updated 12:37 PM EDT, Tue July 3, 2012
Head to Scandinavia for a chance to see the most dazzling light display on Earth.
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Northern Lights, Scandinavia
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- There are some things to see around the world that will leave you spellbound
- Look up at a star-filled sky in New Zealand or the northern lights in Scandinavia
- Experience the wild great migration in East Africa or bat migration in Zambia
Spotting a lion is great,
but even greater are the millions of wildebeest trekking across the
African plains on an annual migration.
There are some things you can see around the world that have the potential to give you photo-showing rights for decades.
We haven't got them all —
in fact we barely scratched the surface. But we have picked out a few
of the scenes that, if you're lucky enough to witness them, will
invariably leave you spellbound.
1. Borobudur at sunrise, Java, Indonesia
Watching the sun rise
over the hundreds of stupas and Buddhas at Borobudur before the public
descends in droves to disturb the peace is one of the world's most
rarefied experiences.
Guests staying within the
village compound are allowed to enter this 9th century monument, hidden
beneath volcanic ash for centuries, before opening time.
Black Tomato offers three
nights bed and breakfast with private sunrise tour at lavish Amanjiwo,
decorated with its own Buddhas and stupas, from US$1,195 per person; blacktomato.com
2. Starling murmuration, Brighton Pier, England
They're not exotic, and
in the European case they're not even that pretty, but when you have
thousands of starlings swooping and wheeling like some kind of hypnotic
cloud, they become one of the most mesmerizing sights in nature.
See a stunning video of the phenomenon on Vimeo.
These murmurations
happen just before the birds roost down for the night, and while
starling numbers have crashed in the UK, you can still see up to a
million birds coming together in these huge swarms in England's nature
reserves or at certain piers such as Brighton Pier, just an hour's train
journey from London.
The murmurations are most common in winter, November being the best month.
See the RSPB website for details on where and when to see them.
3. Northern Lights, Scandinavia
This astronomical
phenomenon is best seen in winter from northern Scandinavia — but there
are never any guarantees, which makes the magic moments when they do
appear all the more special.
A great place to keep watch is from the sheltered coastal waters of western Norway, whose coves are free of artificial light.
Travel there on Hurtigruten, the country's national coastal steamer, and enjoy inspirational fjord views by daylight.
Six-day voyages from US$735; hurtigruten.com
4. The great migration, East Africa
No sight in the world
replicates the timeless drama of tens of thousands of wild beasts
charging across the African plains in search of food and water while
pursued by their predators.
The best way to experience the migration is via a mobile camp which ups sticks and follows the animals every day.
A four-night safari
combining two nights in Singita's Explore mobile camp and two in a fixed
location in the Serengeti costs from US $5,110, including internal
flights, full board and safari activities; aardvarksafaris.com
5. Star-filled sky, Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand
Picking out Orion's Belt
and The Big Dipper is even more impressive if there are a million other
stars distracting you from the task.
A 1,600-square-mile area
in New Zealand's South Island comprising Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park
and the Mackenzie Basin has just been designated the world's fourth
International Dark Sky Reserve, making it "one of the best stargazing
sites on Earth" according to Bob Parks, executive director of the
International Dark-Sky Association.
Nature's Highway
arranges three-night/four-day cycling tours to Mackenzie Basin from
US$995 per person. Includes accommodation, bike hire and luggage
transport; natureshighway.co.nz/tour-dates-and-prices
6. Torres del Paine, Chile
In the heart of
Patagonia, glaciers rise in the midst of mountainscapes and alpine
meadows, close enough to hike right up to and touch. They make Torres
del Paine one of the most special national parks in the world — you'll
never forget your first sight of ice on the beach.
Explora offers a four-night package including transfers from Punta Arenas, full board and excursions from US$2,780; lastfrontiers.com
7. Djemaa el Fna, Marrakech, Morocco
If any city has a vast
expanse of street theater at its beating heart, it's this Moroccan
metropolis where Moorish influences give way to a throbbing African
pulse.
This huge empty space
over which the sun rises comes to life from mid-afternoon as the local
characters creep in — storytellers, snake charmers, musicians, Berber
apothecaries, henna-painters and lady-boy dancers.
First-floor cafes are
the best places to overlook the action as the scene unfolds, but when
night closes in and smoke starts rising from the food stalls, it's time
to join the crowds at trestle tables for a UD$5 feast of grilled meats
and flatbread.
