The world is filled with wonders, both old and new. Several have disappeared through the years, lost to time, climate change, natural disasters, or the foolishness of humans. However, many are still thriving, some well-known, others perhaps hidden locales only a few are privy to, but all beckon visitors to uncover their beauty. These unforgettable places are stunning reminders of the outstanding architectural achievements of both nature and humanity. For a multitude of reasons, many of these gorgeous locations should be on your travel list.
To compile this list of stunning wonders, 24/7 Tempo reviewed travel magazines such as National Geographic Traveler and travel blogs. We chose both manmade structures and natural wonders and tried to represent a variety of regions across the world.
This post was updated on October 9, 2025 to clarify Moravia as a region of multiple towns, the water quality of Lake Natron, status of James’ flamingo, the full name of UNESCO site Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, height of Mount Roraima, and tree circumference at Avenue of the Baobabs.
Tunnel of Love, Klevan, Ukraine
This two-mile section of railroad tunnel outside of the western Ukraine town of Klevan is surrounded by foliage. According to local lore, lovers of pure intentions will be granted a wish if they visit the tunnel. Trains run through the tunnel multiple times a day. When the train isn’t running, the bright green tunnel is an enchanting place to take a stroll.
Zlatni Rat, Croatia
Zlatni Rat, which is often referred to by its translation of the Golden Cape or Golden Horn, is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Located just west of the harbor town of Bol on the southern coast, this golden sand beach juts out into turquoise waters that change to deep blue as they recede from the shore.
Rakotzbrücke Devil’s Bridge, Gablenz, Germany
Commissioned in 1860, this half-circle bridge was built as an aesthetic monument. When combined with its reflection in the water beneath, the bridge appears to form a full circle. It is decorated with stones intended to resemble basalt columns. It was extensively renovated and reopened in late 2021. Due to monument protection, walking on the bridge is prohibited.
Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver Island, Canada
Treehouse hotels meet eco-tourism in this rain forest resort. Free Spirit Spheres is in Qualicum Beach, on Vancouver Island. It boasts three small, circular pods suspended from the trees that can be rented out nightly. (Note that as of 2024, operations were temporarily closed due to expansion and forest permitting issues.)
Richat Structure, Mauritania
This 28-mile-wide geologic structure in the Adrar Plateau of the Sahara Desert is visible from space and resembles a bullseye. It was once thought to be a crater, but geologists now believe it is the remains of a geological dome that has been eroded to expose the rock layers underneath.
It was identified by the International Union of Geological Sciences as having a high scientific benefit because it provides insight into the Earth’s geological processes.
Fly Geyser, Nevada
This colorful water spout on Fly Ranch, Nevada, began forming in 1964 when a geothermal power company drilled a test well at the site and failed to properly cap it. Hot water containing calcium carbonate has been spewing from the hole ever since, leaving deposits that grow a few inches every year and are currently nearly six feet tall.
Now owned by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit that purchased the property where the geothermal geyser is formed, public access is minimal.
Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
These seven glacial lakes in Bulgaria’s Rila National Park in Bulgaria’s northwestern Rila, the highest mountain range in the country, are surrounded by mountains with jagged peaks. Each lake is named for a specific feature that distinguishes them from one another. They sit at elevations between 6,800 and 8,200 feet and are connected by small streams. To visit them, hikers should plan on at least a six-hour round trip.
Sagano Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan
In the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, about half an hour from the urban center, is the enchanting Sagano Bamboo Forest, also known as the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The sound of the bamboo stalks creaking and leaves rustling has been governmentally declared one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan.”
Unfortunately, the area has become so often inundated with tourists and photographers that visitors rarely experience the meditative peace that the forest used to offer.
Moravia, Czech Republic
Once inhabited by the Celts, various Germanic tribes, and the Slavs, the historical region of Moravia has quite the cultural influence. It comprises most of the eastern part of the country and was once the administrative center of a medieval kingdom. It is now a tourist destination that boasts multiple historic cities, featuring intact medieval architecture, town squares, and cultural monuments – one of which is Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Nazca Lines, Peru
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Nazca Lines are a series of huge geoglyphs created by the Nazca people around 2,000 years ago. Best visible from the air, the patterns depict over 70 animals and plants, of which the monkey is one of the most popular, as well as other various geometric shapes. Some glyphs are 1,200 feet long, and new lines are continuously being discovered.
