In this article, I am going to talk to you about the most beautiful landscapes in the world with a list of countries with the most beautiful landscapes as I mentioned to you the most beautiful countries in the world.
Essential to remember
The top world landscapes mix deserts, mountains, lagoons, and glaciers: Salar d’Uyuni, Patagonia, Plitvice, Yosemite, Norwegian fjords, Cappadocia, Wadi Rum. Each deserves a dedicated trip.
The most beautiful landscapes in the world
I am a fan of hiking and sea atmospheres, I have a lot of travel experience. I will give you 10 countries I have visited that have the most beautiful landscapes in the world with the beautiful places in the world.
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France: the most beautiful country in the world
I start with our very dear country but I will be brief. The landscapes of France are undoubtedly the best and France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it has everything needed: mountains (the Alps region with the Mont Blanc and the Pyrenees), islands (overseas departments and territories and Corsica “the Agriates desert” or “Lavezzi islands”, with very beautiful beaches). We have everything we need in our country, with pretty coasts like Cap Fréhel for example.
On the other hand, the downside is the lack of exoticism and change of scenery.
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Iceland: one of the richest and most expensive countries in Europe.
I literally fell in love with Iceland for its landscapes with the mix of hot and cold. You can hike on glaciers, descend into ice or lava caves, see volcanoes. You can bathe in hot springs (Blue Lagoon), or geysers, or even black sand beaches which are part of Iceland’s natural heritage.
Did you know?
The Salar d’Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt desert in the world: 10,582 km². During the rainy season, it transforms into a giant mirror reflecting the sky for tens of kilometers: the visual effect is unique in the world.
You can be breathless with icebergs or glacial lagoons or admire the beauty of the northern lights in winter.
It is a magical country full of landscapes that will amaze you with the view of exceptional scenery.
The downside is that it quickly becomes very expensive.
Links about Iceland:
| Landscape | Country | Ideal season |
|---|---|---|
| Salar d’Uyuni | Bolivia | Jan-Mar (mirror) |
| Plitvice | Croatia | April-Oct |
| Cappadocia | Turkey | April-June / Sept |
| Milford Sound | New Zealand | Dec-Feb |
| Wadi Rum | Jordan | Mar-May / Oct-Nov |
Here is the link of an agency in Iceland for your excursions:
- Australia:
Australia, hard not to talk about it, it has magnificent canyon landscapes, waterfalls, cliffs, gorges, very beautiful beaches, unique and original deserted islands. It offers unique water activities in the world such as boat cruises on the coral reef.
It also has mountains, of course less beautiful than those in France, Argentina or the USA but there are nice hikes to do.
Australia has in its center Uluru “the red rock”, a rock more than 300 meters high and several hundred meters wide.
It also has one of the oldest tropical forests in the world (Daintree forest). The cities where you want to stay are Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns.
The downside: it is at the other end of the earth so you have to travel far, and it takes 3 months to visit properly.
Links about Australia: Most beautiful hikes in Australia Points of interest in Australia
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New Zealand:
It is Iceland but bigger and at the other end of the earth. The landscapes are very similar but different. The prices are more affordable and there are many more activities such as canoeing, bungee jumping or skydiving.
You can see geysers, lakes, snowy mountainous landscapes and glaciers (Franz Joseph), however there are no active volcanoes.
There are hikes with some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes such as Abel Tasman, Milford Track, Kepler Track, Routeburn Track.
There are a few cities where you want to stay like Queenstown or Taupo.
The downside: Traveling to the other end of the planet and it’s not cheap either.
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Peru:
We move to another continent, South America, Peru has exceptional landscapes like ancient cities perched in the middle of nowhere such as Machu Picchu.
There is also Lake Titicaca which will leave unforgettable memories. It also has beautiful sites, landscapes and cities with steep elevation accessible or the white mountain range (over 3000 meters altitude), a sandy one like an oasis in Huacachina, the landscapes are very different from classic mountainous landscapes (like the rainbow mountain, or lagoon 69).
You can take a small plane to see the Nazca lines which are visible and unusual drawings from above. The country is very accessible by bus and has a limited budget. Arequipa and Cusco are nice and splendid cities to stay for a few weeks.
My experience
The landscape that impressed me the most: the fjords of Milford Sound in New Zealand, in the rain. The cliffs plunge steeply into the sea, hundreds of waterfalls form during the showers. No photo does justice to this atmosphere.
The downside: there are few downsides but if I had to say something: the inhabitants are very reserved.
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Argentina:
If you haven’t set foot there, you missed something. The country is among the top 5 of this selection in terms of landscape with Patagonia with mountainous landscapes, glaciers (Perito Moreno glacier).
It also has a waterfall, the Iguaçu Falls which are the most beautiful waterfalls in the world (prettier than Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls).
