Where to find the best views in the world

Mount Teide – Tenerife

Mount Teide is the third largest volcano in the world, and holds the unusual record of casting the longest ocean shadow in the world, too. The eponymous National Park is covered in solidified lava, craters and cacti with walking tracks running through right to the top. When you reach the summit you can gaze in amazement at a sea of clouds, and on a clear day you even can see the other Canary Islands.

Burj Khalifa – Dubai

The Burj Khalifa is almost three times the size of the Eiffel Tower and can be seen from 60 miles away. So, as you can imagine, the views from the top are pretty astonishing – you’re literally above the clouds looking down on the Dubai Mall, the famous dancing fountains, the Burj Al Arab, and basically the whole of Dubai. The striking structure is so tall you can even see two sunsets in one day if you watch it at the bottom and quickly get the lift up to the top.

Underwater waterfall – Mauritius

Mauritius is steeped in so much natural beauty – from coconut-white beaches to cascading waterfalls – you’ll get incredible views of the island before you’ve even stepped off the plane. In fact, as you’re landing onto the island you’ll be able to spot one of Mauritius’ unique attractions from up above – the world’s only underwater waterfall. Ok, so it’s more of an illusion created by sand running off a coastal shelf, but whatever the reason, it makes an awesome snap.

Monteverde Cloud Forest – Costa Rica

Costa Rica is famed for its stunning tropical landscape and the adventurous ways you can explore it. There are national parks to hike, valleys to zip-line across and even hanging bridges between treetops to clamber over. From Monteverde’s Skywalk bridge, you’ll get above-the-clouds views of the rainforest stretching out for miles and miles. There are eight treetop bridges to walk across, and over 400 colourful exotic birds to spot including the famous Costa Rican Macaws.

Sigiriya Rock – Sri Lanka

No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without tackling Sigiriya Rock and getting a breathtaking view of the landscape from the top. You can climb the rock in stages to make it a bit easier, and there are caves, paintings and viewing points to explore at every platform. Once you’re at the top, you’ll experience miles of glorious green landscape. And, for an alternative view, you can climb the nearby Pidurangala Rock if you want to capture Sigiriya Rock in your photos.

Grand Canyon – USA

5.5 million people visited the Grand Canyon in 2016 alone, and an aerial view of the natural attraction is just about the most amazing thing you can see. Even a camera can’t capture the intricate rock layers in every colour and the sheer size of it – you just have to see it in real life. There are plenty of ways to explore it too, with a bird's-eye-view helicopter ride, a sunrise stroll around the rim, or a hike right into the centre. On our two day Grand Canyon National Park Tour, we take you to a secret ledge along the rim to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sunset over the Grand Canyon away from the crowds.

Oia, Santorini – Greece

The iconic image of blue-domed churches and chalk-white buildings perched on a hill is one of the most famous of Greece, and it’s from a town called Oia in Santorini. There are lots of empty archways and doorways giving you the perfect framing for your pictures. And even better – when the sun sets, it casts an beautiful orange glow over the whole town.

Underwater Museum – Cancun

It’s not all about climbing to the tops of landmarks to get some iconic views, there are plenty on ground level and even under the sea, too. Cancun is the best for diving and snorkelling, with turtles, starfish, lobsters and even whale sharks to see. Plus, for a really unique experience, you can dive down to Cancun’s Underwater Museum where there’s over 500 underwater sculptures to see, and a new fossil-themed exhibit for 2017 called ‘Vestigos’.

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Author: Selina Akhtar