No matter how many natural wonders our experts have seen on their travels - and you can imagine quite how many, given the range of destinations and obscure regions they've explored - it's impossible to become blasé about them when they're quite as spectacular as this.
Here we've put together a 'Wonder-Wall' of mother-nature's most mesmerising monuments, which you'll almost certainly want to add to your bucket list if you haven't ticked them off already. Question is though, what destination in the world do these natural wonders belong to?
1.
This extraordinary sink-hole is 1,000 feet accross and 412 feet deep, and is contained within the largest coral reef in the western hemisphere. Brave divers who plunge into its inky depths will see giant stalactites, and docile hammerhead sharks, whilst the waters surrounding the sink-hole give you the chance to snorkel with manta rays and dive with whale sharks.
Stumped? Click here for the itinerary.
2.
Wandering through this 280 million year old petrified forest is a truly surreal experience - reminiscent of the disquieting war-inspired paintings by Paul Nash. Just beyond this national monument lies a desert (the name of which means 'the place of no return') where you can climb one of the largest sand-dunes in the world, and then sand-board back down it.
Stumped? Click here for the itinerary.
3.
The crowning glory in a land that's famed for its volcanoes, this extraordinary crater lake is coloured almost neon turquoise from the sulphurous deposits in the water, and reaches a depth of 176m. Perhaps even more remarkable than the lake itself are the death-defying workers who teeter along the rim each day to collect sulphur: braving the 17% average incline, and trekking back out of the crater with up to 80kg of sulphur on their backs.
Stumped? Click here for the itinerary.
4. Mark Twain said of the country in which this natural wonder belongs: '[this country] was made first and then heaven; heaven was copied after [this country].'
Entirely natural, the coloured earths were formed when volcanic rock cooled at different temperatures. Scientists are still baffled why the wonder never seems to erode or change despite torrential rains.
5.
Don't be deceived into thinking this is a beach - at least, not a beach as you know it. One of the country's top natural treasures (alongside many others) the wonder is in fact a series of seasonal lagoons that fill up with rain-water during the first six months of the year. The 383,000 acres of rippling dunes can be explored by 4X4 and you can enjoy a dip in the pools which take on many different hues of blue and green.
Stumped? Click here for the itinerary.
6. Just one of 2,000 red-sandstone archways, this natural wonder can be reached on one of the most scenic and iconic drives you'll ever make, and lies within the largest national park in the region. Whilst ticking the Instagram-favourite off your bucket list, you can also trek and mountain bike amongst cathedral-like rock formed spires; go white water rafting down a mighty river, and take a sunset hot-air balloon ride for the most incredible views of all.
Stumped? Click here for the itinerary.
7. In a country which is known more for its culture and history than natural wonders, this UNESCO natural heritage site comes as quite a surprise to many. Here you'll walk the wooden walkways over the cascades which run off from the mountains, and 16 stunning lakes which range in colour from turquoise, to grey, and green. The area is also known for its amazing wild flowers and rare butterflies.
Stumped? Click here to see the country.
8. Prepare to be blown away by the largest salt flat in the world, where you'll see mile upon mile of hexagonal "tiles" formed from the crystalline salt, or - if you're here in wet season -a a vast mirror-like expanse on which you can take cool perspective-trick photos. Almost as crazy is the Luna Salada hotel in the region which is made entirely of salt.
Stumped? >Click here for the itinerary.
Answers:
1)The Blue Hole, Ambergris Caye, Belize. 2) Dedvlei Petrified Forest, Naukluft National Park, Namibia. 3) Ijen Plateau, Java, Indonesia. 4) The Coloured Earths, Mauritius. 5) Lencois Maranhenses, Jericoacoara, Brazil. 6) Mesa Arch, Moab and Arches National Park, USA. 7) Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. 8) Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni, Bolivia.
