2018 is very quickly coming to an end, so that means it’s time to start planning trips for the year ahead. There are types of travel for every different person. Some love city escapes, some like spa getaways and some love outdoor adventures. This post is all about the must-see natural sites for the coming year. I have a very, very long list of favorite natural sites, but these are the 19 that I would put at the top of my must-see list for any nature-lover making plans to travel next year.
MULAFOSSUR – THE FAROE ISLANDS
Mulafossur is probably one of the most photographed/instagrammed spots in all of the Faroe Islands, and for good reason! This striking waterfall, spills from a cliffside into the North Atlantic below. Mountains, and often fog, create a magical backdrop for this waterfall. This is one of the most memorable must-see natural sites we saw this year!
OLD MAN OF STORR – ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
This was absolutely Matt’s favorite must-see natural site in Scotland. The climb up this mountain offers some seriously spectacular views – mountains, coastline and a truly spectacular rock formation. EXPERIENCE THIS: Want to spend a few days seeing the must-sees in the Isle of Skye without planning it yourself? This 3-day Isle of Skye tour gets 4.7/5 stars approval for less than $200.
NA PALI COAST – HAWAII, USA
The Na Pali Coast is the stuff of daydreams. One of the things that makes it so magical is it takes a bit of work to get to it since no roads lead into the Na Pali Coast. You can see from above by helicopter, by sea on a catamaran or kayak or on foot! It is truly one-of-a-kind and it has it all: waterfalls, beaches and mountain-views.
KUANG SI FALLS – NEAR LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
This is one of my very favorite waterfalls. I’ve seen it at the end of dry season and at the very end of rainy season, and I have to say that the end of rainy season is the best. It has rained enough that all the levels of this impressive were full and flowing. However, it hadn’t rained so much that the waters were muddy from runoff. Instead, it was bright, bright turquoise. It’s worth a visit anytime you’re anywhere near Luang Prabang. TAKE A DAY TOUR FROM LUANG PRABANG: Although it isn’t a difficult transfer from Luang Prabang, taking this day tour gives you more time than a tuk-tuk often will, includes a lunch and a visit to the botanical gardens!
THE COUNTLESS NATURAL WONDERS OF ICELAND
When I was trying to figure out which stunning natural site from Iceland to include in this post. However, to put it simply, this country is a cornucopia of natural wonders: glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs, mountains, caves, geysers and more! I mean, seriously, with all those options, how would I possibly choose?
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK – TEXAS, USA
This is one of my very favorite national parks because it combines three things that I love: canyons, desert + mountains to make for one of my favorite must-see natural sites in the US. Desert-scapes are some of my favorites and Big Bend has some phenomenal ones. Plus, there’s even a natural hot spring in the Rio Grande you can sooth your sore muscles in.
BEACHES OF LAGOS – PORTUGAL
I’m not a massive beach-lover, unless there’s something special about it, because that’s not my style of relaxation. However, the the beaches of Lagos are a one of the must-see natural sites because they’re covered with extraordinary sea arches, rock formations, dramatic cliffs and bright blue waters. Plus, seashells for days! KAYAK AMONGST THE SEA CAVES AND SEA ARCHES: This tour allows you to get up close and personal with the many formations of the beaches of Lagos on a 2-hour kayaking tour of these gorgeous beaches.
SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK – WALES
Why do more people not talk about Snowdonia?! We loved our time in Snowdonia. The mountains here are rugged and wild. You can spend days wandering to the different mountain-top lakes and waterfalls.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK – UTAH, USA
Of all the places I’ve already been in Utah, I’m most excited to get back to Bryce Canyon because it’s the one I’ve seen the least of. However, just from a quick day spent there, it’s worthy of the title of one of the must-see natural sites for 2019.
KLAKKUR SUMMIT – THE FAROE ISLANDS
This is actually my favorite hike that we did in all of 2018. Visiting the Faroe Islands is like visiting a Nordic version of Hawaii. Rugged coasts, pure nature and a wild spirit. Hiking to the top of Klakkur gave us some of the most spectacular views of the entire year. We sat up there for over an hour watching clouds roll over the surrounding islands and watching the ocean lap against the edges of the bays.