Stay in a riad — a
traditional townhouse hotel — within the Medina for maximum impact. Riad
Farnatchi sets out a great little handbook for guests of what not to
miss, including the best food stalls on the square. Rooms from US$360
per night; riadfarnatchi.com
8. Yosemite peaks, California, United States
Not just any old
mountains, Half Dome, Sentinel and El Capitan have been immortalized by
landscape photographer Ansel Adams. The view catches in the throat of
first-time visitors who trace the route taken by the Gold Rush settlers
who discovered this breathtaking land of pine forests and soaring
granite peaks around 1850.
It's mandatory to stay
within the National Park boundaries to breathe the pine-scented air,
absorb the grandeur and hike in peace after the day-trippers have left.
While simple lodge cabins are good value, the magnificent 1920's
Ahwahnee Hotel overlooking Half Dome is worth the splurge (rooms around
US$450 per night); yosemite.com
9. Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
Because they've been the
subject of so many Renaissance paintings, the iconic landmarks of
Venice stop the heart when you see them for the first time.
The Rialto, the Bridge
of Sighs, the vast expanse of San Marco look much as they did 400 years
ago, but nothing evokes the mystery of La Serenissima quite like the
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute looming out of the mist at the
entrance to the Grand Canal.
The perfect place to
catch this view is from a vaporetto approaching Venice from the lagoon —
the most magical way to arrive from the airport; turismovenezia.it
10. Jungle pyramids, Palenque, Mexico
Mayan pyramids pervade
the eastern side of Mexico, but none are more breathtaking than those of
Palenque in the far south. The jungle temple of this site inspired
"Raiders of the Lost Ark," and it has a lost-world, Indiana Jones kind
of feeling other ruins lack.
This is the year to hit the Mayan ruins — the ancient tribe believed the world would end in 2012.
Tucan Travel's 22-day End of the World tour hits Palenque on New Year's Eve and takes in other Mayan sites; $2,240; tucantravel.com/tour
11. Electrical storm, Tornado Alley, United States
From thunder to
lightning to tornadoes, you can see it all by joining a storm-chasing
crew in Tornado Alley, the area between the Rocky and Appalachian
Mountains where 25% of America's "significant" tornadoes occur,
according to the National Atlas by the US government.
The best time to catch a glimpse of one is from May to June.
Wannabe stormers can
join the seven-day tour hosted by Storm Chasing Adventure Tours. Be
prepared for a rough and tough tour — they may drive 500 miles a day in
the chase.
Seven-day tour costs US$2,400; stormchasing.com
12. Sydney Harbour, Australia
Sydney has two
spectacular city icons, and they share the same fabulous harbor. The
Opera House may be the one with the fancier lines — its "sails" were
designed to resemble the boats that sail past the building — but it
doesn't dwarf the magnificent Harbour Bridge.
A great place to view
both of these landmarks is Circular Quay, from where ferries go back and
forth to the North Shore. You can gaze comfortably on one of the
world's most unforgettable maritime skylines from the patio of Peter
Doyle's, a spectacular fish-and-chip-cum-sushi restaurant on the quay; sydney.com; doyleatthequay.com.au
13. Inside the Thrihnukagigur volcano, Iceland
Iceland is a spectacular
living wilderness, and in summer it's possible to journey right into
the inner cavity of the Thrihnukagigur volcano, which has been dormant
for 4,000 years.
After a short hike
across lava fields, participants descend 120 meters via a cable car into
the heart of the volcano and its magma chamber, only accessible between
mid-June and the end of July.
Discover the World
offers three nights in Iceland including accommodation, volcano visit
and a look at other natural wonders as well as the capital, Reykjavik,
from around US$1,130; discover-the-world.co.uk
14. Monument Valley, United States
You'd be forgiven for
thinking this thrilling red rock vista at the conjunction of Arizona and
Utah was a movie set. But although it's served as the backdrop for many
John Ford movies, this corner of the Navajo Nation is for real.
The best way to
experience the area is to stay overnight, then ride into the park with a
Native American guide who can arrange a visit with some of the
residents. Particularly magical is a nighttime visit around the time of
the full moon.
