The most beautiful landscapes in the world

So to help inspire your planning, we’ve rounded up our top 10 picks for the world’s most beautiful scenery – all you need to do is decide which to visit first.

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls form one of the most impressive borders in the world, running between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The pre-colonial name of ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya' (the smoke that thunders) perfectly describes this force of nature, where a mile-wide curtain of water freefalls down the rock face. Stretching for almost a quarter of a mile, causing mists that can be seen from up to 12 miles away, it’s also the world’s biggest waterfall, with the largest sheet of falling water. If you visit during the wettest months, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water plummet over the edge each minute into the Zambezi River over one hundred metres below.

Victoria Falls

For the full experience, see the falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides, especially from Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls National Park, while the adventurous can even swim in the Devil’s Pool, a natural pool in the rock by the edge of the falls. It’s only safe to swim from mid-August to mid-January when water levels are lower.

Best seen from: One of the most memorable points to view the Falls is across Knife-Edge Bridge on the Zambian side, where you can look over to the main falls and see where the river turns towards the Batoka Gorge, known as the Boiling Pot.

The Canadian Rockies are one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world. In fact, it’s no wonder that they’re UNESCO World Heritage listed, stretching for almost 69,500 square miles through Alberta and British Columbia in western Canada.

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Rocky Mountains

It’s impossible to pick a single slice of this rugged scenery as the most beautiful part of the Rocky Mountains, as part of the joy of exploring this corner of Canada is enjoying everything from the picturesque towns to dramatic river gorges, the turquoise glacial lakes and viewpoints along the way.

Explore pretty Banff and its riverside setting, as well as taking the Banff gondola up to Sulphur Mountain with its lookouts across the mountains and town. Then explore the area’s most famous lake, Lake Louise, with its unusual milky turquoise water, before setting off along the 230km Icefields Parkway, lined with jagged peaks and glistening glaciers.

Lake Maligne, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains

The route stretches down to Jasper National Park and its own crystal-clear lakes. Lake Maligne is another favourite, famous for its turquoise waters and glaciers reflecting in the mirror-still surface, which Horseshoe Lake is another unmissably lovely stop.

Best seen from: Soak up the best views in comfort, aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train, which takes you past plummeting gorges, along the rivers and in the shadow of the peaks, letting you gaze out at panoramas which would be almost impossible to reach otherwise.

You needn’t travel halfway across the globe to discover one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, as Slovenia goes to prove. With coast, mountains and glorious countryside, you’ll find everything from sparkling lakes and rivers to snow-capped peaks, lush greenery and picture-postcard-perfect towns dotted everywhere.

Lake Bled, Slovenia

But the loveliest destination is surely Bled. One of the country’s most popular resorts, it’s easy to see why. Lake Bled itself is famous for its blue-green lake, with a church resting on a small islet at the centre. Backed by some of the highest peaks in the Julian Alps, it looks almost too lovely to be real – but lives up to its reputation. Sail across the lake for a close-up look at the church, or wander around the boardwalk near Bled for more views across the water.

Less visited Lake Bohinj is around 30 minutes’ drive from Lake Bled, with its own mountain backdrop and deep blue water as a bonus slice of stunning Slovenian scenery.

Best seen from: The ultimate viewpoint has to be from the top of the Mala Osojnica trail, looking down onto the shimmering lake, the mountains in the distance and the island floating isolated in its heart. A steep hike but well worth it.

New Zealand might not be a big country but it seems to have an endless supply of beautiful landscapes to discover as you voyage across the North and South Islands. And it’s on the South Island where you can find Milford Sound – one of the wettest but also one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

The famous inky-black waters are one of the most recognisable aspects; it’s partly thanks to the depth of the water, as much as 512m in places, but also because the water is a combination of freshwater and seawater. This freshwater sits on top of the seawater, blocking out the light and making the water a prime habitat in which deep-sea life can thrive - even nearer the surface.

The Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is home to dolphins, penguins, seals and more, so don’t forget to keep your camera at the ready as you explore this part of Fiordland National Park.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

But even without its wonderful wildlife, Milford Sound is spectacular, mountains towering above the water, lush greenery and numerous waterfalls cascading down the rock faces into the water – officially a fjord, rather than a sound.

Best seen from: The best views of Milford Sound are either from a boat or from the air, although you’ll also find a string of viewpoints off the road around the water – the Milford Sound Foreshore Walk also has some great views if you want a shot from dry land.

One of the most beautiful states in the USA, the dramatic landscapes also make Alaska one of the most spectacular destinations in the world if you’re looking for natural beauty. Whether you want to explore lush rainforests, Arctic tundra, high mountain peaks or soaring sheer glaciers, Alaska has it all in spades.

Humpback whales at Juneau, Alaska

The national parks are a perfect place to start your adventure; Seward in southern Alaska is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park, where chiselled waterways weave under cliffs of ancient ice. Or near the state capital city of Juneau, you can explore the impressive Mendenhall Glacier, and Glacier Bay National Park, with fjords, glaciers and marine life stretching as far as the eye can see.

Glacier Bay, Alaska

Elsewhere, Denali National Park is home to North America’s highest peak. But perhaps the most memorable way to explore Alaska is from the water, with a coastline stretching for almost 34,000 miles, where you can see glaciers calve and whales breach, with clear icy waters under steep cliffs.

Best seen from: A cruise through the Inside Passage and into the glitteringly blue-white Glacier Bay is easily one of the most memorable ways to experience Alaska’s remote and icily beautiful scenery.

