‘Surreal’ would be the perfect word to describe our lives over the last two years. The Covid-19 virus has hit mankind like a horror movie. Travel bans have brought the hospitality industry to a near standstill. But on the brighter side, things aren’t as bad as they were a year back. Millions of people are getting vaccinated every day and eager to travel more than they have ever been. If you can’t wait to pack your bags and get on the plane anymore, here are the ten most beautiful and less explored places in the world to travel.
Machu Picchu, Peru
If you haven’t been here, it should be top of your bucket list. A World Heritage Site and the most famous place to visit in South America, this place can take you back in history. The 15th-century Inca citadel was built at the peak of Inca civilization. The dry-stone walls are one of the finest examples of medieval architecture. It is ranked among the New Seven Wonders of the World.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Destinations to Visit after this Lockdown
Mù Cang Chải, Vietnam
Are you the one who likes taking the roads less traveled? Wish to experience a landscape that hasn’t been butchered by concrete and modernity? Head out to Mù Cang Chải in the rural district of Yên Bái Province, Northwest Vietnam. The towering rice terraces that encircle the villages along the Red River are a treat to your eyes. Terrace farming has been practiced here for centuries to make the best use of water. Meet the people, understand their culture, and create memories for a lifetime.
Dubai, UAE
Modernity isn’t necessarily a bad thing and if you are looking to experience the best of it head out to Dubai. Home to the busiest airport in the world, you might just touchdown here to catch your connecting flight to other destinations on our list. From a small port in the Persian Gulf in the middle of the 20th century, it is a buzzing metropolis and one of the most visited shopping destinations in the world. Tallest buildings in the world, amusement parks, artificial private islands, and the most expensive real estate, Dubai is a museum of several modern marvels.
Tamil Nadu, India
Yes, we are mentioning India and we aren’t talking about Rajasthan or the Taj Mahal! Everyone in your family including your estranged uncle has been there! Down south, India’s state of Tamil Nadu is one of the less explored places among foreign tourists. The land of tanks and temples, this region gives you a glimpse of history through two millennia. Ranganathaswamy Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Rameswaram, Mahabalipuram, and the list is endless.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Where do you find the largest Hindu temple complex in the world? The answer isn’t India but Northwest Cambodia. The largest temple complex in the world covering more than 400 acres, is a melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and culture. Originally built around the 12the century, the site was nearly abandoned only to be rediscovered 6 centuries later. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and mesmerizes visitors with its captivating architecture.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Spread over 3,900 square miles, Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world. Located along the crest of the famous and dangerous Andes, this place promises you the wilderness that all of us imagine about South America. Experience sound sleep in a hotel made from salt after a tiring day’s travel and experience the peace of starry night sky in one of the remotest mountain regions of the world. Don’t forget to visit the Incahuasi island located in the center of the Salar and shall remind you of an oasis in the middle of a desert.
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Most people have heard and read about the Blue Lagoon, but few have been there. The famous lagoon gets its blue color from the silica-rich waters feeding it. This water is thought to have healing powers for your skin and people from different corners of the world come here to experience this geothermal magic. These natural spas are unlike anything you have seen or visited in the past. At Blue Lagoon, you get to harmonize with Mother Nature.
The Pamir Highway, Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan
Wish to explore the world sitting behind the wheels? Driving through The Pamir Highway between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would make your trip memorable. One of the highest and unrestricted motorable highways in the world, it treats you with its scenic beauty and wilderness. You can drive miles without coming across another vehicle. It is this remoteness and the snowy mountains around the landscape that make this drive an experience of a lifetime.
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Tropical Africa and its biodiversity has been celebrated for centuries but there is more to this continent than the Carbon Sink that people think it to be. Sossusvlei is famous for having the tallest sand dunes in the world with the tallest standing quarter-mile high. Surrounded by dry salt and white clay these dunes offer the best photoshoot experience throughout the year. And it isn’t just the dunes that make this place famous as you can easily take a wildlife safari or go out on a campaign trail where no roads go.
Bagan, Myanmar
Imagine walking through an ancient city that has not one but thousands of Buddhist monasteries. Yes, there are more than ten thousand temples and pagodas, and Bagan in Myanmar is one of the least explored places among UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to the decades of political instability in the country. These were built between the 11th and 13th centuries and are one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. Go for the hot air balloon rides over the place during the sunset and the view is enchanting.
Which of these places have you heard of before and which are on your bucket list? As St Augustine said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” get ready to travel and explore people and culture.
