The Place: Son Doong Cave; Phong Nha-Kè Bàng National Park, Vietnam
The Reason to Go: Possibly the largest cave in the world, Son Doong can fit a flying Boeing 747 in its largest section and is home to a jungle filled with 100-foot-tall trees, massive 260-foot stalactites and even its own climate. But the trek to get there isn’t for someone who circles a parking lot to find a spot close to the storefront. Son Doong Cave is part of a network of recently discovered monumental caverns in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, and it requires (among other things) roping across a river, climbing massive slick boulders and scaling up a 200-foot wall to reach it.
The Place: Kyoto, Japan
The Reason to Go: It’s rare that the words “peaceful” and “city” can be used to describe the same place. Kyoto, the winner Travel + Leisure‘s 2014 Best City Award, is home to Zen gardens, UNESCO World Heritage sites, traditional tea ceremonies, as well as, the bullet train, futuristic Kyoto Station and Nintendo’s headquarters. An added bonus to this past-meets-present city: It also boasts the Sagano Bamboo Forest, where you can take in swaying sky-high bamboo stalks.
The Place: Maldives
The Reason to Go: While it may look like a scene from a sci-fi film, the luminescent beauty you’ll find in the Maldives is not a product of CGI; just an (almost) out-of-this-world natural phenomenon caused by bioluminescent ostracod crustaceans. The glowing water—primarily found on the eastern islands of Mudhdhoo, Vaadhoo and Rangali—transforms a pristine turquoise beach into a magical sea by night.
The Place: Atlantic Road (Atlanterhavsveien); Møre og Romsdal, Norway
The Reason to Go: A drive on this scenic 5.1-mile road along the Norwegian coastline may not be as courageous as Strayed’s 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, but this part-road/part–roller coaster is still an adventure. It bends, arches and dips over the sea to connect several small islands between Molde and Kristiansund. Waves crash along the pavement to dramatic effect (though you’ll be wise to note that harsh winter storm conditions can occur with just a slight drop in temperature)
The Place: Tulip fields, Holland
The Reason to Go: From mid-March through mid-May, tulips in every color of the rainbow bloom in western Holland and make the fields look like a beautiful patchwork quilt. Take in the countryside (just outside Amsterdam) on a drive or bike ride or visit the famed Keukenhof, where 7 million bulbs are planted in a 79-acre garden.
The Place: Mirrorcube, part of the Treehotel; Harads, Sweden
The Reason to Go: The sounds of rustling leaves or falling snow will make you glad to unplug from your buzzing, beeping iEverything. Plus, if you’re lucky you can end the night with a view of the aurora borealis, or “Northern Lights.”
The Place: Ice Caves; Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
The Reason to Go: Every winter, tour guides in the local area set out to find new trails and caves to explore with adventure seekers. Since the glacial ice is still active, the natural wonder changes shapes and locations throughout the year, which gives you the possibility of being the first and last person to visit that exact spot again.
The Place: Petra, Jordan
The Reason to Go: This ancient city was built straight into the sandstone at the edge of the Arabian desert and was “lost” to the Western world until 1812. Today, still much of the city lies underground and has yet to be discovered. But for now, the rock-cut architecture, rose-colored cliffs and vast desert views are enough to be completely enamored by.
The Place: Hanging Monastery; Shanxi Province, China
The Reason to Go: For more than 1,500 years, the ancient shrine has supported itself on the west cliff of Mount Hengshan by only wooden beams and the mountain itself. The temple, which hangs 15 stories above the ground, has withstood centuries of damaging storms and is still able to hold thousands of visitors that walk through its doors every year.
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