21 Travel Destinations You’ll Never Believe Existed

Traveling is one of the most sought-after luxuries in life, an activity most people make sure to indulge in every once in a while. Hell, some people even make a career out of it– traveling from country to country, exploring new places, meeting new people, I mean, what’s not to love?

There are a lot of spectacular travel destinations in the world– white-sand beaches so fine and serene you’d want to take a permanent vacation, lush forests teeming with beautiful and exotic wildlife, and mountains so vast you’d think they hold up the Earth.

However, there are also some otherworldly places in the world that are less-known and peacefully tucked away you wouldn’t think they’re actually real. These are places you think only exist in movies and books, but no, they are 100% real and are waiting to be explored. Don’t believe me? Here are some of the 21 destinations on Earth you wouldn’t believe exist.

1. Sea of Stars

Vaadhoo Island, Maldives       

Make sure to visit this majestic island at night, and you’ll surely feel as if you’re wading in a sky full of blue stars. The otherworldly glow you see on the shore is made possible by a large number of phytoplankton called dinoflagellates living in the water. They illuminate when oxygen hits their cell membrane. Fancy a dinner by the beach?

2. The Dark Hedges

Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Fancy taking a stroll in Kingsroad? Every Game of Thrones fan knows the reference, and yes, this is the actual place where they filmed the famed road of Westeros. Even if you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, this tree-lined road in Antrim in Northern Ireland is still a pretty place to visit, making you feel as if you’ve gone back to medieval times and there’s a knight in shining armor waiting in the woods somewhere. Yes, please!

3. Seven-Coloured Earth of Chamarel

Chamarel, Mauritius

Rainbow lovers should definitely put this place on their travel bucket list. These rainbow dunes in Mauritius will make you feel as if you’re standing in the Rainbow itself with all the pretty hues melting into each other. Seven main colors stand out in these Rainbow dunes—purple, brown, red, violet, blue, yellow, and green. Make sure to take some back home for remembrance!

4. Salar de Uyuni

Potosi, Bolivia

Do you want to take the coolest selfie ever? Then head on to Potosi, Bolivia, where you can find the largest salt flats in the world. During the rainy season, the whole place transforms into a sky reflecting mirror, and when you take a picture, it looks as if you’re standing in the actual sky itself. Your friends would be really jealous of your Instagram feed.

5. Waitomo Caves

King Country, New Zealand

Unlike the beach in Vaadho Island in Maldives where the glowing water came from glowing phytoplankton, this particular cave in New Zealand is illuminated by glowworms called Arachnocampa luminosa. Their bodies produce twinkling lights which are beautiful to look at due to their abundance in the cave, and their species can only be found in New Zealand only.

6. Abraham Lake

Alberta, Canada

This Instagram-worthy lake in Canada is worth the trip. Beneath the surface, frozen bubbles of methane gas could be seen, looking as if hundreds of jellyfish are waiting to burst out! When planning a visit, make sure to never bring any flammable with you like matches, cigarettes, or lighters. You don’t want to have an explosion!

7. Doors to Hell

Derweze, Ahal Province, Turkmenistan

Want to take a peek at what the entrance to Hell could look like? Then head on to the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, where this massive crater with endlessly burning fire permeates. You don’t want to take a dive in here!

8. Tianzi Mountains

Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China

Does this place look familiar? To those who’ve watched the popular film Avatar, The Tianzi Mountan is is the inspiration for the Hallelujah Mountains mentioned in the movie. Make sure to ride the cable cars upon visiting this scenic destination, and of course, take lots of pictures!

9. Paddy Rice Fields

Vietnam

In Vietnam, they make sure to utilize every farming land as possible by carving out these paddy rice fields from hillsides. Located all across the country, these paddy fields are beautiful to look at especially during the rainy season.

