Pack your bags, you’re swapping your comfort zone for an epic adventure because the travelling season is here!

Go for an escapade to unusual yet fascinating destinations bestowed by Mother Nature and those created by men. See some of the planet’s strangest spots that you can pay a visit to and take a selfie or two for keepsake.

Here are 7 amazing places worth seeing at least once in your life.

1. Lake Hillier, Australia

Located in the south coast of Western Australia, Lake Hillier is a saline lake on the edge of Middle Island within the boundaries of the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve. It is particularly notable for its bubblegum pink colour with a long and thin shore dividing the Southern Ocean from the lake.

The vibrant colour is believed to be caused by the presence of the Dunaliella salina microalgae which produces carotenoids, a pigment found in carrots. It is safe to say that the water and algaes are no harm to the human skin but unfortunately, normal tourists aren’t allowed to go near or take a dip in it. The best way to witness this incredible sweet-coloured lake is on a scenic helicopter ride, a boat cruise or from the nearest lookout point.

2. The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan

This natural gas crater in the middle of the Karakum desert near the village of Deweze has been burning continuously for more than 40 years now.

How it happened dates back to the ‘70s when a team of Soviet scientists were looking for natural gas reserves by setting up a drilling platform but the drilling rig collapsed. Fearing the hole would release poisonous gases, the team decided to set the crater on fire and hoped it would burn out within hours or days. Shockingly the fire never burned out even till today.

This massive orange inferno is called “The Door to Hell” or “Gates of Hell” by the locals due to obvious reasons. Despite the scorching heat from the fiery hole, the Door to Hell never fails to attract tourists from all over the world to make a trip for this rare sight.

3. Socotra Island, Yemen

Socotra Island is dubbed as the most alien place on earth. Surrounded by an abundance of strange looking flora and fauna, it is an island and archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean belonging to the Republic of Yemen.

One of the notable and spectacular endemic plants on this unique island is the dragon’s blood tree, donning the shape of an umbrella. The tree was used in medieval magic for its blood-red juice which was believed to be the dragon’s blood of the ancients and has been used for medicines, dyes and cosmetics. Another distinct flora is the desert rose, also known as a bottle tree which comes in various odd shapes and sizes.

Besides the funky flora, Socotra Island is also home to many fauna including endemic bird species such as Socotra golden-winged grosbeak and invertebrates like the freshwater crabs. The only mammal species throughout the island is bats.

In 2008, Socotra Island was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the place to be for travelers seeking an exotic and relaxing destination (think Avatar!).

4. Spotted Lake, Canada

This distinctive lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in the eastern Similkameen Valley of British Columbia, Canada. The Spotted Lake contains various minerals including magnesium, sulfate, calcium and more.

In the summer, most of the water evaporates resulting in colourful spotted pools according to the mineral composition. The major contributor to the spot colour is magnesium sulfate which crystallizes during summer. The remaining minerals in the lake on the other hand will harden and form natural “walkways” between the spots.

The area is ecologically sensitive and cultural to the Okanagan Syilx people therefore, authorized permission is required for public entries along the lake. Otherwise, anyone can always view the lake from the side of the road or splurge a little for a helicopter tour.

5. Vaadhoo Island, Maldives

If you think twinkling stars only belong up in the sky, wait till you see the sea of stars in this tiny island of Maldives!

The blue glow in the waves is caused by marine microbes called phytoplankton. The phytoplankton specifically known as dinoflagellates release a blue luminescence when the water is disturbed by oxygen and occurs as a kind of defence mechanism to deter predators. When a fish eats the phytoplankton, it will still glow inside the stomach of the fish. However, this puts the fish at risk of being eaten by predators.

Vaadhoo Island is located on the equator to the south west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and it should be in your list of amazing places to see before you kick the bucket.

6. The Catacombs of Paris, France

Inject a little spook into your travel by going beneath the glamorous Paris where remains of more than six million Parisians are kept. The Catacombs of Paris are filled with bones of the dead from centuries ago lined against the wall up to the ceiling that stretches for more than 200 miles.

This tunnel existed since the 13th century when limestone quarries were mined to build Paris into a thriving city. It was left abandoned until the 17th century when the remains of former inhabitants were placed in the tunnel due to overcrowding cemeteries. The phenomenon caused the corpses to become uncovered and people living nearby began to complain about the strong stench of decomposing flesh as well as the spread of many diseases.

Today, the dark underworld is open to public to pay a visit to. It takes about 45 minutes to walk through, intriguing you with some chills.

7. Red Beach, China

The word “beach” is far from this unique attraction as it is not covered in sand but a landscape of red plant caused by a type of seaweed called Sueda. The plant begins growing between April to May then stays green throughout the summer and finally turn vividly red during autumn.

Located thirty kilometres southwest of Panjin in China, this world’s biggest wetland and reed marsh is home to many kinds of migrating birds and wild animals. The red-crowned crane and endangered black-mouth gull popularly reproduce here. The Red Beach is under state-level protection to keep the ecosystem safe therefore, only a small section is open to the public to explore via a wooden walkway.

The world is a strange and wonderful place with deep mysteries waiting for adventurous travellers like you to discover. Life only comes around once so why not make the best out of it and journey through breathtaking places for an experience of a lifetime.

Happy exploring!

Every good adventure is its own special experience. Pair it up with a lil’ something from our site!

Click on any of the below to check them out:

Image sources:

1. Lake Hillier, Australia
– https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LIQENI_HILLIER_-_ROZE.jpg

2. The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan
– https://www.flickr.com/photos/ryan_roxx/4619013557/
– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/door-of-hell_n_4311694.html

3. Socotra Island, Yemen
– http://reversehomesickness.com/asia/socotra-the-most-alien-place-on-earth/

4. Spotted Lake, Canada
– https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/science/spotted-lake-british-columbia.html
– https://www.flickr.com/photos/a-vision/3905170132/

5. Vaadhoo Island, Maldives
– https://tripelonia.com/headline/vaadhoo-island-maldives-the-sea-of-stars/266

6. The Catacombs of Paris, France
– https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-catacombs-l2605/
– http://transversealchemy.com/2013/03/catacombes-de-paris.html

7. Red Beach, China
– http://www.boredpanda.com/panjin-red-beach-in-china/

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