I have written several articles for you about the most beautiful places in the world which are the most famous places to visit, in this article I will talk to you about the most beautiful destinations in the world and some are the least known to travelers but in my opinion just as worthwhile.
📋 My top picks to remember: After visiting more than 50 countries, my most memorable destinations remain Patagonia (Argentina/Chile), Iceland, Peru (Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley), Namibia (desert + Etosha), and Japan. The criteria that make the difference: authenticity, unique landscapes in the world, safety, and reasonable value for money.
The most beautiful destinations in the world: 10 nature destinations
Most of these destinations are outside Europe but France also has very beautiful places which I have excluded. I favored places outside Europe but Europe also has beautiful gems and very beautiful travel destinations.
Whether you are traveling with family, as a couple, or solo, traveling to these countries are dream places.
- The ascent of the Acatenango volcano in Guatemala // the volcanoes on Big Island in Hawaii, the python of the furnace on Reunion Island and other active volcanoes:
If there is one natural event I will never forget, it is volcanic eruptions in flow or eruption. I was lucky to see the Acatenango volcano erupting in Guatemala during a 2-day trek. In the evening, I was able to see the volcano in action and the lava spouting as if it were fireworks (the night show is magnificent), I can tell you it is one of the most surreal and impressive things I have seen.
In Hawaii, I was lucky to arrive while the lava was molten, it is a very rare spectacle. You can also discover the lava region with old flows.
You will see an active volcano and it is an experience not to be missed.
Big Island Hawaii, I did not manage to capture the one in Guatemala.
- The sunrise with hot air balloons in Göreme (Turkey) with rocky landscapes or in Bagan (Myanmar) with temple landscapes:
There are some shows or events you remember all your life like getting up at 5 a.m. before sunrise to see a magnificent hot air balloon show.
I was in Göreme for a hot air balloon tour for 2 hours at several thousand feet altitude. You can see how the hot air balloons are prepared and take off one after another then it’s your turn to take off and enjoy the show. When you land, sparkling wine is served to you.
It is possible to sit on a hill and admire the sunrise with the hot air balloons but I did not do it.
I also went to Bagan where we arrived at 4 a.m., found accommodation at 5 a.m., then rented a bike at 5:30 a.m. and pedaled for 30 minutes to reach a temple to watch the sunrise with hot air balloons in the background. It is a place full of history.
🌍 Did you know?
Iceland has as many sheep (≈ 400,000) as inhabitants. The country also has the youngest geology in the world (the rift between the Eurasian and North American plates is still active) and that is why you find geysers, volcanoes, hot springs, and northern lights on a territory as large as a quarter of France.
Several thousand meters high in Göreme.
Example of landscape when you are in the hot air balloon
Sunrise over Bagan in Myanmar seen from a temple.
- The 7-colored lagoon of Bacalar and the Cenotes in Mexico:
There are some magical places where you would want to stay your whole life; these are the kind of places Mexico has on the Caribbean coast near Cancun with good hotels or Playa del Carmen with a more relaxed atmosphere. It is truly a place to spend dream vacations.
The cenotes are small natural pools in the middle of nowhere; there are several hundred cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, among which the most famous to visit are “los dos ojos” (the two eyes because there are two pools in two distinct caves) and “grande cenote” near Tulum. Cenotes can be very appealing to children and families.
The 7-colored Lagoon is a lagoon with 7 distinct shades of blue; it is a place with light blue water where you can stand for several hundred meters. It is the ideal place for midnight swims and a spot to relax quietly or go canoeing. Stay at a hotel near the lagoon; it is ideal.
Mexico is a blend of culture and history, and you can rest at the hotel or go swimming on the Caribbean side.
A cenote “the Garden of Eden”
A part of “Los dos Ojos”
| Destination | Specialty | Budget /pers /week | Recommended season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia (Arg/Chi) | Glaciers, Torres del Paine | 1500-2200 € | Nov-Mar |
| Iceland | Auroras, geysers, fjords | 1400-2000 € | Sept-April (auroras) |
| Peru | Machu Picchu, sacred valley | 900-1400 € | May-Sept |
| Namibia | Dunes of Sossusvlei, Etosha | 1300-1900 € | June-Oct |
| Japan | Modernity + tradition | 1400-2100 € | April (cherry blossoms), Oct |
| New Zealand | Lord of the Rings landscapes | 1600-2400 € | Dec-Mar |
The 7 colors lagoon in Bacalar. It feels like paradise.
