the world’s most remote, forbidding yet spectacular destinations.
This volcano-spined peninsula, jutting into the icy Bering Sea in Russia’s Far East, is home to native reindeer-herding peoples, huge grizzly bears and Steller’s sea eagle, all set to a seething backdrop of boiling hot springs and spouting geysers.
- Find out more about travel to Russia
Dead Vlei, Namibia
Dead Vlei — meaning "dead marsh" — is a stunning and unique valley near Sossusvlei in the Namibian desert. Scattered with a bizarre collection of ancient camelthorn trees, this area has been said to be a photographer's dream. The trees spread across the land are estimated at around 900 years old, however they have never decomposed because of the dry surrounding climate.
The contrast of the sharp, thorny trees against the smooth sand of the desert offers a landscape unlike any other.
Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand
Sprinkled along the Koekohe Beach in New Zealand, these spherical boulders are known around the world for their incredible size and scientific value.
Formed by erosion over millions of years, the Moeraki Boulders weigh several tons and are only accessible by a small, one-way road.
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