10 Beautiful places on Earth you must add to your bucket list

1/10
Peyto Lake, Canada
Located 40 kilometres north of the town of Lake Louise, this sparkling glacier-fed lake is gorgeous all year round, with its bright, turquoise colour drawing tourists season after season, especially during the summer months. As a popular sightseeing spot surrounded by the most breathtaking scenery, Peyto Lake is a must-see vivid spectacle that any nature lover should add to their bucket list.
2/10
Hamnøy Fishing Village, Norway
Surrounded by scenic mountains and the sloshing sea, Hamnøy remains one of the oldest and most picturesque fishing villages in the stunning Lofoten archipelago. While small and sleepy, the village is undeniably beautiful with its unspoiled backdrop and natural rocky landscape. Stay in one of the original fishermen cabins, which date back as far as the 1890s.
3/10
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan
Kyoto is home to a great number of beautiful attractions. Arashiyama itself is a wonderful precinct that contains a multitude of gorgeous shrines and temples to explore, along with an extensive bamboo forest that is both magical and breathtaking. The forest is perhaps one of the most Instagrammed locations in Kyoto, and is definitely a must-see for any visitor passing through.
4/10
Milford Sound, New Zealand
There's a good reason that Milford Sound, a remote and hard to reach fiord on New Zealand's South Island, is the country's most visited destination. Dramatic cliffs rise up from the waters to become breathtaking mountain peaks, while magnificent waterfalls as high as 1000 metres cascade down into the waters that seals, penguins, bottlenose dolphins, and even humpback whales call home. While the sound is perhaps best explored by hiking along the famous Milford Track, those looking for a more relaxing journey can hop aboard the many boat tours, or even kayak through the sound themselves.
5/10
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Recognised as one of the seven wonders of the world, there's hardly a soul in the world who hasn't heard of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. This natural wonder is a staggering 350,000 square kilometres big and stretches well over 2000 kilometres down the eastern coastline of northern Queensland – yeah, that’s about the size of Japan. Home to thousands of animal species, including 30 different species of dolphins and whales, it is a bustling marine metropolis teeming with life.
6/10
Uluru / Ayers Rock, Australia
This large sandstone rock formation has a dual name, “Uluru” being its original traditional Aboriginal name. One of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks, the giant rock has a circumference of almost 10 kilometres and stands 348 metres high. Interestingly, Uluru appears to change colour throughout the day and year. You might have seen pictures of the landmark glowing a haunting red at dawn or sunset.
7/10
Sahara Desert, Africa
The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, crossing a whopping 11 countries in northern Africa, including Algeria, Chad, Eygypt, Morocco, Mali, Libya and Tunisia. At more than 9 million square kilometres, with its unending sea of sand dunes, rocky plateaus and dry valleys, it's surprising how magnificent and grand such a harsh landscape can look.
8/10
The Great Wall of China, China
Initially built to prevent invasion by nomadic groups and for the protection of the Silk Road, the Great Wall of China is now ironically one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. An awe inspiring feat of ancient architecture and building, the wall was built and rebuilt over the reign of multiple emperors. Today, much of the wall has been lost to disrepair, with nature left to take over. However, efforts to keep the wall maintained in tourist areas still lets you see the wall in all its former glory. That's not to say that the parts of the wall less cared for aren't worth a visit! The crumbled fortifications and relatively untouched surrounds are arguably more beautiful than their over-crowded counterparts.
9/10
Namib Desert, Africa
While endless, arid, and unforgiving aren't typically the first words that come to mind when you think of the world's most beautiful spots, the unique beauty of the Namib Desert certainly make it welcome on this list. Magnificent sand dunes ranging in colour from light pink to deep, vivid red sprawl all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, while nimble oryx and curious meerkats seek respite amongst the ancient, skeletal trees dotting the terrain. The surreal and uniquely striking landscape is definitely deserving of its nickname of 'Mars on Earth'.
10/10
Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju Island is one of South Korea’s most popular vacations spots for both tourists and locals. Also known as “The Island of the Gods”, with its wide range of activities and interesting sightseeing opportunities, Jeju is unsurprisingly a top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds. Home to sandy beaches, traditional villages, botanical parks, and even the world’s largest known lava column, perhaps a trip to the island may not be such a bad idea this season, hmm?

Our planet can be a grand place, full of lush rainforests and glorious beaches, but it can also be a harsh and unforgiving place, with its sprawling arid deserts and uninhabitable volcanic craters. Even so, there is no doubt that Planet Earth is home to great beauty, and we often take that incredible beauty for granted. While manmade cities full of towering concrete, glass windows and fast-moving supercars may be interesting and inviting in their own ways, it is Mother Nature and the natural landscapes surrounding us that truly take our breath away.

Here is a round-up of some of the most incredible places on the planet that we think should earn a spot on your travel bucket list. From the staggeringly pigmented Peyto Lake in Canada to the magical bamboo forest of Arashiyama, we’re sure you’ll find a few places worth your while.

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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