The World’s 50 Most Beautiful Places of 2022 According to Travel Experts
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in this case, travel experts. While it almost seems impossible to pinpoint all of Mother Nature’s most beautiful offerings, these travel experts have picked their top 50, most beautiful destinations in the world.
1. Antelope Canyon, Arizona – “The place where water runs through the rocks.”
2. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan – Towering green stalks extending even beyond the visual realm.
3. Atacama Desert, Chile – The Atacama Desert is an alluring world of sand and rock. It possesses geologic formations and a landscape similar to a celestial body.
4. Angel Falls, Venezuela – Angel Falls is the world’s highest waterfall, with falls stretching 19 times higher than Niagara Falls.
5. Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar – The Avenue of Baobabs are trees that stretch 30 meters high and are approximately 2,800 years old.
6. Antarctica – Antarctica is an uninhabited, ice-covered landmass.
7. Banff National Park, Alberta – Canada’s oldest national park, accompanying kilometres of mountainous terrain.
8. Big Sur, California – Big Sur is the longest scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline.
9. Bagan, Myanmar – Thousands of stupas, pagodas, and temples dominate the Archaeological Zone of Myanmar.
10. Boracay, Philippines – A small resort island, Boracay’s White Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
11. Boulders Beach, South Africa – Boulders Beach is a home for African Penguins that features white sand and large granite boulders.
12. Cozumel, Mexico – Cozumel is a sought-after paradise in the Caribbean Ocean. The sea provides shades of turquoise blue, offering sea life of every size and color, while the island holds ancient Mayan ruins.
13. Cappadocia, Turkey – Cappadocia is known for its enchanting cave dwellings. Carving homes into rock faces is dominant throughout central Turkey.
14. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon – Crater Lake is the cleanest and clearest body of water in Oregon; it is known for its purity and lively blue color.
15. Cirque de Gavarnie, France – A green valley enclosed by a ring of sheer granite mountain walls.
16. Dal Lake, India – An urban lake called the “Lake of Flowers.”
17. Death Valley, California – The hottest place on earth. Death Valley is a vast area of extremes ranging from wildflower meadows to scorching sands and snowy peaks.
18. El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – El Arco is a geological formation of natural rock.
19. Fernando de Noronha – Fernando de Noronha is a unique ecological sanctuary with a toothed coastline.
20. Grand Canyon, Arizona – With countless layers of colorful rock and mesmerizing vistas, this geological phenomenon is called the Grand Canyon.
21. Grand Canal, Venice – The grandest waterway features a canal running straight through the center of the “Floating City.”
22. Glencoe, Scotland – Famous for its astonishingly scenic glens.
23. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam – A place home to jungle-covered karsts, emerging out of emerald, green water.
24. Iguazu Falls, Argentina, and Brazil – Iguazu Falls comprise 275 cascades on the Argentina-Brazil border, forming the world’s largest waterfall.
25. Jodhpur, India – Jodhpur is the “Blue City.” Most of the city’s architecture is built in vivid shades of blue.
26. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania – The highest mountain in Africa.
27. Lake Como, Italy – Como is the most profound lake in Italy.
28. Li River, China – The karst hills: surrounding the river are the oldest and most beautiful phenomena in China.
29. Lake Eyre, Australia – Eyre is one of the world’s largest salt lakes, with its location at the lowest point in Australia.
30. Lake Baikal, Russia – A massive, ancient lake circled by a network of hiking paths called The Great Baikal Trail. It is the deepest lake in the world.
31. Lake Tekapo, New Zealand – Lake Tekapo is known for its beautiful watercolor.
32. Mount Fuji, Japan – The tallest peak in Japan, Fuji-sun, is a sacred mountain and symbol.
33. Milford Sound, New Zealand – Milford Sound is a place where plunging cliffs meet dark inky waters.
34. Matira Beach, French Polynesia – Matira is a beach in Bora Bora, with miles of white flour-fine sand and a bright blue lagoon.
35. Maasai Mara, Kenya – Maasai Mara is an area of preserved savannah wilderness; it is a golden grassland with acacia trees.
36. Norman’s Cay, The Bahamas – Norman’s Cay is an exclusive island only accessible via private jet. Rent a private jet to see it.
37. Pamukkale, Turkey – Pamukkale is the “Cotton Castle,” featuring layers of white travertine terraces of icy-blue pools.
38. Provence, France – Provence is a purple landscape in summer, where endless fields of lavender bloom.
39. Svalbard, Norway – Svalbard is the Arctic archipelago where the Northern Lights become visible.
40. Socotra, Yemen – Socotra is an island with surreal landscapes and Dragon Blood trees.
41. Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia – Salar De Uyuni is the world’s most monumental salt flat covering miles of the Bolivian altiplano.
42. Shark Bay, Western Australia – The place where the teal waters of the Indian ocean meet the red earth. It is home to the biggest and copious meadows of seagrass.
43. Taormina, Sicily – Famous for its beauty in archaeology and architecture.
44. The Alps – The most extensive mountain range in Europe, stretching over eight countries.
45. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia – The world’s largest coral reef extending over 14 degrees of latitude.
46. The Azores, Portugal – Nine volcanic islands, showing nature in its purest state.
47. Ubud, Bali – Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali and a center for traditional crafts and dance.
48. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and Zambia – Victoria Falls is known by the locals as the “smoke that thunders.”
49. Wadi Rum, Jordan – Wadi Rum is a dessert that features natural arches and dramatic sandstone mountains.
50. Wulingyuan Scenic Area, China – In China exists the rarest forest of sandstone pillar formations on the planet. Mother Nature truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Written by Stingray Villa – the newest Airbnb in Cozumel Mexico.