Places that are almost impossible to get to, but definitely worth the effort
5 TRICKY TRIPS
Places that are almost impossible to get to, but definitely worth the effort
1. Paro Taktsang, Bhutan
This sacred Buddhist temple is up so high in the Himalayas, only a handful of pilots in the world are qualified to fly to the nearest airport. Also known as the Tiger’s Nest, it has been a significant religious site since the ninth century and the arduous journey in search of enlightenment has tested many a pilgrim. Today, travellers come from far and wide to see the water-powered prayer wheels and make the trek to the ancient monastery.
2. The Wave, USA
These stunningly beautiful sandstone formations in northern Arizona are world-famous for their graceful shapes that have been slowly but surely created by weathering since the Jurassic era. A strict permit system limits visitor numbers to just 64 per day to prevent harm coming to the area and a journey here has become a rite of passage among the world’s landscape photographers.
3. Uros Islands, Peru
This collection of islands on Lake Titicaca is remarkable for many reasons, but the greatest is that they’re all completely artificial. Made of regularly replaced layers of totora reeds in a tradition dating back centuries, they serve as floating homes for families who originally fled upheaval on land in search of a more peaceful life on the water. Getting to them can be complex, but many travellers have found that they are quite unlike anything else.
4. Deception Island, Antarctica
When you think of Antarctica, the mind defaults to snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures. However, this active volcano with hot springs offers something very different indeed on this famously freezing continent at the end of the world. Tourists come to experience the volcano, see chinstrap penguins in their natural habitat and laugh at the novelty of creating a pleasant bath by simply digging a hole on the beach.
5. Lake Hillier, Australia
This unusual lake set into Middle Island off the southern coast of Australia has surprised travellers for centuries thanks to a rare combination of algae and bacteria that have turned it pink. Popular among early explorers for its plentiful supplies of salt that allowed them to preserve meat on long sea voyages, it is now mostly visited by scientists on the ground and curious sightseers who tend to favour flybys.