The most inspiring places you have to see

Whether you're looking to plan that next trip or just want to sit back and marvel at some of the world's most awesome natural wonders, we have a treat in store. We've pulled together some of the world's most spectacular views you can set your eyes on. Put your feet up and gaze in awe...

Salt of the earth© Getty Images/Flickr RF

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Just looking at this place is enough to make you thirsty. At over 10,000 square metres, Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat.

Land of the rings© Getty Images

Milford Sound, New Zealand
So epic is the landscape of New Zealand that it made an obvious location choice for Lord of the Rings. Milford Sound is just one of a number of dramatic areas used in the film.

The name's Khao Phing Kan© Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Khao Phing Kan, Thailand
This unique monolith in Thailand had a starring role in The Man with the Golden Gun and is popularly known as James Bond island as a result. Scaramanga and Nick Nack may not be there but it's still worthy of a visit.

Mount Roraima – the Lost World © Klaus Fengler/Red Bull Content Pool

Mount Roraima, Venezuela/Brazil/Guyana
To climbers, Mount Roraima is one of the ultimate challenges. The iconic mountaintop plateau sits on the border of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, and towers above the jungle, taunting those who dare to attempt its sheer 400m walls.

Marble marvel© Getty Images/Gallo Images

The caves of General Carrera Lake, Chile
It took waves over 6,000 years to carve these unique caverns and columns and tunnels found in the middle of Chile's General Carrera Lake.

Bora Bora's beautiful beaches © Getty Images/Mint Images RM

Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Yes, we apologise, pictures like this should not be seen while you're at work. We're sorry, but just look at that beach! Another destination to add to the bucket list.

Yosemite calling© Getty Images/Flickr Open

Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Ever since Ansel Adams turned up with a camera in the 1920s, photographers and climbers have flocked to Yosemite to experience the wonders of its most iconic peak, El Capitan.

Paint it red © Getty Images/Gallo Images

Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
You can see why they called this place Painted Hills, so named after the colourful layers of its hills, which correspond to different geological eras. They're located in Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

Dive into this© Getty Images/AWL Images RM

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
This is an aerial view of coral formations at Hardy Reef, part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The area offers spectacular snorkelling and is home to reef sharks, turtles, trevally, coral trout and a host of smaller marine life.

Land of ice© Felix Röser

Aldeyjarfoss waterfall, Iceland
Iceland is a land rich in wonders and home to volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and glaciers. And a lot of wild horses. The Aldeyjarfoss waterfall is about 20m high. In winter it is quite hard to reach, but worth it for the view.

Great Canyon© Airpano.com

Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
The Grand Canyon may be more famous. But we think Utah's Bryce Canyon is more spectacular. It's not really a canyon as such – more a collection of giant natural amphitheaters.

Norwegian dreams © Airpano.com

The fjords, Norway
It's where the Vikings came from and it's not difficult to see how it bred such a race of warriors. The fjords are a wonder that will inspire you to find your own inner warrior.

Long way down© Airpano.com

Angel Falls, Venezuela
The Angel Falls in Venezuela, seen from a unique perspective. They're the world's highest uninterrupted waterfalls – and a wonder to behold.

World's most beautiful falls© Airpano.com

Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
Few waterfalls equal Iguazu for atmosphere. Situated on the border between Argentina and Brazil, they appear out of the jungle mist as a heavenly wonder.

How did they get that crazy shot? Like this…

What's the secret behind an amazing action photo? Often, it's that the photographer is doing much of the same difficult stuff that the athlete is doing – while lugging camera equipment and focusing (literally) on getting the job done, and watching their own butt.
We asked some of the best in the biz to show us the time they were in front of the lens – selfies included.

Swimming with crocodiles

It's not easy to get this close to a croc© Octavio Aburto

Octavio Aburto is a photographer in Cabo Pulmo, Mexico, with a mission: ocean conservancy. His way of doing it? Raising awareness with awe-inspiring, fear-inducing pictures of very scary animals – like this crocodile below.

Yes, this guy can bite© Octavio Aburto

With no real space between him and the croc, Aburto's only choice was to stay still – very still. It worked – but fortunately he has able to move enough to snap this toothy pic. Check out Aburto's Facebook page and his website and throw them a like – every bit helps when it comes to saving the oceans.

