16 of the Top Natural Wonders for Stunning Instagram Photos

Maui has plenty of waterfalls, but Twin Falls is one of this Hawaiian island’s most popular cascades. Bonus: You can swim under this one, which makes for great photos. This waterfall is also conveniently situated along the Hana Highway, aka the Road to Hana.

You’ll need to pull over, park your vehicle, and take a short walk to reach the falls but once you do, the views are worth it. Alternatively, make it a multi-stop journey and see other stellar sights on the route such as Wai'anapanapa State Park, Pua'a Ka'a State Wayside Park, and Ke'anae Peninsula.

Mariposa Grove in Yosemite is a Sequoia haven. Here, you’ll find dozens of redwood trees for close-up snaps, including the most famous Sequoia tree of all: the Grizzly Giant Tree.

Make it a full-day activity, learning about the history and ecology of the world’s tallest trees at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, before embarking on a 4-mile (6-kilometer) hike to reach these green giants. Or, for a quick photo op, park at a nearby lot just a few steps away from the grove.

Don’t have your own wheels? Take a day trip from San Francisco, California, with a stop at Yosemite’s famed Bridalveil Fall along the way.

If Sequoias aren’t your thing, stroll along a walkway that winds through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a dense bamboo forest trail nestled within Arashiyama Park in Kyoto. The short walk promises impressive views through what seems like never-ending greenery. It makes the perfect spot for that special photo, too—cue the bamboo-inspired Instagram captions. Then, pair your picture-taking with a walk through Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and its UNESCO–listed red torii gates, another Instagrammable favorite in Japan.

Insider tip: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is open 24 hours a day, but it typically sees fewer crowds in the early mornings and during sunset hours.

For a travel photo that will captivate your followers, the Salar de Uyuni salt flats are the largest of their kind in Bolivia, stretching more than 6,500 miles (10,460 kilometers) in the Altiplano. During the rainy season (December–April), the Uyuni salt flats transform into “The World's Largest Mirror,” because—due to the thin layer of water that pools on top of the salt—Salar de Uyuni and the skyline blend together seamlessly.

Make the journey by bus from La Paz or, for the ultimate experience, stay at a nearby salt hotel where everything—yes everything—is constructed of salt.

Insider tip: Capture images of nearby natural wonders such as Valle de Rocas, a valley full of rock formations, and Sol de Mañana, a geothermal spot with erupting geysers.

Although not technically a natural wonder in general terms, Keukenhof Gardens is still home to 7 million blooming springtime bulbs—including 800 different species of tulips—along with scattered sculptures and other works of art.

And given that taking photos among 79 acres (32 hectares) of flowers tops the list of Insta-worthy activities in the Netherlands, you should spend a day there on a guided tour from Amsterdam, go for a bike ride among the blooms, or combine a windmill cruise with entry to the flower bulb fields.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting Keukenhof Gardens

If monochrome blooms are more your vibe, Southeastern France is world famous for its lavender fields. Consider the endless rows of purple at the Provence lavender fields in the Valensole Plateau, just one among three major plateaus where you can find these aromatic flowers (the others are the Sault and Luberon plateaus).

Visit around late June through July before the last harvest takes place, and you’ll find row upon row of these Mediterranean perennials. (Or visit during the annual Sault Lavender Festival, which takes place in mid-August to commemorate the year’s final harvest.) Either way, booking a private guide for the day or opting for a guided tour with photo stops from Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, or Marseille is the best way to visit.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting the Lavender Fields in Provence

It wouldn’t be a list of natural wonders without the northern lights. There are numerous places in Iceland where you can observe this spectacular light display—Vik, Akureyri, and Thingvellir National Park, among them. But Reykjavik is the most popular.

In the capital city, you’ll find elevated spots that are just far enough from the city lights to permit optimal viewing. Choose among aurora borealis itineraries that take place in or depart from Reykjavik. Whether you’re looking for a northern lights yacht cruise, jeep tour, or coach tour, there’s something for everyone.

Related: Know Before You Go: How To See the Northern Lights in Iceland

Often referred to as the “Armenian Stonehenge,” this prehistoric archaeological site is just as mysterious ... but with far fewer crowds. Karahunge is actually considered one of the oldest of its kind, too, and the purpose for the 200 vertical standing stones, many of which have holes in them, still baffles scientists and visitors to this day.

And the name? The Armenian word kar means stone and hunge means sound, so roughly translated karahunge means “speaking stones”—for good reason. On windy days, these stones in southern Armenia can be heard emitting whistling sounds. When you're there, combine your photo shoot with a guided visit to nearby Shaki Waterfall.

