50 Places to Explore Before You Die

Need a mind-blowing trip to experience the thrill? These 50 places and wonders of nature are breathtaking, and that’s exactly what you need!

Table of Contents

Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives

You may have heard of phytoplankton (microalgae) before, but have you had the opportunity to see its magic at work? It projects a phosphorescent and supernatural blue light on the surface of the water, very useful if you forget your flashlight.

The White Sands Desert in New Mexico

This white sand desert will give you the impression of admiring immaculate slopes straight out of Frozen, minus the cold.

The Paria Canyon in Arizona

Considered the little-known little brother of the Grand Canyon, this wilderness is also a national treasure. The Paria River has carved psychedelic wave patterns into the rock formations here. The hiking permit including a camping night is issued with a human waste collection bag – proof of your motivation – and the guarantee of being able to tick several boxes on your list of dreams to achieve.

The wells of Sarisariñama in Venezuela

What happens when the gravity god throws a tantrum? It digs circular cavities 1000 feet deep in the ground. These wells are so far from any civilization that they were only discovered in 1974.

The thermal baths of Saturnia in Italy

The thermal baths of Saturnia in Italy

Here is the proof of the existence of God: He or She created a spa in the middle of Tuscany, decorated with some waterfalls not far away for the pleasure of your eyes. If only divine power could also create a free nail salon…

Klevan Tunnel of Love in Ukraine

A railway line completely enveloped by vegetation, this cozy little cave would be the ideal place for a meditation retreat… if only the train didn’t pass three times a day!

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Yosemite National Park in California

The glaciers, waterfalls and grasslands that abound in this Sierra Nevada valley make it a premier tourist destination beyond California’s bustling, urban image.

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta

Mirror, my beautiful mirror… Take a dip in the crystal clear waters of Moraine Lake, located deep in the Canadian Rockies. After the hike necessary to get to the site, the shimmering surface of the lake will not necessarily tell you that you are the most beautiful. But that’s normal: the reflection of the pine forests is already stealing the show.

The Valley of Flowers National Park in India

From rare flower meadows to endangered wildlife such as snow leopards and red foxes, this stunning Himalayan region is the perfect place to commune with Mother Nature.

The Jeita Grotto in Lebanon

After just a short drive from Beirut, be enchanted by the most sublime stalagmite and stalactite formations in the world.

Mount Bromo in Java, Indonesia

The meeting place for those who are fearless. Although not the largest active volcano, Bromo is one of the best known. Standing in the middle of the “Sea of ​​Sand”, it spectacularly illustrates the prowess of nature.

The Great Blue Hole in Belize

Unmistakably large and intensely blue, this 153,000-year-old underwater sinkhole lives up to its name. A paradise for divers, its almost abyssal depths offer the spectacle of some of the rarest fish species in the world, such as the midnight parrotfish.

Semuc Champey in Guatemala

The natural site of Semuc Champey (“sacred waters” in Mayan language) is made up of turquoise water basins and waterfalls from the Cahabón River, all under a natural limestone arch 300 meters long.

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park in Alaska

If only Canada could take credit for these glaciers, located just a snowball’s throw from the Yukon border! Forget the mundane cruise in the Caribbean and opt instead for a hiking expedition in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico

The formation of these Mexican sinkholes (holes created by the erosion of stone by water) dates from the last ice age. These cenotes were also considered sacred by the Maya, and when it comes to natural wonders, they can be trusted.

The Salar de Uyuni salt desert in Bolivia

When several prehistoric lakes dry up and change over time, what do you get? The vast saline expanse of the Salar de Uyuni, of course. Completely devoid of wildlife, this Bolivian gem has a tranquility that is part and parcel of its charm.

The Danxia Landform in China

Twenty-four million years, and here is the result! Rainbow-like accumulations of red sandstone, forming a magnificent natural work of art.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

An essential stop on any trip to Southeast Asia, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was already praised in Vietnamese poetry in the 15th century. Described as “a wonder of the earth soaring skyward”, the bay is bristling with 1900 granite monoliths.

