The most beautiful places in the world

1. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – USA

It doesn’t get much more awe-inspiring than standing beneath an ancient giant sequoia tree that’s nearly as tall as Big Ben – and you can do exactly that at Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove. It’s not just the tree-draped mountain ranges that make this national park a beauty, though – you’ve also got granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, glass-clear lakes and bright-green meadows to capture on camera.

Fancy it? Get a snapshot of Yosemite National Park on our West Coast Wanderer tour

2. HALONG BAY – VIETNAM

Man-made wonders aside – there’s a seemingly never-ending list of gold leaf-covered Buddhist temples to tick off – Halong Bay has a seriously impressive sample of Mother Nature’s handiwork natural sight. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of 1,600 towering limestone pillars rising up out of emerald-green waters, which are perfect for sailing and kayaking trips. The best time to visit the bay for clear blue skies and balmy temperatures is between March and May, so it’s the ideal time to book onto our North Vietnam Up Close tour.

Find out more about our North Vietnam Up Close tour

3. CAPE TOWN – SOUTH AFRICA

With spotless white-sand beaches, mountains and vineyards, Cape Town is a serious contender for the world’s most beautiful city. The city’s biggest landmark is a natural one. But, tear your eyes away from Table Mountain for just a second, and you’ll discover nature reserves and world-class beaches are in good supply, too. Make the trip down to Cape Point to see where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. Head inland, meanwhile, and you’ll hit wine country. And further along, the Garden Route – a famously scenic road trip – pulls out all the stops with whale-watching and safaris on tap.

See the best of Cape Town on our South Africa Explorer tour

4. THE GULLFOSS WATERFALL – ICELAND

Pictures of the land of fire and ice have been soaking up the limelight for a while now, and it’s not surprising – Mother Nature wasn’t stingy when she was doling out natural beauty here. Also known as the ‘Golden Waterfall’, Gullfoss is the most famous of the country’s falls. Here, the River Hvita drops 30 metres in two impressive streams. It’s not the place for swimming, though. If you’re interested in dipping into Iceland’s geothermal hot springs, the Blue Lagoon is the place to do it. And if you want the chance to tick the northern lights off your bucket list while you’re there, plan your visit between September and March.

See it all on one of our holidays to Iceland

5. THE RED SEA – EGYPT

Move aside the Great Barrier Reef – you’ve got competition in Egypt. The northern section of the Red Sea is home to a kaleidoscopic world of colourful fish, camera-ready shipwrecks and to top it all off, a rainbow-tinted coral reef. This famous site has also been named one of the ‘seven wonders of the underwater world’ thanks to its beauty and diverse marine life.

Dive into the Red Sea on a holiday to Egypt

6. THE AMALFI COAST – ITALY

This UNESCO-listed coastline just had to make the cut – travel along it and you’ll be greeted with views of pretty pastel-coloured houses spilling down the cliffside to pocket-sized beaches and sparkling blue water. Wander through the towns – like Ravello and Positano – and you’ll notice Medieval architecture, winding alleys and steep steps, all set between a landscape of lemon trees and olive groves.

Get a taste of Italy on our Flavours of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast tour

Ready to make your way through the list?

Take a peek at these trips of a lifetime, or find out about the best places you didn’t know you could travel to with TUI. Plus, read about the Caribbean’s best hidden gems and how to see them.

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Author: Danielle Penny