The world’s largest reef system, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is even visible from space. But it’s not just its size which is impressive, it’s the astonishing richness of the marine life which lives in this marine ecosystem stretching for more than 2,000km. And from the turquoise waters of the ocean to the vibrantly colourful reefs and white sand beaches on tiny islands, this corner of Australia is easily one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

In total, it’s made up of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, with much of the area protected within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. And with everything from snorkelling and diving tours to semi-submersible boats, glass-bottomed boats and even helicopter trips over the reef, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to ways to discover this underwater paradise.

Home to 30 separate whale and dolphin species, six species of sea turtle, more than 1,500 types of fish and more, it’s astonishingly biodiverse too.

Best seen from: You won’t be disappointed wherever you dive or snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef, but if you’re hoping to see manta rays, head to the slightly cooler southern part of the reef, or for the most colourful corals, the northern part of the reef beyond Townsville (including Cairns and Port Douglas) is ideal.

One of the loveliest corners of Italy, the Amalfi Coast has been a popular holiday destination for centuries, gaining the nickname the ‘Divine Coast’ along the way – in a country that’s known for its beauty, this is easily one of the most beautiful regions.

Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

With colourful towns clinging to the coast overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and Gulf of Salerno, this is picture-postcard Italy, with winding roads under the hills, stopping for a limoncello or lemon granita outside a café, or strolling shady streets to wide piazzas as a Vespa zips past.

Atrani and Vietri sul Mare are considered two of the prettiest towns but Positano is equally unmissable, with its pastel-painted houses clinging to the cliff edge, or lose yourself in romantic Ravello. Some of the best views are from the water, with trips between Positano and Amalfi, but the coastline and rainbow-hued houses mean you’ll never be short of a panorama you want to gaze at for hours on end.

Best seen from: You won’t be short of viewpoints wherever you go on the Amalfi coast, but for something which captures the vibrant colours, beach and hills, head down to the little fishing village of Cetara, near Salerno. Quieter than other areas, you can get some great shots from the harbour and beach itself.

The world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon stretches across an area of around 2.3 million square miles, split across four countries and covering around 40% of the continent of South America. And this incredibly biodiverse region is also one of the world’s most beautiful. For the majority of visitors, a visit to the Amazon is part of a trip to either Brazil or Peru, although you can visit it in Ecuador and Bolivia too. The Brazilian Amazon is the largest, covering an area roughly twice the size of India, followed by Peru, where the rainforest makes up an astonishing 60% of the country.

The Amazon, Brazil

With trails leading through the jungle, you can explore on high on some of the elevated walkways, as well as setting out to see the Amazon from the water, including by canoe or boat cruises along the larger waterways to spot some of the fabulous wildlife.

Alongside a string of brightly coloured tropical birds, spot sloths, monkeys, giant river otters, anacondas and more, making their home in the lush forest, where brightly coloured flowers bloom amid the trees and vines hang down to the floor.

Best seen from: You’ll have unforgettable memories wherever you visit in the Amazon rainforest, but one of the most unusual sights is the ‘meeting of the waters’ in Brazil, where the darker waters of the Rio Negro run alongside the paler sandy-coloured Amazon river, with both still distinctly visible.

The legend behind Halong Bay tells that a dragon and her children once descended from heaven to defend the people of this land from invaders, breathing fire and spraying jewels which turned into towering formations in the water. Whether you believe the story or not, there’s no question Halong Bay – and neighbouring Bai Tu Long Bay, named for the dragon’s children – are among the most ethereally lovely in Vietnam.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Today, there are over 1,600 islands and islets dotted through the emerald waters of the bay, now a UNESCO-listed site, with limestone shapes and spires transforming the water into its fairytale landscape. Boats, including traditional junk boats, are the best way to explore, spotting shapes in the karst peaks, where rainforest flourishes.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Despite the numbers who visit, drawn by the area’s sheer loveliness, there’s nothing like watching the sun rise over the still water, or kayaking out to some of the smaller islands, feeling far from reality and like those legends could well be true.

Best seen from: For a different viewpoint, head to the Queen Cable Car, which travels between two halves of Halong City, or Ti Top island, where you can gaze out at the misty limestone peaks rising from the water.

The wildest, most remote corner of planet Earth has its own unspoiled beauty, a land that’s far more than an endless white expanse. A chance to visit Antarctica is perhaps the ultimate bucket-list trip, home to penguins, whales, seals and marine birds galore, not to mention plenty of opportunities for adventure.

Antarctica

With tourist numbers limited, this is somewhere you won’t be sharing with thousands of others, as you cruise through the Antarctic archipelago, where icebergs and glaciers tower white and blue above the freezing water. The Antarctic Peninsula itself is formed from the peaks of mountains which continue to become the Andes, while you can also discover stories of polar explorers and whaling history.

Along with Zodiac RIB boats taking you to land on the Great White Continent itself, there’s a chance to kayak among the icebergs and paddle past penguins, or discover the flooded craters of volcanoes at the bottom of the world.

Best seen from: The Lemaire Channel is one of the most photogenic parts of Antarctica, an 11-mile channel whose clear, calm waters reflect the ice cliffs and glaciers in its chilly depths – stand and watch from the deck of your Antarctica expedition cruise ship.

Explore our range of stunning holiday destinations around the world and start planning your next escorted tour to witness these incredible sights for yourself