Sequoia National Park in California

Calling all those who like to hug trees: this park contains some of the highest on the planet, like General Sherman. It is also home to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the entire country (outside of Alaska).

Northern Lights

True gifts of winter, the aurora borealis have inspired lyrical flights and love songs since the dawn of time, so much their beauty makes all the candles and disco balls in the world pale. This natural phenomenon occurs when the solar winds interact with the Earth’s magnetic fields.

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The Socotra Archipelago in Yemen

And still a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the road! This archipelago is home to dragon trees, these trees that secrete a blood-red resin, but also many species of exotic animals that are found nowhere else in the world.

The bamboo forest in Japan

Imagine: you are walking through a park, but this park is actually a tunnel whose walls are entirely made of bamboo. It’s up to you to see if this arouses in you a deep serenity or rather a fit of claustrophobia. In any case, the ride promises to be unforgettable!

The Atacama Desert in Chile

It’s the driest non-polar desert in the world, but don’t let that scare you: Gatorade was invented for that after all, along with the good old oasis mirage. This adventurous expedition will take you just a few kilometers south of the Peru-Chile border, allowing you to kill two birds with one stone.

The Chocolate Hills in the Philippines

These sweetly named geological formations, similar to camel’s humps, extend over a radius of 50 kilometres. In the spring, these 1260 hills are carpeted with emerald-colored grass, and take on a chocolate-brown hue during the drier months.

Waitomo Caves in New Zealand

No Disney movie could match this magical spectacle: tiny glowworms dangling from the cave’s ceilings provide a bioluminescent sky to the amazed gaze of visitors seated in a comfortable boat below.

Kaieteur Falls in Guyana

One of the most powerful waterfalls in the world, the Kaieteur Falls will quench your thirst for thrills. They are the number one tourist attraction, deep in the rainforest of Guyana.

The red beach of Panjin in China

Unlike the deceptive (not at all) Red Sea, this winding waterway has a crimson hue, due to the plants called Chenopodiaceae through which it meanders in the largest swamp in the world.

The Champagne Pool in New Zealand

No, you’re not dreaming. Yes, this is all very real. The famous New Zealand hot spring, Wai-O-Tapu, owes its name to its high concentration of carbon dioxide, the main cause of the bubbles.

The Luray Caves in Virginia

If you want to experience incomparable acoustics, enter this 400 million year old cave. As long as you have a piano at hand, the echoes of its notes will echo through the entire underground, in changing tones. A new rehearsal space for your group? Absolutely.

Lake Hillier in Australia

Are you afraid of algae growing at the bottom of lakes? Rest assured: it is their microscopic particles that give a bright pink color to the waters of this lake, straight out of a Barbie set.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Africa. It encompasses a fascinating microcosm of the most beautiful creatures on the planet, thanks to the crater of an ancient extinct volcano that has been home to 25,000 animal species for three million years.

The Lake of Five Flowers in China

Legend has it that a goddess dropped into a lake the mirror offered by her lover, which then broke into 118 pieces, creating as many new bodies of water. The 118 splendid lakes of the Jiuzhaigou Valley (including the Five Flowers Lake) now each have their own color, depending on their depth and the particular composition of their soil.

The swing at the end of the world in Baños, Ecuador

Although not a natural wonder per se, this swing perched on the edge of a cliff offers you the fabulous spectacle of the world seen from above – guaranteed without a dusty window.

The Moeraki Rocks in New Zealand

Dinosaur eggs? Giant marbles? No, fossilized mud cores coated in calcite deposits, rendered perfectly spherical by 60 million year erosion. You won’t be able to carry them around in your pocket like you would seashells, but these round, massive two-foot-tall boulders that adorn the New Zealand coast will give you a beach walk like no other.

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Blood Falls in Antarctica

These Blood Falls (literally, “waterfalls of blood”) result from a flow of iron oxide mixed with saline water, on the edge of the Taylor Glacier. Try looking away to see.

The Dead Sea in Israel

Do you know that famous image of a man reading his newspaper while floating on water? Well, the Dead Sea is the only place in the world where you can recreate it. Located 422 meters below sea level, this (very) salty lake is the lowest point on earth. Another highlight of the trip: you roll in its nutrient-rich mud, until you look like a candy bar on legs.

