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Top 5 Places You Should Visit Before You Die

What better way to make the most of life then travel? The world’s wonders are too vast to see everything in one lifetime, but if you are looking to spice things up and see some of earth’s finest landmarks, you can start by knocking a couple off this list. Spanning the globe from Italy to Oregon, these 5 places will slow your heart-rate, reduce your stress, and most importantly, put a smile on your face. Here are 5 places you must see before you die.

1. Kauai, Hawaii

 

If you follow any travel blogs or Instagram accounts, we can almost guarantee theyve featured the Hawaiian island of Kauai a time or two. And we cant blame them: Kauai is the ultimate destination in Hawaii.

 

The Garden Isle checks off every essential on any travelers bucket list: beaches, hikes, resorts, and then some. Not to mention its one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth.

 

Below, 2 reasons you should visit Kauai at least once.

• Blissful Beaches

This one is 100 percent obvious, but it has to be said. Kauais beaches are everything youve ever wanted in a stretch of sea and sand. Sunbathe on the powdered shores, wade into the warm, unclouded water and enjoy the abundant coral and wildlife that find Kauais surrounding waters home. Tunnels Beach, Polihale State Park and Poipu Beach are all tried and true classics.

Before you head for any particular beach, however, be sure to check the weather forecasts as well as the ocean conditions. Hawaiis shores can be highly dangerous, and a number of tourists drown in the state every year.

• The Hike Of A Lifetime

The Kalalau Trail is one of the toughest, albeit most worthwhile hikes in the Aloha State. Be prepared to work hard and sweat up a storm for the entire 22-mile roundtrip.

But rest assured: with all the hard work comes a major reward. Dramatic cliffs, breathtaking vistas and solitary beaches are worth making this grueling two-day hike. If you want to include the Kalalau in your vacation plans, however, youll need a permit. Train accordingly and come prepared ― you cant wing this one.

 

2. Santorini, Greece

 

Santorini is the supermodel of the Greek islands, a head-turner whose face is instantly recognisable around the world: multicoloured cliffs soar out of a sea-drowned caldera, topped by drifts of whitewashed buildings. With its reputation for dazzling panoramas, romantic sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches, its hardly surprising the island features on so many travellers bucket lists.

 

Theres no denying the uniqueness of this destination or its huge allure – Santorini hosts 1.5 million tourists annually. Heres all you need to know if youre planning to join that crowd.

• Volcanic history

Part of the Cyclades island group, Santorini (officially known as Thira, a name that encompasses the volcanic islets within Santorinis orbit) sits in the Aegean Sea, roughly halfway between Athens and Crete.

• Caldera-edge settlements

Santorinis commercial development is focused on the caldera-edge clifftops in the islands west, with large clusters of whitewashed buildings nesting at dizzying heights, spilling down cliffsides and offering gasp-inducing views from land or sea.

 

3. Cinque Terre, Italy

 

The Italian Riviera is not short of rugged coastline or romantic towns and villages, but the five fishing communities of the Cinque Terre are its most iconic highlight. The five villages are no longer the isolated hamlets they once were, but theres still a feeling of remote authenticity, with few roads, perfectly preserved architecture and a network of stunning coastal and mountain trails.

 

• The Sentiero Azzurro

Also known as the Blue Trail and marked No 2 on maps, this 12km old mule path is the Cinque Terres blue-riband hike – narrow, precipitous but offering spectacular coastal scenery. All of the currently accessible parts of the Sentiero Azzurro, from Monterosso to Corniglia, are of low-level difficulty, though stamina is required. The Monterosso to Vernazza section is 3km and takes up to two hours, the high, forested path from Vernazza to Cornigila is 4km and usually takes about 90 minutes.

 

4. Ha Long bay, Vietnam

 

Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bays scatter of islands, dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnams number one tourism hub.

 

Sprawling Halong City (also known as Bai Chay) is the bays main gateway but its high-rises are a disappointing doorstep to this site. Most visitors opt for cruise-tours that include sleeping on board within the bay, while a growing number are deciding to eschew the main bay completely, heading straight for Cat Ba Island from where trips to less-visited but equally alluring Lan Ha Bay are easily set up.

All visitors must purchase entry tickets for the national park (40,000d) and there are also separate admission tickets for attractions in the bay, such as caves and fishing villages (30,000d to 50,000d).

 

5. Cidade Maravilhosa Rio

 

Golden beaches and lush mountains, samba-fueled nightlife and spectacular football matches: welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa.

 

• Tropical Landscapes

Looking out from the 710m peak of Corcovado, you will see why Rio is called the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City). Lushly forested mountains fringe the city, shimmering beaches trace the shoreline and a string of tiny islands lie scattered along the seafront. Far from being mere cinematic backdrop, this seaside beauty hosts outstanding outdoor adventures: hiking in the Tijuca rainforest, cycling alongside the lake and beaches, sailing across Baía de Guanabara, and surfing, rock climbing and hang gliding amid one of the worlds most stunning urban landscapes.

Life is just too dang short not to live.

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