Traveling the world reveals many stunning landscapes, but sometimes, you will encounter places that are not only stunning but also seem otherworldly. These are the unreal places in the world, destinations so spectacularly surreal that you will question whether or not you are on planet Earth or if you are dreaming. From reflective salt flats that delete the horizon to forests that look like something out of an alien novel to lake rivers that appear to be colorful paint splatters, these places are unreal.
These are places that are not your average tourist landmarks, since otherworldly destinations provide a sense of wonder that leaves a lasting impression long after you have departed. They stimulate all your senses with landscapes that feel as if frozen in time or imagined by your own mind. These unreal places in the world all have glowing vs dry caves, levitating peat mountains in mist clouds, or terraced shallow pools filled with pure white mineral water, transporting travellers to the limits of unreal places in the world.
In this article, we are going to present you with ten of the most unreal places in the world that all explorers, photographers, or dreamers should see at least once in their life.
1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
At first sight, Salar de Uyuni looks like a never-ending radiant stretch of the whitest salt flats known to humanity and one of the largest of its kind. When it rains, the flats become an immaculate reflection that perfectly mirrors the sky, and the horizon becomes non-existent. I truly mean it when I say that being in Salar de Uyuni is akin to stepping into a different reality. Photographers, thrill-seekers, and nature enthusiasts visit to witness its otherworldly presence.
What makes this one of the most unreal places in the world is the sense of infinity it creates. Standing on the salt flats with reflections blending the sky and the ground into a single image can leave you to wonder if you are imagining the experience. The sunrises bathe the expanse of salt with golden light, and the sunsets produce otherworldly gradients of pink, orange, and purple. Travellers often comment that they feel as if they are walking on clouds; honestly, no picture can portray this unreal experience.
2. Pamukkale, Turkey
Located in southwestern Turkey, Pamukkale is a wonder of nature, and its name, which translates to “Cotton Castle”, is indicative of its one-of-a-kind aesthetic. White-coloured calcium formations cascade down the side of the hillside, resembling frozen waterfalls with turquoise thermal waters filling each one. Immersing oneself in these unique natural pools is relaxing but feels like an entry into a dream world.
Pamukkale is distinguished among unreal places in the world because of its stark white formations, contrasting with colorful water. The contrast between the white and the brightly coloured water and time of day is stunning, especially in bright sunlight, where it shines with a different and surreal, glowing quality. The proximity to ancient ruins, including the ancient city of Hierapolis, adds a sense of history to this combination and uniqueness to this occasion, where we combine nature’s extraordinary work with the work of humankind, giving everyone a sense of wonder.
It’s an exceptional mix of colour and light and history that sticks with you after you leave!
3. Antelope Canyon, USA
Occupying a section of Arizona, Antelope Canyon continuously captures the imagination of visitors, as it is a complex system of narrow sandstone passageways incised and eroded by water over hundreds of years of water flow. During the day these slot canyon walls glow in mixes of red, orange, and purple when sunlight pours through the narrow openings between sections of the sandstone. To behold the saturated flowing and wave-like texture of the rock makes one feel as though the walls of the canyon are made of molten rock and have merely been frozen in time.
This mind-blowing formation is among the unreal places in the world because it feels like it was submitted by extraterrestrial hands. Photographers from near and far flock to the canyon to capture the photo opportunities created by the iconic beams of light that make each frame of the lens feel like a scene from a fantasy movie. Walking through the Antelope Canyon feels like visiting a location of living art.
4. Socotra Island, Yemen
Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea has been called Earth’s alien ecosystem, with the dragon’s blood trees as the most recognisable residents. The trees stand tall with crooked trunks and umbrella-style branches and leave the impression of being extraterrestrial beings. Socotra Island hosts surreal beaches, vast limestone caves, and a wide representation of plant and animal life that is not found on Earth.
Socotra Island, being one of the most remote islands in the world, is appropriately included in the unreal places in the world. In visiting Socotra Island, it is not uncommon for visitors to feel as if they have been transported to a new planet, in which every view appears to be foreign and strange. From the stark landscapes to the odd vegetation and uninhabited surroundings, the level of adventure that is both awe-inducing and humbling is high.
5. Mount Roraima, a tripoint between Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana
Mount Roraima is a giant, plateau-like mountain emerging from the neighbouring rainforest, crowned by a flat top covered by mist. Its sheer cliffs and lifted plateau provide an isolated ecosystem of endemic plants and animals. Known as a tabletop mountain, Mount Roraima inspired the floating mountains in Pixar’s Up, which helps convey a cinematic sense of its size.
Mount Roraima is unquestionably one of the most unreal places on Earth, as it feels like it exists between the lines of reality and fantasy. Clouds drift around the cliffs of Mount Roraima at times, making it appear as a floating fort. Reaching Mount Roraima is a lengthy trek and not without difficulties, but the views and unique experience atop are unreal and are not fully encapsulated by any photo and should be witnessed firsthand.
6. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is known as the inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains for the movie Avatar. This surreal and iconic park has thousands of sandstone pillars rising precipitously from the ground. Mist drifts in and around these towers and gives the impression they are floating in the clouds.
Those of us who have travelled to Zhangjiajie quickly realise what makes it one of the unreal places in the world – its severely eroded formations that don’t appear real. Walking through Zhangjiajie allows travellers to experience sheer cliffs that dwarf them, an experience made even more fantastic by the effects of sunlight.
7. Lake Hillier, Australia
Lake Hillier in Australia is a natural phenomenon renowned for its striking bubblegum-pink waters. Surrounded by lush green forests and beautiful blue ocean waters, the lake appears as if someone had painted the scene using a surreal color palette. The pink color is due to microorganisms and algae, but it seems otherworldly nonetheless.
Of the places that are unreal in our world, Lake Hillier is different because of its striking visuals. The aerial photo showing pink waters against green trees and blue ocean is a shocking contrast. Visitors experience the disbelief instantly; no alterations could create a possibility that a sight would look like this.
8. White Desert, Egypt
The White Desert in Egypt is a landscape made up of chalk-white glacial rock formations that have been sandblasted by the wind over hundreds of years. These rock formations jut straight out of the gold desert sand in sculptural shapes that seem to be uniquely chosen by either a painter or an alien. The landscape feels otherworldly.
The stark contrast and imaginative forms of each rock formation contribute to this place being classed among the unreal places in the world. Ambience also plays a factor; when visitors go to the White Desert at sunset, the rocks glow with the sun, and shadows are cast that either look to be dreaming, or shaped like something out of a fantasy story. Campers at White Desert also tell a dreamlike story.
9. Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
New Zealand’s Glowworm Caves provide a filled subterranean show that cannot be truly matched anywhere elsewhere. Thousands of little glowworms eat away at the cave’s ceilings upper space creating a mesmerizing galaxy underneath the Earth’s crust, complemented by reflected lights on the water’s surface adding a this ethereal and dream-like effect.
This feature of the underground is a must-see, and moreover one of the most incredible unreal places in the world. Guests ride quietly on the boats under the spell of the soft lights at the tunnel’s base. The ability to be present also brings feelings of peace and awe, as though you have entered a secret world that is invisible to the naked eye.
10. Cappadocia, Turkey
Lastly, Cappadocia in Turkey is renowned for its interesting terrai n of fairy chimneys, ancient dwelling caves and hot air balloons. At sunrise, the region comes to life, and guests experience an explosion of colourful balloons come to life as they float high above the rocky landscape. The fossilized geologic structures aided by centuries of surface human interaction with the land leave a surreal canvas.
Cappadocia is one of the greatest visually unreal places in the world. Guests can visit underground cities, walk through valleys formed with volcanic activity, and observe the colourful and inflatable balloons grace the sky. Each bend in Cappadocia’s road will look like something out of a storybook, making it a true destination.
Why These Unbelievable Places in the World are Important
Traveling to these unreal places in the world is not just about sightseeing- it’s about observing landscapes that contest the bounds of reality will allow us to appreciate the immense creativity and power of nature. From salt flats that reflect like a mirror, to glowing caves and floating mountains, these places inspire a belief that Earth is a place of unbelievable possibilities and wonder, even when it appears real.
Things to Consider When Traveling to Unbelievable Places in the World
- Take Your Time in Planning: Several of these places are situated in remote locations and will require careful planning around transportation, permits and lodging.
- Enjoy Taking Photos: Bring cameras and drones to capture the places of surreal beauty, some appear more unreal from above.
- Respect Nature: These places always contain fragile ecosystems. Always follow local guidelines and consideration around their magic.
- When You Go: Weather and seasonal changes can alter the visual effect with great severity. Research your time of travel.
Conclusion
The planet has a multitude of incredible landscapes that run counter to logic and perception. These unreal places in the world inspire wonder, creativity, and a sense of adventure. sense of awe, creativity, and adventure. From strolling across the salt flats in Bolivia with reflective skin to soaring over Cappadocia in a hot air balloon to staring into the pink waters of Lake Hillier, each of these destinations provide humbling and beautiful experiences.
For travelers seeking experiences that go beyond regular scenery, these ten locations offer ideal access to places that are almost too astonishing to be true. Each of these offers a sense of wonder that goes beyond sight-seeing, whether it be glowing caves, pink lakes, or floating mountains. These are more than beautiful locations on the map – these are the most unreal places on Earth which represent natural works of art that appear far-fetched and much less like actual nature.
When we find ourselves in one of these surreal locations, we are reminded that the planet is a place of phenomenal beauty that deserves to be explored. Uniquely, they not only remind us that the most unreal places in the world do not come from dreams, movies, or fantasy, but from exploring the marvels of planet earth reminding us that sometimes the places that are most magical, powerful, and inspirational are here in the world, not just in our imaginaton.
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