Hanging out on ice

Christian Pondella shoots climber Will Gadd© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

Adventure photographer Christian Pondella likes to hang out in some weird places – for instance, on the side of a half-frozen waterfall in BC, Canada, as he captures Will Gadd's epic ascent of Helmcken Falls.
Christian himself comments: “It’s these unique opportunities that allow you to supply a perspective that the general public will not normally get to experience in their lives – a glimpse into a potentially life-threatening world. Coincidentally, it’s also something that makes you feel alive, as the forces of Mother Nature are working for you and could very easily work against you. The actual photography needs to be second nature since it’s critical to constantly focus on your surroundings.”

Will Gadd climbing at Helmcken Falls in BC, Canada© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

That wasn't the only thing he shot Gadd doing this year – he also was on hand to document the climb of Niagara Falls, the first time anyone has ever attempted an ice route on Niagara, and a project that brought Gadd national attention in mainstream news.

Under the waves

Ben Thouard lines up his shot under the surface© Phil Gallagher/Aquatech

Ben Thouard likes to swim – that's why he lives in Tahiti. He also likes to take pictures of surfing – another good reason to live in Tahiti. Sure, swimming under Southern Pacific swells (and above hard, sharp reef) is a little risky, but when you nail the shot, it's worth it.

Shadows on the wave© Ben Thouard

Scoring a shot like this takes skill, knowledge, patience – and the ability to hold your breath and stay calm under water.

It also takes specialised equipment to protect your photography gear – which sometimes fails. Last year, a rogue wave caught him unaware on a jetski during an emergency situation, ruining over $20,000 of photo equipment. Canon was nice enough to help him out with replacing it.
Of course, under water isn't the only place Ben takes photos...

Shooting while steering a paraglider

Getting ready to shoot above Tahiti© Ben Thouard

Ben's not only comfortable under the sea – he gets above it, too, in the powered paraglider he uses to take aerial pictures of his home spot of Tahiti.

Raimana von Bastolaer catches a Tahitian left© Ben Thouard

This shot of surfer Raimana von Bastolaer catching a Tahitian left came directly from his paraglider. Well, if he crashes, at least he's landing in water!

Chasing lava in the Arctic Cirlce

Olivier Grunewald risking life, limb and camera © Olivier Grunewald

Photographer Olivier Grunewald has made a career out of taking pictures in amazing place – particularly volcanoes.

This shot was snapped at the Eyjafjöll volcano, above the Arctic Circle in Iceland, when it erupted back in 2010.

This is why Olivier goes where he goes© Olivier Grunewald

Getting this close to moving lava allowed Grunewald to get images like the one above. Dig it? You'll also probably love his images of the Aurora Borealis.

Climbing by night

Ray Demski on position and on point© Ray Demski

Ray Demski has been climbing and shooting photos of it for most of his life. His status as one of the world's best climbing photographers gives him the opportunity to pull off complicated shoots like Norwegian Ice – where he hauled a not insignificant amount of lighting onto a wall to create an image otherwise impossible at night.

Worth it? You decide© Ray Demski

The extra effort with lighting allowed Demski to catch the climber in one single moment, rather than using multiple images to fill in light from the sky and proper exposure of the action right in front of him.

Hanging out in France

Hold it… stay right there…© Mathis Dumas

Alex Buisse calls the Chamonix Valley home, and for good reason – it regularly allows him to take pictures of the sports he enjoys. Here, he hangs over a ledge to shoot climber Jeff Mercier dry-tooling a new route in Argentíere.

Dry-tooling isn't always as easy as it looks© Alex Buisse

10 mysterious world wonders to discover

You know we love checking out the world's most mysterious places but that's because we know you love the world's most mysterious places, too. From ocean floors to crystaline caves, here are 10 more places that will make you want to buy a ticket, pack your bag, and see the world.

Maunsell Army Forts, Kent, England

World War 2 Sea Forts© Getty Images/Flickr RM

These still-standing remnants of WWII are just off the coast of Kent, England. Now abandoned, they can be seen from land on a clear day, but you'll need a boat to get there. In the 1960s and 70s, they were famously taken over as pirate radio stations, and a nearby similar construction became the self-proclaimed island nation known as the Principality of Sealand – although no other country actually acknowledges them as a sovereign nation.