MEKONG RIVER – BORDER OF THAILAND + LAOS
We took a two-day journey by slow boat from Chiang Kong, Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos just for a unique experience. What we didn’t realize is that it would be a one the top must-see natural sites that we saw in 2017. The mountains surrounding this river valley were unreal. Another reason that this is one of the must-see travel sites for 2019 is that it won’t be possible to visit forever. Dams being built in the coming years will make it impossible for this journey to continue. Definitely do it while you can.
FAIRY GLEN – ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
I wish that photos of this magical landscape could adequately capture this place. Although Matt’s photos are stunning, you just can’t see the scale of this area or the way that it pops up in the middle of nowhere. It’s one of the most amazing natural sites I’ve ever seen.
GREEN SAND BEACH – HAWAII, USA
This is one of my favorite must-see natural sites because it is so rare. There are only four green sand beaches in the world, and one of them is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. This beach is located inside the remains of a collapsed tuff ring. The mineral olivine is what creates this color. It’s s subtle green, but is still worth the 5 mile hike it takes to get to this isolated beach.
THE ANDES ALONG THE INCA TRAIL – PERU
The four-day hike through the Andes along the Inca Trail, is just one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been. You go through multiple ecozones which means different animals and different sites. We saw lakes, snow-covered peaks, mosses, streams and even more. It’s nature like I’ve never seen before. HIKE THE INCA TRAIL: If you wish to do the Inca Trail, taking a tour is a fantastic idea. However, be sure to book in advance. Inca Trail passes sell out quickly!
DURDLE DOOR – ENGLAND
I love rock formations. Natural bridges and arches are my favorites. Durdle Door is a super spectacular sea arch that stole my hear with its gorgeous location. Plus, the fact that it looks like an elephant makes me love it even more.
SPRINGS OF OZARKS NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAY – MISSOURI, USA
In 2017 + 2018 we’ve taken several trips to explore my home state (and the state Matt now calls home). The greatest discovery made one these adventures were absolutely all the springs around the Ozarks National Scenic Riverway. I’ve visited springs before and found the mesmerizing blue waters beautiful, but the concentration of stunning springs all around this area is unreal. There are still a handful that we haven’t visited yet and one of our top must-see natural sites for ourselves in 2019 is visiting springs we’ve yet to see!
TAAL VOLCANO – THE PHILIPPINES
Taal Volcano is the second-most active volcano in all of the Philippines, which makes this quite a spectacle. You have to take a boat into a lake to get to the crater lake that has now formed inside crater of Taal Volcano. To get here we took a boat across Taal Lake, then horse to the top and then walked around the rim of the crater. It’s truly a spectacular site. VISIT THE VOLCANO YOURSELF: This day trip from Manila is a top-seller! You won’t be disappointed by this volcano’s natural beauty!
PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK – CROATIA
This national park is what drew me to visit Croatia and it is stunning. It was different than I was expecting, but part of that is because we were there after some flooding. So part was closed and the water wasn’t as striking blue as expected. However, it was still quite beautiful! The water in the lakes (especially toward the middle) was unreal.
SAPA – VIETNAM
Sapa is one of those “great things happen when men and mountains meet” situations. The natural beauty of the mountains alone are the most beautiful landscape I saw in Vietnam. Then, you add the man-made beauty of the rice terraces to this place and it just blows your mind.
BONUS: THE DANUBE DELTA – ROMANIA
After crossing 7 countries and before flowing into the Black Sea, Europe’s Danube River (2nd largest) forms the Danube Delta, one of the world’s best preserved and rich in wildlife. This UNESCO-protected biosphere is home to over 300 species of birds and an incredible diversity of vegetation, making it an ideal destination for a tour in Romania! Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers are particularly excited about this destination. You need a guide with a boat to see the best spots as otherwise it’s almost impossible to navigate and know where bird flocks nest. The Danube Delta hasn’t been corrupted by mass tourism so prices are affordable and locals still preserve their traditional fisherman way of life. Make sure to taste fish stews and visit Letea Village & Forest!
ARE YOU VISITING ANY OF THESE MUST-SEE NATURAL SITES ARE YOU VISITING IN 2019?
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