Nothing says dedication quite like traveling to Australia’s Northern Territory, aka Top End. There, you can snap the perfect photo in front of one of the world’s largest monoliths, Uluru, a UNESCO–listed landmark estimated to be around 550 million years old.

For the Pitjantjatjara Anangu—the Aboriginal people who are indigenous to this region—Uluru is considered sacred and holds special cultural significance. In fact, Uluru's caves and the surrounding area have been used by the Anangu for tens of thousands of years, with petroglyphs and other rock art as proof. View the World Heritage site by Segway, book an Uluru scenic flight or a sunrise tour, or combine a sunset BBQ with a look around Kata Tjuta.

Related: 3 Days at Uluru for First Timers

This Melbourne lake is for all the people who know that pink never truly goes out of style. This water’s bubblegum-colored hues are thanks to algae that thrive off its high salt content, producing pink carotenoids to aid them with photosynthesis when the weather conditions are just right. Ultimately, this leads to the lake’s rose-colored appearance.

Your best chance to witness this natural wonder is during the warmer months when salt levels are high, temperatures are warm, and rainfall is minimal. In fact, the lake returns to its normal color once the weather begins to cool down and rainfall increases.

Did you know?: There's another pink lake, known as Hutt Lagoon, located in Western Australia.

Located about a 2-day drive from Marrakech, the red dune landscape of the Sahara Desert—better known as Erg Chebbi—is simply magical. Most tours to Erg Chebbi include stops at Berber villages, oases, and famous movie sites of Morocco. But there’s also plenty to do once you get to the desert itself, including overnight stays at luxury campsites, camel trekking, desert sand boarding, and more. While the desert can get extremely hot during the day, temperatures can drop to near freezing when night falls, so be sure to pack accordingly.

Insider tip: The best time to snap a photo is during sunset when the sun illuminates the sand and settles behind the dunes.

At about 1 million acres (404,685 hectares), the Atchafalaya Basin of Louisiana is the largest floodplain swamp in the US. Visitors come from all over to witness this remarkable wetland, which is home to roughly 65 species of reptiles and amphibians, 100 species of fish, and 250 different types of birds.

Many endangered species—such as the Florida panther, peregrine falcon, and ivory-billed woodpecker—also call this National Wildlife Refuge home, so it's an ideal spot to take wildlife-filled photos. Charter an airboat tour or paddle a kayak in the basin, and be sure to have your camera handy.

This Maya cenote, or freshwater swimming hole, near Valladolid, is one of the most photogenic on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Not to mention, accessing it is an adventure in and of itself, given that you descend through a tunnel to find a huge cave with a beautiful pool of crystal-clear turquoise water, the result of falling limestone exposing the groundwater.

Throughout the cave, you’ll see icicle-shaped stalactite formations, but there’s also an opening in the ceiling, which allows sunlight to peek through and cast a beautiful glistening hue over the water below. Combine it with a tour of nearby Chichen Itza for even more bucket-list photos.

Near the Farafra depression in Western Egypt, White Desert National Park is known for its dazzlingly chalk-white rock formations and pale sands. Once an ocean floor, the White Desert dates back millions of years, with white spires and pinnacles composed of ancient crustaceans and sea life.

Today, the wind has shaped them into unique, photo-worthy shapes. The landscape is best photographed at sunrise or sunset, or even at night when the moonlight casts a ghostly hue, giving it an icy, arctic-like appearance. Located about six hours away from Cairo, an overnight camping trip extends this remote, off-the-beaten-path adventure.

If it’s red sand beaches you’re after, then Red Beach in Santorini is an idyllic retreat. Red Beach is famous for its deep turquoise waters, vermilion sands, and the red volcanic cliffs that engulf its shores.

Accessible by boat or on foot, it’s a popular summer destination among tourists. Buses departing from the nearby village of Fira provide local transportation to the beach several times per day. Alternatively, customize your itinerary or book a catamaran cruise with a stop on shore.

Insider tip: Plan on taking a dip in the inviting waters of Red Beach? Swimming shoes are recommended, as the shores are covered with tiny pebbles and sea urchins have been reported in the area.

Diamond Beach takes black sands to an entirely different level. Aside from its charcoal-colored sands—which can be attributed to Iceland’s volcanic and geothermal activity—this stretch pf shoreline in Vatnajokull National Park is known for large pieces of ice washing up on its shores. Hence, its name: Diamond Beach.

The icebergs come from the nearby Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where chunks of ice break off the glacier and drift out to sea. While this beach is not ideal for sunbathing, it makes a gem of an Instagram photo. Another option: explore a glasslike ice cave.