BEAUTIFUL PLACES

VALLEYS IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is blessed with sights that are beautiful beyond words. Mother Nature has been very kind to Pakistan when it comes to natural beauty. Of course there are many incredible man-made structures built throughout the course of history but here we are just taking a look at the natural wonders of Pakistan.

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK

As one of the most popular tourist destinations and heavily populated places anywhere in the world, Manhattan offers something for everyone, including vast amounts beauty, irrelevant of what you consider to be beautiful.

From the lush greenery and openness of Central Park to the awe-inspiring and breathtaking view from the top of the Rockefeller Centre to the iconic Statue of Liberty and the world famous yellow cabs, it would be difficult for anyone to visit Manhattan and not find part of it stunning.

KILLARNEY, IRELAND

The town of Killarney in County Kerry is one of those that mixes traditional Irish charm with fantastic historical views and amazing scenery.

Being home to an official National Park, an array of wonderful lakes and many quaint, beautiful viewpoints, Killarney is a must for anyone visiting Ireland.

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Located on a mountainous area above the Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu is a pre-Colombian Inca site and regardless of whether you have an interest in history or not, can make you stop and stare in sheer awe.

Built initially in the middle of the 15th century, Machu Picchu was said to have been inhabited for around 100 years before it became uninhabited and went uncovered for over 3 centuries, until Hiriam Bingham, a Yale lecturer, rediscovered the site in July 1911.

GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

Officially the largest reef system on earth, the Great Barrier Reef has almost 3,000 reefs encompassed within the 2,600 kilometre area of land that it covers.

Although the Great Barrier Reef is clearly visible from space, it is when looking at it from underneath water when it truly appears to be beautiful and somewhat magical.  Over 1,500 types of fish call the Great Barrier Reef home and in excess of 400 types of coral can be viewed in the area, meaning if you get chance to visit the area, you should make sure that you take along an underwater camera.

Oludeniz, Turkey

Widely regarded as being home to the most photographed beaches anywhere in the Mediterranean, Olu Deniz is located on the cost of the Aegean Sea in south west Turkey.

Masses of crystal clear, stunning blue sea and white sandy beaches can be seen from almost any point in the town, but if you’re wanting to see the beauty from above, take off from Babadag Mountain, one of the most popular places in the world to paraglide from.

CITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND

Similar to Manhattan, New York, London – particularly the City of London – is one of the most visited cities in the world, as well as being one of the most densely populated.

London is one of those parts of the world that caters for everyone, being able to provide some type of beautifcation irrelevant of your personal tastes. The Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace are pieces of architectural beauty, whilst Hyde Park, Kensington Park and Regent’s Park all provide many square kilometres of natural beauty.

VATICAN CITY, ITALY

Situated in the middle of Rome is the smallest official country in the world, Vatican City.  Covering a mere 0.44 square kilometres, whilst Vatican City may be known to many because of its size, being home to the Pope and centre of the Catholic religion, it is the buildings that are encompassed within the country that are the reason for its inclusion within this list.

The Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s Square will all take your breath away themselves, without taking into consideration the amount of famous artwork that is on display within them.

LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND

Home to the biggest lakes and tallest peaks in England, the Lake District is located in the north west part of the country and is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Comprising of just under 100 lakes and many hills, peaks and mountains, the Lake District is the ideal destination for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life – just make sure that you’ve got your camera with you at all times.

BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA

One of the Society Island in the Pacific Ocean, Bora Bora is renowned today as one of the most luxuriously beautiful places in the world.  Gaining popularity throughout and just after World War II (due to its use by the American army as a supply base), it is rumoured that a lot of the military personnel did leave Bora Bora after the war had ended as the island was so beautiful and relaxing.

Known for its luxurious bungalows that are on stilts in the water, Bora Bora is an increasingly popular destinations for honeymooner’s and by looking and these photographs, it’s not difficult to see why.

IGUAZU FALLS, BRAZIL-ARGENTINA BORDER

There are many different large and popular waterfalls all around the world, but none offer as spectacular views as Iguazu Falls does.

Sat on the border between Brazil and Argentina, it is possible to get safely into Iguazu Falls that you can benefit from over 250 degrees worth of waterfalls surrounding you.  It may not be as big as some of the other waterfalls around the world, but Iguazu Falls is by far one of the most stunning.

MOUNT EVEREST, NEPAL / CHINA BORDER

As the largest mountain anywhere in the world, the Mount Everest mountain of the Himalaya range is included in this list primarily for its sheer size.

Located on the border of Nepal and China and standing at a massive 29,029 feet tall, a natural object that tall is nothing other than beautiful.

GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA AND SPHINX, EGYPT

As one of the most memorable and prominent Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of three pyramids in the area, but is by far the oldest and largest – it is reputed to have been built approximately 2,500 years ago and currently stands at 455.22 feet tall.

Combined with the beautiful statue that is the Sphinx, the 241 foot long sculpture that is reputed to have been built in 2,500 years BC, they are two of the most recognisable monuments on earth.

WASHINGTON D.C., COLUMBIA, USA

The capital of the United States of America is full of architectural delights and brimming with history that the area cannot be described as anything but beautiful, regardless of in what context and respect.

