The lifetime of any seasoned traveler will consist of stumbling across at least one out-of-this-world landscape. Some people (like me) even specifically plan trips to destinations solely because of the surreal landscapes. My first otherworldly trip was Iceland. I had to see the snowy but steaming geothermal pools, moss-covered lava fields, waterfalls crisscrossed with rainbows, giant pieces of glacier on black sand beaches, and dancing northern lights. But there are so many places in the world that just don’t seem real!
I’m starting a bucket list of amazing, surreal landscapes. Some are easy to travel to, some are a little more difficult. But what good is a bucket list that’s super easy? Join me on an adventure!
13. Iceland
Even though I’ve already been to this extraterrestrial country multiple times, there are still so many things I haven’t seen. Like the popular swirly mountain Mt. Kirkjufell, Myvatn National Park (where Jon and Ygritte’s cave scene in Game of Thrones was filmed), and Dettifoss and Godafoss waterfalls (because you can never see too many waterfalls, and Godafoss literally means God’s Waterfall).
What I can recommend from my four trips to Iceland are:
- Bathing in the incredible Blue Lagoon
- Hiking to the Seljavallalaug natural hot spring pool deep in the mountains
- Seeing if someone can catch you jumping at the same time the geyser Strokkur goes off
- Going inside a glacier to see a crystal ice cave
- Walking behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall (in summer only)
- Finding the secret Gljufrafoss waterfall next to Seljalandsfoss
- Climbing on a glacier during the midnight sun
- Holding pieces of ice that look like gigantic crystals on the black sand Diamond Beach
- Taking a zodiac boat ride through Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon
- Hiking the Fjadrargljufur canyon, where Justin Bieber shot a music video
- Taking the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar island to see the puffins and play a round of golf (watch for whales on the way!)
Hold on, going over to Google Flights to book my fifth trip back to Iceland now… (but for real though)
12. Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Bright, vivid colors match almost all the colors of the rainbow in Grand Prismatic Spring, third largest hot spring in the world (sorry, Iceland). The blues, yellows, oranges, reds, and greens of the spring just looks super out of place. The changing colors of the mineral rich water are from different ratios of chlorophyll to carotenoids. This spring would be my main reason for visiting, but there are so many other things to see in Yellowstone National Park while you’re here!
11. Terraced Rice Fields of Vietnam
Vietnam’s rice fields are plastered all over the internet for being unique and impressive stepped slopes. The terraces range almost totally from the top of a mountain to the bottom! These green and fertile fields are man-made by local people, making them that much more impressive. I imagine you’d need a drone or a high position to really capture the magnitude, but I’m in!
10. Trolltunga in Norway
Trolltunga translates to “troll’s tongue” and this huge rocky troll tongue looks out over the Norwegian fjords! This one has been on my list for some time, and I’ve already done my research. It’s hard to plan and harder to get to. Trolltunga is in northern Norway, which is already a northern country. Snow, ice, and cold weather make this 12-hour hike a treacherous one in the wrong conditions. Plus you’re climbing up the whole way there, over 2500 feet (800 meters). But that incredible picture you get when you get there makes it oh so worth it.
9. Tsingy de Bemaraha in Madagascar
This is a relatively new one added to my list of surreal landscapes I must visit in my lifetime. First off, I love the cartoon Madascar. But now that I know this strange geological formation exists. The rocky mountains look like a stone forest of limestone needles. I don’t know how else to describe how unique this landscape is! Definitely foreign to earth.
8. Salt Flats of Bolivia
What is a salt flat? I had to google it to see what this surreal landscape actually was. It’s a flat expanse of salt-covered land (among other minerals) that shines white under the sun. It could have been formed from a lake or other water pool that dried up. Oh, the mystery!
The Uyuni salt flat is the largest salt flat in the world, a relic of Lake Minchin which dried up 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. In the middle of the stark white salt flat are black volcanoes, creating an intense contrast. You’ll also find giant cacti, reaching up to over 30 feet (10 meters), and breeds of flamingos across the flats.
7. Pink Lake Helier in Australia
Okay, I’ve seen the pink beaches of Bermuda and left slightly disappointed that most of the surreal landscape there was photoshopped (and I admit I edited my own photos to make people jealous of the pink sand there). But a pink lake? I don’t know if you can fake that! I guess it helps that the blue ocean nearby contrasts well to really show off that bubble gum color.
Let’s get a little scientific to understand this surreal landscape. Lake Helier has this unique color due to the micro-algae especially found in sea salt fields. To survive in highly saline conditions, these organisms have high concentrations of beta-carotene to protect against intense light. Beta-carotene is a strongly colored red-orange pigment commonly found in fungi, plants, and fruits. Hence, a pink lake. And unlike other pink lakes, the color is permanent and doesn’t change if you bottle it.