10. Bamboo Groves of Arashiyama

Kyoto, Japan

The Bamboo Grove Forest is one of the main tourist attractions in Kyoto, and it’s not hard to wonder why. Be immersed in the tall Bamboo plants all over the place. You’ll feel like you’re in another world!

11. Lake Baikal

Russia

It doesn’t matter whether you visit in the summer or winter, this place is breathtaking either way! Located in Siberia, Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in terms of volume in the world, and during winter, the whole lake transforms into a spectacular natural phenomenon where blocks of transparent ice can be seen on the surface, like turquoise ice.

12. Antelope Canyon

Arizona, USA

You wouldn’t believe this place is actually found in the US! With the perfectly curved rocks and perfect beams of sunlight entering the cave, this destination is a must-see for everyone. It’s the most popular slot canyon in Southwest America, and aside from tourists, photographers all scramble to take pictures of this place.

13. Lake Retba

Senegal

Pink lovers, rejoice! In Senegal lies a lake so marvelously pink you’d want to build a house in the middle of it. The unnatural color of the lake is due to the abundance of microorganisms called Dunaliella Salina, a type of bacteria that is attracted to the lake’s high salt content. In fact, locals farm salt from the lake, which they harvest by hand and put into baskets.

14. Slope Point

South Island, New Zealand

Located in the southernmost tip of South Island in New Zealand, Slope Point is home to the world’s weirdest trees ever. Because of the extreme weather and fierce winds permeating the area, all the trees are twisted and warped sideways into windswept shapes, a natural occurrence so fascinating that if you’re ever in town, make sure to schedule a visit!

15. Suicide Forest

Aokigahara, Japan

Because of the recently viral Logan Paul scandal, more people became aware of the existence of the Aokigahara Forest or most commonly known as Suicide Forest in Japan. Not really a tourist destination, it’s one of the most popular suicide destinations in the world, and only brave and curious tourists venture inside this eerie forest. Inside, discarded belongings of suicide victims are littered all around, so make sure to not visit this place during the night!

16. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Maranhão State, Brazil

Want to visit a desert and swim in a lagoon all in one place? Then schedule a visit to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil. Due to the abundance of rains that falls each year, this sandy dune destination has a number of freshwater lagoons incorporated in the place. Make sure to figure out the best time to visit for a swim, which is usually between May to September.

17. Lake Natron

Tanzania

You may want to include this on your travel bucket list but do not ever try delving into its reddish, salty waters. The ph and alkaline content of this lake are so high, that only a number of organisms thrive in the area. The reddish tint of the water is due to the abundance of Spirulina, a type of algae with red pigments. It’s an unbelievable natural phenomenon up close, one of the many wonders of Mother Nature.

18. Huacachina Oasis

Ica, Peru

Ever wanted to visit a real-life desert oasis? Huacachina in Peru has one! Located in the middle of a barren desert, relive your dream of being a nomad and enjoy the company of fellow backpackers and tourists across the world. A number of enjoyable activities in the area can be done, like sand boarding, night parties, you name it!

19. Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park

Gansu, China

This geological park in China may just house the most spectacular rock formations in the world. Due to the multi-colored hues of the sandstones, it’s a perfect background for any photo, and it’s truly hard to accept that this destination is formed by nature itself. Rainbow colored rocks? No way!

20. Son Doong Cave

Quang Binhg Province, Vietnam

Dubbed as the largest cave in the world, this place is a marvel to wander into, with rich vegetation, awesome cave structures, various species of flora and fauna, and an otherworldly vibe you can’t feel anywhere else. Ironically, this place was just discovered recently, although according to experts, the cave is over five million years old. Nature lovers, you know what to do.

21. Stone Forest

Madagascar

Home to the world’s largest stone forest, be impressed by its unique geography where limestones grow into razor-sharp points, and the abundance of lemurs living in the area. Stepping inside its scope, the Stone Forest of Madagascar will make anyone feel like they’re on another planet, and its Instagram-worthy landscape will turn anyone green with envy.