Instagram changed everything. Now there’s no excuse for a substandard selfie, food snap or travel pic. Heck, people are now naming their babies after some of the app’s most popular filters!
Picking the perfect filter to jazz up a shot is an art… but sometimes the best filter is no filter at all. When some lucky places look this good to the naked lens, it deserves to be kept untouched.
1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Sometimes stark, sometimes delicate, but always otherworldly, the dreamy landscapes of Salar de Uyuni range from cacti and rocks to the odd pink flamingo. Set high above sea level in Bolivia, the world’s largest salt flat spans more than 10,000 square kilometres.
At times it’s hard to tell where the earth ends and the sky begins as the reality-bending reflections play tricks on the eye.
2. Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
As deserts go, the Zhangye Danxia in China is particularly stunning – its colourful stripes look almost like they’ve been painted onto the mountain peaks one by one. Battered by wind and water, the towering cliffs and weathered ridges have been shaped by the forces of nature over the years.
The national park is in north-western China’s Gansu Province, and is particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset, when the hues of the ‘rainbow mountains’ seem to shift from moment to moment.
3. Santorini, Greece
Possibly the most famous of all the Greek islands, Santorini’s unforgettable landscapes are unlike anything else.
Bright white stone buildings jostle for space along the clifftops, while deep blue seas lap at the red, black and white sands of the volcanic beaches below. And then of course, there are the famous fiery sunsets.
4. Bo-Kaap, South Africa
Perhaps Cape Town’s most colourful suburb, Bo-Kaap has a rich and fascinating history.
Sometimes referred to as the Malay Quarter, the area is home to a diverse Muslim community. Its brightly painted houses and cobblestoned streets are a sight to see on a clear day; some say the homes were originally painted in preparation for the celebration of Eid.
5. Petra, Jordan
The prehistoric city of Petra in Jordan‘s southwestern desert is a massive archaeological site and a marvel of engineering. Its elaborate tombs, tunnels, temples, churches and mines are still jaw-dropping, even today.
Carved into rocky sandstone cliff faces, mountains and gorges, it’s no wonder the architecture of Petra has earned it the title of ‘Rose City’.
6. Cathedral Cove, New Zealand
This pristine marine reserve along the Coromandel Coast can only be reached by foot (or boat) but the walk is well worth it – the ocean views from the pohutukawa-fringed limestone cliffs are truly awe-inspiring and will have you itching to dive in at the end.
The cove itself doesn’t disappoint either, with crystal-clear waters, soft sands and the famous grand natural arch.
7. Monument Valley, USA
You don’t even have to try to get a stunning panorama in this part of the wild American south west. Endless skies, pinnacles of rock, windblown trees and a striated desert floor all combine to form one of the most majestic landscapes on earth.
Here, the Navajo influence remains, and it’s almost like stepping back into a snapshot of an earlier time.
8. Bora Bora, Tahiti
Not just the most romantic island in the world, but one of unbelievable beauty. Staying in one of the iconic overwater bungalows is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The legendary turquoise lagoons need no retouching, and the coral gardens, lush palms and fragrant hibiscus complete the larger-than-life picture.