6. “Door to Hell” in Turkmenistan
Okay, that’s not actually it’s name, but it’s a pretty good nickname when you see what it looks like! The Darvaza Crater is a natural gas field that collapsed into an underground cavern in Derweze, Turkmenistan. To prevent the spread of poisonous methane gas, geologists intentionally set the gas crater on fire. It’s thought to have been burning ever since 1971! The crater is the size of an American football field and 65 feet deep. Best to go at night so you can really get a sense of a portal to hell opening up. What to watch on the plane ride to Turkmenistan? Lucifer!
5. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China
Ever wanted to visit a real life Pandora (from Avatar)? Zhangjiajie is the spot! The giant, pillar-like mountains almost look as if they’re floating, and instead of snow covering the tops, moist air keeps the foliage dense. It really can’t get any prettier or more surreal!
4. Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
Beware of Guinness-drinking giants traveling on cobblestone roads! Actually, Giant’s Causeway just makes you feel small and gives you an ant’s-eye view of what cobblestones might look like if you were teeny tiny. This surreal landscape is made up of 40,000 polygonal basalt columns layered to look like a causeway. They are the result of a volcanic eruption 50-60 million years ago. Some of the columns reach up to almost 40 feet (12 meters)! Read up on your giants lore before visiting.
3. Rainbow Mountains of Peru
Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain is the actual name of this surreal landscape. Also called the Montana de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors) or Montana de Colores (Mountain of Colors) in case you need to ask directions when you get to Peru. Like Travel and Leisure says, going here is like flying up over the rainbow and going to the colorful land of Oz! Check out tips in the link for getting the best unedited pictures.
2. Arizona
Maybe the most accessible surreal landscape on my list (and maybe the first one I’ll get to) is the popular Antelope Canyon in Arizona, USA. It’s on Navajo land and requires a Navajo guide to visit, but the guides know the best angles to get the beautiful, surreal pictures. The unusual wavy rock formations were formed by flash-flooding and sand carried through the pathways and causing erosion, especially during monsoon season. Flooding still occurs, so plan to visit in the dry season.
Monument Valley is another alien-looking landscape in the middle of all Arizona’s desert. It looks like alien’s decided to drop their houses in rock into the red emptiness. Lots of Western movies were filmed here. I also really want that picture that’s so popular on Instagram of someone standing in the lonely straight road leading up to the steeply sloped buttes.
Devil’s Bridge in Sedona is a quick two-mile hike with a large natural sandstone arch. It looks like it should be a remote and difficult-to-get-to land formation, but it’s actually one of the easier places to find. If anyone wants to join me here, I’ll need a photo of me on the arch from a ways away…
The Painted Desert is another colorful Arizonan desert similar to the Rainbow Mountains in Peru. This surreal landscape just looks like another planet, and I can imagine unusual creature lurking in the crevices. This spot would be great with the right alien-looking outfit!
And Horseshoe Bend in the Grand Canyon. Enough said.
1. Oregon
Yup, Oregon wins for most must-see places in one area. Oregon is home to many natural and surreal landscapes!
The first one is the remote Alvord Desert. Stretching 12 miles (19 km) by 7 miles (11 km), Alvord Playa is a dry lake bed formed by silt runoff from the Steens Mountains in the northwest. Regional geothermal activity created various hot springs in this area, which is another draw for tourists.
Lava fields, lakes, mountains peaks, underground caves, and other interesting geological features mark the surreal landscape of Newberry National Volcanic Monument in central Oregon. In one part of the volcanic area, lava has molded around trees that have since burned away to create an eerily cool forest of lava tree molds!
About 7,700 years ago, a volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself forming Crater Lake. There are no inlets, runoffs, or other water sources; all the water in the lake comes directly from rain or snow. This makes it one of the clearest and cleanest lakes in the world! Great for reflective pictures on a partly cloudy day.
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon in the Columbia River through the Cascade Mountain Range. Massive lava flows, icy floods, and hydroelectric dams have created beautiful waterfalls from basalt cliffs. Don’t worry, it’s tame and under control now, ready for those cameras.
Mount Hood is a dormant volcano. It’s a huge snow-capped mountain towering over a beautiful green national park. Find a nice pool or hot spring in the park for some great reflection shots that have more of an Icelandic feel than an American feel!
Have you been to any of these places? Does your bucket list of surreal landscapes look anything like mine? Did I miss anywhere awesome that you know of that I can add to my list? Please share it with me in the comments!
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P.S. You might also enjoy 8 Most Unique and Beautiful Beaches or 23 Places in the World From a Birds-Eye View