Discover Top 6 The Best Landscape Place In The World
Welcome to our guide on some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders and landscapes around the world! As you read through our list of incredible places, you’ll see majestic mountains, stunning coastlines, vibrant coral reefs and more. We cover the must-see landscapes spanning from Patagonia to Tanzania that should be at the top of any travel bucket list. Keep reading as we count down the top 6 best landscapes on the planet and point out key sights, geography, activities and the best times of year to visit each destination.
What Makes the World’s Best Landscapes So Special
But first, what exactly makes a landscape exceptional? There’s no single formula or criteria, but the most beautiful natural places often have some combination of striking geology, vibrant ecosystems, cultural heritage and/or spectacular light or weather events. Diverse, unique landscapes allow visitors opportunities to connect with nature through hiking, camping, sightseeing and outdoor recreation.
The world’s most breathtaking landscapes feature sites like:
- Grand canyons carved out by ancient rivers
- Coastlines with white sand beaches, hidden coves or towering sea cliffs
- Lush rainforests filled with exotic plants and wildlife
- The planet’s highest mountain peaks
- Powerful waterfalls cascading over high bluffs
- Striking and colorful rock formations created over millions of years
- Diverse ecosystems from coral reefs to glaciers
Many also have tremendously beautiful areas that change with the seasons, sunlight or weather. It’s this wonderful variety that makes exploring Earth’s landscapes such an incredible experience.
Now let’s discover the top 6 most beautiful landscapes around the world.
Ranking Methodology for the World’s Best Landscapes
Choosing the planet’s definitively best landscapes is undoubtedly highly subjective. However to create our list, we used a combination of:
- Reviews data from travelers and publications
- Sight popularity on top travel guides and lists
- Uniqueness of landscape and geographic features
- Biodiversity and ecosystems present
- Weather, seasonality and light conditions
We also aimed to highlight one breathtaking landscape destination from each of the six inhabited continents. While nowhere close to exhaustive, the top 6 represent diverse natural beauty spanning one end of the world to the other.
| Rank | Landscape Destination | Location | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona, USA | Vast canyon, layered rock formations, Colorado River |
| 2 | Great Barrier Reef | Queensland, Australia | World’s largest coral reef system, marine biodiversity |
| 3 | Patagonia | Chile and Argentina | Glaciers, turquoise lakes, Fitz Roy Mountain Range |
| 4 | Cliffs of Moher | County Clare, Ireland | Dramatic Atlantic cliffs, basalt and shale steps |
| 5 | Serengeti | Tanzania, Africa | Vast grassland savanna ecosystem, diverse African wildlife |
| 6 | Mount Everest | Nepal/Tibet | Planet’s highest peak, views of the Himalayas |
Now let’s look in-depth at what makes each incredible landscape destination so magical.
1. Grand Canyon National Park, United States
Surely one of America and the planet’s best known landscapes, it’s still near impossible not be awestruck seeing Grand Canyon National Park in northwest Arizona. This UNESCO World Heritage Site earned its crown as the granddaddy of canyons, spanning 277 miles wide and 18 miles across at its widest point. The Colorado River has carved out layers upon layers of rock stretching back nearly 2 billion years!
With views this spectacular, it’s no wonder Grand Canyon National Park counts over 6 million visitors every year. The landscape features sheer cliffs, pine forests, mesas, millions of years of exposed geology and the mighty Colorado River slicing right through its center. The park has countless overlooks, but for the most dramatic views, head to sites along the South Rim like Grand View Point, Hopi Point or Mather Point at sunrise or sunset when shadows accentuate the canyon’s ridges and depth.
Grand Canyon Northwest offers some of the best white water rafting in the U.S. Vacationers can also hike down one of the many trails leading right inside the canyon for a more up close perspective. The stunning striated bands of color showcase over 3.7 billion years of geological history! Summer is peak visitor season, while winter offers far fewer crowds along with dustings of snow accentuating the colorful vistas.
2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Spanning over 1,400 miles off Australia’s Queensland coastline, the Great Barrier Reef is hands down the planet’s largest coral reef system. This vibrant underwater world counts over 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands! As the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms, this natural wonder rightfully earned World Heritage status.
| Great Barrier Reef Facts | |
|---|---|
| Total area | 133,000 sq miles |
| Number of coral species | 400 |
| Number of clownfish species | 14 |
| Number of mollusk species | 5,000 |
| First protection | 1975 |
| Recent coral loss | 50% between 1985 – 2012 |
The Great Barrier Reef dazzles with its rainbow colors, bizarre sea creatures and exceptionally biodiverse marine ecosystems. The warm tropical waters support delicate coral structures, sea turtles, rays, dolphins, whales and much more. Many travelers choose Cairns as their gateway to the reef, with boats departing daily for snorkeling excursions. Popular spots include Flynn, Hardy and Fitzroy Reefs or further out to stunning Lizard Island fringed with white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
While recent bleaching damage poses conservation worries, responsible tourism helps support this natural wonder. Visibility peaks during Australia’s dry season between June and November.
3. Patagonia, South America
Forming a vast natural area split across Chile and Argentina, Patagonia’s landscapes look like the edge of the world. Situated between the towering Andes peaks and frigid southern Atlantic Ocean, adventures through Patagonia treat visitors to alpine lakes, massive glaciers and even penguins! The Andes show off volcanic black sand beaches along the coastline, while bright blue cracked glaciers like Perito Moreno captivate sightseers with loud cracking as they slowly creep across Lake Argentino.