General admission US$5; navajonationparks.org
15. Taj Mahal, India
It may be the most
clichéd image in the world, but visitors still gasp the moment they
first set eyes on the world's most famous shrine to love.
Best enjoyed at sunset,
when there are not too many tourists around to spoil the spell, or over a
drink from a distance at Amarvilas, a luxury hotel overlooking the
magnificent white marble mausoleum.
Built by Shah Jehan in
the 17th century in memory of his third wife Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal forms
part of the Golden Triangle, which is the classic first tour for
visitors new to India.
Intrepid Travel offers seven days from Delhi, taking in the pink city of Jaipur as well as the Taj Mahal, from US$805; intrepidtravel.com
16. Kasanka bat migration, Zambia
Five million bats cluster together in one tiny corner of Zambia's Kasanka National Park every November.
Orange-brown in color,
they feed off the swamp forest's delicious wild fruits, on which they
chomp solidly every night (making sunset and dawn the best times to view
them). After the bats abandon it, Kasanka is spectacular in a different
way: all that remains of Bat Central are stripped, broken trees and an
eerie silence.
Naturetrek has a Swamps
& South Luangwa Zambia safari departing on November 4, taking in the
bat migration. US$2,725 includes all transport, full board
accommodation, park fees and guides; naturetrek.co.uk
17. Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, United States
Although Carlsbad also
has a colony of bats that fly out at dusk when the cavern is closed,
they can't equal the utter spectacle within.
Some 230 meters beneath a
stand of cactus-studded rocky slopes in New Mexico lies a wonderland of
117 caves formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding
limestone.
Allow a couple of hours
to marvel at the eerily-lit stalactites, stalagmites and other rock
formations as you wander through these amazing subterranean halls.
It's like being in Hans
Anderson's "Snow Queen," the fairy-tale set in a mysterious ice palace —
but this one is just comfortably cool and not slippery. There's even an
elevator for the 79-story ride back to the surface; nps.gov/cave/index.htm
18. Lunar rainbow, Victoria Falls, Zambia
This rare natural
phenomenon occurs for three days around the full moon during high-water
season at Zambia's most stunning waterfall.
The best "moonbows" tend
to occur between April and August, and a great place to view them is on
the banks of the Zambezi at Tongabezi just upstream from the heart of
the action.
Tongabezi guests stay in
thatched lodges and can take canoe safaris, swim in the Devil's Pool,
go rafting under the falls and gaze upon the moonbows. From US$485 per
person, per night including all meals, drinks, laundry service and
activities; tongabezi.com
19. Shubenacadie tidal bore, Canada
The Bay of Fundy in Nova
Scotia is home to the highest tides in the world, creating a rare Tidal
Bore — or giant wave — in the Shubenacadie River.
The tide enters at its
widest point and the water piles up as it flows up the bay. At the head
of the bay, this advancing tide becomes a wave, varying from a ripple to
up to three meters high.
The Shubenacadie River
Runners operate Zodiac trips which ride the crest of the tidal surge and
on through several sets of natural sand rapids; half-day rafting from
US$60 per person; tidalborerafting.com
20. Cape Tribulation, Australia
The lush green coastal
strip of Cape Tribulation, the most northerly settlement of Queensland,
Australia, is one of the few places where the rainforest meets the sea.
Nowhere else are these
two natural side-by-side wonders so accessible to travelers. It's
understandable, then, why this is one of the world's finest spots to
watch a sunset.
Visitors can rent a
four-wheel drive out of Port Douglas, drive to Daintree, take the
five-minute ferry crossing across the mangrove-encrusted estuary and
brace for an endurance test of a drive, enough to test the suspension of
any off-roader.
Once at Cape
Tribulation, a variety of boardwalks lead to the shoreline and, at
sunset, one of the world's most breathtaking views; experiencequeensland.com
21. Rock face city of Petra, Jordan
This year marks the
200th anniversary of the rediscovery of this former lost city,
considered one of the greatest jewels of the Middle East.
Carved into the sheer
rock face by the Nabataeans, people who settled here more than 2,000
years ago, this magical rose-red metropolis was a hub for the silk and
spice routes in ancient times.
Entrance to the city is
through the Siq, a narrow gorge flanked on either side by soaring,
80-meter high cliffs. The colors and rock formations are dazzling, and
at the end of the gorge stands the first-century Treasury, with its
fabulous carvings.
