Although often overlooked for more mainstream destinations, the planet is full of unbelievable places that look as though they have been taken straight out of a sci-fi movie. From a large rural crater that has been on fire for over 40 years, to stunning thermal springs, OROGOLD reviews the most surreal destinations around the world.

The Great Blue Hole, Belize
A large submarine sinkhole located just off the coast of Belize, the Great Blue Hole is almost a perfect circle in shape and is the largest formation of its kind in the entire world. It is now an extremely popular dive site, and, the deeper you go into this seemingly bottomless pit, the darker and more otherworldly it becomes. Although a truly rare dive, OROGOLD would recommend that only experienced divers to take on this adventure.

Derweze Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
Also known as the Door to Hell, the Derweze Gas Crater was created through a drilling accident by Russian scientists. When their drilling rig collapsed in an area high in methane gas, the scientists decided to set fire to the crater to burn off excess gas. Over 40 years later, the crater is still furiously burning away, and has become a popular tourist attraction. OROGOLD recommends visiting in the evening, and spending the sunset there, as watching the darkness fall around the eerie glow of fire is a sight not to be missed.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
The largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni could also be considered to be the world’s largest natural mirror. The seasonal rains turn the salt flat into a giant reflective surface, making it feel as though you are walking on the clouds. In addition to the amazing views that you will experience, you will also find a hotel made entirely of salt, which took 2 years to construct using salt taken directly from the salt flat. With such surreal surroundings, this is definitely a destination to bring your camera to.

Pamukkale Thermal Springs, Turkey
Scalloped-shaped basins of water surrounded by frozen waterfalls are what you will first see when you arrive at the Pamukkale thermal springs in Turkey, with the water flowing at a powerful rate of 400 liters per second. Rich in calcium, magnesium sulphate, and bicarbonate, people have bathed in these restorative, mineral-packed waters for thousands of years. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 80s, the thermal springs remain at a temperature of around 96 degrees, and the healing properties of the water are said to do wonders for the body.

Whether you take a walk on the world’s largest natural mirror, or dive down into the largest submarine sinkhole in the world, these destinations will have you feeling as though you were on another planet. Since all of these surreal destinations make use of natural resources, their dramatic impact can vary depending on the time of year, so OROGOLD recommends researching them further if you are hoping to visit.