The Argentine side is prettier, wilder and more beautiful than the Brazilian side. It also has nice beaches but that’s not what you remember when you go there. There are sometimes also magical places like Bariloche (Wanaka or Queenstown) in New Zealand where you want to stay for weeks or even months and enjoy tasting good barbecue.
The downside: The Argentine peso is not stable, there are mandatory commissions when withdrawing at the bank (most of the time, you can avoid it but I didn’t manage in Argentina). It is better to have cash in Euro to exchange, you can save quite a bit of money (5%).
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USA:
The USA is huge, there are so many beautiful landscapes whether it’s the beaches in California, the beaches of Florida or even Hawaii (volcano, dune, beach, cliff, aquatic life). There are also many wonderful national parks like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley desert or Antelope Valley on the west coast.
In the inland, you have Yellowstone Park Yellowstone or Brice Canyon in Utah.
On the east coast, there are the Everglades or even the Niagara Falls but the Canadian side is prettier. There are many places not to be missed during your stay in the USA which makes it one of the best countries in terms of landscape.
The places where I would stay, San Francisco and New York.
Advantages
- Inspiration for planning future trips
- Geographical diversity of the planet
- Exceptional photography opportunities
- Often less crowded than cities
- Reconnection with nature
Weaknesses
- Often remote and difficult to access
- Unpredictable weather
- Sometimes heavy logistics
- High transportation costs
The downside: the dollar rate which is very high compared to the euro.
Links about the USA:
Traveling for less than 1500 euros in the USA
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South Africa: the African country
It is a country with wild and magnificent landscapes very accessible, for example Cape with Table Mountain, and the surrounding landscapes on the coast. There are also quite a few wildlife nature reserves.
It also has places that are very little visited like the Drakensbergs, next to Lesotho.
There are very beautiful landscapes all along the coast (Stormriver, Nature Valley) and world-famous hikes in the Tsitsikamma National Park or the Blyde River Canyon.
The place where I would undoubtedly stay: Cape Town and Durban.
The classic trap to avoid
Don’t be fooled by retouched photos on Instagram. Many “viral” landscapes are digitally oversaturated: reality remains beautiful but different. Check reviews and amateur photos before planning a long trip.
The – : There are places where there is insecurity.
Links on South Africa
What to do in Cape Town and South Africa
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Malaysia: the underestimated Asian country.
It is a country that will surprise some in this selection but there is plenty to do in Malaysia with dream beaches and paradises, all over the place, moreover one of the most beautiful beaches in the world is located on the Perhentian Islands, the island of Langkawi is a little gem just next to the Thai border.
Malaysia has the oldest tropical rainforest in the world (Taman Negara) listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The big positive point and the reason why I chose this country in the selection is that it is one of the countries with the fewest tourists (along with South Africa) in the selection (outside the capital Kuala Lumpur). Malaysia also has a part on Borneo Island where you can dive, see natural landscapes and orangutans in the wild.
The cities where it is nice to stay: Langkawi Island.
To delve deeper into the subject, the guide on most beautiful countries provides additional practical advice. You will also find interesting leads in our article on most beautiful places, and if you are preparing the next part of the trip, the one on most beautiful destinations is just right.
The – : There are dress codes so you have to be careful in certain places. Links about Malaysia: What to do in Malaysia? What to do in KL, the capital?
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Indonesia:
Indonesia is more beautiful than Malaysia for aquatic life (notably with the island of Komodo and Flores for diving cruises) and mountainous landscapes for hiking (climbing Rinjani or going to the summit of Bromo) but the beaches in Malaysia are better in some spots. However, there are many negatives, there are many more scams, thefts, and many more tourists and solicitations.
Indonesia has islands all very different from each other (Bali, with quite a few cultural things, very touristic, it’s pretty but there are better places for example), the Komodo islands with the Komodo dragons, etc.
Places where I would stay: Gili Trawangan.
The – : Scams and theft. Links about Indonesia: Where is Bali located? Kuta Bali.
My opinion on the matter:
A choice had to be made and even though I only chose 10 countries, it was difficult to choose and eliminate other countries like Costa Rica, Jordan, or India.
I had Brazil in my selection of the most beautiful countries in the world but this time I place Argentina ahead in terms of landscape. The same goes for China which could be in this selection but I preferred to include two other Asian countries, China could be in the top 3 most beautiful places in the world but the Chinese do not take care of the environment and it is very dirty so it lowers its ranking in my choices.
And you? Which country would be in your selection of the most beautiful landscapes in the world?
What is the most beautiful landscape in the world?
Subjective question, but the sites that most often appear in rankings are: Salar de Uyuni, Norwegian fjords, Plitvice Park, Tibetan mountains, Patagonia.
How to photograph landscapes while traveling?
Sunrise and sunset (golden hour), tripod for long exposures, wide-angle lens. Avoid full light hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
Which country offers the most varied landscapes?
South Africa, New Zealand, Peru, and Iceland are the most varied within a short distance.
