For those with a wanderlust for unique travel experiences and mysterious landscapes, unconventional backpacking destinations offer an extraordinary journey. As you venture beyond the ordinary, enjoy the thrill of exploring peculiar places certain to pique your curiosity and astound you with their beauty.
Astonishing Abandoned Settlements
History buffs and adventure enthusiasts rejoice! Abandoned settlements across the globe capture the essence of time standing still while evoking a sense of intrigue. Imagine wandering through never-ending corridors, peering into ancient ruins, or communing with nature as it gradually reclaims manmade structures. A few fascinating examples include:
- Hashima Island, Japan – a deserted coal-mining island with towering apartment buildings and eerie, empty streets;
- Craco, Italy – perched on a hilltop, once decimated by landslides and earthquakes, this hauntingly beautiful ghost town has become a popular film set; and
- Kolmanskop, Namibia – swallowed by sand dunes, this former diamond hub lost its luster after the precious stones ran out, leaving behind a skeletal village drowning in sand.
Mystifying Catacombs: Subterranean Marvels
Sure, catacombs might not be everyone’s cup of tea as a destination, but these incredible underground realms hold more than just dust and bones. Delve deep into hidden chambers teeming with mesmerizing relics and awe-inspiring architectural prowess from times long past. Some of the world’s most intriguing catacombs include:
- The Catacombs of Paris, France – notorious for holding six million skeletal remains relocated from overcrowded cemeteries
- Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Italy – where the preserved bodies of monks adorned in their robes grant a chilling glimpse into life during the 16th to 19th centuries
- Napizzorno Cemetery, Orvieto, Italy – ancient Etruscan carved burial niches dot this rocky underground wonderland.
Hiking Among Extraordinary Landforms and Geological Oddities
Nature never fails to astound, and there are countless breathtaking landforms strewn across our planet. These visually striking geological marvels offer idyllic backdrops for hiking adventures and leave you spellbound with their peculiar beauty. Some notable locations include:
The Pink Lakes: Surreal Saline Marvels
Certain lakes around the world boast vibrant hues caused by microorganisms reacting to sunlight, evaporation, or minerals. Take a hike near these bubblegum-pink-colored waters and witness surreal landscapes like nothing else on earth. Particularly captivating examples include:
- Lake Hillier, Australia – this vivid pink lake’s hue holds fast even when collected in a container,
- Salinas de Torrevieja, Spain – salt ponds that transform into a rosy paradise under specific sun conditions,
- Lake Natron, Tanzania – this caustic African soda lake can transform animals into petrified statues!
Pamukkale: Turkey’s Spectacular “Cotton Castle”
Famed for its snow-white limestone terraces pooling with thermal waters, Pamukkale is an awe-inspiring natural wonder. It has been a popular tourist destination since ancient times, admired by savvy backpackers and history seekers alike. The hot springs served an essential role in the creation of Hierapolis, an ancient Greco-Roman city with beautifully preserved ruins.
Wave Rock: Riding Australia’s Geological Surf
Formed over 2.7 billion years ago by wind and water erosion, this impressive granite structure rises 15 meters above the ground. It resembles a colossal wave about to crash down on all who venture close. Encompass these intriguing places in your bucket list for unforgettable outdoor hiking experiences.
Getting Lost Amongs Otherworldly Forests
Step into a world of enchanting beauty and mystical solitude when you explore some of the most extraordinary forests across the globe. A few timeless examples include:
- The Crooked Forest, Poland – a grove of oddly bent trees that radiate outward from their base,
- Aokigahara “Suicide Forest,” Japan – located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji, its dense foliage and paranormal reputation have given rise to countless legends,
- Zhangjiajie “Avatar Mountains,” China – a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring towering quartz-sandstone pillars draped in lush vegetation.
Trekking through these spellbinding landscapes will make you feel like you’ve wandered straight into a fairytale or mythical legend.
Marvelling at Surreal Constructions and Infrastructure
Sometimes, human ingenuity knows no bounds, and the results can be rather peculiar. Backpack around the world to marvel at bizarre architecture off the beaten path such as:
- InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, China – a 17-story luxury hotel built into the side of a man-made cliff;
- Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona – a Roman Catholic church precariously perched on towering red rock formations;
- Bosco Verticale “Vertical Forest,” Milan, Italy – two futuristic high-rise apartment buildings adorned with thousands of plants to create an urban jungle atop the city skyline.
Take the opportunity to view these extraordinary structures and embrace your inner engineering or design aficionado.
Embrace the Unusual: A Backpacker’s Dream
Mundane vacations need not apply when you’re craving adventures beyond the ordinary. Embark on offbeat escapades to unconventional destinations and immerse yourself in the quirky wonders that make this world a fascinating place to be.