26 PLACES TO VISIT AROUND THE WORLD

The world in which we live in has a lot of beautiful places to offer and it's up to you to push yourself out of your comfort zone and take time to really appreciate the wonder that surrounds you - either man-made or natural.

Imagine how great it would be to live a simple life in one of the water bungalows in Bora Bora, swim in the beaches in the Carribean or even spend the day rock climbing the limestone cliffs in Railay, Thailand.

So I decided to curate the best places you certainly have to visit when you travel the world. You better include these to your list of places you'll be visiting soon.

26 PLACES TO VISIT AROUND THE WORLD

MARINA BAY SANDS INFINITE POOL

Imagine yourself floating in the world’s largest rooftop Infinity Pool, gazing down on the glittering city-skyline from 57 levels above. You won’t find a more spectacular photo-taking spot anywhere in Singapore!

After your swim, stretch out to sunbathe on a luxurious poolside lounger, or relax in the shade of a palm tree. Sip on Champagne as you experience the unforgettable beauty of a sunset amidst the clouds.

RICE TERRACE FIELD IN MU CANG CHAI, VIETNAM

Mù Cang Chải is a rural district (of Yen Bai province), in the northeastern Vietnam. in Mu Cang Chai there are many terraced fields (mainly for rice), creating amazing landscapes which stretch down the mountain sides.Wooden houses and guard boxes can be spotted between the terrace fields.

The rice terrace fields in La Pan Tan, Che Cu Nha and Ze Xu Phinh have been recognized as national landscapes by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. There have been Yen Bai festival Mu Cang Chai rice terrace fields to attract more attention of domestic and international tourists about Mu Cang Chai.

LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES NATIONAL PARK

Composed of large, white, sweeping dunes, at first glance Lençóis Maranhenses looks like an archetypal desert, but in fact it is not an actual one. Lying just outside the Amazon Basin, the region is subject to a regular rain season during the beginning of the year. The rains cause a peculiar phenomenon: fresh water collects in the valleys between sand dunes and is prevented from percolating down by a layer of impermeable rock which lies underneath the sand. The resulting blue, green and black "lagoons" are surrounded by the desert-like sand, and reach their fullest between July and September.

The lagoons have large numbers of fish that arrive when the lagoons are at their fullest after July, when they are interconnected to rivers such as the Rio Negro. One species of fish, the wolf fish or tiger fish (Hoplias malabaricus) stays dormant in the mud and moist areas after the majority of the
water has evaporated, re-emerging during the next rainy season.

PROVENCE, FRANCE

Some of the emblematic icons of Provence - the lavender fields or the Mont Saint Vincent so often painted by Cézanne - are or seem specifically attached to this region, others including the olive trees,  the dry rocky coastline with its scented stunted pine trees,  the evening air filled with the chi-chi-chi of a thousand crickets, and even the villages and vineyards, are actually features that characterize large stretches of the Mediterranean coast and its hinterland, in both France and other countries.

THE HANGING RESTAURANT FANGWENG IN YICHANG,CHINA

Fangweng Restaurant is located in China, in Hubei Province, about 12km north of the city of Yichang, near Sanyou Cave, or “The Cave of the Three Travelers”. The restaurant is in the Happy Valley of the Xiling Gorge, an especially scenic stretch of cliffs, caves and park land located around the area where the Chang Jiang River flows into the Yangtze. The entrance to the Fangweng Restaurant is an uninspiring grey brick building, but at the far end of a narrow concrete bridge, the restaurant caves into the cliff, the floor hanging several hundred feet above the ground. From this end, customers can view the flowing water of Yangtze River. For the daredevils, a bungee jumping platform is nearby.

RAINBOW MOUNTAINS:ZHANGYE DANXIA NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL PARK

Zhangye's Danxia landscape has lots of precipitous red cliffs, most of which are several hundred meters high, and multicolored ridges of weathered strata, sometimes stretching to the horizon. These formations, sometimes smooth sometimes sharp, stand  out against the greens or grays of the plains , looking grand and magnificent, vigorous and virile.

Across the Danxia landscape zone, a kaleidoscope of numerous red rocky outcrops resemble weird and wonderful shapes like castles, cones, towers ; as well as humans, creatures, birds and beasts. Their peaks peeping through the mist and clouds, produce mirage-like scenery of fantastic mountains and pavilions.

BLUE CAVES –ZAKYNTHOS ISLAND, GREECE

In the north of the Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos at an area called Skinari you will find the magnificent Blue Caves. The Blue Caves are one of the islands most famous natural attractions and were discovered in 1897 by Antonio Komouto. The caves attract thousands of visitors each year and are located just below the lighthouse at Cape Skinari.

The caves owe there name to the blue waters inside them. Objects below the water appear to turn blue. This includes people who can enter the water inside the caves to swim.

GREAT BARRIER REEF

As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef holds a spot on every traveler's bucket list. Hugging the east coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef extends from Cape York in the north all the way to Bundaberg in the south — a total of 1,250 miles. With roughly 3,000 coral reefs, 600 islands and 1,625 species of fish, the reef leaves its 1.6 million annual visitors enchanted.

OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

It's hard to know which harvest is growing faster in this fertile and beautiful valley midway between Vancouver and Alberta: tourists or fruit. The 180km-long Okanagan Valley is home to orchards of peaches and apricots, and scores of excellent wineries whose vines spread across the terraced hills, soaking up some of Canada's sunniest weather. The valley has provided a summertime escape for generations of Canadians, who frolic in the string of lakes linking the Okanagan's towns.

Osoyoos, near the US border, is almost arid, but things become greener heading north. Central Kelowna is a fast-growing city that's a heady mix of lakeside beauty and fun.

In July and August the entire valley is as overburdened as a grapevine before harvest; the best times to visit are late spring and early fall when the crowds lessen. Snowy winters also make nearby Big White resort an attraction for skiers and snowboarders.

PARIS, FRANCE

The City of Light draws millions of visitors every year with its unforgettable ambiance. Of course, the divine cuisine and vast art collections deserve some of the credit as well. The gentle River Seine rambles through the city, flanked by stately museums, centuries-old churches, and blocks of Rococo- and Neoclassic-design architecture, further enhanced by charming trees and glowing streetlamps. Peppering the Seine's cobbled walks and graceful bridges are impossibly chic Parisians, probably on their way to the market, cafe or cinema.

Containing world-class museums, fashion, cuisine, and an atmosphere all its own, Paris is also a city of "many splendors," as Ernest Hemingway recalled in his memoir, "A Moveable Feast." Visit the Centre Pompidou, enjoy gourmet pastries, shop couture on the Champs Élysées or hit the boutiques in Les Halles, take in the view atop the Eiffel Tower, or even plan a day trip to Versailles Palace. But don't miss out on the simple pleasure of meandering the marvelous arrondissements (districts).

PALAWAN ISLANDS, PHILIPPINES

Palawan Island Philippines is the largest island. The island is half desert, so still undeveloped. You can enjoy the jungle, mountains, and white beaches. Palawan Islandhas been rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as best Southeast Asia region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world! Isthe most biodiverse islands in the Philippines. Palawan is an archipelago with 1,780 islands on the western part. Due to amazing  landscapes and high bio-diversity, Palawan island is known as “The Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines”.

The northern part is characterized by incredible clear waters, white beaches, and many  species of flora and fauna. Here at north there are most visited places like El Nido and Taytay, characterized by limestone cliffs and underwater with many species of tropical fish and coral, also are  present five species of endangered sea turtles. Jungle have about 100 different species of birds! So…this is a real amazing tropical destination to relax and enjoy yourself! If you like tropical islands maybe you also could like on of the most beautiful island in Cambodia, visit Koh Rong Island, still undeveloped, good place for snorkeling, scuba diving or a trekking into the jungle!

TULIP FIELDS IN NETHERLANDS

With nearly 5,000 acres worth of red, yellow and purple flower-bulb fields, Flevoland is Holland’s biggest flower-growing regions! The fields can be found in East and South Flevoland and, most importantly, theNoordoostpolder. Every year in spring, there is a spectacular ‘Flower-bulb route’ encompassing over 100km through nearly 2500 acres of flowering fields. The route has become the longest and most colourful route in Holland and even, according to National Geographic, one of the world’s ultimate road trips!

WISTERIA FLOWER TUNNEL, JAPAN

Once you step into the wisteria tunnel, you will be overwhelmed by the fresh sent and the beautiful scenery of numerous clusters of flowers lying on top of one another. Please come experience this grand sight which can only be seen in spring in Japan.

Wisteria is a plant that grows all over Japan and which has captivated Japanese people for a long time. The flower clusters hang down for the tip of the plant’s long vines and sway beautifully in the wind. Wisteria is so beloved that it even appears in Waka, a classic Japanese poem. At Kawachi Fujien in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, you can enjoy the grand sight of these beautiful wisteria flowers.

RED BEACH, PANJIN CHINA

Sand is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about beach. However, this is not the case with the Panjin Red Beach in China, which is, actually, red, and not covered in sand at all. Such phenomena is caused by a type of sea weed Sueda. It starts growing during April and May, then stays green during the summer, but starts turning vividly red in autumn.

The Red Beach is located in the biggest wetland and reed marsh in the world, and actually hosts the most completed ecosystem that can be found: the area has become home to more than 260 kinds of birds and 399 kinds of wild animals. You can find the endangered Crown Cranes and Black Beaked Gulls there, which is why the area is even called “home of the cranes”.

In order to keep the whole ecosystem safe, the area was granted state-level protection back in 1988. Even though most of the Red Beach is closed to the public, there still is a  small section that’s open for tourists. We can assure you that the photos below are not an example of infrared photography, it’s just one of those places that are hard to believe really exist!

BAGAN, MYANMAR

Myanmar (Burma) is perhaps the most devoutly Buddhist nation on earth, with a dizzying array of golden pagodas and ancient temples, perched in splendid isolation on hillsides and sandwiched between busy city streets.

