Surreal Destinations
Although a beach or a city may be your go-to destination for the majority of your vacations, sometimes a visit to somewhere spectacularly unique will give you a much more unforgettable experience. OROGOLD takes a look at some of the most surreal destinations around the world, each of which guarantee that you will feel as though you are in another world.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
The Waitomo region of New Zealand is home to many awe-inspiring natural attractions, but one of the most popular of them all has to be the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Only two other places in the world exist that are similar to this, one in Australia and one in Japan, but the caves in Waitomo top them all. A boat ride takes visitors along the underground Waitomo River, into a cave that is eerily dark except for the living lights, provided by the glowworms, that make the ceilings sparkle. This glowworm species is native to the area, and visitors describe this ethereal experience as truly magical. There are also many other caves and grottos in the area that can also be explored by visitors, making this definitely a worthwhile destination.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona, US
Known by the Navajos as ‘the place where water runs through the rocks’, the Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon in Arizona that has only been made available to the public since 1997, as this is when the Navajo Tribe made it into an official Navajo Tribal Park. The entrance into the canyon is only a few feet wide, and, once in, the temperature drops by about 20 degrees. The curved sandstone walls reflect glints of sunlight, displaying glorious patterns and shapes in warm, vibrant colors. Although there are many other stunning slot canyons throughout the US, Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular, as it doesn’t require any climbing and has the perfect combination of mesmerizing colors, ambient lighting and otherworldly rock formations.
Ice Caves, Iceland
Each autumn in Iceland, ice caves begin to form on the edge of glaciers, and last throughout the winter. Since these ice caves are temporary, the exact locations can only be determined nearer to the winter, but there are many experienced tour operators to take visitors to the best ones each year. From inside, the caves are constantly sparkling, as though they have been covered with crystals, with an eerie blue/white light glistening on the surface. You can also usually a hear a groaning sound, and although this can often sound as though the cave is collapsing, it is actually the noise that occurs as the cave slowly moves along with the shifting glacier.
The world is full of unbelievable destinations, from caves that glow with the light of glowworms to sweeping pink colored sandstone walls inside one of the most beautiful slot canyons. Whichever one you choose to visit, OROGOLD is sure that you will have a truly memorable vacation, and return home with plenty of surreal photographs!
