A big part of travel is finding those incomparable spots where you almost can’t believe your eyes. Some you really have to work for (Kilimanjaro comes to mind) while others are found at the end of a leisurely stroll. To get your bucket list started, we’ve gathered ten pretty places to park yourself and where to find these views on some of our favourite adventures.
View 1: Sete Cidades trail on São Miguel Island
Flower-lined trails on São Miguel Island in the Azores lead to a seemingly magical sight: twin lakes inside a volcanic crater including one that is bright green from algae overgrowth.
See it for yourself on: Hiking the Azores
View 2: Sunrise on Mt Kilimanjaro from camp
Watch the sun come up on Kili as you wake to camp breakfast and another challenging (but rewarding!) day along the scenic Machame route to the summit of Africa’s tallest peak.
See it for yourself on: Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route (8 Days)
View 3: Perito Moreno Glacier’s calving ice wall
Dramatically different depending on the light, marvel at one of the world’s few “advancing” glaciers. Stroll to a viewpoint of Perito Moreno Glacier or opt for an epic boat trip.
See it for yourself on: End of the Earth
View 4: Iconic peaks en route to Everest Base Camp
Guided by sherpas, you’ll be surrounded by Himalayan peaks as you trek past glacial moraines, local villages and yak pastures to reach home base for Everest mountaineers.
See it for yourself on: Everest Base Camp Trek
View 5: Desert sands of Wadi Rum from a 4×4
Rolling dunes, rock bridges and sandstone cliffs! Climb into the truck bed seats of a 4×4 to get a raised mobile view of Wadi Rum’s best natural landmarks and sights.
See it for yourself on: Jordan Multisport
View 6: All of the alps on the Tour du Mont Blanc
By the time you reach this dazzling view of the Italian alps, you’ll have already pushed yourself through the most challenging stretch of the Tour du Mont Blanc and feel like a pro.
See it for yourself on: Trekking Mont Blanc
View 7: Overlooking the ancients of Machu Picchu
Wondrous views await all along the Inca Trail, but the one you reach at the end of your trek never fails to impress. Our hike starts pre-dawn so you’ll reach the Sun Gate before sunrise.
See it for yourself on: Inca Discovery
View 8: Sun-kissed peaks of Yosemite
Hike past rushing waters and massive sequoias to find all kinds of pleasing vantage points of Yosemite’s famed granite monoliths like El Capitan and Half Dome.
See it for yourself on: Hiking Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite
View 9: Lesser-travelled landscapes of Eastern Iceland
Your eyes and heart are in for a treat as you start in Borgarfjörður harbour with tiny nesting puffins and walk over verdant Brúnavík pass down to serene black sand beaches.
See it for yourself on: Trekking Eastern Iceland
View 10: Pancake stacks in Punakaiki, New Zealand
Take the Pancake Rocks loop trail to learn how these geological stacks were formed and then marvel at the coastal views including blowholes and white sand beaches.
See it for yourself on: New Zealand: South Island Multisport
