The 7 Most Beautiful Places on Earth

Need a little inspiration for your next holiday, either genuine or pictured? TravelHW’s editors have crisscrossed the planet, going to dozens of nations on every continent– and these are the areas they’ve declared the most stunning places in the world.

The Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

“Antarctica feels otherworldly. It’s without human life, with an almost spooky emptiness in locations– no manmade buildings, no power lines, no aircrafts flying overhead, and no lights. At the same time, it bursts with natural life, from penguins requiring their mates in a cacophony of noises to fur seals prowling listed below the surface area waiting to catch their next meal. All that versus a backdrop of towering mountains, brilliantly blue glaciers, and an unpolluted sky– I have actually yet to discover anywhere else in the world that can compare.”

Granada, Spain

“Like all the towns in Andalucia, Granada is something unique. The architecture, the food, and individuals all produce a remarkable trip. However the genuine gem in Granada is the Alhambra. Climb up the high, skinny streets of the Albayzin area to the Mirador de San Nicolás and enjoy the sun set over the Alhambra. It’s been (precisely) called ‘the most lovely sunset on the planet’ and is one of those wonderful experiences that will stay with you forever.”

South Island, New Zealand

“My then-partner (now husband) and I were lowered practically to speechlessness during a roadway trip around New Zealand’s spectacular South Island. ‘Wow,’ I stated as we rounded a curve and a crystalline lake expanded before us. ‘Wow,’ he echoed a few minutes later as the late-day sun cast a rosy radiance throughout hulking mountains capped with snow. Glaciers, fjords, beaches– the South Island has everything, and it’s all spectacular.”

Krka National Park, Croatia

“Krka National forest was supposed to be a little pit stop on my guided journey to Split, but it ended up being the emphasize of the week. Rivers and streams crisscross the ground underneath you as you navigate the forest on raised wooden pathways. The whole journey has a deep stillness to it, with only your own footsteps and the sounds of water and bird contacts us to disrupt. Finally, at the end of the walk, you’re greeted by a picnic ground surrounded by tiers of gorgeous waterfalls. The views were sensational and, en route out, I got to visit a family of wild kitties– so it was probably the best day ever.”

Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada

“The Great Bear Jungle in British Columbia haunts my dreams in the very best possible way. I only invested 2 days there, however even that brief quantity of time earns it an area at the top of my list. This photo was taken after a brief flight from Vancouver Island to the small wilderness lodge of Nimmo Bay. It was an intoxicating blur of dense temperate rain forest walkings, paddling bays so still that my kayak seemed to skim above the clouds, and rushing waterfalls that breathed out the jungle into the sea.”

Haputale Tea Country, Sri Lanka

“The most beautiful places are constantly the ones that photos undoubtedly can’t do justice. And for me, that paradox always evokes Sri Lankan tea country. I took a rickety train ride to Haputale in monsoon-season rains, snaking through verdant slopes and misty canyons made more dream-like by the drizzle. As if the postcard-esque viaducts and Nine Arch Bridge along the way weren’t enough, conference Haputale’s local tea pickers in a cloud forest precariously perched at 7,000 feet above water level certainly was. From the foothills of Agarapatana Plantation I was gobsmacked by the views, which only grew more dream-like as we rose to the peak to take pleasure in numerous fresh cups of tea, served with roti and sweets, ignoring the cloud cover that would occasionally break to expose miles of rolling plant below. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to strolling into the pages of a Dr. Seuss book and staying a while.”

Tayrona National Forest, Colombia

“Much of the world’s most stunning locations come with crowds of tourists and lines that you need to wait in; it’s uncommon to find that true sense of pristine appeal. And when you do, it’s frequently far, far from the beaten course. However you’ll normally discover that it’s the search that makes the final location worth it, and that’s exactly the case with Tayrona National Park in Colombia. A trip here makes you seem like you’re on your own journey of younger exploration in Lord of the Flies. Hours from the lively city of Cartagena sit miles and miles of shoreline where the Sierra Nevada foothills kiss the Caribbean coast. Find relaxation in the secluded coves and lagoons, or trek in the jungle to ancient Taryonan ruins. To get here, discover the beach city of Santa Marta and after that make your method via bus to the forest. There are lots of covert retreats and treehouses to stay at, where inviting hammocks swing in the wind waiting for you. There’s nothing quite like following a winding course in the rain forest that suddenly ends with golden sand and open ocean.”