Fly Ranch Geysers, Nevada, USA

The colorful man-made Fly Geyser© Getty Images

While this might look like a natural wonder, technically its not. This sort of man-made water geyser was created when an oil well was left improperly sealed, letting minerals deposit on the ground, and eventually build the geyser seen here. It's small (only about 1.5 meters tall) but is still growing. The wicked colors? Thank the thermophilic algae present in the water.

Reed Flute Cave, Guangxi, China

Crystal Palace of Reed Flute Cave© Getty Images/Imagemore

Buried deep underground in southeast China is this natural wonder, the Reed Flute cave. The name doesn't come from the stalactities but from the reeds outside the cave, which can actually be made into flutes. The cave has been tourist attraction for a number of years – inscriptions inside date back over 1,000 years. As for that incredible light? Sadly, it's artificial.

Crater Lake, Mount Katmai, Alaska

Katmai National Park crater lake© Getty Images/Gallo Images

Sitting at 2,047m atop Mt Katmai in Alaska isn't a peak, but a hole. Filled with water, its affectionately referred to as 'Crater Lake'. (There's a few other Crater Lakes out there.) What's unique about this one? The rim of the volcanic mountain is just over 2,000m, but the lake sits approximately 800m below, making for one heck of a high-dive. Good thing the lake is thought to be almost 300m deep. (Warning: attempting an actual dive here is not a good idea, unless you're wearing a wingsuit.)

USS Kittiwake shipwreck, Cayman Islands

U.S.S. Kittiwake© Predrag Vuckovic

The USS Kittiwake was built in 1945 and served the US Navy for almost 50-years as a submarine rescue vessel. Now, the ship is a submarine itself – sitting on the ocean floor as an articificial reef in the Cayman Islands. It's one of the best shipwrecks in the world for diving, attracting SCUBA enthusiasts from all over the world. You'll want to spend a lot of time down there – the ship is over 76m long.

Vila Franca do Campo, Azores Archipelago

Orlando Duque takes flight in the Azores, Portugal© Paulo Calisto/Red Bull Content Pool

The Portuguese Azores islands are formed from volcanic rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Once connected to the legend of Atlantis, the islands are now a stop in the Red Bull Cliff Diving comeptitions. The divers leap from 28m above the water, performing a series of manoeuvres before splashing down into the Atlantic. The islet pictured here operated as both a winery and a military base before being declared a nature reserve.

Ditznup Cenote, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

Dzitnup Cenote near Chichen Itza© Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

A 'cenote' is a sinkhole, often with a fresh water pool at the bottom. The Yucatán Peninsula is famous for them, and the Dzitnup is one of the most famous of all. There's an estimated 3,000 of them on the Yucatan peninsula, mostly undocumented, and a 160km underground river. You can check out the cavern and its dripping stalactites for yourself – the locals treat it like the community pool (and yes, you have to buy a ticket.)

Petra Treasury, Jordan

Petra Treasury© Getty Images/Moment RM

You've probably seen pictures of the famous Petra Treasury in Jordan, but this one is worth a second look – candles light up the foreground at night in front of the milleniums-old building in the rock. Wanna visit? You might have to make a journey like this to get there.

Shilin Stone Forest, China

Stone Forest with observation tower© Getty Images

Legends about the Stone Forest abound, but one that's wrong is that they are petrified trees – they're actually limestone. It's a world heritage site, and open for visitation. Prefer caves? Check out one of the world's largest cave systems.

Rio Tulija, Mexico

The waterfalls of the Rio Tulijá© Lane Jacobs/Red Bull

The Rio Tulija, and the 'Agua Azul' area in Southern Mexico is known for its light blue water. It's a whitewater paradise for pro kayakers like Rafa  Ortiz, who took a crew of his buddies for a ride that they won't soon forget.