Movenpick's Resort
Petra is located at the entrance to the ancient city, and its roof
garden has spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley. Rooms cost from
around US$155 per night double, including breakfast; moevenpick-hotels.com
22. Enrosadira, Dolomites, Italy
Sunset in the Dolomites
— which were recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is a time
when a unique natural phenomenon known as Enrosadira occurs, turning
the west-facing rock face flame-red in the dying rays of the sun.
Every evening, these
stunning peaks lay on a glorious display of color, starting out bright
yellow before turning an intense red that softens to indigo and violet
before darkness finally envelops the mountains.
Formed over 250 million
years ago, the Dolomites were part of the earth's tropical zone where
coral, algae, fish and mollusks collected on the seabed, with magma from
volcanic eruptions. After the passing of the Ice Age, rivers,
landslides, wind and rain sculpted the valleys, leaving today's
spectacular landscape behind.
Relais & Châteaux Gardena Grödnerhof has a prime view of the mountains. Rooms from US$525 per person for three nights; gardena.it; valgardena.it
23. Fairy chimneys, Cappadocia, Turkey
This remote area of
Central Turkey is covered in amazing "fairy chimneys" — volcanic peaks
through which it's possible to trek, explore the caves of an underground
city or survey from above in a hot air balloon or helicopter.
Early settlers made
homes within these chimneys, creating rock-cut churches, whose facades
interplay with the natural castles and other formations.
Travel the Unknown's
Magic of Cappadocia tour covers the region over three days from US$655
including domestic flights, ground transport, entrance fees, guides and
half-board accommodation; traveltheunknown.com/cca
24. Lake District lakes, England
There's something
mystical about the quiet bodies of still water ringed by majestic fells
that feature in the new movie "Snow White and the Huntsman."
The Lake District is
the glory of northwestern England, and was a favorite of poets
Wordsworth and Coleridge as well as Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter
Rabbit, who celebrates his 110th anniversary this year.
At Keswick travelers
can climb the fell above Ashness Bridge to see two lakes at once,
including magnificent Derwentwater. Also spot the serene Ullswater, dark
and dramatic Wastwater and tiny but perfectly formed Grasmere, where
the poets hung out.
Pullwood Bay offers award-winning lakeside and woodland self-catering cottages, plus a boathouse; pullwoodbay.com
Lake District visitors' information at visitcumbria.com.
25. Sardine run, South Africa
Dubbed "the greatest
shoal on earth," the sardine run on South Africa's Wild Coast holds two
titles — the world's largest animal migration also featuring the
greatest gathering of predators on the planet.
Sharks, dolphins, Cape
Gannets, cormorants, seals -- and sometimes Orcas -- follow the sardines
as they head to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
The spectacle is best
viewed on a scuba dive in late June and throughout July; however, if you
have a snorkel, you can still get in on the underwater action.
Acacia Africa runs a
seven-day Coast To Cape Town small group safari from around US$1,300
including transfers, accommodation, most meals and local guide; acacia-africa.com
26. Pristine beaches of Islas Cies, Spain
The notion of a string
of idyllic desert islands off the coast of northern Spain is an unlikely
one. However, viewed from a hilltop in Vigo in the remote region of
Galicia, this string of marine pearls is no mirage.
The Islas Cies have
been cited among the world's 10 best beaches, with pristine white sands
lapped by calm waters of Caribbean turquoise, against a pine forest
backdrop.
The former pirates'
lair is now a national park protected from hotel developers and beach
vendors. But there's a campsite for those who want to linger when the
day-trippers leave on the last ferry, and a restaurant dispensing the
fabulous seafood for which Galicia is famous.
Vigo, a handsome port
offering seasonal ferry service to Islas Cies, connects with major
European cities. Travelers can reach Vigo from London for around US$75
in season; vueling.com
Island information at: parquenacionalillasatlanticas.com.
27. Cornwall's ruined mines, England
The tin mines may be
closed, but the ruins of the structures which once housed them near St.
Just make a thrillingly dramatic counterpoint to the rugged rocks and
wild seas of Cornwall's north coast.
The remnants of 3,000 engine houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
Visitors can walk
heritage trails, go underground to see how the miners labored, pan for
minerals and gems or bike the 31-kilometer coastal trail known as the
Cornwall Mineral Tramway; cornish-mining.org.uk
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