The Eaglehawk Neck isthmus in Tasmania

Thanks to a rare form of erosion, this region of Tasmania looks like a natural Tetris. Discover the rock mosaics that criss-cross the coastline on the Tasman Peninsula.

Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan

Destination: one of Japan‘s most popular hot springs, to monkey around with your favorite critters, the snow-capped Japanese macaques. During the walk that leads to the onsen (which means Japanese thermal bath), you can also appreciate the lush vegetation of the place.

Mount Sinai in Egypt

Modest in size for a mountain, but dizzying as a cultural symbol, Mount Sinai represents the place where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments according to the Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions.

Virginia Falls in the Northwest Territories

Sure, Niagara Falls are gorgeous, but they don’t need the publicity anymore. Let’s focus instead on the lesser-known Virginia Falls, which are twice the height of their famous cousins, in addition to being a very rewarding hiking destination.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia

Get to know the largest coral reef in the world before it’s too late: its coral continues to deteriorate at high speed. It has thousands of islets populated by exotic fish and corals with intricate and graceful designs. If you ever go for a ride in space, let us know what the Great Barrier Reef looks like from above!

The mud volcanoes of the Gobustan reserve in Azerbaijan

Even if the volcanoes are active, you won’t need to be wary of them. Some regularly spit a mud with reputed therapeutic properties for the skin. Add to that petroglyphs (rock art) from Roman times, and you have a unique experience that combines art, history and skin care in one place.

The Kelimutu in Indonesia

An extinct volcano in the hollow of which nest three blue lakes with shades of precious stones: no wonder the site has been immortalized on the banknotes of the Indonesian currency.

Monarch Migration in Michoacán, Mexico

Each fall, these butterflies in the colors of Halloween take flight to travel the 4000 kilometers that separate California from the oyamel forests of Mexico.

Mount Everest in Nepal

The best way to get lathered up, casually? Say you’ve seen (or better yet, climbed!) Mount Everest. Join the exclusive club of extreme hikers and you might find yourself 29,029 feet in the air – high enough to touch an airplane.

The Keukenhof flower park in the Netherlands

Imagine the scent of seven million tulips! If so far you’ve been content with a bouquet of flowers for Valentine’s Day, ask your partner to take it to the next level by taking you to visit this park in April or May, during the flowering period.

The Iguazú Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil

Their legend is almost as spectacular as their panorama. Offered as a sacrifice to a god, the most beautiful woman in the village, named Naipi, decided to flee with the man she loved aboard a canoe. The furious god then cut the river in two, creating a waterfall where the lovers fell and perished.

Zion National Park in Utah

Endowed with an incredible diversity of landscape and wildlife (no less than 19 species of bats and 32 varieties of reptiles), this staggeringly beautiful park is also home to dozens of natural arches in colored sandstone. Navajo.

The great Wall of China

Although man-made to protect the Chinese Empire, this 8852 kilometer long and 2000 year old monument is surrounded by hills, lakes and meadows which also make it a hiking destination full of scenic natural landscapes. .

Machu Picchu in Peru

This ancient Inca city is so beautiful that it will literally take your breath away. Perched between two rocky promontories at 2430 meters above sea level, it is indeed at such high altitude that you might need to bring an inhaler!

Sidi M’Cid Bridge – Constantine, Algeria

The Sidi M’Cid Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Rhummel Gorges, connecting the medina of Constantine to the university hospital center.

Its construction was decided upon after the opening of the city’s hospital, providing the people of Constantine with a more direct route to the University Hospital Center (CHU) without having to take a long detour via the El-Kantara Bridge.

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Mohamed SAKHRI

I am Mohamed SAKHRI, the creator and editor-in-chief of this blog, 'Discover the World – The Blog for Curious Travelers.' Join me as we embark on a journey around the world, uncovering beautiful places, diverse cultures, and captivating stories. Additionally, we will delve into mysterious and, at times, even bizarre destinations.

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