Global Destinations: 18 Places to See - Glaciers to Deserts

Explore 117,658 km across Earth's most extraordinary geological formations, from Kazakhstan's Bogdanovich Glacier and its ice-filled Oktyabrskaya Cave to China's vertical Mount Hua and the turquoise ice structures of Lake Baikal in Russia. The route spans continents to showcase natural wonders including Vietnam's ancient Phong Nha cave system, Mauritius's optical illusion underwater waterfall, and Namibia's oldest desert with its distinctive contrasting dunes.

Mode
Places
Start
Bogdanovich Glacier
End
Grand Prismatic Spring
Stops
18
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Bogdanovich Glacier — Mountain glacier in the Almaty peaks featuring the Oktyabriskaya ice cave with turquoise ice formations and glimmering light, shaped by cycles of melting and refreezing.
  2. Mount Hua — Sacred Taoist mountain featuring five distinctive peaks with vertical rock walls, narrow pathways, and the challenging Plank Walk carved into cliffs centuries ago.
  3. Tianmen Mountain — Natural sanctuary with winding paths and the symbolic 99 Bends Road leading to Heaven's Gate, requiring 999 steps to reach the summit.
  4. Lake Baikal — World's deepest freshwater lake containing one-quarter of Earth's surface freshwater, surrounded by pristine Siberian wilderness and unique endemic species.
  5. Underwater Waterfall — Optical illusion near Le Morne peninsula where the continental shelf drops abruptly, creating the appearance of a submerged waterfall beneath the ocean.
  6. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park — UNESCO site housing some of Asia's most ancient and largest caves, including Phong Nha river cave at 400 million years old and the massive Sơn Đoòng cave.
  7. Richat Structure — Geological enigma in the Sahara Desert known as the Eye of the Sahara, featuring concentric rings of varying colors formed by erosion.
  8. Namib Desert — World's oldest desert at over 55 million years, featuring the contrast between golden dunes and the Atlantic Ocean, home to unique wildlife.
  9. Bailong Elevator — World-class outdoor elevator feat of modern engineering integrated into cliff face in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
  10. Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge — One of the world's longest glass bridges offering panoramic views of the canyon between cliff formations.
  11. Ice Caves of Iceland — Natural caverns within glaciers formed by melting water, featuring deep blue crystalline ice ceilings accessible safely in winter.
  12. Tigray Churches — Remarkable 6th-century rock-carved churches perched on vertical cliff faces, requiring challenging ascents with minimal equipment.
  13. Mount Roraima — Ancient 2-billion-year-old tepuy plateau with vertical walls and flat summit, hosting unique species and otherworldly rock formations.
  14. Darvaza Gas Crater — Burning cavern in the Karakum Desert known as the Door to Hell, ignited in 1971 to contain methane and burning for decades.
  15. Angel Falls — World's highest waterfall emerging from a tepuy plateau, creating ethereal mist as it free-falls from the clouds.
  16. Cenote Dos Ojos — Twin sinkholes in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula revealing crystal-clear underground rivers perfect for swimming and exploring subterranean cave systems.
  17. Meeting of Waters — Captivating natural phenomenon where the dark Negro River and muddy Solimões River converge but remain visually separate before merging into the Amazon.
  18. Grand Prismatic Spring — America's largest hot spring in Yellowstone, displaying vibrant rainbow colors from heat-loving microorganisms and mineral-rich geothermal waters.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Visit Bogdanovich Glacier annually when adventurers are drawn to it, but be aware the cave risks partial or complete collapse.
Transport
Use cable car for half the ascent of Mount Hua, or challenge yourself with the Plank Walk path used for both ascending and descending.
Tip
Climb 999 steps to reach Heaven's Gate at the summit of Tianmen Mountain via the 99 Bends Road.
Timing
Winter is the best season to explore Lake Baikal's frozen surface and ice caves, when ice is stable and methane bubbles create artistic patterns.
Avoid
Beware of the Sarma wind at Lake Baikal, a cold northwest wind reaching hurricane-like intensities that can quickly cause hypothermia if unprepared.
Timing
Winter with stable temperatures is the safest time to explore Iceland's ice caves within glaciers.
Tip
Scaling Abuna Yemata church requires climbing bare rock and narrow passages without equipment, relying on crevices and rock outcrops.
Timing
Visit Mount Roraima during rainy season to witness temporary waterfalls cascading down from the plateau's top.
Transport
Only certified divers are permitted to explore Cenote Dos Ojos' dark underwater cave systems on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Tip
Climb nearly 9,000 steps to reach Mount Fanjing Temple at the summit, comprising two temples connected by a bridge over a large fissure.
Tip
The Underwater Waterfall near Le Morne Brabant is an optical illusion created by the continental shelf drop and sediment flow, not a real waterfall.
Transport
Use small boats to navigate Trang An's karst landscape through meandering rivers and to access interconnected caves via underground rivers.

Video on this route

UNREAL PLANET | Places That Don't Seem Real

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