- The mountainous landscapes in Wanaka and Queenstown in New Zealand // The Canadian Rockies in Alberta. The white mountain ranges in Peru, you can go in winter or summer:
There are places where you feel alone in the world, and you savor the mountain landscapes with snow or wonderful scenery.
Wanaka is one of those towns with few tourists compared to Queenstown which is more commercial. Each of these two towns has a lake and it is possible to hike around it.
In Canada, there are several drop-off points, the main ones being Banff in a natural park with a glacier, Jasper, and Lake Louise. Be careful if you pass through Grizzly territory and bears.
In South America, especially in Peru, there is nothing to envy; you find yourself at over 3000 meters altitude with “extraordinary” landscapes. You can hike in Huaraz or near Cusco. You can also find yourself in the desert at Huacachina.
At the top of Queenstown, it is possible to bike around the lake 😀
Around the lake of Queenstown
Roy Peak in Wanaka
At the top of Banff in Canada.
At the top of a hike in the Rockies in Canada.
Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies
In Peru, the bottom of lagoon 69
Above lagoon 69 in Peru
Another hike in the white mountain ranges in Peru
- The Jokulsarlon Lagoon in Iceland or Shell Beach in Australia:
You can go to the lagoon all year round but to take a cruise on the lake, you will have to wait for summer to take a tour; it is also here that one of the Batman and James Bond movies was filmed.
The impressive thing about this lagoon is the mix with the cold elements, pieces of ice, “icebergs”. It is a unique place in Europe and in the world. You can indulge in unusual photos.
There are also different places or parks like Shell Beach in Australia, with lots of shells, I don’t have photos, unfortunately, but it is located in western Australia. It’s a pretty beach but it smells because of the shells.
Jokulsarlon Lagoon
Approaching the “sunset at Jokulsarlon.
- Cape Town in South Africa or Vancouver in Canada, to a lesser extent Sydney in Australia:
The 3 cities mentioned are my favorite cities outside Europe. They have several things in common, mountains, beach, and city.
Cape Town in South Africa is a city where you could stay 10 days doing different activities each day, swimming with sharks or seals, canoeing, surfing or stand-up paddleboarding, biking around the city, visiting Robben Island or the Waterfront or the aquarium, visiting museums or the botanical garden.
Hiking in the natural park at Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak, or Lion’s Head.
For Vancouver and Sydney, there are also similar activities. For Vancouver, it is possible to go to the oceanfront in downtown, hike north, and enjoy nature.
In Sydney, go to Bondi or Manly to enjoy and to the Blue Mountains for the mountains.
Table Mountain in Cape Town
🗣️ My experience: The moment that marked me the most remains the arrival at sunrise at Machu Picchu, after the Inca Trail hike. For 4 minutes, I saw nothing but a sea of mist. Then the sun broke through and the city suddenly appeared, perched on its mountain. All around, just 15 hikers. No tourist buses had arrived yet. Three unforgettable minutes.
Cable Beach in Cape Town
From the top of Devil’s Peak in Cape Town
North of Vancouver
The city of Vancouver which has beaches on the ocean side
At the Blue Mountains near Sydney in Australia
- The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, Fox Glacier in New Zealand, Columbia Glacier in the Canadian Rockies, or the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland:
The size of glaciers decreases year after year. There are often photos of the glacier from several decades ago showing it several hundred meters larger. I was lucky to visit and see several different glaciers.
It is a traveler’s experience to undertake because they are disappearing and becoming smaller and smaller.
The Perito Moreno glacier is accessible and can be seen from several viewing platforms.
The Fox Glacier is accessible after several hours of hiking.
The Columbia Glacier in Canada is accessible by road, you can reach it after a short 5 to 10 minute walk but it is visible.
You can trek on the Vatnajokull glacier at Skaftafell in Iceland in winter or summer with a guide for several hours in summer, it’s worth it, don’t hesitate.
Glacier in New Zealand, it has shrunk a lot in size.
