Some
are terrific optical illusions, others are freaks of nature, and most will have
you shaking your head at what feels like a suspended reality spreading out
before you.
Pamukkale,
Denizli, Turkey
From a
distance, this 655-foot cliff looks like a series of icy terraces covered in
blinding white snow, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The terraces
are actually hard, calcium carbonate mineral deposits filled with geothermal
waters as warm as 95 degrees. Continually fed by underground springs that
surface through a fault near the top and cascade down, Pamukkale’s thermal
pools and petrified waterfalls form a bizarre landscape that has been a
therapeutic destination for millennia. Pamukkale, which literally means “cotton
castle,” is where the kings of the second century B.C. established the spa town
of Hierapolis. Greek monuments can still be seen at this UNESCO World Heritage site today.
If You
Go: Bring
sunglasses. In any season, the sun’s reflection off of the water and white
sediments is extremely bright. Swim in the Sacred Pool among ancient fallen
columns. You’ll also find other ancient ruins and a five-star spa here.
Antelope
Canyon, Page, Arizona
A
two-and-a-half-hour drive north of the Grand Canyon near the Utah border takes
you to another incredible site that photos don’t quite do justice: Antelope
Canyon. This slot canyon, named after the herds of pronghorn antelope that once
roamed freely here, feels like another planet, with its flowing form that
twists and turns into surreal passageways. You explore at ground level and
weave around the undulating sandstone walls shaped by centuries of monsoon
flash flooding and erosion. Beams of light shine down in bright columns,
creating the most interesting dance of color, shape, and shadow. With every
step and every subtle shift of the sun’s position, the scene changes.
If
You Go: The best viewing conditions are from April to September, when
the sun is high in the sky. Go midday for the most dramatic lighting, but
expect crowds. The canyon is on Navajo land, and Navajo people lead guided
tours (required for entering).
Burnaby
Narrows Intertidal Zone, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Offshore,
along the northern coast of B.C., lies an archipelago with one of the highest
densities of intertidal life anywhere in the world: Haida Gwaii. More than 290
species thrive here in Burnaby Narrows, the shallow 55-yard-wide channel that
separates Burnaby Island from Moresby Island. At low tide, you can paddle
through calm water that’s only one or two feet deep and see moon snails, hermit
crabs, sea cucumbers, and bat stars clinging to rocks like a brightly colored
assortment of hard candy. The intertidal zone is a true biological wonder.
Every changing tide and current brings an abundant supply of dissolved oxygen
and fresh nutrients to create ideal conditions for life. Seeing nearly 70 bat
stars per square yard in nearly every hue of the rainbow is shocking.
If You
Go: The best time to
visit is July and August, when it’s usually warm and sunny. Drift through this
stunning area, a protected no-walk zone, on a kayaking tour with Tofino
Expeditions. Guides will introduce you to the prevalent First
Nations culture here.
Giant’s
Causeway, Bushmills, Ireland
The
Giant’s Causeway, a string of more than 38,000 interlocking hexagonal columns
on the northern coast of Ireland, is impeccably geometric. Millions of years of
volcanic activity shaped this geologic wonder that rises out of the sea like a
stepping-stone highway. Volcanic forces created layers of basalt that cooled
and happened to crack into these curious towers, grouped in honeycomb-like
clusters. As the legend goes, a giant warrior named Finn MacCool built this
causeway so he could walk across the sea and face his Scottish rival,
Benandonner.
If You
Go: Hike the
causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site,
to see the Giant’s Boot, the Wishing Chair, and other distinctive rock
formations. Explore interactive exhibits in the visitor center, where you can pick up a
handheld audio guide to use outside.
Lakagigar
Crater Lava Fields, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland
When
you look out over Iceland’s Laki volcanic area, it’s hard to imagine that
almost three and a half cubic miles of lava poured over the entire landscape
231 years ago. For miles in every direction as far as you can see, the lava
fields in Vatnajökull National Park are blanketed in a thick layer of spongy
green moss. It’s like a strange green-hued alien wasteland, without a single
tree. Since the massive eruptions in 1783 and 1784 tore open a seven-mile-long
fissure here, the mosses (which can grow with virtually no roots) have taken
over. Nowhere else in Iceland are mosses as prominent.
If You
Go: Look for fairy
rings and other strange arc formations in the moss carpet.National
Geographic Expeditions and other hiking tour companies take you
through the middle of the craters, which can be accessed only by four-wheel
drive.
