All over the world people regard travelling as one of the most fulfilling experience they could make in their lives. By seeing new places, you get in touch with new cultures and their food, traditions, lifestyle or architectures. Even though our planet has to offer a lot of extremely interesting places to see, over the next decades a lot of them might lose their unique character since humans more and more intervene in the unspoiled nature. We took a look at the ten places to visit before you die that you might want to prioritize on your next journeys!
1. Stairway to Heaven – Hawaii
The widely known Haiku Trail on the Hawaiian main island of Oahu is probably one of the best ways to get close to the sky and to have a stunning view over Hawaii – many people also refer to it as “Stairway to Heaven”. If you decide to take this adventure, there will be more than 3500 steps on the stairway that lead you through green areas in the Koolau Mountains. However, the view you get in the end is definitely worth it and the still pristine natural state of this path makes it one of the ten places to visit before you die.
2. Historical City of Petra – Jordan
In ancient times, the city of Petra in Jordan was the capital of the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arabic folk. Nowadays, it is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is located halfway between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea on the edge of a desert in the mountains of Edom. Petra is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the views you can get there are probably some you will never forget! While the site is still around, we highly recommend that you make a visit and experience real history.
3. Great Blue Hole – Belize
Right in the middle of the blue waters of the Carribean Lighthouse Reef lies the Great Blue Hole. You can get the best impression of the phenomenon if you fly over it and see a huge circle appearing in the sea that is darkly separated from the surrounding area because of suddenly deeper waters. The hole itself almost has 300m in diameter and is more than 125m deep. If you dive into it, you can see the fascinating underwater life but it is advised that only experienced divers do so – however the view itself is already stunning!
4. Moraine Lake – Canada
Moraine Lake is a glacial lake in the Banff National Park of Alberta, Canada. Right in the center of the valley of the ten peaks, the Moraine Lake is more than 1800m above sea level so make sure you can take some height. You might also know the place from photography pages or magazines as this is one of the country’s most famous and most frequently pictured natural spot.
5. Navagio Bay – Greece
Navagio Bay in the north of the Greek island Zakynthos is one of the most common images you will find on the country’s postcards. Surrounded by rugged cliffs, a shipwreck lies in the middle of a lonely bay. The ship belonged to smugglers who carried illegal cigarettes on board and were chased by the coast guard. At some point the ship’s engines failed and it wrecked in the bay. If you want to go there, you will have to come by boat – a trip definitely worth it. Coming here, you can dive into the blue waters or just lie on the white sand beach to enjoy a relaxing summer day.
6. Machu Picchu – Peru
The Machu Picchu is an ancient city that was constructed in the 15th century by the Incas in the Peruvian Andes and surely belongs to the ten places to visit before you die. Since 1983 the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and thereby publicly acknowledged as one of the most important cultural spots our planet has to offer. Once you are there, make sure you go to the top of Wayna Picchu where you can get an unforgettable view over the entire Machu Picchu region!
7. Son Doong Cave – Vietnam
The Son Doong Cave is located in the deepest jungle of the Vietnamese , in the heart of the Vietnamese national park Phong Nha-Ke Bang. It is said to be the largest cave in the world and has two openings through which the sun gives you one of the best cave views you can get. Due to the sunlight shining in, there are also trees and plants growing inside, with stalagmites growing up to 80m – an unbelievable experience!
8. Milford Sound – New Zealand
Milford Sound is located on the southern Island of New Zealand. With its length of 15 kilometres, it is one of the country’s largest fjords and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area around the fjord is one of the rainiest regions on earth with 200 rainy days a year but if you bring some waterproof clothing you will be able to get a stunning view on one of the ten places to visit before you die.
9. Whitehaven Beach – Australia
One of the most beautiful sea areas in the world, Whitehaven Beach in Australia is a place you should make a visit to if you have some spare time. With its exotic flora and fauna as well as the diversity in bird species, it is one of the most unspoiled places on earth and its beach belongs to the whitest sand beaches.
10. Yosemite National Park – United States
Yosemite National Park is located in California, east of San Francisco and covers around 3000 square kilometers of nature. In 1984, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its impressive granite rocks, waterfalls and sequoia. If you ever do a trip to the United States, this spot should really be on your list as it gives you a completely new idea on natural dimensions and beauty.
There are certainly many places in the world that will open up your mind and give you a truly unique experience – probably more than we will ever be able to see. Our top list of places to visit before you die hopefully is a first inspiration for you to not postpone your journeys for too long as you never know how long you will still be able to see and appreciate them!
