Want to visit some places off the beaten path? Nature provides us with so many wonderful sights and sceneries around the world. Every corner of the globe offers something different, from the limestone rock formations of Halong Bay in Vietnam to the dense jungle of the Amazon rainforest - nature truly is the best spectacle.
Finding places that aren't as well known and crowded with tourists can be incredibly fun and rewarding. In this article, we'll introduce some alternative natural wonders for you to consider on one of your next trips.
Bardenas Reales, Spain
Like something out of a sci-fi movie, the Bardenas Reales in the Navarre region of Spain is an area of incredibly unusual rock formations. As one of the few deserts in Europe too, it's a Lunar or Martian-like landscape which has been featured in cinema over the years. It's largely barren, but don't let that deceive you.
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
If you're wanting to explore a little of Central America, the Arenal Volcano is a must-see on any tour of Costa Rica. It's now dormant but has been active fairly recently which tends to spark interest among tourists. The stratovolcano looms over the surrounding landscape, covered in forests and hot springs that make for some thrilling hiking trails.
Postojna Cave, Slovenia
Venturing underground, the cave system near Postojna is a truly extraordinary experience. It's over 24km long and visitors can take a train ride through 5km of the system. It may not be the longest or deepest cave in the world, but there's a stunning cave castle not far away called Predjama Castle. This is worth a trip on its own, but you can see both together for an unforgettable day.
Durmitor National Park, Montenegro
If enclosed spaces aren't your thing, Durmitor National Park offers as much open space as you could ever need. It's a largely unexplored wilderness, including over 40 mountain peaks, glacial lakes and staggering canyons. The Tara River is the deepest canyon in Europe - 1.3km deep. If you're looking for a sensational hiking spot, look no further.
Laurissilva de Madeira, Portugal
A 20 million-year-old subtropical rainforest - sounds pretty cool right? The Portuguese island of Madeira is home to this fascinating area of largely untamed laurel forest. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perfect for hikers, climbers, bikers and nature lovers. The ecosystem is unique and has an amazingly rich biodiversity. It's thought this type of forest would have covered much of southern Europe and northern Africa millions of years ago, so it really is a remnant of a different time.
Leave a Reply