13 Beautiful Places Around The World You Didn’t Know Existed

There are many ways to broaden your horizons, and while it's not the only way, one of the best ways to do so is through traveling. We live in a time where we can freely experience other cultures and landscapes. Expanding our reality tunnels through traveling can spark tremendous growth and understanding within ourselves, other people, and the world. For most of us who hear the word 'travel,’ the most popular destinations come to mind: Paris, Rome, the Bahamas, England, Barcelona, etc. And don’t get me wrong, these are all fantastic choices! But in the spirit of exploration and expanding our worldviews, I would like to add some places to the list that you may not have considered — or even knew existed.

1. Geyzernoye Lake in the Altai Republic

The Geyzernoye lake is located in the Altai Republic, one of Russia’s ethnic republics. It’s located in southern Siberia which shares a border with Mongolia. The Altai Republic is also home to many ancient stone carvings, petroglyphs, and megaliths. The ancient carvings paired with the pristine nature of this location can make you feel like you're walking in the same unchanged landscape our human ancestors walked through thousands of years ago. 

2. Caño Cristales River, Colombia

This gorgeous river in Colombia is commonly known as “The River of Five Colors,” or “Liquid Rainbow.” Located in Colombia's Serranía de la Macarena national park, this river’s multi-colored waters are caused by an aquatic plant called Macarenia clavier. According to natives in the area, the river escaped from paradise to join the mountains and prairies of the region.

3. Hegra, Saudi Arabia

The city Hegra, also called Mada'in Saleh, is an archeological site in Saudi Arabia. In Hegra, you'll find a number of incredible structures that can’t help but make you wonder how they were created. Walking through Hegra can bring out the imaginative, inner-child within that asks questions like: How were these large structures carved out? Why are some of them free-standing, as if some giant came and moved them? Hegra's mysteriousness is truly a sight to behold.

4. Vestrahorn, Iceland

Vestrahorn is a mountain range in southeast Iceland. The beautiful country of Iceland contains many gorgeous landscapes, but I chose Vestrahorn because of its incredibly unique look. The jagged mountain tops, black sand, and ocean water create an amazing mirror-like reflection in the water. 

5. Dún Aonghasa Stone Fort, Ireland

This beautiful structure is an ancient stone fort in Ireland. It's located on the edge of a cliff, and the fort has been dated to be over 3,000 years old! The fort looks like it came out of a fantasy novel due to its circular walls and location. 

6. Red Beach, China 

This mesmerizing location is on in of the biggest wetlands in the world. It’s located in Panjin, China, which is about a six-hour drive from Beijing. Every autumn, a plant called Suena grows throughout the region and turns bright red, making the entire area look dreamy and surreal.  

7. Lake Sørvágsvatn, Faroe Islands

This lake is in the Faroe Islands, situated between Iceland and Norway. The first time I saw pictures of Lake Sørvágsvatn, I was mesmerized. Looking at this magical place, it's easy to see how the inhabitants held so many beliefs about magical creatures from mermaids to elves, witches, and giants.

8. Bayon Temple, Cambodia

This is one of the top destinations on my trip wish list. Located in Cambodia, Bayon Temple is an ancient temple that is incredible and awe-inspiring. It's known for the faces that are carved into the towers that represent Brahma, the three-headed Hindu god of creation and consciousness. 

9. Crowley Lake Columns, California

The Crowley Lake Columns are an amazing natural wonder in California that I don’t hear too many Americans talk about (unless, of course, they’re from this part of California). Not only are the surroundings of this lake beautiful, but it also has these columns which look like they were carved out of rock. This unique location would definitely make a great road trip destination!

10. Myra, Turkey

The city of Myra is located in southwest Turkey. Everyone knows Turkey is home to many historical sites, but there’s a reason why Myra stands out. The Myra ruins have tombs that are carved into the mountainside, and they have a very strange and mysterious feel to them. It dates all the way back to the 4th century BC, and was one of the most important cities in the Lycian League, the first known democratic union to exist in ancient times.

11. Mingun Pagoda, Myanmar

The Mingun Pagoda is a massive square structure in Myanmar. This incomplete monument was said to be abandoned after an earthquake caused huge cracks in the structure in 1839. The construction of this site is almost unthinkable: Somehow, it holds the record for being the largest pile of bricks in the world. Besides the Mingun Pagoda, the area also houses the white temple known as Hsinbyume Pagoda.

12. Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

In my opinion, this ancient fortress is as incredible as Machu Pichu. The fortress is on top of an incredibly tall rock surrounded by beautiful greenery and nature. The Sigiriya Lion Rock is nearly 200 meters high (about 656 feet) and was chosen as the capital by King Kasyapa (477-495 AD).

13. Svalbard 

Have you ever wanted to experience the real arctic? Probably not. But if your answer was yes, then Svalbard is perfect for you! It’s an archipelago near Norway and the North Pole. It has beautiful landscapes, polar bears, reindeer, foxes, and everything you would want in an arctic experience. Additionally, Svalbard is a visa-free zone — meaning anyone can move there, provided they have the means to do so. Currently, a third of the people living in Svalbard immigrated from 50 different countries.

Closing Thoughts

Most of these places may not be easy to travel to, but for those who do decide to take on the challenge of visiting these areas, the rewards are definitely worth it. Of course, even I don't have plans to travel to these locations myself (currently). But learning about obscure areas of the world definitely helps me expand my horizons, and I hope it does the same for you.

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