The uncertainty of this pandemic has hit too close to home. But, it never hurts to dream a little, right? I know some of you must be day dreaming about the quaint villages of the Greek islands of Santorini, while some must be visualising the enchanting Great Barrier coral cays & sparkling white beaches. Some of you adventure enthusiasts must be dreaming of touring the Antelope Canyon and the one’s who are a little daring, must be imagining of climbing the striking and majestic African peaks.
Oh, and I am craving to witness the hot springs & stacks of white travertine of Pamukkale and sometimes I am also day dreaming of hopping in the balloon to experience the lunar landscape & honeycombed hills of Cappadocia!
Not just that, below are some of the most enchanting destinations that are on the top in my bucket list. I would cover each and every spot asap (before the next pandemic hits) and yes I would not wait for an entire lifetime to do so! Tell me which ones you wish to cover post covid.
1] Amalfi Coast, Italy
Stare endlessly at the glistening Mediterranean Waters of Amalfi & the dramatic jagged cliffs with a bowl full of perfectly cooked pasta!
2] Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan
Stand in the midst of this sprawling bamboo grove –one of the most photographed sights in Japan which is unlike any other normal forest we know.
3] Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Witness some of the rarest wildlife along with soaring mountains, bottomless lakes, cold blue icebergs, spectacular geological formations, blue rivers, scenic fjords, ancient forests and endless golden pampas full of wild flowers. Phew! Isn’t that enough?
4] Antarctica
Stare at the stunningly diverse landscape which is full of surreal blue glaciers, active volcanoes, rough waterways with the majestic 360-degree views of untouched snow. Cherry on the cake if you can spot an emperor penguin or a humpback whale!
5] City of Fairbanks, Alaska
Gaze at the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis in full glory in the city of Fairbanks, above the Arctic Circle. You can also head to the remote northern villages of Coldfoot in the Yukon Territory, or Prudhoe Bay and Barrow in the extreme north.
6] Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Experience the giant moths, the bug-eyed lemurs and witness places like the surreal Avenue of the 100 ft tall, centuries old Baobabs. It is undoubtedly the greatest adventure you haven’t had yet!
7] Banff National Park, Canada
Get ready to be overwhelmed with views of the majestic Canadian Rockies, abundance of pristine blue lakes with regular cast of wildlife.
8] Disko Bay, Greenland
Visit the icy and mysterious Disko Bay, which perfectly illustrates the untouched allure of the island with its palatial icebergs, charming coastal settlements and common sightings of breaching humpback whales.
9] Faroe Islands
Along with a group of 18 volcanic islands, grass- roofed houses & rocky coastlines, the sublime water cascades falling over the rocky cliffs of Vagar Island to the ocean below, with the green hills of Gásadalur village as a backdrop, Faroe is simply a fantastic photo op not to be missed by any chance!
10] Denali National Park, Alaska
Take a road trip with your buddies and brave the extreme low temperatures to witness 6 million acres of shimmering lakes and jagged mountains.
11] Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Witness the blooming- white, purple, pink and vibrant blue Lupin flowers juxtaposed against the backdrop of blue waters to create one of the country's most stunning vistas on nation’s South Island at Lake Tekapo.
12] Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Click the reddest sunset and the blood red waters of the salt lake in the shadow of the Andes. December to April is the best time to spot pink flamingos chilling in the lake brimming with red water.
13] Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Walk along the 16 terraced lakes around Croatia's most photogenic walking trail, connected by waterfalls that vary in shades of deep blue, turquoise and emerald green.
14] Provence, France
Witness the prettiest and the-best-smelling endless stretches of unreal violet and lavender fields in their full glory in Provence. Not just that, visit the distilleries where the essential oils from the flowers are being bottled.
15] Trolltunga, Norway
Get your once-in-a-lifetime profile picture on the rock's edge or if you can’t gather the courage, find another photo op - simply capture the gorgeous fjord from the surrounding mountain area.
16] Zakynthos, Greece
Zakynthos is far less crowded than sister islands Mykonos and Santorini, & has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Greek Isles. Oh, and don’t forget to spot the abandoned freighter that rests in the white sand of Navagio, which is sheltered by cliffs and is only accessible by boat.
17] St. Lucia, Caribbean Island
Get seduced by the ancient plantations and secluded beaches of the southern city of Soufrière. Visit some of the most luxurious hotels of the Caribbean islands with postcard-perfect views of the breathtaking and majestic Pitons.
18] Bagan, Myanmar
Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise when the mist is still hovering above the surrounding forests and witness the largest concentration of Buddhist temples and pagodas of Bagan. (2200 structures! Can you believe it?)
19] Milford Sound, New Zealand
Check out this mountainous fiord that opens up into the Tasman Sea, shadowed by sheer rock faces containing countless tiny waterfalls. This Eighth Wonder of the World is blessed with some of the world’s most staggeringly beautiful landscapes.
20] Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Ogle at the majestic Iguazu Falls of Argentina, surrounded by over 2000 species of plants comprising more than 275 falls, out of which the most scenic one has 14 falls!
21] Blue Ridge Mountains, USA
Witness the grandeur of the Great Blue Appalachian Valley by taking the 469 mile long scenic highway known as the Blue Ridge Parkway which runs along the ridge and connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to The Shenandoah National Park.