Salar
De Uyuni, Uyuni, Bolivia
Driving
across the Salar de Uyuni, the “salt flat of Uyuni,” will mess with your mind.
When covered with a thin layer of rainwater, it becomes a massive mirror,
doubling everything you see. On dry days, set against a bright blue sky, it
looks more like a vast glacier, which just feels wrong, considering that the
average daily high temperatures are 55 to 68 degrees year-round. Cloudy days
create a whiteout effect, making it nearly impossible to differentiate the
earth from heaven. The sheer size of the world’s largest salt flat, spanning a
vast 4,086 square miles and with a crust up to three yards thick, is
mind-boggling.
If You
Go: Tour guides will
drive you to see giant cacti on the salt flat’s “islands,” the tops of ancient
submerged volcanoes. You’ll see breeding grounds for pink flamingos and a hotel
made entirely of salt.
Caño
Cristales, La Macarena, Colombia
Known
in Colombia as the “River of Five Colors” and the “River That Escaped
Paradise,” Caño Cristales is a fantastical river alive with color and movement.
It’s like something out of a Roald Dahl book. During certain times of the year
when the algae blooms, the crystal-clear water appears to turn blood red in
patches and bright pink, yellow, green, or orange in other areas. The flow of
the water creates a mesmerizing undulation of color that whirls as if it were a
ruffled dress. What makes the experience even more magical is the river’s
elusive location. Until 2009, the area was closed to locals and tourists due to
armed conflict, but now it is safe and open to everyone.
If You
Go: The best time to
see the river at its most colorful is between June and December with the peak
from September to November. This is the region’s dry season, when water levels
drop and more sunlight reaches the algae to create the bloom. Arrange a tour
from Bogota or a guide in La Macarena.
Honghe
Hani Rice Terraces, Southern Yunnan Province, China
Cascading
some 40 acres down the slopes of the lofty Ailao Mountains to the banks of Hong
River, the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces are an unbelievable agricultural feat. For
more than 1,300 years, the Hani people have carved these terraces and rigged an
intricate system of channels to funnel water from the mountain forests above.
The terraces are as complex as they are visually stunning, beautifully
following the sensuous contours of the mountainside. And there’s no modern
development around to wreck the view. This UNESCO World Heritage site
includes the rice paddy workers’ traditionally built homes, constructed with
earth and stone or adobe bricks with straw thatched roofs.
If You
Go: Visit in winter,
when the terraces are filled with water and the skies are generally clear. The
best views occur at sunrise or sunset, when the sky’s warm hues transform the
terraces into a sea of gold or red.
Waitomo
Glowworm Caves, Waitomo, New Zealand
Walk
or take a boat ride through Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a couple hours’ drive south
of Auckland, for one of the country’s most enchanting experiences. Glowworms
cling to the ceiling of these caverns by the thousands, lighting up the
darkness like dazzling blue-green constellations on a starry night. The sight
is so startling that it often immediately silences touring crowds into a daze
of fairytale-like wonder. The “worms” aren’t actually worms at all but are
insects that look like large mosquitos. During their larvae stage of
development, the worms emit a bioluminescent glow, which gently lights up the
entire cave. They’re unique to New Zealand, although Australia has a related
species that emits less light and tends to live in smaller colonies.
If You
Go: Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours guides
you through lesser-known caves in small groups.
Sossusvlei
Sand Dunes, Namibia, Africa
Rise
early to see fiery red hues and the most interesting play of light and shadow
on these impossibly smooth and towering dunes. They are some of the world’s
highest and most photographed. “I always have this feeling of disbelief when I
am in Sossusvlei,” says local painter Barbara Pirron. “The natural environment
is so overwhelming you almost cannot believe it’s real.” It’s a grueling trek
to the top of the dunes, but once you reach the wind-sculpted crest of the
1,066-foot Big Daddy, you’ll look out over a landscape of countless other
ribboned crests. And then comes the adrenaline-rush reward: running down the
side, arms flailing, and feeling like a kid again.
If You
Go: Adventure Life’s
Namibia
Adventure trip leads you on hikes along dune ridges. Adventure
Women’s women-only Namibia Safari
trip takes you over the Namib Desert on three scenic flight tours.
Both trips include traditional game drives in Etosha National Park and tracking
the endangered black rhino on foot.
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