50 Natural Wonders To See Before You Die

Discover Natural Wonder: Semuc Champey, Guatemala

Mayan for “sacred water”, The Cahabón River, consisting of turquoise pools and waterfalls, rests under a natural 300-metre limestone bridge. This is one natural wonder to see before you die.

Natural Wonders to See Before You Die: Great Blue Hole, Belize

Great and blue it certainly is. This abyss-like 153,000-year-old diver’s paradise is the best when you get to the bottom of it, where you can peep some of the world’s most unique species of fish, like the Midnight Parrotfish. It’s no wonder it made it on our list of natural wonders to see before you die.

Natural Wonders to See Before You Die: Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

A railway enveloped entirely in leaves, this cozy little cavern would be the perfect meditation retreat – if only the train didn’t come thrice a day. How could this not make our list of natural wonders to see before you die?

Natural Wonders to See Before You Die: Saturina Thermal Springs, Italy

Third on our list of natural wonders to see before you die are thermal springs in Italy. Proof that a higher force exists: He/She built a spa smack in the middle of the Tuscan region, complete with waterfalls nearby for your viewing pleasure. Now if only said force provided free manicures…

Discover Natural Wonder: Yosemite National Park, California

More than just an enormous habitat block in Sierra Nevada, this valley rife with glaciers, waterfalls and meadows makes it an obvious sightseeing choice of natural wonders.

Natural Wonder: Morraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

Mirror, mirror on the…lake? This natural wonder is a must-see! Take a dip in the pristine Morraine situated deep in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. If you can’t bare the sight of your sweaty reflection after hiking your way down there, the pine forest looks pretty good, too.

Natural Wonder of India: Valley of Flowers

From meadows of rare flora to herds of endangered wildlife like snow leopards and red foxes, this Himalayan hotspot is a perfect place to become one with the Earth. This natural wonder will leave you feeling awestruck.

Discover Natural Wonder: Jeita Caverns, Lebanon

You’ve found the golden ticket – now what? Get lost in the world’s most exquisite stalagmites and stalactites. This brilliant natural wonder is just a short drive from Beirut.

A Sight to See: SarisariñAma Sinkholes, Venezuela

Somewhere along the way, gravity got upset and kicked four 300-metre circular holes into the ground. They’re so remote from civilization that a pilot only discovered them in 1961. This is a natural wonder you won’t want to miss!

Visit the Natural Wonder of Indonesia: Mount Bromo, Java

Daredevils, unite. It may not be the biggest active volcano, but it is one of the most well known. Perched in the middle of the “Sea of Sand”, it’s a stunning testament to Mother Nature’s prowess. This stunning spectacle should be on your bucket list!

Travel: Paria Canyon, Arizona

Viewed as something like the Grand Canyon’s less-celebrated younger sibling, The Paria River carved psychedelic wave patterns into the rock formations of this must-see wilderness area and national monument. The permit for an overnight trek comes with a human waste bag – proof that you’re really committed to this natural wonder – and a whole lot of bucket list ticking off.

Natural Wonder of Alaska: Saint Elias Mountain Park

A snowball-throw from the Yukon border, we wish Canadians could take credit for these icefields. Ditch that run-of-the-mill Caribbean cruise and opt for a hiking trip at this UNESCO World Heritage site instead. This natural wonder will make for a memorable trip.

Explore: Cenotes of Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

Deemed sacred by the Mayans (and when it comes to things of natural beauty, they sure knew what they’re talking about), these Mexican sinkholes developed during the Ice Age. This is a natural wonder you should see before you die.

The Natural Wonder of Bolivia: Salar De Uyuni

What do you get when several prehistoric lakes go through a sequential transformation? The vast salt-flat of Salar De Uyuni, of course. Completely devoid of wildlife, the stillness of this natural wonder and Bolivian gem just contributes to its allure.

Natural Wonder of China: Danxia landform

Twenty four million years will do that to you! That is, result in red sandstone accumulations composing a rainbow-lined work of natural perfection.

Visit: Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam

Put this on your bucket list! A staple in Southeast Asian sightseeing, this UNESCO World Heritage site has been praised in ancient Vietnamese poetry for being a “rock wonder in the sky” with its 1,900 peaks of granite monoliths.