The White House is the most popular piece of architecture, but other notable mentions are the Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument – a stunning obelisk that towers above Washington at just over 555 feet tall.

TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

Whilst the Taj Mahal may be a mausoleum in the Muslim religion, there is no doubting that it is a spectacular building that can be admired from people from all religions.

Taking around 30 years to be built, construction was completed in 1653 and remains today as one of the most illustrious religious buildings anywhere in the world.

GRAND CANYON, COLORADO, USA

Stretching for 277 miles, the Grand Canyon is a gorge in Arizona which, at its widest point, is 18 miles wide.

It has been discovered recently that the Grand Canyon may have been created over 17 million years ago.  However old it is, it’s difficult not to be taken aback when you’re stood above the canyon looking down at the Colorado River flowing through the centre.

BALI, INDONESIA

Regarded as Indonesia’s most prominent island, Bali is a beautiful island that covers 2,175 square miles.

There is a vast amount of things to see and do on Bali, such as climbing the volcanic Mount Agung, trying to spot one of the extremely rare Bali Starling birds or simply sitting back and enjoy life on this beautiful island.

ROME, ITALY

Most would agree that any list entitled ‘Most Beautiful Places In The World’ would be incomplete without a mention of Italy’s capital city, Rome.

The sheer amount of wonderful architecture and general history of the city cement Rome’s place on the list, with the likes of the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Piazza della Repubblica all being beautiful architectural delights.

SANTORINI, GREECE

When you think of Greece, the first thing that so often comes to mind is beautiful white-washed stone houses with bright, electric blue roofs.  Although there are many places in Greece that offer these views, none does it better than Santorini.

On the several small islands that make up Santorini, the majority of them line their cliff edges with these buildings, which when coupled with the fantastic beaches that the area offers, make for a picture perfect postcard image.

ULURU, AUSTRALIA

Known more commonly as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a sandstone rock that is 1,145 feet tall and has a circumference figure of almost 6 miles.  A World Heritage Site and part of the Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru is considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in Australia, largely because of its unusual rock formations and sacredness to the Aboriginal people of the surrounding area.

TEOTIHUACAN, MEXICO

Created in 200 B.C., Teotihuacan is said to have been a prominent area of the world for various tribes throughout several centuries and features an array of different buildings and points of interest, including large pyramids and beautifully coloured, painted and preserved murals.

Teotihuacan today remains as one of the largest archaeological sites in the word and is regularly seen as a great contender to replace – or join – any of the Seven Wonders Of The World.

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

The entire centre of Saint Petersburg was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, covering 31 different areas and sections within the city centre.  Saint Petersburg is one of the most recognisable European cities, thanks largely to its baroque and neo-classical architecture.

With statues, monuments and museums in abundance, it is buildings such as the Church of the Savior on Blood that really makes Saint Petersburg beautiful.

THE ALPS, AUSTRIA / SLOVENIA / ITALY / SWITZERLAND / LIECHTENSTEIN / GERMANY / FRANCE

Considered to be one of  the most beautiful mountain ranges anywhere in the world, the Alps are divided up into many different ranges throughout the 7 countries that they span, all offering opportunities to see the natural beauty of the mountains.

Mont Blanc, for example, which is the tallest point anywhere in the entire Alps, is so naturally beautiful that is nicknamed La Dame Blanche in French, literally translating to The White lady.

RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Situated in the north west part of India, Rajasthan covers over 342,000 square kilometres, encompassing the famous Thar Desert.

Whilst Rajasthan may only officially be 61 years old, it was actually the merging of two seperate parts of India and therefore has a long, illustrious and interesting history.

There are far too many places to visit in Rajasthan in one visit, but if you only have the opportunity to visit once, make sure that you take in Jaisalmer, known as the Golden City, the Mehrangarh Fort, a building that is over 500 years old and stands atop a 400 foot mountain looking out over Jodhpur and the Aravalli Range, regarded as one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, which has sections that are vastly different to almost anywhere else in the country.

KERALA, INDIA

Considering 30 years ago Kerala was almost completely unknown to anyone outside of the country, this southern part of India is today one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, with people coming from all over the world to take advantage of the wonderful weather, historical attractions and natural beauty spots.

AMAZON RAINFOREST, SOUTH AMERICA

Extending over 9 individual countries in South America, the Amazon Rainforest is by far the largest of all rainforests on earth, covering over 500,000 square kilometres of land.

Within this vast amount of land lives the animals and plants that make the area so beautiful, including thousands upon thousands of different plant species, over 2000 animals and a staggering 2.5 million insects.

HIMALAYAS, ASIA

Although we’ve already mentioned the largest point in this mountain range, Mount Everest, the entire Himalayas are a worthy inclusion in the list, as they feature so many attractive points across the full 2,400 kilometres that it stretches.

With the exception of Mount Everest, it’s difficult to pick even a large handful of points of interest on the Himalayas, as there are so many.  From the second highest peak, known as K2 to the expansive Pangong Tao lake and the Indo-Gangetic forest plain at the bottom of the range of the Terai belt, the Himalayas are, simply put, beautiful.