🍀 Iconic Destinations
- Unique landscapes, exceptional photos
- Mature tourist infrastructure
- Abundant information in French
- Direct or easy flight from Europe
🔻 To consider
- Crowds in high season (Machu Picchu, Iceland)
- Higher budget than a lesser-known destination
- Long and costly round trip for some
- Sometimes unpredictable climate (Iceland, Patagonia)
Similarly for this glacier in Canada in the Rockies.
The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina
The glacier in the background in Iceland.
- Climbing Rinjani or Bromo in Indonesia or Mount Fuji in Japan, or other mountain climbs, etc.:
Going to see landscapes effortlessly is nice, but walking for several hours or days to reach your goal is better.
I have often gotten up at 5 a.m. before sunrise and hiked for several hours to Mount Batur in Bali, for example.
Or even starting a hike at 9 p.m. to reach the summit for sunrise at Mount Fuji in Japan, for example. These are exceptional memories to make and will stay with you for a lifetime.
For Rinjani and Bromo in Indonesia, you need several days to complete the circuit.
The day before my ascent of Mount Batur in Bali, Indonesia, it was cloudy at the summit, no photos 🙁
At the summit of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania (Australia), a 2-day trek with one night in a tent,
⚠️ Classic trap
Booking Machu Picchu in high season without a plan B. Tickets sell out 3 to 6 months in advance, and tickets for Huayna Picchu (the peak visible in the background) go even faster. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, or plan for the low season (May and September).
wake up at 8 in the morning.
At the summit of Mount Fuji, hike started at 9 pm finished at 11 am with the bow tie as a bonus.
At the summit of “Fuji san”
- Easter Island in Chile, Hawaiian Islands, Fraser Islands in Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Komodo Island and many others:
Each of these places has a special character all their own and a particularity to be in the selection of the most beautiful destinations in the world in my opinion.
For example, there is Easter Island in South America for its head-shaped statues, full of history.
The Hawaiian archipelago islands each have their own character: Oahu (for tourists with many hotels), Big Island (landscape with volcanoes), Maui (seaside with beautiful coasts and for celebrating weddings).
Fraser Island is a desert island; it is actually the largest sand island in the world, you can see dingoes there (it is one of the few natural habitats of dingoes), and beautiful lakes.
The Galapagos Islands are off the equator; you have to pay an entrance fee for each place to stay there, which helps limit tourists.
Komodo Island in Indonesia is where the Komodo dragons live, an animal that looks like a gigantic lizard.
There is also French Polynesia with Bora Bora, which I have not yet visited, which is a good destination for families and children but expensive.
Waterfall on Big Island Hawaii
During my walk in Maui, Hawaii.
On the coast of Fraser Island, which is a desert sand island
There are many special islands I could have mentioned. Koh Tao in Thailand, the diving island, Isla Mujeres, the island of women in Mexico (there are not only women), etc..
To go further on landscapes, the most beautiful landscapes in the world focuses on the most spectacular natural sites. the most beautiful islands in the world explores the insular side with the most impressive archipelagos. And for a true travel bucket list, the countries to absolutely visit in your life offers my ultimate selection.
- The Palawan Islands in the Philippines, the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, Whitsundays Islands in Australia.
Koh Phi Phi is very famous thanks to the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio, there are two large very beautiful islands, one wild and one more touristic and party-oriented with a lovely bay. It is the most expensive island in Thailand.
Whitsundays archipelago islands, the only way to get there is by boat or rather a catamaran. It has one of the beaches with the purest sand in the world “White Heaven Beach”, the white paradise beach, the sand is so pure that it is almost white.
The Palawan Islands, it’s like Koh Phi Phi but with 100 times fewer tourists because the Philippines are less in the tourist spotlight since it is less accessible. It is also a more natural place.
The Perhentian Islands, islands with exceptional beaches less known than their neighbor. There are fewer tourists, you feel in nature and less overwhelmed by mass tourism. Many of these islands are preserved natural parks and have a limited number of visits for children and families.
Koh Phi Phi in Thailand
The Whitsundays Islands.
Opinions on the most beautiful destinations in the world:
You already have plenty to do with all the destinations above but if you want more, I recommend others:I could very well have continued my list with magnificent beaches (Cuba, San Andrés in Colombia, or San Blas in Panama. Ilha Grande in Brazil, the Okinawa archipelago in Japan, etc…).
I also wrote an article about the most beautiful landscapes in the world and the most beautiful countries in the world in my opinion.