A Sight to See: Sequoia National Park, California

Calling all tree huggers: This park contains some of the tallest you’ll see on the entire planet, like the General Sherman Tree. Of the contiguous 48 states, it also contains the highest point of Mt. Whitney. This is a natural wonder for the bucket list!

Great Natural Wonder: The Northern Lights

The subject of heaps of poetry and love songs, all the candles and disco balls in the world would pale in comparison to winter’s gift of the aurora borealis, a natural phenomenon that occurs when solar winds and the Earth’s magnetic fields interact. This natural wonder should be on your bucket list!

Natural Wonder of Yemen: Socotra Archipelago

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site for the books, the Archipelago features Dragon trees oozing blood-red sap among exotic animal species found nowhere else in the world. This natural wonder is sure to impress.

Natural Wonder: Bamboo Grove, Japan

Imagine a walk through the park, but where said park is a tunnel lined entirely with bamboo shoots. Whether this elicits a sensation of claustrophobia or intense tranquility is up to you. Either way, the walk on this natural wonder promises to be one you won’t soon forget.

Sightsee: Atacama Desert, Chile

The driest non-polar desert in the world shouldn’t scare you off. There’s Gatorade for that, and even the odd oasis sighting. A few kilometres south of the Peruvian-Chilean border, you’ll be able to tick both countries off your list on this adventurous expedition. This natural wonder will leave you awestruck.

Explore: Chocolate Hills, Philippines

These sweetly named camel-hump-like formations cover a span of 50 kilometres. You’ll see 1,260 hills covered in emerald green grass during the spring, which turns chocolate-brown during dry months. This wonder is a sweet surprise.

Travel: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand

Way cooler than anything Disney World could ever recreate, tiny bioluminescent glowworms hang from the cave’s ceiling as visitors gaze in awe from the comfort of a raft below. This natural wonder is sure to impress.

Explore Natural Wonder: Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Among the most powerful waterfalls in the world, The Kaieteur is a sight for thirsty eyes. Fast and furious, this natural wonder is the centre of tourism in Guyana’s rainforest.

Explore the Red Seabeach in China

Unlike the deceptively not-red-at-all Red Sea, this twisting body of water located in the biggest marsh in the world slithers its way through Chenopodiaceae plants, to which its crimson hue is owed. Put this natural wonder on your bucket list!

Travel to Vaadhoo Island in Maldives

You’ve read about phytoplankton (microalgae) in textbooks, but have you seen them work their magic? They cast an eerie glowing blue light on the water, useful in the event that you forget your flashlight. Make sure to put this on your bucket list!

Discover the Champagne Pool in New Zealand

Yes, this is real life. No, you’re not dreaming. Waiotapu, New Zealand’s famous hot spring got its name from its high levels of carbon dioxide, the prime “ingredient” in bubbly. This natural wonder will leave you awestruck.

Travel to Virginia for the Luray Caverns

This natural wonder is a 400-million-year-old cave with unparalleled acoustics. If you casually have a piano on hand, its notes will permeate through the entire scope of the underground system in varying tones.  Next band practice venue? We think so.

Visit the Pink Lake in Australia

Still afraid of the algae at the bottom of the lake? Not after learning microscopic bits of it created this Barbie-heaven of a lake. Don’t miss this natural wonder!

Explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania

Recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Africa, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a microcosm of all things beautiful in the world: The largest inert and unfilled volcano has been home to 25,000 animals for the last three million years.

Travel to China for the Five Flower Lake

Rumor has it that a goddess dropped a mirror given to her by her lover into this lake, leaving it to shatter into 108 pieces. The stunning 108 lakes vary in colour depending on depth and particular natural contents on its floor. This beautiful natural wonder should be at the top of your bucket list.

Travel: Swing at the end of the world, Cantón Baños, Ecuador

While not Mother Nature’s gift per se, this swing lets you see the world from a bird’s eye view with your bare eyes – no musty airplane windows included for this natural wonder.

