The Best Landscapes in the World

Discover some of the best landscapes in the world, featuring multiple continents. Learn more about Earth's natural beauty and find your next perfect holiday destination.

Europe

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is a central region of Turkey, situated on a high, dry plateau. A vast and arid wonderland, Cappadocia tops the list as one of the world's best landscapes.

Every morning during the summer months, over 150 hot air balloons fly over Cappadocia for the sunrise, offering tourists a magical and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Cappadocia's unique rock formations have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its landscape was formed when ancient volcanic eruptions blanketed the region with thick ash, which solidified into a soft rock. Since then, it has been slowly eroding away, creating some of the spectacular shapes you can see today.

Take me to Cappadocia ✈️

• Fly to Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), located near the city of Kayseri and about an hour's drive to the Cappadocia region. 
• Airlines flying to ASR include Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.
• Alternatively, fly to Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), which is 30–60 minutes from Cappadocia, depending on the part of the region you are heading to.
• Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Jet also operate direct daily flights to NAV.

Pragser Wildsee Lake, Italy

Pragser Wildsee Lake is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest natural lake in the Dolomites, a stunning mountain range located in northeastern Italy.

With a picturesque mountain backdrop, the lake is one of the best landscapes in the world, offering plenty of gorgeous sights.

Aquamarine and brilliant blue in the summer, draped by warm hues during fall, and a crisp, snowy wonderland come winter, the lake can be enjoyed year-round. Depending on the time of year, visitors can picnic on the shore, explore the lake in a cute wooden rowing boat, or follow one of the many walking trails—the lake is a starting point for several scenic hikes within the nearby area.

Fun Fact: Local legend talks about an ancient underworld empire. An underground gateway to this hidden empire is said to be somewhere at the southern end of the lake! 💫

Take me to Pragser Wildsee Lake ✈️

• One of the closest airports is Innsbruck Airport (INN), located in Austria.
• Fly to INN from destinations across Europe, including London, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen, with airlines such as easyJet, TUI Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, British Airways and Austrian Airlines.
• Hiring a car and driving from INN to Pragser Wildsee is the fastest option, taking about an hour and a half.
• Alternatively, a daily bus service is available, which takes approximately three and a half hours.
• If you'd rather, you can fly to Venice, which is approximately a three-hour drive away, or to other popular cities within Italy, such as Verona or Milan.

The Golden Circle, Iceland

The Golden Circle is a popular circular drive which connects three of Southwest Iceland's most stunning and popular locations: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss waterfall.

Following the route is one of the best ways to experience Iceland's diverse nature, which gives the country one of the best landscapes in the world. Each of the three locations is entirely unique and spectacular, so you're not going to want to skip any of them!

Touring the Golden Circle is a popular day-trip from Reykjavík, Iceland's capital. The first stop is usually Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and about a forty-five-minute drive away from Reykjavík's city centre.

Next on the route is the Geysir Geothermal Area, about a fifty-minute drive from Þingvellir, a valley with intense geothermal activity, where boiling water spurts high into the sky from geysers.

The final stop is Gullfoss, one of the most outstanding waterfalls in Iceland (less than 10 minutes down the road from the Great Geysir).

Take me to the Golden Circle ✈️

• The Golden Circle is the ultimate tourist trail in Iceland. If you plan on exploring the route, you can choose between two options: join one of the many private tour companies or drive the route yourself.
• Fly to Keflavík International Airport (KEF), also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, which is the largest airport in Iceland and the main hub for international flights to/from the country.
• A number of airlines fly to KEF from across the globe, including Icelandair, Wizz Air, United Airlines, TUI Airways, Lufthansa, Eurowings, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Air Greenland. 
• From KEF, you can either hire a rental car or head into the city to join a tour.

Africa

Blyde River Canyon, South Africa

Known as 'World's End' by locals, the Blyde River Canyon is a lush green landscape, offering panoramic views over the Drakensberg mountain range.

The Panoramic Route is a popular driving route, featuring numerous scenic viewpoints along the way. The best view is arguably of the Three Rondavels ('Three Sisters'), where you'll see three massive dolomite rock formations which rise out of the Blyde River canyon. Their domed heads are softened by green foliage, and their sides are stained a fiery orange by webs of lichen.

Fun Fact: The Blyde River Canyon is one of the largest canyons on Earth and is the largest 'green canyon', the result of its lush subtropical covering. The canyon provides a rich natural habitat and is home to hippopotamus, crocodile and monkeys, as well as a varied fauna and flora. Making it one of the best landscapes, with an abundance of wildlife. 💫

Take me to the Blyde River Canyon ✈️

• The easiest way to get to the Blyde River Canyon is to fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), an international airport located near Johannesburg.
• Airlines that fly to JNB include South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, RwandAir, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, KLM and Cathay Pacific.
• From JNB, you can catch a connecting flight to Nelspruit (KMI) with SA Airlink. 
• From KMI, you can either hire a car and self-drive the Panoramic Route, take one of the many coach tours that travel the route, or book a private tour that stops at all of your chosen destinations.

The Sahara Desert, Morocco

There aren't many places on Earth which can compare with the incredible landscape you'll witness when visiting the Sahara Desert. With gentle, undulating dunes, warm tones, and fine, cinnamon-coloured sand, the Sahara is the best landscape for lovers of the desert.

The Sahara stretches along Morocco's eastern border with neighbouring Algeria and is the largest hot desert on Earth. Many tourists head out into the desert as part of an organised tour, to take a camel ride along the dunes or spend a night under the stars.

Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga are two sand dunes that many travellers adore. Each offers a unique experience. Erg Chebbi is more accessible, with several modern hotels just a 30-minute camel ride away. If you're looking to get off the beaten track, Erg Chigaga is likely to be less touristy and offers a number of adventurous experiences, such as dune surfing.

Take me to the Sahara Desert ✈️

• Most trips to the Sahara Desert start by arriving at major cities in Morocco, such as Marrakesh. After this, you'll have a long drive to the Sahara Desert, so it's worth planning the route well and stopping off at different locations on the way to make the 10-hour journey more bearable.
• You can fly to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) from destinations around the world with airlines including Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar, Air Europa and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Oceania

Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

Great Barrier Island, not to be confused with the Great Barrier Reef, is an island in New Zealand that boasts a beautiful underwater landscape. From diving and snorkelling to surfing and scuba diving, Great Barrier Island is the perfect base to explore one of the planet's best underwater landscapes.

The island is the perfect place for a quiet holiday in nature, as it's pretty off the grid. Uncover a beautiful wilderness, home to luscious forests, a sweeping coastline and unspoilt sandy beaches.

Take me to Great Barrier Island ✈️

• You can travel from across the world to Auckland Airport (AKL).
• From there, Barrier Air and Fly My Sky operate scheduled daily flights to Great Barrier Aerodrome (GBZ), Great Barrier Reef Island's airport, with flights taking just thirty minutes.
• Travel to AKL on airlines including Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia, United Airlines, Emirates, and Jetstar Airways.

North America

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA

There are eight unique and diverse islands which make up the tropical US state of Hawaii, home to some of the best landscapes on Earth. The islands emerged from the sea millions of years ago, forged by the powerful volcanoes in the area—a natural force that is still transforming the landscape today.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located on the island of Hawaii, is one of the few places on earth where visitors can get face-to-face with an active volcano. Hawaii Island has four active volcanoes: Kīlauea (currently the most active), Mauna Loa (the largest volcano on Earth), Hualālai, and Lōihi. Lōihi is an underwater volcano, but the growing seamount is expected to break the surface soon, to be the latest addition to the chain of Hawaiian islands.

Visitors are free to roam Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, exploring the many hiking trails and discovering the volcanoes for themselves. A number of unique tours are also available—expert-guided night tours are a popular option, as dusk reveals the true sizzling power of the landscape.

It's essential to note that, due to the unpredictable and destructive nature of volcanoes, access to certain areas of the park may be restricted, and at times, the park has had to close entirely.

Take me to Hawaii Island ✈️

• You can fly to Hilo International Airport (ITO), near the small town of Hilo, which is about a 30-minute drive from the entrance of the national park.
• ITO is serviced by Hawaiian Airlines, which provides flights to/from domestic destinations across the US.
• Alternatively, you can fly to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA), near the town of Kona, about an hour and a half from the park entrance by car.
• Kona Airport is also served by Hawaiian Airlines, as well as inter-island carrier Mokulele Airlines.

Banff National Park, Canada

Banff National Park is Canada's first national park and is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It has everything you need in a national park: a quaint mountain village, scenic drives, turquoise mirror lakes, high mountain peaks, lush green countryside and an abundance of wildlife.

The aquamarine blue Lake Louise and Lake Moraine will treat hikers to stunning views of the mountainscape. The park is open year-round, and for those who love adventure holidays, it provides activities suitable for all abilities. If you visit in the summer, you can enjoy hiking, fishing and canoeing on the park's bright blue lakes. If you visit in winter, you can enjoy adrenaline-inducing sports such as skiing, sledging and ice climbing on the park's frozen waterfalls.

Take me to Banff National Park ✈️

• Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the closest airport to the park.
• Many major airlines fly to YYC, including Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Delta, Horizon Air, United and WestJet.
• Once you land at YYC, you can rent a car and drive to Banff, a journey which takes about an hour and a half.
• You can also take an airport shuttle bus from the Calgary International Airport to the entrance of the park.

Asia

Padar Island, Indonesia

Part of the Komodo National Park, Padar is a small island with one of the best landscapes, thanks to its divine scenery and incredible sweeping vistas.

Wildlife enthusiasts will be happy to know that the island offers the chance to encounter the Komodo dragon in its natural habitat! Fun fact: Komodo dragons can get up to 10 feet in length!

All tourist boats dock at a little shingle beach on the island. From there, you can relax at the beach or follow one of the many hiking trails.

For the best views, you'll have to hike up to the Pulau Padar lookout, a trek which takes an hour and a half each way. From the beach, the route up to Pulau Padar is clearly signposted.

Note that the terrain is not paved and can be challenging, shade is limited, and the temperature is likely to be humid and dry. But the views will be so worth it!

Take me to Padar Island ✈️

• Indonesia is an island archipelago made up of over 17,000 volcanic islands. The easiest way to reach Padar Island is by catching a domestic flight from one of Indonesia's main islands. Bali is one of the most popular islands and offers a seamless way to get to Padar Island.
• Fly from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), the main airport on Bali, to Komodo Airport (LBJ), on the island of Flores—the gateway to Komodo National Park.
• Airlines that operate these routes include Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, NAM Air, TransNusa, and Wings Air.
• From DPS to LBJ, you'll be in the air for around an hour.
• After arriving at Komodo, you'll need to join one of the many tour operators or hire a privately chartered boat for the journey across to Padar Island.

Ready to book flights to one of these destinations? ✈️

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Check out our blog on the Top Jet Setting Destinations for 2025 for even more beautiful destinations!