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Lonely Planet's most stunning places on Earth

  • Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona–Utah, USA. The sandstone spires of Monument Valley, part of the Colorado Plateau, are the result of millions of years of erosion. Iron oxide gives the rock its reddish tone. (Ron and Patty Thomas Photography/Getty Images)
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    Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona–Utah, USA. The sandstone spires of Monument Valley, part of the Colorado Plateau, are the result of millions of years of erosion. Iron oxide gives the rock its reddish tone. (Ron and Patty Thomas Photography/Getty Images)

    Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona–Utah, USA. The sandstone spires of Monument Valley, part of the Colorado Plateau, are the result of millions of years of erosion. Iron oxide gives the rock its reddish tone. (Ron and Patty Thomas Photography/Getty Images)
  • The Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy. Millions of years ago the pale peaks and pinnacles of the Dolomites lay on the seabed; now they are among the world’s most distinctive mountainscapes. (Michele Galli/Getty Images)
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    The Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy. Millions of years ago the pale peaks and pinnacles of the Dolomites lay on the seabed; now they are among the world’s most distinctive mountainscapes. (Michele Galli/Getty Images)

    The Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy. Millions of years ago the pale peaks and pinnacles of the Dolomites lay on the seabed; now they are among the world’s most distinctive mountainscapes. (Michele Galli/Getty Images)
  • 'The Sardine Run', Eastern Cape, South Africa. During the annual migration of sardines, millions of the fish head north along the coast of South Africa, creating a feeding frenzy along the way. The migration occurs from May to July. (Dmitry Miroshnikov/Getty Images)
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    'The Sardine Run', Eastern Cape, South Africa. During the annual migration of sardines, millions of the fish head north along the coast of South Africa, creating a feeding frenzy along the way. The migration occurs from May to July. (Dmitry Miroshnikov/Getty Images)

    'The Sardine Run', Eastern Cape, South Africa. During the annual migration of sardines, millions of the fish head north along the coast of South Africa, creating a feeding frenzy along the way. The migration occurs from May to July. (Dmitry Miroshnikov/Getty Images)
  • The Aurora Borealis, Kiruna, Sweden. When charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles, they create curtains of light. Solar storms heighten the effect. (Antony Spencer/ Getty Images)<br><br>
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    The Aurora Borealis, Kiruna, Sweden. When charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles, they create curtains of light. Solar storms heighten the effect. (Antony Spencer/ Getty Images)

    The Aurora Borealis, Kiruna, Sweden. When charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles, they create curtains of light. Solar storms heighten the effect. (Antony Spencer/ Getty Images)

  • 'Rufous hummingbird', California, USA. Rufous hummingbirds, here seen feeding on nectar at Huntington Beach, California, are just 8cm long but the hyperactive birds migrate across North America, following the blooming of wild flowers. (Susan Gary /Getty Images)
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    'Rufous hummingbird', California, USA. Rufous hummingbirds, here seen feeding on nectar at Huntington Beach, California, are just 8cm long but the hyperactive birds migrate across North America, following the blooming of wild flowers. (Susan Gary /Getty Images)

    'Rufous hummingbird', California, USA. Rufous hummingbirds, here seen feeding on nectar at Huntington Beach, California, are just 8cm long but the hyperactive birds migrate across North America, following the blooming of wild flowers. (Susan Gary /Getty Images)
  • Strokkur Geyser, Iceland. The Strokkur geyser erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’. (ABG/Getty Images)
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    Strokkur Geyser, Iceland. The Strokkur geyser erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’. (ABG/Getty Images)

    Strokkur Geyser, Iceland. The Strokkur geyser erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’. (ABG/Getty Images)
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park. Croatia. This Unesco World Heritage–listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes, caves and forest. The colours of the lakes range from azure to green, blue and even grey. (Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images)
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    Plitvice Lakes National Park. Croatia. This Unesco World Heritage–listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes, caves and forest. The colours of the lakes range from azure to green, blue and even grey. (Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images)

    Plitvice Lakes National Park. Croatia. This Unesco World Heritage–listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes, caves and forest. The colours of the lakes range from azure to green, blue and even grey. (Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images)
  • Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. The Wall Street Trail of Bryce Canyon has its own skyscrapers: ponderosa pines. Chasms in the rock are formed when water freezes and expands, creating alleys up to 60m deep. (Sarun Laowong<br>/Getty Images)<br><br>
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    Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. The Wall Street Trail of Bryce Canyon has its own skyscrapers: ponderosa pines. Chasms in the rock are formed when water freezes and expands, creating alleys up to 60m deep. (Sarun Laowong /Getty Images)

    Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. The Wall Street Trail of Bryce Canyon has its own skyscrapers: ponderosa pines. Chasms in the rock are formed when water freezes and expands, creating alleys up to 60m deep. (Sarun Laowong
    /Getty Images)

  • Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. The current Grand Canyon is just six million years old. As canyons age they get broader and deeper; the Grand Canyon is getting deeper each year by the thickness of a sheet of paper. (Franckreporter/ Getty Images)
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    Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. The current Grand Canyon is just six million years old. As canyons age they get broader and deeper; the Grand Canyon is getting deeper each year by the thickness of a sheet of paper. (Franckreporter/ Getty Images)

    Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. The current Grand Canyon is just six million years old. As canyons age they get broader and deeper; the Grand Canyon is getting deeper each year by the thickness of a sheet of paper. (Franckreporter/ Getty Images)
  • Manhattan, New York, USA. At almost 40,000 people per sq km<br>in 1910, Manhattan’s population density was higher then than in<br>2010. But at today’s median price of US$800,000 for an apartment, the cost of property has gone up. (Nikada/ Getty Images)
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    Manhattan, New York, USA. At almost 40,000 people per sq km in 1910, Manhattan’s population density was higher then than in 2010. But at today’s median price of US$800,000 for an apartment, the cost of property has gone up. (Nikada/ Getty Images)

    Manhattan, New York, USA. At almost 40,000 people per sq km
    in 1910, Manhattan’s population density was higher then than in
    2010. But at today’s median price of US$800,000 for an apartment, the cost of property has gone up. (Nikada/ Getty Images)
  • Lonely Planet has hand-picked 200 pictures of the world's most beautiful sights around the world.
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    Lonely Planet has hand-picked 200 pictures of the world's most beautiful sights around the world.

    Lonely Planet has hand-picked 200 pictures of the world's most beautiful sights around the world.
Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona–Utah, USA. The sandstone spires of Monument Valley, part of the Colorado Plateau, are the result of millions of years of erosion. Iron oxide gives the rock its reddish tone. (Ron and Patty Thomas Photography/Getty Images)
The Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy. Millions of years ago the pale peaks and pinnacles of the Dolomites lay on the seabed; now they are among the world’s most distinctive mountainscapes. (Michele Galli/Getty Images)
'The Sardine Run', Eastern Cape, South Africa. During the annual migration of sardines, millions of the fish head north along the coast of South Africa, creating a feeding frenzy along the way. The migration occurs from May to July. (Dmitry Miroshnikov/Getty Images)
The Aurora Borealis, Kiruna, Sweden. When charged particles, which flow from the sun at 1.4 million km/h, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at the planet’s poles, they create curtains of light. Solar storms heighten the effect. (Antony Spencer/ Getty Images)<br><br>
'Rufous hummingbird', California, USA. Rufous hummingbirds, here seen feeding on nectar at Huntington Beach, California, are just 8cm long but the hyperactive birds migrate across North America, following the blooming of wild flowers. (Susan Gary /Getty Images)
Strokkur Geyser, Iceland. The Strokkur geyser erupts every four to eight minutes, blasting water up to 40m into the air. The word ‘geyser’ itself comes from Icelandic, ‘geysa’, which means ‘to gush’. (ABG/Getty Images)
Plitvice Lakes National Park. Croatia. This Unesco World Heritage–listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes, caves and forest. The colours of the lakes range from azure to green, blue and even grey. (Kelly Cheng Travel Photography / Getty Images)
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. The Wall Street Trail of Bryce Canyon has its own skyscrapers: ponderosa pines. Chasms in the rock are formed when water freezes and expands, creating alleys up to 60m deep. (Sarun Laowong<br>/Getty Images)<br><br>
Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. The current Grand Canyon is just six million years old. As canyons age they get broader and deeper; the Grand Canyon is getting deeper each year by the thickness of a sheet of paper. (Franckreporter/ Getty Images)
Manhattan, New York, USA. At almost 40,000 people per sq km<br>in 1910, Manhattan’s population density was higher then than in<br>2010. But at today’s median price of US$800,000 for an apartment, the cost of property has gone up. (Nikada/ Getty Images)
Lonely Planet has hand-picked 200 pictures of the world's most beautiful sights around the world.