40 Incredible Secret Places Most Travelers Don't Know About. The Last One Blew Me Away...

Mella Noha 602290

The Eiffel tower, Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum may be amazing in their own right, but there's something special about going to a spectacular location that few travelers venture to. Take a virtual journey with me to these secretly underrated places...

Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, Italy

Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, nestled in the caves of Polignano a Mare beach, is one of the greatest places to eat in all of Italy, if not the world.

Chichilianne, Rhone Alpes, France

The breathtaking Mont Aiguille is nearly 7,000 foot tall and offers amazing views of the French Prealps.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Paro Valley, Bhutan

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This 17th century temple sits on the edge of a cliff 3,000 feet above the Paro valley. The holy site was built to protect the cave in which Guru Padmasambhava, a leader of Buddhism, meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a medieval city is still largely intact. So much so, that parts of the city are used as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. The city is brimming with amazing architecture and surrounded by the Mediterranean on one side and walls on the other.

Albarracín, Aragon, Spain

Albarracín is a beautifully preserved medieval village in Northern Spain. The rock paintings in the cliff-foot caves of the Albarracin Cultural Park (some of the most important evidences of the Levantine prehistoric art of Spain) and the "Picaportes" (door knobs) are something to marvel at!

Bagan, Burma

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Bagan is an ancient city hidden deep inside Burma. At the height of the Kingdom of Pagan, the city had over 10,000 Buddhist temples. Today, over 2200 of these are still standing, making it an amazing place to visit.

Aescher, Switzerland

Aescher hotel is so high up on the Appenzellerland mountains that you have to hike or get a cable car to reach it. Amenities are intentionally basic but the food is hearty and the nearby trails lead to exhilarating adventures.

Haiku Stairs, Hawaii

Known as the Stairway to Heaven, this fairly unknown hiking trail can be found on the island of O’ahu. The trail is steep and ends at a peak 2,800 feet above the sea, which offers amazing views of the island.

Þingvallavatn Lake, Iceland

Found deep within this huge National Park is the boundary between North America and Europe. Lucky divers can swim in between the tectonic plates of these two continents, which is getting 2 centimeters wider every year.

Chefchaouen, Northwest Morocco

Chefchaouen is best known for its blue buildings, painted in a spectrum of soothing hues. If you want to escape the city, make sure to check out the nearby Rif mountains and the Cascades d'Akchour!

Lord Howe Island, Australia

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This beautiful island is mostly untouched by man, with a tiny native population and only 400 tourists being allowed to visit each year. The limit is in place to protect the amazing natural landscape of Howe Island, which is home to a beautiful crystal lagoon and coral reef.

Bishop Castle, San Isabel National Forest, Rye, Colorado

Bishop Castle is undoubtedly one of the craziest castles in the world, created by the one-man castle builder Jim Bishop. It's an incredible place to get married or just to visit for inspiration. 

Huacachina, Peruvian desert

Huacachina is a tiny village of just over 100 people built around a lush oasis in an otherwise barren desert. For a few bucks, you can rent sandboarding equipment and try one of the locals' favorite thrills.

The Bastei Bridge in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Germany

Visit also Lilienstein, one of several small mesas in Saxony - it's surreal to watch the fog roll over.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, best known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities and cave towns.  All of which is best seen from the sky, with dozens of hot air balloons offering amazing bird eye views.  

Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstat is a medieval village which is home to less than 1,000 people. High in the mountains of Hallstat, you can explore prehistoric mines that were some of the first in the entire world.

Leptis Magna, Tripoli, Libya

Leptis Magna was once a major city of the Roman Empire. Now, its ruins act as an adventurer's playground. If you want to experience the amazing sights of ancient Rome, but avoid competing with the crowds, this is the place to go.

The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar of Segovia is a stone fortification, located in the old part of the city. It's one of the most distinctive castles in Spain by the virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship.

Alter do Chao, Brazil

This town straddles the Amazon rainforest and an amazing beach known as the Island of Love. Only a few meters from the beach is a huge lagoon, Lago, Verde, which is home to myriad animals and can only be explored by canoe.

Hotel Moulin de Roc, France

Deep in the province of Dordogne, you'll find an old mill transformed into an amazingly quaint hotel on the banks of a peaceful river, with nothing around for miles. It's also home to the renowned Michelin Star restaurant, with plenty of outdoor seating.

The peacock room in Castello di Sammezzano, Tuscany

Within the abadonded castle Castello di Sammezzano you can find the Peacock Room. A hidden jewel features intricate Moorish designs and a breathtaking assortment of patterns and colors. The beauty of the memorizing interiors is simply beyond comparison.

Deception Island, Antarctica

This ring shaped island is so remote that it can only be accessed by tour boats. The inside of the island offers sanctuary from storms and icebergs for a host of creatures, including hundreds of penguins. If you want to escape the cold, the island is situated on an active volcano and home to hot springs galore.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece

In Greek mythology, nymphs (female nature deities) inhabited this breathtaking cave and lured men in with their beauty. Under a high sun, the amazingly blue is illuminated for any lucky swimmers.

Meghalaya, India

The hills of Meghalaya receive nearly 40 feet of rain every year, meaning that the valley floors of this beautiful but remote forest are often transformed into rivers. Complex series of skybridges help you to navigate the environment.

Craco, Matera, Basilicata

The medieval village of Craco is part of an incredible region with undulating shapes and vast farmland. Since the sudden abandonment of the village, rumour has it that the ruins have become inhabited by ghosts.

Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Make sure to check out the Gruta do Labirinto (the Labyrinthic Grotto) and it's mysterious wishing well! This 27 meter deep well resembles an inverted tower. Depending on the direction you choose, either a journey down into the depths of the earth, or a climb out of the darkness into the light awaits.