Lake Retba, Senegal
Also known as Lac Rose which translates to “Pink Lake”, this is a saline lake with a vivid pink hue caused by Dunaliella salina, a type of green algae that thrives in the saline waters. Other lifeforms are rare in the lake, but its salt is harvested by locals and used to preserve fish.
The color is most vivid from November to June, which is the area’s dry season. Lake Retba has been in consideration for a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos
The remote falls of Kuang Si in Laos are characterized by a series of stone-lined travertine pools etched out by waterfalls. This three-tiered waterfall has small pools near the beginning of the falls and wider pools near the bottom where swimming is permitted. Locals charge a small entrance fee and have built a wooden observation deck on-site.
The Palouse – Idaho and Washington
The Palouse is an area in Idaho and Washington of gently rolling hills resembling dunes, created by tens of thousands of years of glacial rock dust and silt blowing into the area. Much of the hills are now covered in wheat and barley fields that range from green in spring to gold and brown in late summer. Vineyards are also beginning to become a prevalent part of the landscape.
The Racetrack, Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley is home to numerous beautiful landscapes – from the Charcoal Kilns and the Artist’s Palette to the Artist’s Drive. Of course, the Racetrack is one of the more fascinating treasures. Home to the moving rocks of Death Valley, these rocks have intrigued scientists and visitors for decades by mysteriously traveling without apparent human intervention and leaving long trails in the cracked, dry, earth.
In 2013, researchers finally solved the mystery after witnessing the rocks moving after winter rains. Pools of rainwater began to freeze, forming thin layers of surface ice that eventually broke into sheets that could float and move in the wind, shoving the rocks in front of them.
Lake Natron, Monduli, Tanzania
Located in the Arusha region of Tanzania, Lake Natron is a seeming hell on earth. The alkaline lake has a fiery red hue due to cyanobacteria that thrive in the hot water, which can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite modern day rumors, the lake is not as caustic as ammonia and contact is not immediately corrosive to birds or humans.
Interestingly, Lkae Natron is the only breeding ground in East Africa for the lesser flamingoes, who rely on the inhospitable environment as an obstruction against predators.
Avenue of the Baobabs, Morondova, Madagascar
This small grove of 800-year-old baobab trees lining the road from Morondava to Belo Tsiribihina in Madagascar was once part of a dense forest. The remaining trees, some of which are 50 feet in circumference and up to 100 feet tall, are the focus of local preservation efforts and were granted a temporary protected status in 2007.
Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
This red salt lake in Bolivia, sitting at 14,000 feet above sea level, is flecked with white borax deposits and lined with contrasting dark blue. The water is only three feet deep, and the area is home to multiple flamingo populations, including the vulnerable James’ flamingo.
Socotra, Yemen
Socotra is a remote island off Yemen known for its unusual plant life, including the iconic dragon’s blood tree, Dracaena cinnabar, which is endemic to the region. A third of the island’s plant species are only found on Socotra. Some believe it was the Garden of Eden or the Sumerian paradise known as Dilmun.
Wisteria Flower Tunnel, Kitakyushu, Japan
From late April to mid-May, the wisteria flowers bloom at Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, Japan, a private garden only open to the public seasonally. Twenty species of wisteria grow in two tunnels over 300 feet long and range in color from white to various shades of purple. Their hanging flowers are celebrated during an annual Wisteria Festival at the end of April, open to visitors.
Mount Roraima, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana
Mount Roraima is a massive plateau with sheer 4,000 feet-foot cliffs on all sides. It is the highest mountain in Guyana’s Highland Range, which contains some of the oldest geologic formations known, dating back two billion years. Many plant and animal species on the plateau don’t exist anywhere else in the world.
Caño Cristales, Colombia
Translated to “Crystal River”, Caño Cristales is also known as the “River of Five Colors” or the “Liquid Rainbow.” This rainbow river in Serranía de la Macarena National Park in Colombia owes its seasonal color bursts to aquatic plants that thrive only when the water level is neither too high (which obscures the plants) nor too low (when it’s too dry to grow). The colorful period usually runs June through November.
Tourism threatens the delicate environment, and visitors are asked not to swim while wearing sunscreen or bug repellent.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©A.Landgraf, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.