You have this ability to find beauty in weird places.
— Kamila Shamsie
Embark with me on a journey of the 7 most breathtaking destinations visited. Whether man-made or nature-formed, these are the places I have been to that simply took my breath away.
1. Meteora, Greece
Imagine driving through a winding uphill road with immense natural pillars and hill-like boulders around you. As you reach closer to the top, you’ll see monasteries perched on top of those boulders. Located near the town of Kalambaka, Greece (which by the way serves the best Greek salad I have ever tasted) is where the six remaining monasteries from the original twenty-four still stand. When these monasteries were built was unknown.
The first known to inhabit them were hermit monks who moved up to the pinnacles to keep away from visitors. Access to them during the olden days was by either latching ladders together to climb or being placed inside large nets to be hauled up. Monasteries were perched as high as 1800 ft (550m). Talk about perseverance!
That feeling of astonishment never left that I even painted about it during my art residency in Upstate New York. Some places really stay with you.
What to Do: Visit the Monastery
Where to Stay: Hotel Kosta Famissi
2. Aswan, Egypt
Nestled in South Egypt is Aswan. With the gleaming river of the Nile adorned by floating feluccas (boats), it has been one of those places that gave me a “step-out-of-time” feeling. Like being a part of the Ten Commandments movie and that I was Nefertiri. Out of my imagination, this is the home to the Nubians (an indigenous group), historical temples including Philae and Abu Simbel plus the setting for the 1978 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death in the Nile. While on one of the feluccas, ask if you can take a sip from the Nile river, it’s not every day you drink from the river that Moses turned to blood.
What to Do: Visit the Philae Temple, Private Tour of Abu Simbel from Aswan, Visit the colorful Nubian Village
Where to Stay: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan
3. Göreme, Turkey
Located in Cappadocia, this town famous for its fairy chimneys and daily balloon rides was added to the UNESCO heritage list in 1985.
The fairy chimneys or hoodoos are rock formations. Known to be inhabited since 1800 BC, some of those rock formations were carved into homes and pigeon houses. When visiting, make sure to stay in one of those cave hotels as it provides such an authentic experience including heated bathroom floors! Waking up with those colorful hot-air balloons outside your window and sand-colored rock formations on the vista is a memory to remember.
What to Do: Cappadocia Full Day Tour, Take a Hot Air Balloon
Where to Stay: Cappadocia Cave Suites
4. Kazbegi, Georgia
Known for its scenic location in the Greater Caucasus mountains, Kazbegi (also known as Stepatsminda which means Saint Stephan) is located north of the country’s capital, Tbilisi.
What struck me in this place is the Gergeti Trinity Church perched at 2,170m (7,120ft) under Mount Kazbek. Overlooking the town of Kazbegi, the mountain ranges around plus the clear skies above. Very instagrammable – just make sure to ask the monks before making any risqué photoshoots.
Where to Stay: Rooms Hotel Kazbegi
5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Like a collection of giant ampitheatres, Bryce Canyon in Utah is a sprawling reserve with spire red rock formations called hoodoos. With various viewing points – the best time to be there is during sunrise or sunset.
Visiting there during the winter season can be tricky due to the trails, however, the whiteness of the snow against the red hues of the rock formation creates an unearthly and breathtaking scenery.
With various erosions that create amazing formations such as the Natural Bridge and Thor’s Rock. The area is massive – so plan your time especially if you are trying to catch the sun.
What to Do: Sightseeing Tour
Where to Stay: Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
6. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Legends say that these rock formations were the remains of a causeway built by a giant. Located in County Antrim on the northern coast of North Ireland, these mostly-hexagon-shaped columns rise to 12m high. About 40,000 interlocking columns result from an ancient volcanic eruption. With the sun streaming at the waters where the rest of these lava rock formation disappears – it’s a site truly out of this world.
We visited in October, and even though the sun was shining bright - it was biting cold. So bundle up, bring a sandwich for a picnic, and marvel at this breathtaking place.
Where to Stay: Causeway Hotel
7. Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Whether it was me romanticizing the story of Camelot or getting fascinated with the legend of Druids – no list of the most breathtaking places to visit and experience can exist without Stonehenge.
This prehistoric monument of stone circles has fueled countless Arthurian legends and stories around them. From a place of worship to a possible doorway to another time. All I remember was standing beneath the Heel Stone that stood about 490m (almost 10x as me!). Thinking of the hows, whys, and what for?
Where to Stay: Burcombe Manor
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