Sognefjord, Norway

In Norway alone there are dozens upon dozens of fjords (a valley with steep sides, formed as a result of glacial movement) and the reason that Sognefjord stands out is that it is the largest fjord in the country – and second only in the world to Greenland’s Scoresby Sund.

It’s difficult to take in just how naturally stunning – and expansive – Sognefjord is without actually being there.  With the highest peaks standing over 2,000m above sea level and the lowest depths of the lakes being over 1,300m below sea level, it’s difficult to take in that this beauty has all been created without the assistance of man.

YOSEMITE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, USA

The famous Yosemite National Park in California covers an area of nearly 3.1 million square kilometres and although there are many outstanding points of interest, Yosemite Valley is generally regarded as the pinnacle of all attractions in the park.

Yosemite Valley is similar to the Songefjord in Norway and has a beautiful stretch of water, the Merced River, towered over by glorious mountains, including famous peaks the Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, to name just two of a wide selection of popular mountainous areas.

PAMUKKALE, TURKEY

The site of Pamukkale stands on the popular Aegean area of Turkey and it’s name literally means ‘cotton castle’ in English, thanks to the the fact that the ancient city of Hierapolis – where Pamukkale is located – was built on a castle and Pamukkale itself appears to be a mass of soft, lush cotton.

In fact, the area of Pamukkale is an array of hot springs and travertines featuring various natural chemicals that provide the appearance of the area and which offers a perfect spot to bathe in.

VENICE, ITALY

One of the most popular cities in Italy, Venice is known primarily for its canals, which provide both romantic and commuter travel within the city.

There are, however, many other reasons why a visit to Venice is a must, notably some amazing feats of architecture, such as Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and Piazza San Marco.

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA / ZIMBABWE

The Zambezi River is the river that flows over the Victoria Falls and with the highest point being over 360 feet tall, they are some of the most dominant and prominent waterfalls anywhere in the world.

Since the turn of the 20th century, Victoria Falls have been a major tourist attraction in South Africa and are regularly seen as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of The World, more so than any other waterfall in the world.

Lake Baikal, Russia

Second only to the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal is the largest lake in the world, accounting for approximately one fifth of all water on earth.

Averaging at 2,442 feet deep, the centre of Lake Baikal is over twice this and has been recorded as being 5,387 feet deep – around 3 and a half times the size of New York’s Empire State Building.

HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM

Translated into English, Ha Long Bay means ‘Descending Dragon Bay’ and is known mainly for the thousands of isles that are scattered on the bay.

Only a small village itself (around 1,600 people are said to inhabit Ha Long Bay), it is a particular popular destination with tourists, all of whom are eager to see the many different limestone formations that are so eerily beautiful in the water.

METEORA, GREECE

The area of Meteora on the Greek mainland is a collection of six monasteries that were constructed on limestone rocks many centuries ago.

Beautiful to look at both up close and from afar, each of the six Eastern Orthodox monasteries are still inhabited to this day.

CORNWALL, ENGLAND

The south west coast of England is made up primarily of Cornwall and the county features something for everyone to call beautiful.

Known for the many golden sand beaches that are so popular all around the coast, Cornwall features a collection of attractions inland, including Tintagel Castle, the supposed birthplace of King Arthur and the Eden Project, which is in effect the world’s largest greenhouse, featuring hundreds of tropical plants from around the world.

CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

Located in the central part of Turkey, Cappadocia is a stunning part of the world and is known – in tourism terms at least – for the many houses that are built into the mountains and land, which were inhabited by Cappadocian’s for centuries.

EASTER ISLAND, CHILE

If you were to visit Easter Island without knowing what was on the 163 square kilometre island, it is likely that you would be more than a little intrigued – if not somewhat taken aback – by the 887 moai statues that inhabit the land.

Built between 1110 and 1680 AD, the maoi statues are both beautiful and eerie and are said to have been built out of respect for the elders and deceased of tribes on the island.

MOUNT KILIMANJIRO, AFRICA

The highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 feet tall, whilst Mount Kilimanjiro is known around the world as one of nature’s highest peaks, it is not particularly common knowledge that it is actually a volcano, albeit a dormant one.

With snow on the highest peak and boiling temperatures at the base, Mount Kilimanjiro has an array of unique and rare vegetation gracing it, such as the Water Holding Cabbage, a plant that is only found in a handful of locations similar to that of Mount Kilimanjiro around the world.

SAHARA DESERT, AFRICA

Arguably the world’s largest desert (with the only other areas on earth that could rival the title being the arctic poles), the Sahara Desert’s vastness is so much that it actually covers almost all of North Africa.

Considering the Sahara has a reputation of being one of the driest and most arid destinations on earth, it is surprising for most to hear that a snowfall was actually recorded in 1979.

MAMANUCA ISLANDS, FIJI

An area of the world that can be described as an idyllic paradise, the Mamanuca Islands are located in Fiji and the name actually refers to approximately 20 islands, although just under half of these aren’t inhabitable, due them being submerged by the Pacific Ocean during a high tide.