Weißgerbergasse, Nuremberg, Germany

Be sure to also visit the small town of Bamberg and the Altenburg castle, which sits on the tallest of the seven hills, overlooking the city!

Procida, Italy

Procida is a beautiful Mediterranean island paradise. Terra Murata is the highest point on the Island aswell as its heart.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten Islands are a group of islands found in Northern Norway, within the arctic circle. The islands are home to seductively quaint fishing villages, the world’s deepest coral reef and amazing views of the Northern lights.

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

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Cocos Island is an uninhabited island located 300 miles off the shore of Costa Rica. As a national park, the island is untouched by civilization and acts as one of the best scuba diving spots in the entire world because of its spectacular marine fauna.

Rock tombs in Myra, Lycia, Turkey

After visiting the tombs you can go to the real Saint Nicholas Church. The perfect place to go to ask Santa why he got you the wrong gift last year.

Herrenchiemsee New Palace, Lake Chiemsee, Germany

In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel as the location for his new Royal Palace. Modelled on Versailles, this palace was built as a "Temple of Fame" for King Louis XIV of France, whom the Bavarian monarch fervently admired. And trust me - Ludwig II was absolutely crazy - the "mad king" even had a “magic table” inspired by the Grimm’s Fairy Tale in his dining room!

Fès, Morocco

You're looking at the Leather Souq, the oldest leather tannery in the world. Don't miss the marvelous Bab Boujloud (the blue gate) as well!

Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovin

Blagaj stands at the edge of the beautiful Buna river.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This town was first founded in the 13th century and little has changed since then. Stepping into the castle grounds is like going back in time, specially if you go during the Renaissance festival which is held every June.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg, Russia

You should go inside, I have never seen such a colorful church in my whole life! The city has so much more to offer, like the State Hermitage Museum or the inaugurated Amber Room in the Catherine Palace!

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Both pronouncing and getting to Ittoqqortoormiit can be difficult, but it’s totally worth the effort. From the capital of Iceland, you’ll need to get on a once-weekly plane to Greenland and then get a helicopter ride to this small, colorful town which sits by the longest glacial river system in the world.

Mount Ai-Petry, Crimea, Ukraine

Located on the Kastron mountain, the fortress of Cembalo is also nice to visit. It's a facade of spectacular views overlooking the sea off the Bay of Balaklava.

Marsaxlokk, Malta

Home to Marsaxlokk fish market, a sprawling and endless market held each Sunday in town!

Monument Valley, Utah

If you think this valley seems familiar, it’s because the area was commonly used as a filming location in the heyday of Western movies. The vast sandstone structures dominate the landscape of this vast valley which is far quieter than similar sights like the Grand Canyon.

NASA is tracking a gargantuan iceberg, escaped from Antarctica

NASA is tracking a gargantuan iceberg, escaped from Antarctica

NASA has been tracking the huge iceberg B31, which broke away from Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier in November 2013. Now, though, southern winter is coming.

B31 is a huge ice island, currently floating in the Amundsen Sea. The 20-mile (33 kilometer) by 12 mile (20 kilometer) iceberg is expected to pass into the Southern Ocean soon. Image via Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response.

NASA is tracking an iceberg – an ice island, really – 240 square miles (over 600 square kilometers). That’s in contrast to about 23 square miles for New York’s Manhattan Island. Scientists have labeled this iceberg as B31. It separated from the front of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier last November and began a journey across Pine Island Bay, a basin of the Amundsen Sea. It’ll likely be swept up soon in the swift currents of the Southern Ocean, and it will soon be hard to track visually because the Antarctic is heading into winter darkness for the coming six months.

The significance of this large iceberg is still being sorted out, NASA says. Kelly Brunt, a glaciologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, noted:

Iceberg calving is a very normal process. However, the detachment rift, or crack, that created this iceberg was well upstream of the 30-year average calving front of Pine Island Glacier, so this a region that warrants monitoring.

Pine Island Glacier itself – the source of the massive iceberg – has been the subject of intense study in the past several decades. Scientists speak of this glacier as the weak underbelly of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The glacier has been thinning and draining rapidly and may be one of the largest contributors to sea level rise. Read more: As ocean warms, Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier thaws

Large icebergs like this one pose a danger to ships. Our modern shipboard technologies – radar and warning systems – can’t always prevent accidents. For example, in 2007, the MS Explorer, an Antarctic cruise ship, sank after striking an iceberg near the South Shetland Islands. Read more at CBS News.

Read more the images of B31 from NASA Visible Earth

The ice island B31 broke away from Pine Island Glacier in early November 2013. Scientists say that while it lost some mass very early on in its life as a floating iceberg, it has remained pretty much the same shape since early December. As of April 11, 2014, the U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) reported that the iceberg is 33 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide (18 by 11 nautical miles).

Over the course of five months in Antarctic spring and summer, NASA has been using both its Terra and Aqua satellites to capture images of the massive floating ice chunk. One of the scientists involved, Grant Bigg of the University of Sheffield, said, “We are doing some research on local ocean currents to try to explain the motion properly. It has been surprising how there have been periods of almost no motion, interspersed with rapid flow. There were a couple of occasions early on when there might have been partial grounding or collisions with the seafloor, as B31 bounced from one side of the Bay to the other.”

In the coming months, B31 is expected to leave the Amundsen Bay and enter the waters of the Southern Ocean. Since southern winter is approaching, bringing day-long darkness to that part of the world, and the iceberg will be harder to track visually.

Bottom line: NASA is tracking the huge iceberg B31, which broke away from Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier in November 2013. Winter is now approaching in the southern part of the world, and thus the iceberg – which is about six times the size of Manhattan Island, and perhaps 500 meters thick – will soon be hard to track visually.

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