If you’re one of those travelers who wants to really breathe in and experience a destination – and let’s face it, who isn’t? – then you might have dedicated a large part of your journeys to the search for a perfect view. But there are some panoramas that don’t just represent the best view within a few miles or even the country, but the entire world. If you’re looking for inspiration on your next trip, here are five of the most spectacular views that await you on each continent.
Hiller Lake, Australia
Off the southern coast of Western Australia lies the Recherche Archipelago, a group of over 105 islands. Among the pristine islands and islets amongst which you can see fur seals, sea lions and dolphins lies Middle Island. At the north of Middle Island is Hiller Lake, outstandingly beautiful and sheltered by sand dunes separating it from the Southern Ocean, Hiller Lake has stunned whoever gets to see it, because it’s bright pink! Sadly, however, the view of the 600 metre long pink lake is only available by plane. So, although you can only see it from above and can’t get up close to it, we still reckon it wins the most staggering, take-your-breath-away site of Australia.
Vietnams East Coast
The pride of holiday companies in Vietnam is the stunning East coast of the country, sure to please summer holidaymakers and hardened travelers alike. Part of the train journey from Saigon in the South to Hanoi in the North presents you with miles of remote beaches and jungle stretching down to and onto the track itself. Sit back and relax on one of the comfortable seats of the Reunification Express, or sit up and join in with the Vietnamese family fun in one of the third class wooden seats; either way you will also be able to poke your head through the train window and marvel as the sparkling sea and rice fields with colourful mausoleums trundle past.
The Grand Canyon, Arizona
At 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, the Grand Canyon is regarded as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and rightly so. Carved from the Colorado river and found in Arizona – perfect for visiting after California or Mexico – the Grand Canyon is a great place to explore for its history and geology. The fact it lies thousands of feet below sea level, also ensures it constantly basks in the unforgiving glare of the sun and upwards heat of 40 degrees. It may not be the most comfortable journey to reach it but the views and surrounding conservation area certainly makes it well worth it.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Standing two and a half thousand metres above sea level, by contrast, and in the neighbouring continent of South America, is Machu Picchu. Comprising of over 200 structures and in the middle of a tropical rainforest, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu is regarded as the most beautiful example of the wonders of the Inca Empire. Whether you reach it by trekking through the Amazon Basin or the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu really is a wonderful site to behold.
The Lights of Northern Europe
Finally, if you are visiting or even live in Europe, then the Northern Lights should be on everyone’s bucket list. Starting in November and lighting up the winter months, the eerie glow of the lights has astounded and mystified people for years. Scientific proof that we the Earth has a shield that protects us from harmful rays and aesthetic evidence that nature provides us with the most spectacular shows, the Northern Lights can be witnessed from Norway and north eastern Scotland as they cascade east to remote northern Canada.