MOUNT RORAIMA

Long before the European conquistadors took over these lands, Mount Roraima was considered a symbol of these regions, an “axis mundi”, an enormous tree within which all the vegetables and fruits of the world grow.

This mountain, surrounded by 400 meter (1,300 ft) tall cliffs was a place of mystery, myths and legends for the indigenous people that used to live here centuries ago.

Today this unusual looking mountain can be visited by anyone having the will to discover it. The ascend starts in the Pemón village of Paraitepui which can be reached via the town of Santa Elena.

Getting to Mount Roraima is possible by taking a plane to Santa Elena de Uairén airport. This is a town in Brazil, very close to the border.  From here on, you will see there are buses or shuttles that can get you close to the ascending point- the village of Paraitepui.

ST. BASIL'S CATHEDRAL, MOSCOW

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow Kremlin Although it's known to everyone as St. Basil's, this legendary building is officially called "The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat". The popular alternative refers to Basil the Blessed, a Muscovite 'holy fool' who was buried on the site (in the Trinity Cathedral that once stood here) a few years before the present building was erected.

The Cathedral was ordered by Ivan the Terrible to mark the 1552 capture of Kazan from Mongol forces. It was completed in 1560. That's pretty much all the genuine history that's known about this celebrated landmark. There, however, scores of legends. Nothing is known about the builders, Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, except their names and the dubious legend that Ivan had them blinded so that they could not create anything to compare. Historians unanimously state that this is nothing but urban folklore.

VENICE, ITALY

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

ETRETAT

Etretat is famous for its three natural arches and white chalk cliffs that tower high over the Atlantic Ocean. These natural wonders are freely accessible, as is the white pebble beach. Claude Monet and other Impressionists famously painted the arches and cliffs in the nineteenth century. An Arsène Lupin story was based here while Guy du Maupassant spent most of this childhood in the town. The old town center is fairly pretty too making Etretat a popular day-trip destination from other towns and sights in Normandy.

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, CALIFORNIA

Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre (287.44 km2) park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California, United States. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as an important nature preserve. Some existing agricultural uses are allowed to continue within the park. Clem Miller, a US Congressman from Marin County wrote and introduced the bill for the establishment of Point Reyes National Seashore in 1962 to protect the peninsula from development which was proposed at the time for the slopes above Drake's Bay. All of the park's beaches were listed as the cleanest in the state in 2010.

TUSCANY, ITALY

Tuscany is a region in central Italy. Its capital, Florence, is home to some of the world’s most recognizable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s "David" statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo basilica. Its diverse natural landscape encompasses the rugged Apennine Mountains, the island of Elba’s beaches on the Tyrrhenian Sea and Chianti’s olive groves and vineyards.

ICE HOTEL AT SORRISNIVA, ALTA, NORWAY

Ice hotels are temporary hotels present only during the winter period. One of those ice hotels is Sorrisniva Iglo Hotel in Alta, Norway. This hotel is being rebuilt regularly since 2000. It is 2000 square meters including 2 suites and it is decoated with numbers of ice sculptures and ice furnishing, and amazing lighting system to enhance the different ice crystals. Beside the bedrooms, Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel contains an ice chapel, ice gallery and ice bar in which the drinks are served in ice glasses.

TURQUOISE SEA, CYPRUS

High up in the shaded splendour of the Troodos Mountains we waited for Polis, the key keeper. From outside, with its dusty walls and closed shutters, the tiny Orthodox chapel gave nothing away. Inside, as Polis slid a heavy key into the lock and pushed open the door, it was a different story altogether.

Cyprus is famed for its painted churches and as we gazed at the colourful Byzantine frescoes we could see why. Built and decorated between the 11th and 16th Centuries, 10 churches have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites and we spent a happy few hours viewing several religious tales depicted on the crumbling panels. These hidden treasures weren’t the only things to surprise us.

Sure, Cyprus has the gorgeous beaches, turquoise sea and 300-plus days of sunshine that holidaymakers adore. But it also packs in lots of historical sites for such a small isle. Ancient tombs, Roman mosaics, Greek mythology and a majestic mountain range deliver far more than just a Mediterranean beach break.

KAUAI, HAWAII

Kauai is an island in the Central Pacific, part of the Hawaiian archipelago. It's nicknamed "the Garden Isle" thanks to the tropical rainforest covering much of its surface. The dramatic cliffs and pinnacles of its Na Pali Coast have served as a backdrop for major Hollywood films, while 10-mile-long Waimea Canyon and the Nounou Trails traversing the Sleeping Giant mountain ridge are hiking destinations.

CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

KOLUKKUMALAI TEA ESTATE, INDIA

Thirty-five km outside of Munnar, India, the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is built high atop the precipitous ridge that rises above the plains of Tamilnadu. At about 8,000 feet above sea level, this is the highest tea estate in the world. Known for its excellent, flavorsome teas, this estate is also known for its panoramic views and the for the rugged mountains that surround it.


So what are you waiting for? Pack your things and grab your passport. It's time to travel the world.