8 deserted ghost towns you’ll really want to see

Ghost towns inspire the human imagination and the desire to visit surely tickles itchy feet. Whether these places are a historic trading town, nuclear explosion site or town completely submerged by water, these are some of the best deserted places.
Take a scroll down this collection of creepy, awe-inspiring and downright awesome places humans have left behind. Keep an eye out for Namibian houses slowly being engulfed by sand – maybe you should make that first on your visit list!

1. Ride a camel to Chinguetti, Mauritania

Chinguetti, Mauritania © Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery

What: Historic trading centre
So how did it become deserted? The spot was the place to be in the 13th century – a hub for trading and the religious centre for Islamic culture. It's now well known for its impressive mosque and old libraries.
Can I visit? Why not get into the spirit of the area and take a camel ride over, then wander through the labyrinth-like lanes.
How deserted is it: It's a UNESCO heritage site so accessible to tourists.

2. See a nuclear disaster site in Pripyat, Ukraine

Pripyat, Chernobyl © Getty Images / Lonely Planet Images

What: Ghost town
So how did it become deserted? Perhaps one of the most famous deserted cities in the world, it was abandoned after an explosion at the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. The city now sits preserved, like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.
Can I visit? It is possible to visit the exclusion zone with a pass from the Ukrainian government and on an organized tour – avoiding any radiation ‘hot spots’.
Deserted factor: No one can live there on account of the radiation and tourism is limited.

3. Dig for gold in Bodie, California

Bodie’s abandoned gold mining town© Getty Images

What: Gold-mining town
So how did it become deserted? Like something straight out of a Wild West movie, Bodie is an original gold-mining town from the late 1800s and is preserved by the California State Parks System in a state of 'arrested decay'. It comes accompanied by the obligatory ghost stories of former residents haunting the village.
Can I visit? Sure can, and you won't find any commercial facilities either, adding to the ghost town atmosphere.
Deserted factor: No one lives there but it is run as a tourist spot.

4. Shuffle through sand in Kolmanskop, Namibia

Kolmanskop, Namibia© Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

What: Desert ghost town
So how did it become deserted? Germans looking to make their fortune in the desert founded Kolmanskop in the early 1900s. It was abandoned in 1954, within just 40-years of being built. The desert is now devouring the town and the houses are filled with vast swathes of sand.
Can I visit? It is possible to roam around the ghost town.
Deserted factor: A true ghost town

5. Avoid detection in Consonno, Italy

Consonno, Italy© Getty Images/Moment Open

What: Derelict town
So how did it become deserted? In the 1960s Italian entrepreneur Mario Bagno had some big dreams – to create the Las Vegas of Italy. Work had begun on the town, which was set to attract the luxury-loving-elite, but disaster struck. In 1976 a landslide wiped out the only road into the town and construction promptly stopped. It was briefly re-opened as a care home, but closed in 2007.
Can I visit? It is not open to the public
Deserted factor: There is one caretaker on the island, and wanderers are not looked upon kindly.

6. See faded glory at Michigan Central Station, Detroit

Michigan Central Station, Detroit© Getty Images/Flickr RM

What: Deserted railway station
So how did it become deserted? The station was built in 1913 with grand plans that it would be a gateway to the Midwest. Unfortunately, when Detroit's economy stated failing, so did the station, and the last train chugged out in the late 1980s. It has been used for Hollywood films including Transformers and Four Brothers.
Can I visit? Access is restricted
Deserted factor: You can drive past it in the car

7. Go for a swim in Lake Reschen, Italy

Lake Reschen in Italy© Getty Images/Vetta

What: Sunken village
So how did it become deserted? Lake Reschen is perhaps most famous for the submerged church's bell tower, which sits in the middle of the lake. In 1939 plans were coined to unify two natural lakes and submerge villages – Graun and part of Reschen. Work finished in 1950, submerging 163 homes and 523 hectares of cultivated land.
Can I visit? Sure, take a wander over when the lake is frozen
Deserted factor: It's in the middle of a lake, so pretty deserted

8. Oradour Sur Glane, France

Ourador sur Glane © Getty Images/Moment Open

Location: Limousin, France
What: Deserted village
What happened: Oradour sur Glane is a relic from World War two. The remains of the village have been left untouched since 1944 and acts as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of war.
Can I visit: Yes, tourists can visit the moving, yet un-missable site
Deserted factor: Very deserted