Visit the Moeraki Boulders in New Zealand

It’s a dinosaur egg, it’s a giant marble, it’s a… 50-million-year-old mass of exumed condensed sediment formed beneath the ground? While you can’t take them home in your pocket like you can a seashell, these massive, two foot-high spherical boulders that dot New Zealand’s shore are certainly an unusual way to experience the beach.

Travel: Blood Falls, Antarctica

Blood Falls is what happens when you mix iron-oxide and saltwater as it flows out of the Taylor Glacier. Just try to look away from this natural wonder.

Natural Wonder: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

This natural wonder is like ogling at the world’s most Snow White-majestic ski hill, without the need for a parka.

Travel to Israel for The Dead Sea

Where else in the world can you recreate the famous picture of the guy reading a newspaper while staying afloat in the water? At 427 metres below sea level, it’s the lowest point on earth. Also worth the trip: slathering nutrient-rich Dead Sea mud until you look like a chocolate bar on legs.

Natural Wonder: Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania

Thanks to a rare form of erosion, Tasmania is the new Tetris, with its Tasman Peninsula coastline comprised of tessellated bricks. This natural wonder is a thing of beauty.

Explore: Jigokudani Yaenkoen, Japan

Time to monkey around in one of Japan’s most beloved hot springs equipped with everyone’s favourite fury friends. Dubbed Snow Monkey Park, you’ll also want to relish in the lush greenery on the walk to the onsen, a Japanese resort developed around a hot spring. Put this natural wonder on your bucket list!

Travel to Mount Sinai

Moderately sized for a mountain, but high in stature from a cultural standpoint, Christianity, Islam and Judaism all agree that this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments, the original listicle.

Visit Natural Wonder: Virginia Falls, Northwest Territories

Niagara Falls is great and all, but with all its well-earned press, lets focus on Canada’s lesser-celebrated Virginia Falls, which is twice its height and makes for a rewarding hiking destination. This natural wonder is a must-see.

Explore: Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Get up close and personal to the world’s largest coral reef before it’s too late – its coral continues to disintegrate rapidly.  It boasts thousands of islands swimming with exotic fish and intricate coral. If you ever get a chance to travel to this space, let us know in the comments how it looks from there.

Travel: Mud Volcanoes, Azerbeijan

It’s active, but you won’t have to approach this natural wonder with caution. This volcano in Gobustan regularly spews out mud that’s said to have medicinal properties when applied topically. Complete with petroglyphs from the Roman era, it’s a fresh new way to experience art, history and sound skin practices all in one place.

Explore: Kelimutu, Indonesia

With a royal appearance on Indonesian currency, these gem-hued lakes nest within (obviously inert) volcanoes. This natural wonder is a must-see!

Natural Wonder: Monarch Butterfly Migration – Michoacan, Mexico

Every fall, these always-jazzed-for-Halloween butterflies take the 2,500-mile flight from California to Mexico’s Oyamel fir trees. There have already been reports of a strong migration this year, with sightings of up to 500 monarchs at a time. Flying, roosting and nectaring, if you blink, you might miss the beauty of this natural wonder.

Sightsee: Mount Everest, Nepal

Saying you got to see – let alone climb – Mount Everest is the ultimate humble brag. Hop on the extreme-hiking bandwagon that’ll lead you 29, 029 feet in the air – high enough to hug an airplane. This natural wonder should be on your bucket list!

Natural Wonder: Keukenhof Gardens, Holland

Imagine the scent of seven million tulips filling your nostrils. If you’ve settled for a bouquet on Valentine’s Day in the past, have your partner step it up a notch by taking you to this park during April and May, its peak floral season.

Natural Wonder: Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil

Its legend of this natural wonder is almost as intense as the view itself: A god intended to marry a beautiful woman named Naipi and after she fled with her mortal lover, the god sliced the river in half, creating a waterfall into which the lovers fell to their demise.

Visit Zion National Park in Utah

Incredibly diverse in its landscape and the wildlife this wonder houses (think 19 species of bats and 32 varieties of reptiles), this jaw-dropping park is surrounded by kilometres of golden red Navajo Sandstone.

Explore: The Great Wall of China

While man-made to protect the Chinese Empire, the hills, lakes and grasslands surrounding this 8,852 kilometre-long and 2,000-year-old natural wonder makes this a trek that comes with plenty of scenic perks.

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