Inland, famed Torres del Paine National Park serves up soaring mountain vistas and golden pampas grasslands where wild guanacos roam. The park’s epic 12-day circuit hike crosses below the three striking granite pillars called Los Torres del Paine. Meanwhile, grey glaciers like Grey and Pingo cascade down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field that covers over 4200 square miles.
Patagonia’s wild and magical landscape provides the perfect backdrop for trekking, camping, kayaking, climbing and scouting for exotic wildlife in one of Earth’s least populated areas. The region sees peak tourism during South America’s summer from December to February.
4. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Along Ireland’s wild western shores, the iconic Cliffs of Moher soar 700 feet above the mighty Atlantic Ocean. This dramatically beautiful landscape spans over a 5 mile stretch within Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. Heading to the south, the rugged cliffs tower over scalloped inlets and isolated sea stacks. Then near Hag’s Head, the basalt columns transition to shale and sandstone layer steps creating a striking contrast.
Up top, O’Brien’s Tower marks gorgeous viewing points over the sea cliffs and Aran Islands dotted along the glittering coastline. Head this way early to catch golden hour illuminating the stratified cliff faces as well as playful dolphins or soaring seabirds down below. The north end near Doolin village treats visitors to panoramic cliff-top plateau views plus trail access down to sea caves and tidal beaches perfect for fossil hunting.
While Ireland sees rain year-round, spring and summer tend to be best for cliff views and exploring the excellent walking paths following along the headlands.
5. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
In the east African country of Tanzania, Serengeti National Park serves up the world’s most iconic safari landscape. The park protects a massive tract of open rolling grassland plains where over a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra and all of Africa’s big predators roam in search of food, water and mates. This annual Great Migration crossing into Kenya sees predators chasing after wildebeest herds as one of planet’s last great animal movements.
Aside from wildebeest and zebra, visitors may also encounter giraffe, elephants, hippos, impala, and over 500 species of birds. Safari goers can take part in traditional game drives, seeing how many members of the “Big 5” they can spot. These include lions snoozing under acacias, enormous African elephants, endangered black rhinos, unpredictable Cape buffalo and stealthy leopards up in sausage trees. Also explore hot air balloon rides for a bird’s eye perspective on the magnificent Serengeti scenery brimming with wildlife.
Peak visitor season aligns with the annual migration spanning from July through October. However the park offers excellent game viewing year-round whether wet or dry. The western corridor near Grumeti River sees massive herds, while the south offers more secluded landscape beauty and wildlife sightings.
6. Mount Everest, Nepal/Tibet
And finally what list of world’s most spectacular landscapes could leave out planet Earth’s tallest point? At 29,029 feet in elevation, Mount Everest makes its towering presence well known rising high above the Himalayas along the border Nepal shares with Tibet. This awe-inspiring massif holds significant allure and challenge for globetrotters as over 1000 people annually attempt ascending Everest’s peak during April and May’s calmer weather window.
Aside from boasting the world’s highest elevation, Everest also offers tremendously beautiful vistas on the iconic mountain landscapes. The 360-degree panoramas include neighboring peaks like Lhotse, Nuptse and Pumori amidst deep valleys carved out by glaciers and rivers overtime. Trekkers to Everest Base Camp at over 17,500 feet encounter dramatic Khumbu icefalls and sweeping views showcasing vibrant prayer flags. Visitors spend days hiking past Tibetan monasteries, Imagse Tsho glacial lake, gorak shep and ultimately Mount Everest itself.
Seeing the legendary mountain in person truly demonstrates the raw power our planet’s geography holds. Those seeking the ultimate challenge can follow mountaineers’ footsteps, braving thin air and bitter conditions for a chance at summit glory!
While this list could have easily included 50 more naturally beautiful landscapes, hopefully it inspires you to experience some of planet Earth’s wonders first-hand. Nature’s incredible geology, forces and living ecosystems shape such incredibly varied beauty across the world. Which of these stunning landscape destinations tops your must-visit travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions: Discover Top 6 The Best Landscape Place In The World
What are some characteristics of the world’s most beautiful landscapes?
Some signature features include majestic mountains, stunning coastlines, canyons, waterfalls, glaciers, vibrant coral reefs, unusual rock formations, diverse plants and wildlife and fantastic light conditions.
What was the criteria used to determine the top 6 landscapes?
We looked at sight popularity on travel guides, reviews data, geographic diversity, uniqueness, variety of ecosystems and biodiversity present at candidates across all continents.
Where are the best landscape locations in the United States?
Aside from Grand Canyon National Park, top beautiful landscapes in the U.S. include Yellowstone, Yosemite Valley, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Arches National Park and Denali, home to North America’s highest peak.
What activities allow visitors to best experience these landscapes?
Hiking, camping, boating tours, snorkeling, diving, mountaineering, photography, safaris, sightseeing, backpacking and helicopter tours help visitors most fully experience natural wonders by getting immersed right within the landscapes.
What are some easy ways to protect natural landscapes?
When visiting any landscape, follow Leave No Trace principles by staying on marked trails, carrying out all trash and waste, obeying rules and avoiding wildlife disturbances. Also support eco-tourism operators to ensure your travel footprint sustains the landscapes for future generations.